Straight from The Horse’s Mouth

It's been one whole year already! The Horse's Mouth Bookstore and Coffee Shop is having her first birthday on November 3rd. We've learned that having a business is like raising a child; similar in that they cause parents to lose sleep, they have distinct personalities, throw temper tantrums and also bring unmeasurable joy.

During the early months of renovating and gathering the objects of enterprise I had many sleepless nights wanting to get off the horse that was bounding for the barn. THM knew what she wanted and wasn't going to be stopped. She was a wave I had little control of; so strong willed I could only hang on for her ride.

The events of the last year have been beyond my imagination. First of all I had no idea of the effort required; I counted the days. Out of 365 I've had 33 days off. If you look into those days and count the ones I went in on Sunday to do extra work you can decrease that number to about 28. Of those 28 when you count the ones half spent working on these articles you can decrease it to 14. Of those last 14 days I cleaned house and did laundry. Any days left unaccounted were likely spent spinning ideas and walking the dogs, but were mostly frittered completely flat on the couch.

I have been pleased at how our community has supported THM, using the cafe tables for informal business meetings and the couches to catch up with friends. Many hours are whiled finding just the right book for customers, dispensing coffee specialties and happily chatting with friends. Sometimes we get high-minded and attempt to solve the problems of the world. Perhaps I should have gone to Coffee School $$$ and completed a philosophy or psychology degree $$$.

The thing that delights me the most about bringing our baby to her first year is that I feel I haven't "worked" a single day. Almost every day I want to go in early and often stay late. I cannot imagine Buffalo without her.

It truly is the friends we've made and the colorful characters we greet every day who make her what she is. It's you who fill out her personality. We feel grateful to be a part of our birthday girl, so we're throwing her a Big Party on Tuesday, Nov, 3rd. We'll begin around 4:00 pm with free food from Mickey's. We'll have more goodies, music and prizes at 6:00. We'll announce the winners of our contests and have door prizes throughout the evening. To top off the party we've ordered a cake from "A Cake Too Remember". It will be a piece of art visually depicting the story of how Glenn and I came to be "The Horse's Mouth", all of it over mouth watering chocolate cake. You'll simply have to see it to believe it.

Check the web site for contests. http://www.thehorsesmouth. squarespace. com See you Tuesday!