Back to the grind. . . for a short while anyway

Ahhhh. What a wonderful Christmas vacation. Florida. Sunshine. Family. No real worries. No real chores (thanks Mom, Linda, and Mark for doing the dishes so often). And really, very little thoughts about work. . . or at least anxiety producing thoughts. It was a great R&R holiday.

But now it is back to the grind and all of the things I thought I'd do over the holidays that was work related really does need to get done. After the pleasantries of welcoming everyone back from the holidays, I quickly quarantined myself into my office to develop a plan of attack for the week ahead. Much to accomplish and a huge motivating force to get it all done: RICH IS TAKING LEAVE AND WILL BE COMING HOME THIS WEEKEND!

I am ecstatic. It will be so wonderful to see him and to be with him in person for the next two weeks. Wow! How wonderful that he is able to take leave. But his return is kicking me into high gear at work and at home. You see, the more I get done this week the more time I can take off work (and feel okay with it) when he is in town and the more we can be together.

Despite the work load I am feeling right now, the timing of Rich's homecoming is quite perfect for me. The students are not yet back and as a result my schedule can be a bit more flexible. I know that this semester is going to be a busy and stressful one for me. We are reorganizing the office/job responsibilities, expanding the Creating Chapters of Excellence program to more chapters, and hiring more staff (graduate students). And with all of this change, I want to make sure that I am right there in the think of it calling as many shots as I can for the success of the program and for my own job security.

So this week I am learning the meaning behind the proverb "work now, play later". While it is my preference to constantly go back and forth between the two (work and play) I know now is not that time. I have to condition myself to go all out at work this week, for next week there will be plenty of time for play.

Travel safe Rich and I'll see you soon! Hot dog.