Hello there,

My new blog is www.noblevine.wordpress.com

I just want to redirect folks to my new and up-to-date blog still with WordPress.  The address is above. Please come visit and see what I am up to now.

Thanks.

The past few weeks have been quite busy.  I have been working hard doing my sales job for 99blocks.  I have been as persistent and pushy as I can be without alienating downtown business people.   I believe that downtown will be onboard as a whole very soon especially with the holidays coming up.  This is time when many businesses realize the importance of advertising not only with us but with multiple venues. 

In my pounding the pavement, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about downtown businesses.  For instance, Jody Morphis explained to me the origin of the name Fincastle’s.  It turns out that he really loves Board and Castle Sauce and uses it a lot in cooking.  He liked the branding and feel of that name and so he decided to name his restaurant something reminiscent.  Also I found out that “Jaybird, the singing waiter” at Fincastle’s is also the singer for a local band called Soul Central.  Soul Central plays gigs all around the Triad on a regular basis.  And I can attest that Jaybird is a very talented and soulful singer!  He sang me a lovely gospel song one day when I was having lunch.  I still have not had one of their fried pickles, but I think I will get up the courage to have one soon.

I went on a very interesting Architectural tour two weeks ago.  Benjamin Briggs of Preservation Greensboro and Sherry Adams of Downtown Greensboro Inc. were the tourguides.  We went to look at various buildings.  Most of the audience were architects, but I nonetheless enjoyed learning about the antiquated buildings myself.  We looked at the Southeastern Building, which 99blocks has featured.  We also looked at the Cone Export Building (where Milton Kern and many other big wigs have their offices).  We also looked at Postal Heaven/ David Spangler Law building, because it was a cigar warehouse.  The Carolina Theatre was on the tour as well.  I met some interesting folks on the tour and learned a few things also.

I am excited for the Holidays to come. It’s always a time when family gathers around and we see some people we don’t see at other times of the year.  Also 99blocks is doing a special feature for the holidays (between Thanksgiving and Christmas). Here is the info:

“Here’s your chance to highlight on of your products of services-just one-in a new feature page in 99blocks magazine.  It’s called “Holiday Block Busters.”

Beginning Thanksgiving week and running each week through Christmas, we’ll connect your product with our readers.  It’s a page that invites readers to browse, window shopping with the turn of a page.  Maybe it’s a to-die-for handbag,a bottle of fine wine, or theatre tickets.  You’ve got a gift idea in your shop that should be on someone’s gift list.

We’ll give you the hook up and even send our photographer by to snap a picture of the item.

The holidays are just around the corner, so save your customers time by giving them instant gift ideas.  What would you ONE be?”

Call me when you decide….

99blocks was a sponsor at the Art and Vine Festival on Saturday.  We had a booth there.  By the way thanks to all those who stopped by to see us, including my grandma, Dot who came out with me.

The weather was beautiful on Saturday and I am sure that those who came to the festival enjoyed themselves.  From what I heard the wines were quite delicious.  I think it is great that North Carolina is coming up in the the world of wines.  I heard someone say the other day that NC seems to be becoming the California of the East. I do see some similarities there.  The wines, the film industry in Wilmington, the coast and the mountains….and the fact that so many people are moving here from all over the country as well as internationally too. 

I enjoyed seeing local business people at Art & Vine.  It was great to see Robin from Mack and Mack.  They have a new Ultra Suede line coming out which looks lovely. I also saw Catherine Gardner from The Tin Rooster/ Blue Diamond Gallery.  She is a sweetheart.  My husband enjoyed tasting the wines and I was quite impressed by the branding done by Rim Tapas.  They supplied the wine glasses for the event (with their logo on them, of course).  I see that the smart businesses have their brand all over the place. They don’t simply use one mode of publicity or one publication.  It seems that the savvy business person surrounds their public with their brand prescence.

I really wanted to visit the Art Stock locations on Saturday.  I know that Greensboro and the Triad has so many talented artisans and I am glad that they have these types of events to showcase their talents for the public.  I did go last year, however and I do definitely support the arts locally.

