In recent years, the career toll road tends to extract its quarters in a less intrusive routine. Some events--a major deadline, a trial, a collection of things to do arriving more or less at once--require weekend effort. But such exceptional things are no longer the endless rule.
This weekend proved a hearken back to old times for me, as I worked from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. I did have breaks for meals, stray diversions,
a Weight Watchers meeting (I lost 1.8 pounds during the holiday season), and various information technology frustrations.
I miss the weekend I would have had, with the potential for walks and relaxation and perhaps a good book. But once in a while the decree comes out that everyone must go to their home town to be taxed. My career has long been home to me--call this a census weekend.