Interior designing (Part 1)
Had a meeting with the general contractor (GC) and the architect, Mr. B at his studio.
Main objectives were to discuss the construction plan and to choose some material for floor and counter and light fixtures.
Mr. B and I had started discussion on interior design about a year ago and already agreed to expose some bricks off the wall facing to the parking lot. Inside the white wall in the picture here are actually bricks.
We agreed on a wood-looking (but not real wood which is difficult to maintain) flooring and black countertop. Mr. B and the GC explained well to me the difference between vinyl, natural stone and synthetic stone for countertop:
- Vinyl is in expensive but gives the 'cheap' look. It also is easy to scratch and peel off in a few years.
- Natural stone is more expensive than vinyl and porous, meaning that could be stained. It is also hard so some restaurants afraid that wine glasses and nice plates maybe broken if placed with very high impact.
- Synthetic stone gives the good appearance as natural stone does. It is not porous so less likely to get stained. Price is about same as natural; however, it has to be cut by specialist with extra cost.
We chose black natural stone for countertop. I understand it is porous, but black whould not show much stain.
Counter wall (the side customer would see when they walk into the door) was difficult to decide. Mr. B had picked very nice material for a good 'first impression' to the customer, but it looked a little too shiny for me. I agreed to decide after visiting a material store.
Continue to Part 2
Japanese version of this entry is here.
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Main objectives were to discuss the construction plan and to choose some material for floor and counter and light fixtures.
Mr. B and I had started discussion on interior design about a year ago and already agreed to expose some bricks off the wall facing to the parking lot. Inside the white wall in the picture here are actually bricks.
We agreed on a wood-looking (but not real wood which is difficult to maintain) flooring and black countertop. Mr. B and the GC explained well to me the difference between vinyl, natural stone and synthetic stone for countertop:
- Vinyl is in expensive but gives the 'cheap' look. It also is easy to scratch and peel off in a few years.
- Natural stone is more expensive than vinyl and porous, meaning that could be stained. It is also hard so some restaurants afraid that wine glasses and nice plates maybe broken if placed with very high impact.
- Synthetic stone gives the good appearance as natural stone does. It is not porous so less likely to get stained. Price is about same as natural; however, it has to be cut by specialist with extra cost.
We chose black natural stone for countertop. I understand it is porous, but black whould not show much stain.
Counter wall (the side customer would see when they walk into the door) was difficult to decide. Mr. B had picked very nice material for a good 'first impression' to the customer, but it looked a little too shiny for me. I agreed to decide after visiting a material store.
Continue to Part 2
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Neighborhood 2
On my favorite street is a public elementary school.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
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Japanese version of this entry is here.
Neighborhood 1
Meeting with General Contractor - 1st meeting
Now that permit is granted for General Contractor (GC) to begin construction, we met at Snappy's site today to discuss next steps.
GC will pick up the permit from the city hall in a few days, and we will meet with the architect to discuss some floor and light material later this week. I also need to set up a meeting between the GC, Wayne (landlord) and myself to make sure all of us are on the same page. I am glad that GC knows what to discuss with Wayne as I do not know what to expect!
GC gave me 2 copies of contract for me to review by our next meeting and said he plans to start working in 2 weeks.
I thanked for his time on Sunday to meet with me, and he said our meeting was his 4th appointment of the day. Now he was done for the day and off home for some family time.
Wall facing to the parking lot. It will get cleaned concurrently with interior construction.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
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GC will pick up the permit from the city hall in a few days, and we will meet with the architect to discuss some floor and light material later this week. I also need to set up a meeting between the GC, Wayne (landlord) and myself to make sure all of us are on the same page. I am glad that GC knows what to discuss with Wayne as I do not know what to expect!
GC gave me 2 copies of contract for me to review by our next meeting and said he plans to start working in 2 weeks.
I thanked for his time on Sunday to meet with me, and he said our meeting was his 4th appointment of the day. Now he was done for the day and off home for some family time.
