Time Off for Good Behavior

This is the third weekend in a row that I haven't had to work. Count 'em. 1, 2, 3. Is this what it feels like to have a regular job?

I'm finding it to be awesome and soul-crushing at the same time.

It's amazing and wonderful and fantastic because I actually get to take a breather. I don't feel like I'm slowly being crushed under the weight of impending doom, which is how most of my workdays go. Having the weekend off gives me a chance to shut my computer down (well, figuratively speaking). I don't check my work email, I don't read drafts, I don't edit anything...I just relax. Biking used to be my go-to activity, but the weird, non-summer weather that has struck the Bay Area in recent weeks makes that relatively impossible. I'm switching to hockey soon, though. Super excited about that.

It's horrible and insufferable and spirit-killing because, these days, I actually realize what I'm missing. I didn't comprehend how tightly I was wound until I got a chance to unwind. I didn't know how horrible my quality of sleep was until I got a few 10-hour nights under my belt. And I didn't understand what havoc all this stress was wreaking on my body until I managed to de-stress and take stock. I still enjoy my job and my coworkers are still amazing (they are definitely the saving graces during those not-so-awesome days), but having weekends off makes me dread Mondays even more than I used to. It's like my body is screaming with all the power it can muster: "Don't make me go back there! I want to liiiiive!"

Still, I do it week after week, hoping that the coming weekend will bring me back from the brink. Luckily, it appears to be working. For now.

In other news, I have a new blog: Riding the Pine. It is going to be all about my upcoming introduction to hockey. I will not blame any of you if you choose not to read it. Like I said, it's all hockey, all the time. Just thought I'd put it out there.