"Wouldn't you know I got these emails that demanded immediate attention. Then phone starts ringing. Before I knew it, here you are asking me where's your dinner."

"What's with that expression? Oops, hold phone, sweetheart. Another Instant Messenger is coming through. Not to worry. I'll get rid of it real quick and then we'll talk."

"Oh, by way, I made another couple of sales today, and I signed up some new folks. Of course, I had to respond to them but now I'm bushed. Think we can call out for pizza? It's a jungle out there in cyber-world."

"What's matter now? You know how much you love their special, 'The Works'. How am I sabotaging your diet? Just eat vegetables!"

"What was that? You certainly DID NOT see more of me when I worked in real world. Excuse me for a moment, honey. I'm almost finished building this new website. You're gonna love it; I even dedicated a page to you."

"I'm sorry. Huh? Oh, yeah, car. I promised to have it cleaned today, didn't I? You are NEVER going to believe this. After I turned off computer and grabbed my car keys, guess what happened? I got this killer brainstorm. You know how it is; use it or lose it. Had to hurry and get those thoughts down."

"Come on, sweetie, smile! Think "Gone With The Wind. Tomorrow's another day and car wash will still be there."

"Hey, what's in that envelope you're holding so tight? Oh, no!!! You bought those theater tickets I've been dying for? You are positively BEST, bar none!" "Say what, hon? You want me to take a look at them? Sure! Just give me an hour or so. If I don't back up these files, we're in a pile of trouble."

"Oh, No! I almost forgot! One of those phone calls I got earlier was from your mother. She's locked out and needs you to come right over with extra set of house keys." End of story. Recognize anyone you know?

Computers and The Net can be very provocative. It's up to us to remain cognizant that there was a life before them. We'd best not take risk of it not being there after we back up that last file.

Instant Messenger does not a companion make.

We need another TV court show like a hole in head. But I can see one coming. "Tekky-Marital-Discord Court" presided over by Judge I. Messenger of Superior Court of Cyber Confusion.

This is great theory, but for small business owner, anticipating where customer is going to be is not sufficient. The small entrepreneur has to hit customer exactly on target every time. So small business mantra concerning Internet was, "If you can't connect with a sale immediately, stick to sales you can make."

Now, amid rubble that once was Internet gold rush, small companies are entering and finding some success. Perhaps a portion of company's customer base has made it known they are willing to buy online, or perhaps cost of entry, in both capital and management attention, is now low enough to take risk. Whatever reason, small companies are moving slowly, cautiously and successfully to ecommerce.

The sites I visited for judging defined themselves in ROI. Either they were Web extensions of existing companies or they were Web-only start-ups. For existing companies, site had to deliver new, profitable customers. For Web-only companies, site had to simply show a profit. Some of sites were bare-bones mall shops, while others were fully-integrated arms of a flourishing enterprise.

They all had one thing in common; they were built of tough strands of small business muscle and bone. There is nothing more honest in business than a trend that delivers results for small entrepreneurs. The Inc. contestants may show a new door opens Internet as a legitimate, profitable channel for new markets and, surprise - surprise, additional profits.