So anyhow, Saturday was a nice time.  We had family time also. My brother in law and sister in law and niece and nephew came to Greensboro from Charlotte. They along with my husband, mother-in-law and I had a nice lunch at Natty Greene’s.  My inlaws love the new Center City Park. 

Thanks to friends and family who are so supportive of me individually and thanks to all those who have been so supportive of 99blocks Magazine.  I hope to continue meeting and greeting more of you soon!

I will be out this week delivering some of our Downtown Pets Issue. Be prepared for cuteness!

The weather has cooled off.  It’s about ten degrees cooler today than yesterday.  It feels pretty good, but I don’t like it much below 70degrees.  Does it seem like I talk about the weather a lot?  Well, I suppose I do. But it’s because the weather is a neutral topic.  You know people don’t like to have you talk about politics, religion, etc.  Here in the south, another topic of diversion in mom n’em.  Yes, we like to talk about our mothers and especially our grandmothers.  My grandmother, Dot Robinson Barnwell, is doing well at age 92. 

As I may have mentioned before my grandma is a thrice published author.  Her first two books were published in 1962 and 1965 respectively.  The two novels are in the “young adult fiction” genre.  Head Into The Wind’s main charater Toby is based on my grandfather George Barnwell.  Its the coming of age story of a rural boy who is growing up on a cotton farm, orphaned at age 9.  My grandfather was in fact orphaned at age 9. His mother, my great grandmother, Maggie Pettigrew Barnwell raised my granddad along with his two older brothers, Curry and Albert.  They were actually tobacco farmers, as you can imagine, on a farm in Caswell County NC.  Times were tough for them growing up and struggling through the Great Depression.  Head Into The Wind was a minor best seller and gained my grandmother, an English teacher by profession, some fame locally.

My grandma’s second book is called Shadow On The Water. The main character in this book in a young girl named Cameron.  It too is a coming of age story and addresses a lot of the internal and external struggles that an adolescent girl faces.  Of course the book is considered “retro” now.  The struggles my grandmother’s generation faced were somewhat milder in comparison to what I or those younger than me faced when we grew up.  Nonetheless, the book has timeless elements and is a good, quick read if you have interest in NC authors.

Years From Home is my grandmother’s latest novel.  It was published when she was ninety years old.  It is a retrospective of her life.  The characters in the book are her family members, including siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins…It is a cool book.  My grandma got the inspiration for writing a third book from when I was a child.   I used to stay with my grandparents on weekends and my grandma would always tell me a story at bedtime. But the stories were not made up fairy-tales, they were stories from her own childhood and youth.  I loved hearing them , they were so interesting.  Anyhow, I think anyone would enjoy reading this book.  You can buy it from Amazon or Publish America. 

The first two books are also available online from used book stores if you can find one.  I have seen them online.  They should also be in the library under local author section.

I been out a lot this week attempting to sell ads for 99blocks magazine.  Its going pretty well and I am getting used to the pat excuses, rejections or  ”no’s” from people.  But I don’t take it as a permanent no, only a temporary no, which will turn into a “yes” with a little time and persistence.  People are funny though, it seems they will tell you anything just to get rid of you.  But I have to say the majority of business owners have been cordial and honest.  Sometimes, I may get a bit disappointed when I have approached a business about buying advertising and they said they don’t do advertising, or they have no advertising budget, or their budget is used up for the year, etc, etc…..  then later I will see that same business’s ad in another publication.  Oh well, I can only do my part.  I think with time people will be clamouring to get into 99blocks due to the fact that we can do the most for them.  Just my opinion.

I have not done an entry for a while.  I have been quite busy….I wanted to let people know about 99blocks upcoming Downtown Pets Issue which will come out on October 18th.  The issue will focus on local pets and their owners and the services that are offered for pets both downtown and in greater Greensboro.  This promises to be a very cute and cuddly issue, so don’t miss it!  If you are not in our distribution area, you can pick up a copy of 99blocks at The Green Bean and at Postal Heaven.

