The roller coaster ride still continues.  Things are still moving forward with the ice cream shop.  I attended another ice cream convention this weekend (who knew these types of conferences even existed??!!!) and it was very helpful and I had a meeting with an ice cream distributor that I really want to work with.  I even met the owner of the company.  The week after next I'll meet him up at the shop so we can go through the stores layout and he'll help us get ready to open. I also met some good supplier connections, and met more local shop owners. 

It's an interesting industry, this ice cream-thing.  Most of the shops are family owned/run, which means that the interactions are less structured and more friendly.  The other nice thing is that as long as you're not with 10 - 15 miles of each other, then you are not considered competition so people are more than happy to share with you what they've learned.  In fact in two weeks M and I are going to spend the day at a local shop so he can go through the in-and-outs of operating an ice cream shop.

I also belong to a few Yahoo groups, and a Facebook group of shop owners, and they are a wealth of knowledge. Once again more than willing to share everything, from hot fudge recipes, to how to clean a soft serve machine, to listing where to buy supplies. 

So it continues to be exciting  and quite a learning experience, but the money-thing can be overwhelming at times.  It's scary to think how much we (I??) are willing to put on the line.  We are a middle-aged couple with a young child, what are we thinking?  What am I thinking???

I'm gonna quit a pretty well paying position, with benefits, health coverage, and stock options, to scoop ice cream?  Seriously??

And then are times where I'm so excited by the challenge.  I'm back to reading books about customer service (I just started readying Positively Outrageous Service). I even stole an Inc. Magazine from the doctor's office because it has great articles for entrepreneurs.  I loved being at the conference over the weekend.  I enjoyed talking to other owners and then working with the suppliers.  The opportunity to be my own boss and to run our own place is intoxicating.  And then hopefully being in a position to maybe help others or make an impact on the community is an awesome thought. 

I have so many thoughts on how to grow this business, and have fun and make a difference all at the same time.  I know it may seem crazy, but I also know it's something I have to do....hopefully even meant to do.

And then there's therapy....

This is more of a ramble, and not quite coherent, but I just need to throw it out there for now.

Why do I not want L to think I'm ok? I get something from it, but what? Can we not have a deep connection if I'm happy? Is being or acting depressed a way to get attention?  Or maybe I'm just used to feeling that way, it's my comfort zone.