LABOR (ed to have the) DAY (off!)

If I recall correctly, my August 31 time report (two weeks) reflected 161 hours of billable time, and I, actually, took a day off to meet with the County Appraisal District to contest my property taxes!

I really should have worked (on work) this holiday weekend, but opted instead, to sleep, watch tv and to clean this hovel that I call home.

I, normally, keep a clean and tidy home, in spite of a busy life and a 67 pound golden retriever. Cleaning has always been like therapy for me, so I rather enjoy the dailly and weekly maintenance. This summer, however, a huge and critically important (read stressful) project at work was thrust upon me. Both the scope and program have changed almost daily, and there have been several steps, only to take twenty steps back. While I'm accustomed to handling big projects and short deadlines, I'm also accustomed to having more control over client and project management, as well as my own daily life... so, the last few months have been, both, extremely stressful... and exhausting.

I've missed more than a few social engagements this summer, including the last couple of Comets games due to broken water pipes. I hated to miss getting together with friends this weekend, but I've found "inner peace" in nurturing my own needs (naps and 90210), as well as those of my hardwood floors.

I've also managed to tackle a little moonlight work, file and purge mounds of paperwork, and pay bills!

This weekend, though speckled with broken water pipes, broken bird feeders, irritating squirrels, a misplaced cat, and heart-stopping doorbells ... has been fruitful, physically exhausting, peaceful and thoroughly enjoyable.

How many days till Thanksgiving???

Mourning Innocent Children... It could happen ANYWHERE!

I join the world in mourning 156 innocent children...

The worst thing about the state of our world is just how vulnerable our children are. As I've watched this story unfold on the news, all I've been able to think is... this could happen anywhere. How undeserving are children, of ANY nation, to be used as pawns, literally or psycholigically, in the name and game of terrorism, bigotry and intolerance.

The problem with the war on terrorism is that terrorists play by no ethical rules. It is absolutely appalling to think that one (or each) of the lives lost... might, indeed, have been the one (or each) that made the difference in this world, that held the key to conflict resolution, that had the divine insight to bring the world together.

My heart goes out to all of the innocent who have suffered injustice, but particularly to the children, and their parents.

Something must be done.