This weekend I went to NYC, via Philly and NJ.  My trip had a dual purpose. One was to visit my inlaws who live in Princeton NJ and to assist my mother-in-law with her packing for her move to Greensboro.  And to see my father-in-law who recently got himself a “tune-up”.  He actually had 3 stents placed in his heart arteries.   He is doing great and working as hard as ever with his real-estate business.

The other reason I went on the trip was to attend an open call casting for a reality show which will be on the TV Land network.  The auditions were held near the West Village on 9th and 19th at a place called City Stage.  They have 3 very nice sound stages and they are a venue that is used a lot for auditions, etc.

I arrived at City Stage at 7am after taking about an hour long NJ transit train ride from Hamilton station.  It turns out I was number 27 in line.  I stood next to a striking light-skinned African American lady from Detroit.  It was quite ironic…as it turned during our conversation I found out she had attended Bennett College, right here in good old Greensboro. Small world, huh?  She was there with her husband and I have a feeling she had the look they wanted.  Perhaps I will see her on the show. The whole casting call thing was an interesting experience.  Not a fun experience really, but interesting.  There were all types of people there and I enjoyed talking with the ladies on line.

The producers arrived around 7:30am to set up and I saw them going inside.  At the time when they arrived the line of people was not very long, so apparently they were trying to wait for the line to get longer so the turn-out would look more impressive for the cameras.  By the time they camera men came out to film the line the line was around the block.  They had us all sign waivers in order to be filmed. Then they came around to take polaroids of each person, which they attached to our waivers.  Before the filming of the line or the audition I needed to use the restroom, which for those who know me is a common and often-repeated practice.  So, I asked one of the guys with the headphones; “Sir, excuse me, but I have been waiting in line for a long while and I really need the restroom, can you assist me.”  He was quite gentlemanly and he said yes.  His name was Andrew, so Andrew escorted me past the line, as I walked teeteringly on my high heels (which I never ususally wear and which were falling off of my feet) and into the facility and asked one of his assistants to escort me to the restroom. I went inside, changed back into my sandals used the potty,  then I came back out and took my place in line.

They finally began taking us inside in groups of ten.  I got my chance to go in.  We entered City Stage, took an elevator ride upstairs into an all black-painted sound stage and who was there but Andrew?  So, you can imagine how funny it was for me.  But at least I thought he may remember me as the lady who needed the restroom.  As it turned out Andrew was the producer of the show!  So they had us stand on a taped out line on the floor and state our name, our age, and our height.  Next they had us walk forward from the first tape line to another tape line, to see how we walked.  I walked just fine, since I had put back on my flat sandals.  I was one of the tallest women there,however, even without my heels on. So anyhow, that was it, that was the whole “audition”.  It took less than 5 minutes. Then were piled into the elevator and I was out of there. I don’t think I made the cut, because I have not received a phone call and the deadline for call backs is up.  C’est La Vie.  My heart was not set on it anyhow.  It would have probably driven me crazy having every word and action taped 24-hours a day for three weeks.  I think I’m too old for that and plus I enjoy my privacy and dignity.  My main reason for attending the tryout for getting onto a reality show is that I felt perhaps it could be a springboard for doing more important things, such as helping me to be a person who is known so that I might speak about issues that are close to my heart.  But, I know if this isn’t the spingboard, God has another one for me.

