The Chabah store is now open for testing! You can do a little browsing, and even place orders. However, the orders will not actually be charged to your credit card, as we are in a testing period.

The good news is, I will actually be filling some of the test orders! That's right, I'll be sending free shoes to some of the people who place test orders. I can't say exactly how many because I don't know how many people will place test orders.

Just remember, if you place a test order, make sure it is for the size and style you actually want!

Just remember, this is not the official launch - please don't distribute the address below to cow-orkers or fiends. Once our merchant account is approved and we can take real orders we'll have a proper product launch. Also, traffic flow will be through our normal home page (www.chabah.com), which should be updated by Monday.

Here is the link for the store: Chabah Online Store

PS: Yes, we are still working on the look, especially the navigation bar. Since we're working through Yahoo we have some limitations and it takes time to make all the adjustments.

Did I mention that I really hope Artemis likes Washington & Lee?

Those are the steps of Lee Chapel, where my wife and I were married. Historical significance, check. Personal significance, check. Overbearing parental guidance, check. What could go wrong?

PS: Update on Stan Wabisky, his obituary in the Asbury Park Press. Note that he has one son, James Vincent, and a surviving brother, John. Seems like whenever the newspapers cover something you know, they mess it up. Rest in peace Stan.

I wish I could write as well as Mark Steyn

By the way, if you interested in buying some Chabah shoes, we will be at the Lutheran church on Greenbelt Rd in Greenbelt this Saturday morning. Should be nice.

Back from Virginia Beach...VA Beach was nice, but Pungo was disappointing. It was, as one vendor called it, "A $20 crowd" - meaning that each family came with about $20 to spend on the day. Which was about right. I lost count of how many people loved the shoes and then had to go to the ATM, had to find their husband, didn't want to "carry them around all day" (they weigh less than 1/2 pound per pair!), etc. It was sick. We had about 70 "I'llbebacks". City people see a deal and pounce. Country folks (I'm being kind here avoiding the h-word) see a deal and wander off to get a $6 funnel cake.

But it was OK, we didn't get desperate and give away the store or anything. Most of the other vendors had the same story - lots of interest, but very little money changing hands. We sold as many shoes in Greenbelt to a total crowd of about 1,000 people as we did in Pungo to 150,000. Literally.

So no more country shows for us - we'll stick to the cities, where people don't think about $20 bucks for a pair of cool, unique shoes, and $1.99 Wal-Mart plastic flops aren't the official town footwear.

Next up, we have a couple church "yard sales" and I plan to try out Eastern Market. I need to finish my work on the website, too. Bruised but not broken.

In other news, I won my first multi-table tourney online the other day. Funny, it was in Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, a game I honestly barely know how to play. But my tournament chops are not bad, as I can bet people off hands and such when necessary. Once I got a stack, I just stayed active and only challenged small stacks. I caught cards when I needed to. It wasn't for much money (I've earned more coming in 8th), but it was nice to boost the poker account a bit and get that first #1.