A lot of people dream about working at home. The whole idea of being able to avoid commuting and "be there" for your family without the constraints of office politics is a very modern day romantic notion. People have visions of lounging around in pajamas, tapping on a keyboard or talking on the phone until they can warmly greet their kids when they come home from school. The people in that scenario are invariably good looking, are in a spotless home (with a view), and are always smiling. The kids in the scenario seem well adjusted, happy and are always smiling. It's a dream lifestyle.
Or is it?
While it has its advantages, there are times when it can be maddening. Like when you can't get any work done because you have to shovel your driveway for the fourth time. And the kids are off from school, stuck inside-but for a raucous round of sledding after lunch- doing everything in their power to distract, annoy or otherwise undermine any semblance of tranquil work state you may be attempting at the time. Or when the hot water heater blows out on the day we all need to get showered up for an evening engagement and the water heater is buried behind boxes of Christmas ornaments, old bikes, that box of books from your wife's freshman year that she will NEVER look at again, an old bed frame and several old TV's awaiting recycle day at the town dump. Nobody is smiling in this scenario. Dad is covered in dust, swearing and in desperate need of a cold martini.
Yeah, working at home is great. At least the dog is cooperative-most of the time.
Despite my grumblings, I do enjoy working at home. My typical day involves getting up in time to get everyone off to the bus and a good, solid 4 hours to write, do SEO, build websites, investigate advertising or affiliate offerings and do some of the analytical stuff we webmasters hot dog men do from time to time. I currently have four sites "under construction" that I have to design, put out content and build links to so I can get free traffic. I try to get the stuff that requires concentration done before noon and leave the more menial tasks until after noon. That way, when the kids filter in, I won't have my concentration shattered-I'm doing something mindless anyway. By 3:30 or so every day, the whistle blows because that's when Little Miss gets home and she just won't leave me alone; six year olds are like that (they don't tell you this stuff in the "work at home" brochure).
Sometimes I will do more work at night, sometimes not; it depends what's going on. There are some nights, after Little Miss goes to bed, when it's better than the morning: quiet and with sleep ahead, not behind. There are other nights when, if the day has been productive, I slip into the comfort of the aforementioned cold martini and a movie in bed with Coach (that's Mrs. HDM). She's usually smiling.
Working at home
Leaving Las Vegas
I post this from a chaise lounge at Affiliate Summit West in the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. It has been quite a trip. Over the next week or two, I will be posting stories and photos of my escapades in Las Vegas on The Hot Dog Truck. I'll also have a Hot Dog Story or two.
Resilient Rose
As the snow from the Blizzard of 2010 started to melt in the 50 degree weather of New Year's Day, I noticed a rose plant sticking up through the snow. This rose was in full bloom on November 11!
If you look closely, you can see a rose bud popping out of the snow!
This truly is a resilient rose!
Let's pray for no snow Saturday so I can get out to Vegas and Affiliate Summit West.
Can you Believe THIS?!?!
I am quite obviously closed today, due to the fact that we got about a foot of snow!
27 days until Little League tryouts and THIS is what we're dealing with on March 2nd!
I'm moving South. Soon.
It's Snow Day for Hot Dogs
I will be closed today, Wednesday January 28 due to a snow storm.
See you tomorrow!
Weather Update for Monday December 22
In case anyone didn't notice, it has been snowing for nearly two days straight in Hot Dog Truck land!
For today, Monday December 22, I plan on going to the truck and shoveling out. If it doesn't take too long, I'll open!
I plan on being open Tuesday the 23rd and then closing the rest of the week for Christmas break.
I WILL BE BACK ON THE 29th and I plan on remaining open this winter (weather permitting)!
Not Winterized
I went by the Hot Dog Truck today to move it and get a few things. The parking lot hadn't been plowed since the last storm and I was barely able to get my car of the street without getting stuck! Needless to say, moving the Hot Dog Truck was impossible. It did start though, even though it's been sitting for a few weeks.
Hopefully the January thaw will allow me to get it out of there next week.
That's Snow Biz
It was another crappy, snowy New England day today. I ALMOST didn't open the Hot Dog Truck. Tuesday a couple of guys from BOSE said they were coming down with "a crowd" today so I felt obligated to open. BOSE is having a Christmas party tomorrow and nobody will be coming out for Hot Dogs.
The guys showed and pigged out as the snow fell. A lot of other people came out too. I was very busy, despite the snow. Everyone is coming to say goodbye to the hotdogman until spring and to get their last fix of the best hot dogs in 2007.
Tomorrow is the last day of the season. I'll be spending the next week with the family, celebrating Christmas, taking a road trip to Montreal and generally relaxing.
Let it SNOW!
Snow Day
The hotdogman took a snow day today. I needed to shovel out the Hot Dog Truck AND my own driveway to prepare for the weekend storm or I'd be behind the 8 ball next week.
Next week is the last week of the season for the Hot Dog Truck with Friday December 21 being the final day for business.
I feel I am prepared to open Monday as long as a decent plow job is done on Sunday after the storm passes through. I must say the plow guy at this site did a far better job than the guy at the other site!
See you Monday, enjoy the storm!
Winter Wonderblah
Seeing as I am sick of snow on the ground and it's not even Christmas yet, I thought I'd offer up some winter scenes to vent my frustrations.
These snow men are having fun.
Now this has to be a bit hard on the backside.
I was thinking the same thing!
