Snippet from Work

At about 6pm this evening, I was standing talking to a colleague who is of counsel and who I am assisting with a dispositive motion in district court. He has many times pushed back my "deadline" for completing my portion of the brief, mostly due to my full dance card. A partner for whom I also do work joined us.

Me: I worked most of this weekend and T just arrived home Saturday night after being gone all summer. She had senior retreat last night, but she is back now and I'm going to leave to go get some dinner with her. I will work from home later, and add that section we talked about. I've been here since 5:30 a.m., though, and I'm exhausted so I'm leaving. I have to go to Louisville first thing in the morning, so I won't be able to review the changes you made today until I return in the afternoon.

Partner: Do you have some time for me tomorrow? I need your help gathering some data.

Me (mentally calculating the impossibility of another task to complete tomorrow and noting the knowing look on "of counsel's" face as he anticipated my answer): Well, I have to go to Louisville in the morning, but I will be back in the afternoon.

Partner (feigning a begging look): Can you make some time for me, please?

Me, to Of Counsel: See? It just keeps on coming.

Of counsel, to Partner: Get in line.

Partner: I'll pull rank.

This exchange was all in good fun, but it was also illustrative of my current predicament. I am overextended, and despite that I am working as many hours as I can, I feel like everyone is getting short shrift. I keep vowing to limit my work to a manageable level, but somehow the work just continues to multiply. I'm tired. And getting fat - due to inactivity - despite eating less. I'm really hoping I can engineer an acceptable way to reduce my work demands. Soon. Wish me luck.