Welcome TACO!

The newest member of our family is Taco, a Redheaded Mexican Parrot! This sweet guy was ignored at the home of a breeder, but seems to be well adjusted and loves everyone. The first day he stepped up for everyone who came to him. So far he barks like a dog, whinnies like a horse and says hello. We are looking forward to being forever friends!

Flat Sandy’s Hidden Jewels is my new project. It is a unique combination of scavenger hunt, travel guide and marketing plan. I have always wanted to combine my love for travel with a career so this may be the answer. My first steps were to take this idea that has been percolating in my head onto paper. I made a power point presentation and pitched it to my family and select friends. Everyone that has heard the idea, so far, has liked the concept, told me that it would be something that they would buy, and have added ideas that will help make it better!

The next steps included a patent search. This was more expensive that I probably needed to pay, but the firm came recommended. They told me that the search would be complete in a week to 10 days, but took over 5 weeks. The first meeting was the only time that I saw the lawyer and his secretary was the only person that I could talk to after I paid for the search. When it finally arrived, I was encouraged to find that nothing exactly like my idea was found, and the products that were close, had very significant differences. The patent search process taught me something about timelines: They are not necessarily as important to others as they are to me! This has lead me to decide that if this was the law firms best interview for a job performance, I was not ready to hire them.

I decided that the expensive next step was something that I could try myself with the help of Legal Zoom. I also am a bit uncomfortable not having a personal relationship with a lawyer to get me through this maze, so I asked an old lawyer friend from NY if he knew anything about patent work but he didn’t so I am thinking about engaging an old boyfriend of Erika’s who recently graduated from law school, in the process.

I now have a patent pending and spoke with the legal zoom lawyer today. He answered some of my questions, and told me that I would be done with this provisional process in a couple of weeks. We will see if that is the case. My goal is to have a prototype by July and to take it on our cross country RV trip this summer. My first target cities are The Villages, Fl. Lockport, NY and LaCross, Wi. I will explain the product in small bites in postings to come!