This is the first Saturday in weeks where I haven’t been going nonstop. I actually slept in until noon today — a much-needed time of rest. I’ve felt like I’ve been busy before but I think these past few weeks take the cake (to used a tired, old cliché that I really don’t understand).
It’s strange how things always seem to hit at the same time.
Four years ago, during the late spring/summer of 2005 was one of those times. I
was in the process of applying for a mortgage and buying my condo. Two of the
reporters had quit, leaving only two of the four jobs on the news desk filled.
Because of that I had to work six-day weeks and averaged 48-60 hours of work
for a few weeks in a row. Plus I had just started dating a girl in Cedar City —
45 minutes away. Life was busy.
Last year I went through a similar period. My features
editor quit, leaving my assistant editor, Lisa, and me to handle the features
section ourselves. Since we weren’t paying an editor’s salary, Lisa and I were
both allowed to work overtime. I had also recently been called to serve in the
elders quorum presidency at church. And I was dating a girl at the time too.
This year, ever since I returned from a two-week vacation in early July it’s been crazy. I immediately started on a major cleaning/organizing project at my condo that has resulted in a good 40 hours or so of work and about eight tall garbage bags worth of recycling and an additional two bags of trash. I also started preparing some of my photography (below) to be shown (and hopefully sold) in Grün, a local gift shop. And about 10 days ago, Lisa, my assistant editor, had a baby and went on maternity leave. This time around I’m not allowed to use overtime, but I still have the pressure of trying to fit more stories, plus some editing duties, into my 40-hour work week.
Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), this time around there
isn’t a girl to worry about. I’ve been going on dates, but with a variety of
girls — mostly from my church singles branch. The big time constraint now is my
church calling. I thought the elders quorum presidency was a time killer — it’s
nothing compared to executive secretary. It was my first day back to work
following my two-week vacation that I got a call from a member of the stake
presidency. So I’ve been serving in the calling for more than a month now and
it only seems to be getting busier. In addition to the three-hour block of
church services on Sunday, there is usually another three hours of meetings
and other responsibilities. Then on Tuesday nights I usually hang out at the
church to manage my branch president’s schedule as he meets with various
members of our branch. Then on Wednesday nights we have branch presidency
meetings. The first one was only about an hour, but the last couple have both
stretched past the three-hour mark.
It’s exhausting, but I also feel like I’m accomplishing a
lot. I’m excited for the prospects of making money through a creative outlet
with my photography. The absence of my coworker for three months allows me to
show what I’m capable of and prove that I’m worth keeping around the next time
layoffs come calling. And church service always makes me feel like I’m
contributing something to a greater good.
But I wouldn’t mind a little more time for sleeping …
Sounds like you need the sleep! There is never a dull moment in your life is there!
Just wanted you to know I was checking in on you and thinking of you. I enjoyed a sandwich and yogurt at Millhollow in honor or all of our friends. Good luck with all your many demands!
Posted by: Amy | August 16, 2009 at 08:28 PM