day three of actually getting organized

it seems like i should have a plan of attack. i really don't, and we're going to be closing and have to have every stick of anything to do with bsb completely out of this building by april 1st. it seems like i ought to have some sort of plan. i also should have a plan as to what i'm going to do on april 2nd for a job and i don't have a plan for that yet either.

i have started a timeline this morning, a mental and physical checklist of "if i do this by this date then i can have everything out in time", and there are just days in the middle where i'm not sure what i'll be doing other than hoping you all come an buy tons and tons of books so that i don't have to box them up and send them back. there are those books, lots of them left, that i want (need!) someone to have in their home because i have loved them so much, or colston and eleanor have loved them so much, or they are just THAT good that it will break my heart to send back. i want to say that what we don't sell i can just take home and, i don't know, get rid of everything else in my apartment (although it is an old building and on the second floor and the floors already tilt...), but i can't afford that either.

my plan of action thus far is this:

1 - sell as many books as possible and hope that the story that tom writes in port folio weekly on monday will get even more people in the store

2 - sell all the furniture and bookshelves possible so that i don't have to move them personally, they are enourmous!

3 - clean, clean, clean (my least favorite thing to do at the store for some reason, shouldn't i get to read instead if i have spare time for cleaning?)

4 - cry a little, laugh a lot (hopefully in that order and not crying a lot and laughing a little)

5 - have fun with ellen burstyn on the 24th and 25th at our events with her. talk books, movies and life with her.

6 - mark everything that's left down to practically nothing on the 26th because i really just want people to have books to read at this point!

7 - move out on the 30th and 31st, clean. whine a little maybe. WINE a lot maybe.

8 - enjoy the irony on friday the 23rd that at the ODU film fest i get to present "you've got mail" the movie about meg ryan's bookstore that is put out of business.

9 - visit with old friends who come in to say they're sorry we're leaving

10 - sleep. sleep. sleep. it sounds like a good idea but i'm not really sure how much i'll get.

eleanor called from charlottesville this morning and it snowed on them yesterday. they're going into town this morning for book and knitting crap hunting. i'm glad to be here because i've already seen people this morning that i'll miss when we close, but gees...i wish i were there too.

-susie