Crystal Trino's Journal Sep 24 2006 Entry

September 24. Sunday Night.

Hi Journey.

Exhausted, Journey. I have just always somehow inside myself felt that if I worked hard enough and kept grinding away at my small-shop dreams then one of these days it’s going to get easier and I’ll really have a chance to relax.

Maybe someday, but not right now. The good news is there is too much work pouring in. We’ve signed up six new clients this week, and pitching another five next week. Shelly’s done a stellar job churning out new ideas, and Viv and Dana each drug themselves out of the office past Nine three nights last week. Everybody except Joni came in yesterday morning, so it’s not like I’m slugging it out alone.

Well, OK, I am on Sundays, I guess--but I certainly don’t expect the rest of them to be at the shop on Sunday.

Good thing I slept in last weekend. My mind’s a bit tired, but my body is rested up. The legs didn’t scream a bit when I popped out of bed this morning. I did manage to slip in a quick run before Sunday school this morning. I skipped out on church, though. I hate to do that; it sets a bad example for the kids. OK, truth-time, Journey--you know it’s really because I worry that their parents and the elders will think less of me and maybe even ask me to quit teaching the class.

That would slay me.

But once in a while you simply have to put work first. Dad rarely made sales calls on Sunday, but I remembered a time or three when he went and pitched somebody on a Sunday after he and Mom hauled us to church simply because there wasn’t any other time to meet with the people, especially if they were Adventist or Jewish.

But, he tried not to make it a rule, and so do I.

So business is good. And our four-way call between Carm, Mom, Casey and me went well Friday morning. Casey was pretty upbeat about rounding the quarter-century mark. Mom seemed juiced-up on joy. Maybe her Wednesday night honesty-rant with me was just the catharsis she needed before getting on with all four of us. One thing about Mom; no matter how upset she was or tight money was when we were growing up she always made our birthdays special. We might have been in a catfight with her the day before and after, but the birthday girl dwelled in Notre Dame for the day.

Of course, most of the conversation was about the bookend Cs’ moves. Neither one has a date 100% nailed down, but each of them will be packing quite soon.

And I just finished typing a letter to Sid. Here’s what I wrote, Journey:

"Dear Sid,

Hope all is well with you. There’s a new factor in that case you were working on. It looks like another defendant is about to be arraigned.

Nothing much else new on the home front; we do have a new client, though. A big one--it’s a hotel. They need their entire lobby repainted. I’ve priced it locally, but want to toss a couple of national bids into the mix; keep the local boys honest and all that.

I’ve heard of a really good company that specializes in this type of work. They’re out of Iowa, if I recall. Would you be a dear and see what you can dig up for me?

Love. Crystal."

That’s the cool thing about Sid, Journey--he’ll throw his heart and soul into a little spade-work for me. Of course, I don’t need his heart and soul as much as I need that laser-like intellect.

Goodnight, Journey