Life Around Work

It seems it's getting harder these days to fit life into work. With 12 million Americans currently out of work, I know I'm extremely fortunate to have a job. On the other hand, the volume of day to day work, mounting deadlines, additional and exciting new opportunities on top of existing duties seems insurmountable sometimes. It gets done, but being something of a perfectionist at heart, I feel like I am not doing my very best work these days. I'm trying, God knows.

I'm also cognisant that my life outside work is suffering. I haven't seen good friends for awhile. Our home equity line of credit has been approved and the contractors are ready to start demolishing our apartment. The taxes haven't been started yet. I really need some exercise. My apartment feels like a sty. And I was reminded by our HR department that today marked my 21st year of service with the company and commensurate with the terms of the company, I am due a two week sabbatical (the company provides employees a two week sabbatical for every seven years of service). I already have five weeks vacation; this is an additional two weeks on top of that and truth be told, I don't have a clue when the hell I'll be able to take any of it. I lost several weeks of vacation last year and this year, I fully expect to lose even more time off. And the sabbatical? Fuggetaboutit.

What's a girl to do? Here's a snippet of things I'm doing that I like to think provide a little bit of balance:

-I actually goosed Juan the doorman. Sexy motherfucker. He has such a cute tush.

-Jewels invited me to a party at some chic club on the Lower East Side next Saturday night. The party is for a 20-something celebrant and the invitation states the party starts at 10:30 pm and ends at 4:00 am. "Can we old folk do this?" I asked Jewels. "Of course," he said, "just take your disco nap on Saturday afternoon and you'll be fine." And I will. I'm gonna dance like there's no tomorrow.

-I got a wax in anticipation of spring. In case I need to put a bathing suit on or something. Aw, let's be honest--the lawn needed mowing.

-Hey, there's a great sale on at Nine West!

-Dropped $241 at Sephora. Just because I think I need all this shit.

-I vacuumed. And vacuumed. And then I went down to my building lobby and posted a notice for a housekeeper. I can not spend a full day every weekend scrubbing toilets. I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to scrub toilets anymore.

-I had a social dinner out last night with the Fisherman and the Man in Plaid. We knocked back a few drinks, bullshitted and had a grand night out in Manhattan. All three of us got home late enough to land us in the doghouse in our three respective households. It was worth it.

-I'm so sick of doing the wash that it seems almost preferable to go commando.

-There was a puddle of dog pee in my building elevator this morning. I just wanted to share that.

-The location crew for "Salt" is still here. They just seem to hang around in my hallway and eat donuts.

-I realized that my mom was right--the Flatiron Building DOES look like a big penis.
-The best thing about living in New York? Yeah, that would be the take out food.

-I attempted to jog in Riverside Park, making ten blocks and then doubling over with exhaustion in my out-of-shape state. I was then approached by a homeless man who seemed to think I needed the Heimlich manuever.

-I just love the affectionate and warm embrace of my couch. It's a most forgiving companion.