So, after I left the audition. I went on a walking tour of Manhattan.  I have been to Manhattan many times and I usually have the most fun just walking around and seeing what I can see. I walked uptown.  I stopped at various shops and places along my journey and I took photos of the buildings I liked. I though of going to the MOMA, but I got too tired at that point.  I decided to go to Times Square because I wanted to visit Times Square Church (it’s David Wilkerson’s church, the guy who wrote The Cross and the Switchblade).  I got there around 2 or 3 in the afternoon.  Upon my arrival, I tried to open the doors, but they were locked. A man was outside the building and was obviously doing some painting touch-ups of the facade. But at the moment he was on the sidewalk with another man and the two were praying together.  So I waited patiently whiled they finished.  Then I met Calvin, the painter and inquired about going inside.  Calvin informed me that I had missed the 12 noon service and that the next service was at 5pm.   I said to Calvin ” I am too tired and will probably be back in Jersey before 5pm.”  So, Calvin, being a very kind Christian man and seeing that I really wanted to go inside, let me in.  He said for me to look around all I wanted.  So I did look around, and it was quite beautiful.  The choir was practicing and it was wonderful and very touching. While I was there I asked Calvin to pray with me, which he did and I felt very blessed. I was so happy I got a chance to go there, meet Calvin, and pray.

Next I continued my walk up to about 52nd St. at which point I realized my feet were not going to take much more and that I was exhausted after the process I went through along with a lack of sleep the night preceeding.  I decided I would take a cab back to Penn Station.  I saw a valet for a hotel with a whistle trying to hail a cab for another lady who was there.  I asked the valet if he would please hail me a cab next. He looked at me like “Ok, I will, but I’d rather not…”  So then the lady asked my where I was going, I said Penn Station and she said that was where she was going and asked if I’d like to share a cab.  So we did.  I met Jo.  She was from Johannesburg South Africa.  It turns out she is a costume designer for big Hollywood productions, for instance she did all the costumes for Cold Mountain.  She was in New York just finishing up work on a film produced my Anthony Minghella.  She was actually on her way to take an Amtrak to upstate for a wedding.  She was being met on the other side by Pete Townsend’s daughter.  She knows lots of Hollywood people and famous folks, but she, herself, is quite down to earth. She said a lot of interesting and profound things on our cab ride.  I really enjoyed meeting her.

I took my trip home on Sunday and used NJ Transit and SEPTA trains to get to the airport in Philly, for my flight on Southwest Airlines.  While I was at 30th St. Station I met this dude named Cohutta.  Cohutta is a reality personality himself. He appears on MTV’s- The Real World Australia.  He is from North Georgia and is a good ol’ country boy.  He and I chatted as we were wating for our train to the airport.  I asked him about how he felt the reality show impacted his life. For the most part he felt positive about it, although he admitted he did do a few things on the show which he regretted.  But he was making good money now, doing appearances and such.  It was ironic meeting him and interesting.  The poor guy was running late for his flight, I honestly doubt he made it since the security check-in lines at Philly were miles long.  Oh, well….

Over all I had a very interesting trip, which made me think about a lot of things. I enjoy traveling, meeting people, but for me, there’s no place like home.

I’m glad to be back in the 99……

This is the last week of September. I am both looking forward to the fall season as well as thinking about how fast the summer has flown by.

I enjoy the warm weather probably moreso than the cold, as I am fairly cold-natured. I like the idea of fleeing to warmer climates when winter comes. But I doubt that will happen. Although my husband’s mother’s family is having a giant family reunion in Columbia. That’s Columbia South America, not South Carolina. We really would love to go as it is a rare opportunity to go down to Baranquilla and see extended family. But with all of the work we have here, I don’t see how it can happen.

The reunion is in December and so is my birthday. My mom is sort-of sentimental about having me around on my birthday so she can celebrate it with me. I am her only child, so I guess that’s why. But anyway, perhaps my mom could go to Columbia too. But we’d have to take grandma with us too, which would be quite difficult.

Oh, well. As they say “Sufficient unto each day are the troubles thereof…” So I will keep taking it one day at a time and see how things work out. I hope to have 99blocks filled up with ads by Christmas. I think our publisher Bill Hancock would consider that a nice Christmas gift.

Enjoy what’s left of Indian Summer and get ready for fall foliage. “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” By the way that’s not just song lyrics, its originally from Ecclesiastes in the Bible.

So true, So true…..

