I suck. I really do.

[mandragora]

Christmas cards written? Er, none.

Emails responded to (in particular I owe raincitygirl a nice, long email)? Also none.

Entries made to the new weird_books community, which has just been set up by akaspeedo to discuss books of a science-fiction/fantasy nature, or anything that's just generally weird? (And which I am herewith pimping.) Even though I promised to write an early entry. You've guessed it. Nil. Nada. Niet.

It's just a bit... overwhelming atm. Suffice it to say that my work week is teh crazy, exacerbated by the fact that I'm away on business most of the time, camped out in hotels. I am at present taking a short break from working. At 21.45 on a Sunday evening, because the deadlines are that tight. Couple this with the usual round of pre-Christmas socialising, plus the fact that I'm away again workwise from this coming Tuesday until... well, I don't actually know when I'll make it back to London because after Christmas at the parents' place I may have to go straight back to seeing the client again. I'll have to see how it goes this week.

So, um, yeah. I'm pretty damn knackered actually. Not to mention stressed out. It was the office Christmas party on Friday evening, which I came back to London for. There were several comments about how tired I was looking (even though I'd slapped some make-up on in a desperate attempt to look lively and raring to go and that I seemed to be a little wound up. No shit, Sherlock. I want a rest. But aren't going to get it. Because I'm going to have to work on documents of a legal nature during Christmas.

All this whinge is a prelude to my humble apology to anyone to whom I owe cards, emails, book recs. I am really sorry about their lack and I don't know when you'll get them. The pressure is likely to be on for at least another 6 weeks or so. After that, hopefully things will be less pressurised. Hopefully.

Comments

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

I've been hopeless with cards this year too.

Gina

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Glad it's not just me! Very comforting.

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

No worries. Just get through the season in one piece.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

A belated thank you and I hope that you're enjoying the break. Assuming that you're not working, of course.

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

I am working. Well, studying. Does that count?

Happy New Year.

Hang In There

[sapphiresmuse.livejournal.com]

Don't you wonder what's in the air this year? Lots of people I know are ending the year rather stressed. Myself included. In fact, for the first time in my life I have absolutely zilch enthusiasm for the holidays. I just want to crawl in a hole for a few weeks and hibernate and hope it's all better when I emerge.

And, yeah, mine also is mostly work-related and I badly need a break. I think many of us need some serious winding down time this year. It's a plot I tell you. Someone has targeted a certain group of us and they're having a jolly good time of it piling work upon work upon work upon us and sucking out all our excess energy and enthusiasm.

Not that I'm paranoid or anything . . . hormonal maybe . . . bitchy definitely. ;)

[filenotch.livejournal.com]

It's been bad for work reasons for me, too. "Thank you for busting your ass to get it done under unreasonable conditions. As a reward, we'd like you to do it again."

But I was talking with my brother, who lives in Europe, and he and other of his friends have been feeling as if their lives are out of control lately. Mine certainly seems that way, and I don't have the hormonal excuse.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Ouch, on tha work front. The pressure I'm under is pretty much unavoidable, whereas I get the impression that yours may be due to poor management decisions.

That said, I think all the stress so many of us have been feeling lately is put into perspective by the suffering of the earthquake victims. No matter how pissed off and upset I am, really I have a pretty good life in comparison to most of the world's population. I try and remember that when I'm feeling self-pitying. Needless to say, it doesn't always work.

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

"Thank you for busting your ass to get it done under unreasonable conditions. As a reward, we'd like you to do it again."

There is the reason for doing less than one's best. It never pays (except to oneself, of course, and then only if...).

Re: Hang In There

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that you're so stressed out. And I don't think you're bitchy at all. Work sounds pretty bad at present and what's so frustrating is that it's obvious that you're doing a good job. But are hampered by idiotic management decisions.

I hope that your enthusiasm perked up and that you had an enjoyable Christmas.