Decemberist

Wow, this month is just kicking my butt so far. I honestly don't think I've ever been this overscheduled work-wise. My three current projects (four, as of tomorrow—what was I thinking?!) are all elementary-level textbooks. They're also all the kind where individual units/lessons/chapters come flying at me fast and furious, and I have to turn them around as quickly as possible. I have to keep switching gears and trying to remember for each one who my contact person is, how to work their FTP site, the specifics of their style guide, how they like their transmittals, and so on. Oh yeah, and then actually do all the editing.

Then, because it's December, I have an extra load of work from my "other" job—remember, the bookkeeping thing? Bookkeepers have to care a great deal about end-of-year things, otherwise evil IRS goblins come after them. It's a ton of paperwork, and it has to get done, and done properly.

December also brings Hanukkah, which begins in under 48 hours. I'm thinking my kids might be expecting some gifts this year, which would suggest a visit to the dreaded mall tomorrow.... Steph's birthday (13!!) is also this month, and I bet she'd like a gift or three as well.

Then there's the Bat Mitzvah! I had a preliminary meeting with the caterer on Monday, and I still have to call the DJ and photographer, and hire a bus to take the kids from the temple to the party. And get a dress for me and one for Julie. And something for Pete, unless I decide to let him wear a Red Sox T-shirt, camo cargoes, and black high-tops as usual. And eleventy billion other details to attend to.

Oh, and plain old life keeps cropping up here and there, too. Like, the cat food in the bowls right now is all that we have in the house. We ran out of milk, yogurt, and fruit yesterday. We have had more take-out for dinner in the last few weeks than we normally have in the same number of months. Friday I'm going on a field trip with Julie's class. The hours just keep getting used up somehow. I need to make appointments, return calls, pay bills, do laundry....

Well, the good news from all of is this is that is indeed all good news. Having new clients is a good thing, and as hard as all this work is, I'm getting paid for it. Hanukkah and birthdays and Bat Mitzvahs and even field trips are all joyous occasions to be celebrated.

So, I just need to survive the next couple of months, and then I can think about getting back to having a few hours of free time each week so I can cook and read and watch movies and buy cat food.

Comments

[Sara]

You know I would shop for you... Hang in there! xoxo

[Sharon]

I used to think that it was a busy life when my kids were babies, but boy does it get nuts when they get involved in school activities and sports. Especially when, like you said, plain old life and work keeps happening. Hang in there!

[Rachel K.]

Gosh, that sounds EXACTLY like my schedule. Good to know I'm not the only one running like crazy!

[nina]

Oh man, I have to lie down after just reading that.