I have been working hard this week.  Both with 99Blocks and also finishing up my job of nearly three years with Orange County Department on Aging-Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.  I am really going to miss the RSVP folks.  They are like family to me.  I could have never asked for a better boss than Kathy Porter or better co-workers than Vicki Hill and Judy Mathias.   But I am happy because it seems like my replacement Caroline will fit in very well there and do a great job.  Farewell my OC friends, I will see you again, I am sure.

I am a bit tired tonight but wanted to show you the cool logo, but pasting it did not work so will do it asap.

Instead here is a cool I love WordPress logo created by another WordPress blogger. Nice.

See Ya In the 99…

What’s Hot?  That phrase comes to my mind because it is on the main page for this blogspot-WordPress.  There is the heading”What’s Hot”, then underneath there are categories of blogs that of of popular interest.  Well, at least the weather cooled down due to the rain we had on Friday day and evening, Thank God.

I am not sure if my blog is of popular interest, but I think it should appeal to the people.  Speaking of peoples….Thus far in my work with 99Blocks magazine I have had the opportunity to meet many interresant folks who have set up shop in the Downtown Greensboro area. 

Some of the nice and friendly people include-Ms. Becky Causey at The View on Elm.  She is quite a hospitable person and very business-like.  She seems like a very smart lady to me.  I had asked Becky if she were related to the Causeys of Causey Airport.  She said no, but that she had been asked that question more than one time.  She says she hears they are nice people.  I am sure that is true.    I used to take flying lessons and was interested in the Causey airport because there are folks who own planes and keep them there and  have a coop for flying time, so people can afford to fly.  Anyhow, I also met a very outgoing and cool lady at the Winterfire Gallery.  This is a great place to find arts and crafts made by locals and with a focus on American (USA) Artists.  Julia is the manager over there.  She runs the place for the owner.  She is very knowledgable about all of the artists whom they stock there.  I enjoyed meeting Julia.  A nice husband and wife team of proprietors are the Whitlows at the new Twenty Twenty Spa on Elm St.  They have a lovely space over there. I think a lot of downtowners and suburbanites will want to visit this new business-Especially the ladies-You know we love creams, lotions, makeup and that type of thing.   Catherine and Martha and Lowell at The Tin Rooster certainly make an interesting team.  And I just want to say thanks to you all for getting an ad with 99Blocks! I am excited to see lots of folks filing into your classy joint.  I like what you have there and thanks for being cool downtowners.  And the last person I will mention for now is Mr.Mark Hewett over at Area Home Furnishings.  Mark had changed since I visited the store last.  His hair was shorter and he had a bit of a beard.  I felt silly because I walked in that day and said “Is the owner in?”  Anywho…Mark is a gentleman from Birmingham, England.  We talked about Robots a lot.  He and I both enjoy something about the aesthetic of robots.  I mention the club in the Village from the Nineties call “Save the Robots” and Mark was, of course, familiar with it.   I am looking forward to a cool December ad-run for Area and Mark.

For next time, I will mention Kim over at Southside’s Basketdoodle. She is a super-cool sister.

To all the Peoples- Have a Lovely Sunday.

PS-I put links to all those stores, for whom I located a website.

This has been an interesting week.  Monday was our 8th wedding anniversary.  Tuesday was, of course, the anniversary of the 911 tragedy.  I am just so thankful we did not get married on September 11th!  Whew! 

I am excited that my husband’s business seems to be picking up.  The ad for Postal Heaven came out on the back cover of this week’s 99 Blocks.  Fionna did a great job on the ad for Postal Heaven.  The colors and the content is just right.  I am sure we will be seeing more folks coming through the doors as a result of the ad. 

