The great thing about those first few days after Christmas is that I do not have to find ways to entertain the bug. She entertains herself with all the new gifts she has received. So I can sit back, relax, and just be. I have not been able to do that in a while. Work has literally consumed my life the last few months. I have been working constantly and putting in a lot of overtime (which by the way we do not get paid for.)
I worked through Thanksgiving and Christmas. I missed out on the Bug’s Halloween parade and party, Thanksgiving feast, Christmas program, and Christmas party. I have dealt with placement disruptions, adoption disruptions, fighting a new computer system, and having scheduled leave revoked by my supervisor to later learn that she had decided to take the same days off as me and needed me to provide coverage while she was out. And then to top it all off, our agency learns through the news that the governor has decided that all state employees will work the 24th and 26th of December. The only day off will be Christmas Day. Stick a fork in me people, I am done!!!
On Tuesday 12/23/08, I worked all day and the stayed up until 1 am doing prep work for Christmas. On 12/24/08 I woke up at 5:45 got ready for work and worked all day. Upon arriving home, I rushed to get ready for church only to arrive 15 minutes late for the services. I spent the remainder of the evening helping the bug bake cookies for Santa. After she went to bed, I continued doing prep work for our Christmas dinner. At 11 pm, Military Man comes downstairs, hands me three bags and states, “Can you wrap these for me they are for my mother.” I still had to wrap gifts, play Santa, and finish the Brine for the turkey. I looked at Military Man and stated “You waited until 11 pm to ask me to wrap your mother’s gifts.” Military man mumbles something under his breath and then reports that he is going to bed. At 2 pm I make it to bed.
On 12/25/08 (Christmas day) I wake up at 6 am to start cooking for our Christmas day meal that is always held at my house. At 7:30, I take a break from cooking so we can have Christmas with the Bug. We then travel to my parent’s home to have Christmas there. We return home at 10 am, where I immediately begin cooking again. The majority of my morning and afternoon was spent cooking and/or cleaning. I say all this because at 9 pm after all family and friends have gone home, I looked at Military Man and stated “I am exhausted, I am going to bed.” Military Man looks at me and states “I know what you mean, I’m exhausted too, today has worn me out.” I could not help it, I had to ask “And why are you exhausted? You weren’t up till 1 and 2 in the morning only to get up in the morning to go to work, I did not see you in the kitchen cooking and doing prep work. And you are exhausted why?” His response…”Well, I had to deal with your family and mine all day.” I looked at Military Man and stated “I go to work tomorrow, Saturday is mine…all mine.” Military Man looked thoughtful for a moment and I could tell he had something he wanted to say, but he simply turned and walked away. He hasn’t complained today and the only comment he has made is “Do you think you are going to be on the computer much longer?”
I like this Saturday, I have earned this Saturday, and I hope that all of you who worked just as hard are having a restful and relaxing Saturday as well. Happy Saturday, have a drink or two on me.
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