Busy

This was the first week of the Fall Semester and it was wild. Unlike any 'first week' I can recall and while we all feel that way this week, we can't really put our fingers on why. It could be the 10% growth in enrollment, combined with the usual 'Fall Semester' busy-ness. But it feels like 'more' than that. It is just non-stop from the minute we walk in the door until we all leave bleary-eyed at the end of the day. Today, a co-worker who never makes any sort of 'caring' comments - it's just not her way - said 'sweetie, you look tired'. And I am. Down to my bones weary and hoping against hope that the two days will renew my energy level and get me ready for another busy week. I need two nights of good, solid sleep with no nighttime reminding, no alarm clock awakening, no disturbing dreams that I know were not pleasant but lack memories of any details which would allow me to actually work through whatever they are trying to 'tell' me.

I work a lot of hours. I have a boss who is extremely accommodating about ensuring that I book 'comp' time for the hours I work that exceed a 40 hour week. The only problem with comp time is that you have to have the time to be able to take the time off. And when you're really busy, so busy that you're adding hour after hour of 'comp' time to your total every day, you're too busy to TAKE the comp time you are earning. So I have a ton of time 'on the books' and honestly no idea when I'll be able to take it. [I just reread this sentence and used the word 'know' instead of 'no'. I can't think straight, honestly].

Weeks like this, comp time comes in handy. H. needed to come home sick from school on Monday. B. followed by calling me to pick him up on Wednesday. Add to that a doctor's appointment of my own that I'd already rescheduled once - and I used some comp time this week to handle all these 'unscheduled' times away from the office. No problem. Boss is fine - no issue. BUT, I HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO - so the time away from work only adds to that issue.

I used 'the box' method this evening. Left work at 6 and literally took all the stuff on my desk, piled it into a box and brought it home. Will spend a couple of hours at the dining room table sorting, categorizing, filing, doing and making 'lists' of things. Things to delegate, things to take care of right away. Intending to go back to work on Monday with neater stacks, a clear list of what I need to accomplish and then hit the floor running on Monday AM. My 'helper' goes back to her classes at St. Mary's on Monday so she will only be available 24 hours starting next week - and her schedule is a bit 'scattered' so it's going to take some careful coordination and a lot of emails to keep us both on the same 'track' about what needs to be done, when.

I'm heading to bed - night, all.