During my sales calls for 99Blocks I have been meeting a lot of interesting people and getting to know their businesses.  Many are receiving the magazine in the mail every week and say they enjoy reading it cover to cover.  If folks are enjoying the magazine and want to keep it around as a resource for downtown then -Hey Guys…Chip in and buy an ad or two!!!  As you know our rates are more than reasonable.  And we are the only magazine out there specifically for Downtowners.  I read in an article, that currently there are 500-800 residents in downtown.  The developers and other powers that be want to see that number shoot up to about 5000.  And with City View, and the Center City tower opening up soon I think it will become a reality.  99Blocks has the style and class that Greensborians should want to see as our downtown’s image projected to the masses.  Really, do you want Greensboro to be a Tabloid Town or a Magazine Metropolis?  Lets step it up a notch.  Don’t tell me you don’t pay for advertising! If you don’t, you should!  Statistics show that most businesses fail due to lack of sufficient advertising.  And no offense, but please lets not “trade”.  I can’t pay my bills with doughnuts, right?  I will “trade” you a beautifully executed advertisement in a stylish, avant garde, hip magazine for, let’s see….CASH?  Fair enough?

I say lets ban together Downtown Greensboro and make this city into something awesome. Let use the media that is put out by one of our own.  A great guy Bill Hancock. You know, Greensboro is already much better than it used to be in the 90’s when I was a student at UNCG.  Back then everyone complained that “Greensboring” sucked and all we wanted to do was to escape the black hole-like sucking velocity of this boring berg.  But Hey Look at Us Now all grown up and looking fancy! But we need more momentum people.  I think that WE the people should define what Downtown is like.  Lets not wait for others from corporate America to come in here and make our city into just another cookie cutter consumer collection of the same old same old stuff. 

Are you with me?  I hope so.  If you see me walking down the street don’t walk on by….Say hey Leslie I want to buy and ad in 99Blocks.  I am willing be a part of the solution not part of the problem.  Lets get rid of our collective “poor mouth” attitudes and be the city I know we can be.  I know some of you are with me already, like David Wharton, with his blog, A Little Urbanity.  Check him out too!

Have a good weekend.

Today was a nice day.  I sold my first ad for 99Blocks.  I am happy about that.  After work I went to the Y and did boot camp class.  I had a small mishap during the portion of the class where the instructor told the class to run backwards around the room.  My first mistake was complying with her instruction.  But when I did so, my rubber sole sneaker skidded and caused me to hurdle across the room in front of at least 10 other women.  Once I landed on my bum, I then slid another foot or two, due to the spandex bike shorts I was wearing.  As you can imagine, I was mortally chagrined and  rather embarrassed.  To try and offset my humiliation I did a backward somersault and bounced up off of the floor and clicked my heels together.-TRUE STORY!  I know, I must be nuts.  But I laughed it off and continued running.  Such as with life.  Things always come at you to try and stop you in your tracks, but, for me there is the grace and mercy of God, which allows me to get up, dust myself off, and try all over again.

The purpose of my YourBlocks.com blog is to chronicle my personal experiences as a sales representative for 99blocks. I also wanted to try blogging.  I might also add personal non-99blocks tidbits when I feel it necessary, warranted, useful or interesting.

I started representing 99Blocks  on August 28, 2007. 

My name is Leslie Gydos and I am a new blogger or, if you will, a nogger.  I am looking forward to hopfully bringing you some interesting content,which will inform you further about the businesses and goings-on of Downtown Greensboro, especially through the new and interesting magazine 99Blocks.

My husband and I have a store in Downtown Greensboro called Postal Heaven. You can read my husbands’s blog about opening and operating the store at www.postalheaven.wordpress.com. 

I look forward to hopfully meeting many of you at ConvergeSouth-  www.convergesouth.com

First we checked using who is at networksolutions.com and with yahoo to see if we could get a catchy domain name that had to do with what Leslie is blogging about.  Then we went to wordpress to see if the wordpress blog of the same name would be available.  Then we went to yahoo to get the domain name.  Since it didn’t go through for some reason when Leslie typed the info in, I typed in with my info and it went through. Presto!

www.yourblocks.com will be up and running with www.yourblocks.wordpress.com

Welcome to the blogosphere Leslie., beware the urge to check on your blog stats.