I have a TON of these CHEAP!!!
That's Snow Biz
Today was the day that makes me want to go home for the season. It SNOWED for the first time this season today!
Snow (or anything falling from the sky in abundance) is BAD for business. People just don't like standing around in the snow eating hot dogs-go figure. Don't get me wrong, I had customers and I made a few bucks, but nothing like a non snowy day of sales. It's supposed to melt tonight and tomorrow, so I'm not too worried, but it still sucks.
I just need to stay open until Christmas time so I'll have some extra cash for some presents.
GO AWAY SNOW!!!!
Snow Biz
I always get depressed at the first sign of snow. You'll get no sentimental claptrap about "how pretty it is" from me.
Snow sucks. It's cold. It's wet. It's bad for business.
Snow is a four letter word. When it snows, I don't sell as many hot dogs at the Hot Dog Truck.
It snowed TODAY.
Thank God it's going to be in the 60's tomorrow. Aint New England grand?
What a difference!
The day was warm, the truck was hoppin' and some of the "picnic table crowd" from the office park ventured out for dogs today. What a difference a few days makes! All bodes well for the fields......
The Snow on Monday vs. The Snow on Friday
The Hot Dog Man's Tip Jar! (Hot Dog Truck Operator's Relief Fund)
"Sweetie" and the kids on the bus from Methuen-Have A Great Friday!
Vernal Equinox Redux
AAAAhhhhh.......Spring!
AAAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHH!!!! SPRING?!?!?!?!
Think I'll have a Coke.....
Vernal Equinox
Spring arrives at tonight at 8:07 PM Eastern Standard Time. This isn't what conjures up memories of Spring for me!
This is what the Hot Dog Truck looks like on the first day of Spring! All the snow is left over from the snow storm last Friday. By 9 AM everything was melting fast; I hope the baseball fields will be clear by March 31 because that's when our Little league holds tryouts! (Yes I am an optimist!) It was a slow day for sales so I was able to read a book I am writing a review on.
I have this sign hanging at my Hot Dog Truck and I have a box to collect can tabs for the Shriner's Children's Hospital. The Shriners Hospitals for Children operates 18 hospitals throughout the U.S., Montreal, Canada, and Mexico City, Mexico, for children with orthopedic problems and burns. Shriners Hospitals are open to all children up to their 18th birthdays. They collect the tabs and recycle them to help fund their hospitals. Its such a no-brainer way to help a really good cause. If you'd like to collect can tabs for the Shriners, you can find out more HERE.
N'or Easter Dogs
Regular patrons know "its all about the bun!" Each individually crafted hot dog is served on a hot, freshly grilled bun like the one to the left.
Today, unfortunately, it was all about the snow. We're getting an old fashioned March N'or Easter blowing through this weekend which means basically nasty cold, wet snow, wind and rain.
It started snowing at noon, perfect for lunch :o(
Needless to say, it was a slow day for sales.
My customers are getting a kick out of this site.
Most of them say one of two things to me about this site: "Wow, I'm surprised that name (thehotdogtruck.com) was available."-Hey I was too! They also say "so does this mean I can email my order in now?" -That's all I need!
Now that I'm out of the cold and back in the comfort of my home, I think I'll snuggle up with a cold martini or two (or maybe even three-I gave up beer for Lent).
(I never met a Martini I didn't like but isn't that the cutest Martini you ever saw?)
Here's looking at you kid!
Hot Dog Nitty-Gritty
Of course, some things appear when the snow melts that one might rather not see. Sorry, kids!
Only a bit of paint flaked off the truck but left some interesting results. Here flakes have added itself to a graffiti design. Can you read the writing on the truck??
A weird scene on a Southborough, MA sidewalk...Every picture has a story, don't it?
Monday Musings
I was just thinking....
is winter really over or are the weather gods teasing us with the idea of crushing our spirit once more before spring really begins?
if the Red Sox and Yankees play a baseball game tonight that doesn't count, how many fans will care?
do blondes really have more fun?
why do people buy ice cream in the winter and coffee in the summer?
if you water your plants and they still die, is it your fault?
if men think of sex every 7 seconds, how do they get anything done?
when someone says "smoke em if ya got 'em," are they trying to hurt me?
if you give up booze for lent, will God get mad if you get really sh*tfaced on Easter Sunday?
why do some people act like they've never actually had to think about what to put on a hot dog?
how come the people who complain the loudest about how something works usually haven't read the directions?
if 2+2=4 and 4+4=8, why is 6 afraid of 7?
why do teenagers know everything except how to clean their room?
why did Ben and Jerry's sell out?
if I write "Super Bowl" on this Blog, will the NFL sue me?
if the NFL sues me, WTF would they do with a Hot Dog Truck?
when people type "lol" are they really laughing out loud?
why does neatness count?
if everyone who reads this Blog sent me a dollar,would I have $13 or $14?
how come I only get laid when my wife wants something?
why can't I get the "Green Acres" themesong out of my head?
how long will it be before the Anna Nicole Smith story is a bad movie?
if pizza tastes so good cold, why do we cook it in the first place?
has there ever been a President dumber than George Bush?
does anyone want to buy a used Chevy Suburban?
when you die, do you really get all your lost socks back in heaven?
why don't they invent beer flavored cough syrup?
who was the first guy to eat an egg and why would he want to eat something that came out of the ass end of a chicken?
can anyone tell I don't have any ideas today?