Wall facing to the parking lot. It will get cleaned concurrently with interior construction.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Permit granted
City of Hayward has issued a permit for Snappy's Cafe to start the interior construction.
I will meet my general contractor soon to give the first payment and the site key tomorrow.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
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I will meet my general contractor soon to give the first payment and the site key tomorrow.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Star
At whatever job I am working, I strive to be a star, an irreplaceable employee.
I don't care to be THE star but rather help all colleagues be stars.
Before I hire someone, I consider her/his potential of growing into one. Then I do my best to encourage him/her. Having stars in my workforce is risky, as they can easily go work for someone else. But then that would motivate me to keep my company attractive.
Just a thought came up while looking for my Halloween costume in my storage. Found a Hard Rock Cafe "All Star" pin earned when working at Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
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I don't care to be THE star but rather help all colleagues be stars.
Before I hire someone, I consider her/his potential of growing into one. Then I do my best to encourage him/her. Having stars in my workforce is risky, as they can easily go work for someone else. But then that would motivate me to keep my company attractive.
Just a thought came up while looking for my Halloween costume in my storage. Found a Hard Rock Cafe "All Star" pin earned when working at Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Fun theory
Incentive on a rainy day
About a year ago, I wrote a blog article wondering what Snappy can offer to motivate customers to come on a rainy day.
I also wrote an article back in August whether or not to provide outlets for laptop users.
When the big thick cloud poured rain, cats, dogs and everything else over the San Francisco bay area last week, I was working at Mr. G's cafe. We obviously had a very few customers.
Then, I started thinking about offering outlets for laptop users just on rainy days at Snappy's. Would that work?
Japanese version of this entry is here.
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I also wrote an article back in August whether or not to provide outlets for laptop users.
When the big thick cloud poured rain, cats, dogs and everything else over the San Francisco bay area last week, I was working at Mr. G's cafe. We obviously had a very few customers.
Then, I started thinking about offering outlets for laptop users just on rainy days at Snappy's. Would that work?
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Sense of community
I visited a small Japanese store in San Francisco, Sakura, last week.
I found this place with dollar-shop-like items and other Japanese food and cosmetics about 6 months ago near my dentist. Since then, my dentist visit is pared with a little shopping and chatting with the store owner.
The owner said she wants to differenciate Sakura from other well-known Japanese stores without cheapening the store image. At my visit, I suggested some online marketing.
Now I think of how people feel comfortable where they 'belong.' A sense of community maybe something Sakura can provide but big-name stores cannot.
The same applies with coffee shops, I believe. Small independents can offer a space for people to interact. Owners and staff often play siginificant roles in the communicty.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
I found this place with dollar-shop-like items and other Japanese food and cosmetics about 6 months ago near my dentist. Since then, my dentist visit is pared with a little shopping and chatting with the store owner.
The owner said she wants to differenciate Sakura from other well-known Japanese stores without cheapening the store image. At my visit, I suggested some online marketing.
Now I think of how people feel comfortable where they 'belong.' A sense of community maybe something Sakura can provide but big-name stores cannot.
The same applies with coffee shops, I believe. Small independents can offer a space for people to interact. Owners and staff often play siginificant roles in the communicty.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Tax done (finally)!
Just finished filing my last year tax.
Next on the list: Study for the Food Sanitation License.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Next on the list: Study for the Food Sanitation License.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
General contractor chosen
Among 3 contractors that submitted quotes, I chose GC-C who had the least expensive and shortest completion time on their bid.
Hoping to start the construction with them in a couple of weeks.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Hoping to start the construction with them in a couple of weeks.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Snappy's Cafe Facebook Page
Just created Facebook page for Snappy's Cafe!
Haven't got much material there yet, but please visit and join the funs!
Thank you.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Haven't got much material there yet, but please visit and join the funs!
Thank you.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
I was refusing to become a Facebook member as an individual but was planning to make Snappy's Cafe Facebook group. Putting my real full name and picture (optional) on the Internet didn't look very safe to me.
