And that Tony Dastan had already fired off an email intro to SeaGuard's president on Friday morning. I followed up with a call to the guy, and now have an appointment set for late next week. But a little grease on the skids never hurts.

I'll figure out the proper way to thank Mr. Dastan before next month's BizTap soiree.

And so I surfed away my weekend. My friends with salaried jobs and 401kays think running your own business is so freeing, but it's really a ton of drudging through records and paperwork and payroll and boring websites.

And I didn't just surf interior design websites, Journey. Or industry websites on flooring or window treatments or paint (Lordy no, not paint!). I visited every website from AARP to Zodiac sites, sampling what I liked. And what I hope my clients will like.

But at least I do know that every hour, every minute, I stick into Crystal Designs is money in the bank. My bank. I'm not getting my life sucked away for somebody else. I look at Percy, with so much potential and so much charisma (that's a fancy word for likeableness, Journey) and I see how SetCo just tears him apart thirteen ways from Sunday.

But I'm not supporting three kids and a wife now, am I, Journey? If our business heads a bit south on the sales end I ease my pay back and suck it in on ramen noodles for a couple weeks—and don't let the Corolla steer me through any mall parking lots. My brother-in-law has a few more responsibilities than that.

And I just got off the phone with him fifteen minutes ago, Journey; him, the twins, and Cora, all in turn.

And Carmen.

Tomorrow is J-day, the day they board that bird and fly across the Pacific.

Yes, Carm will have Skype—now with video!!—in Japan . But it won't be the same. She'll be fourteen hours ahead. We'll be co-coordinating calls and times and dates; no more ringing her up just any evening on a whim.

Guess it could be worse. It could be twenty years ago, and the telephony would cost me an arm and a leg. Or she could be stuck someplace where there's no internet, and no telephones at all. At least Japan 's First World .

Or it could be permanent. She'll be back, Journey. She'll be back and I'll be able to hug her tight.

Besides, I've gotten acclimated to this process with one sister already.

Goodnight, Journey.

Read March 23rd entry.

Read March 28th entry.