A Good Kind of Tired

A crazy clock. That's kind of the way all of the clocks are looking to me right about now. I think that just two more hours per day would be about right. Is that asking too much?

That was a rhetorical question.

It's still a busy, busy time at work, with the search processes and candidates and hiring continuing with no end, really, in sight. We -- perhaps naively -- think that we know of all of the vacancies for the coming year. But that could change in the wink of an eye. In addition, I've sat on a special committee called "Hiring for Diversity" for the past two years and as our work comes to a close, our report needs to be finalized and our recommendations made to the administration. I've agreed to handle producing the final version of the report; we met today and I really have my work cut out for me as I try to incorporate all of the changes and input in a relatively short period of time. I'm very committed to the project, though, and if it means I need to put in some extra hours, well, so be it.

Except. Except. I've been doing something else for an hour and a half after work before going home. And the timing is critical on that. Really critical! The important Pennsylvania Primary is two weeks from today and a week or so ago it dawned on me that it isn't going to be enough to want my candidate to win and cast my vote for him. I feel that more is required. And so each workday I stop on my way home at Obama For President Headquartes and do data entry for 90 minutes.

I have never done anything like this before. In fact, this is only the second time in our lives that we've had a lawn sign! And I had no idea whatsoever how much I was going to enjoy what I'm doing for the campaign! The atmosphere in the office is so positive, so optimistic, so energetic and happy that I immediately forget that I've put in a nearly eight-hour day already. I settle in with my pile of call sheets and update the records reflecting the results of the calls made that day. It is very easy work; I'm good at it and do it quickly. And so I listen to the people around me, most of whom are tirelessly making phone calls, never taking the rejections personally, always being cordial and friendly. They amaze me. Every single person is a volunteer; a couple of them have quit full-time jobs to volunteer for the campaign. Most of them appear to be between 18 and 25 years old. And they are so poised, they are appreciative, they are organized. When my little shift is over, I leave feeling absolutely exhilarated. And looking forward to returning the next day. Some evenings I'm tempted to go back after dinner! But I know if I don't go down and sew, I'll get cranky. And we certainly don't want that right about now.

I'm about as busy as I was during the time I was doing the supplemental transcription. But so much happier with what I'm doing. I'm just as tired at night as I was then. But this time, it is a good kind of tired. If you know what I mean.