Then, Facebook found a way to change my mind: my salsa dance class group. I have briefly mentioned my dance class in this blog before, but it has become high-priority activity in my life lately. In addition to my weekly class, I now help front desk once in a while. There are TONS of dance clubs and classes in the bay area, but very nice people, both staff and students, got me hooked with Salsa with Juan.
Some advertisements are free. People enjoying your product: web site, clothing, food, car, music... you name it, unconciously become its advertisements.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Then, Facebook found a way to change my mind: my salsa dance class group. I have briefly mentioned my dance class in this blog before, but it has become high-priority activity in my life lately. In addition to my weekly class, I now help front desk once in a while. There are TONS of dance clubs and classes in the bay area, but very nice people, both staff and students, got me hooked with Salsa with Juan.
Some advertisements are free. People enjoying your product: web site, clothing, food, car, music... you name it, unconciously become its advertisements.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Catching up with study
I haven't kept up with my Spanish study plan, and now it is time to return Spanish CD's to the library.
I copied all the CD's in the package and took disk #3 with me to listen to while driving to the library. Long (6 more CD's) way to go!
My full-time work at a factory helps me on conversational Spanish, but I still would like to learn the basic from CD's. That would help me at Snappy's as it is in the city with 30% Hispanics.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
I copied all the CD's in the package and took disk #3 with me to listen to while driving to the library. Long (6 more CD's) way to go!
My full-time work at a factory helps me on conversational Spanish, but I still would like to learn the basic from CD's. That would help me at Snappy's as it is in the city with 30% Hispanics.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Maneki neko
My high school friend came to visit me and brought a gift from Japan.
It's tenugui with maneki neko print. No, the pillow is not from Japan! I just wrapped it with the gift.
Tenugui is described as a "Japanese traditional towel," but it actually more like a large thick handkerchief. You can use it to clean/wear/decorate or whatever creatively. So for now, I wrapped my extra pillow for decoration.
Direct translation of maneki neko is beckoning cat. It welcomes luck (especially in a financial sense) and its ceramic statue is often displayed at retail businesses. I will display it somewhere at Snappy’s once the shop is open.
Special thanks to my friend Blueno for the gift and spending time with me!
Japanese version of this entry is here.
It's tenugui with maneki neko print. No, the pillow is not from Japan! I just wrapped it with the gift.
Tenugui is described as a "Japanese traditional towel," but it actually more like a large thick handkerchief. You can use it to clean/wear/decorate or whatever creatively. So for now, I wrapped my extra pillow for decoration.
Direct translation of maneki neko is beckoning cat. It welcomes luck (especially in a financial sense) and its ceramic statue is often displayed at retail businesses. I will display it somewhere at Snappy’s once the shop is open.
Special thanks to my friend Blueno for the gift and spending time with me!
Japanese version of this entry is here.
Trust
I sometime visit my friend Linda's house to cat-sit Kahi
and another cat, Kiana.
Linda owns a busniess and travels once in a while. She does not like to leave her kitties home by themselves, so I stay at her place with the kitties whenever she is out of town.
As I mentioned in my past blog entry, it takes time to build trust, but it is easy to lose trust. I am thankful that Linda trusts me and remind myself the basic stuff:
1. Do what I am told to do.
2. If I am not sure, ask.
3. If I have to decide what to do without (being able to) ask question, act in the best interest of my friend/client.
4. After the assignment, follow up just to see if everything is okay.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
and another cat, Kiana.
Linda owns a busniess and travels once in a while. She does not like to leave her kitties home by themselves, so I stay at her place with the kitties whenever she is out of town.
As I mentioned in my past blog entry, it takes time to build trust, but it is easy to lose trust. I am thankful that Linda trusts me and remind myself the basic stuff:
1. Do what I am told to do.
2. If I am not sure, ask.
3. If I have to decide what to do without (being able to) ask question, act in the best interest of my friend/client.
4. After the assignment, follow up just to see if everything is okay.
Japanese version of this entry is here.
