When I got home yesterday, it was 5:30 pm and I was exhausted. But before I collapsed into the recliner, I checked the message on my answering machine. It’s time for the monthly reconciliation of kennel bills and receipts, so that we can pay our landlords their percentage. I knew it was that time, but I didn’t take it into account when I was deciding to be gone all day yesterday.

The message was left at noon by Julie. She wanted to know if I’d be “around” to do some typing. She did have the good sense to add that if she didn’t hear from me within an hour, she’d assume I wasn’t “around.” That way, there was only one message, instead of multiple panicky pleas from the Boss or Tim. I just didn’t think I had to apologize for taking Saturday off, or even explain it. It was, after all, Saturday.

Needless to say, the fact that I was determined by default not to be “around” didn’t stop anyone from faxing page after page of “what’s this” and “do that” requests. Just about the only thing I did last night was sort out those sheets to see if anything was so important that it couldn’t possibly wait. Surprisingly, nothing was even close to that important.

My plan for today was to get some work done, but somehow, once I peeled myself off the sheets this morning, resting up for the big week ahead seemed more reasonable. I was afraid to do anything, for fear that it would open the floodgates. It’s not in me to be totally neglectful, though, and I found one page that I could type, fax back, and with luck forget.

Since I never heard back from anyone, I guess I did the right thing. More to the point, I did just enough to make them believe I was available. This will play well when they make contact with me tomorrow. I hit the ball into their court, and if they didn’t care to return it, I’ll just take my point and go on with my life. In other words, back to the recliner for another nap.

Sometimes it’s more work avoiding work than it would be to do the actual work itself. The only way it can be worth it is if by doing some work you are dodging even more work. In the end, all the work has to be done. My thinking is that since it will all get done in the end, it doesn’t all have to be done at once. This is a point of contention with those who are trying to wring the last drop of work out of me. Maybe they think I will run dry while they’re still thirsty.