Even if some of them might be going away for a while. ;)

Ok, it's later at night than I want it to be, and we got here WAY too fast for my tastes. Isn't that always the case, though?

Contrary to what I realized could have been interpreted, yesterday's "Twilight Zone" rambling had little or nothing to do with software patent related issues. Tomorrow's rambling likely will. :)

But no, my (and other people's) life at the job certainly seems to be turning inside out these days. This time, just for the sake of not keeping readers totally in the dark, I'll spit it more directly.

Scoop: Using the words "crunch time" to describe the current situation would be an understatement. The word "insane" might more aptly apply.

Yesterday, for a while, I thought I was going to be on the verge of losing it. As I recall, at more than one point, the words "weekends" and "nights" were mentioned. Any more free time you might care to give up anywhere? Sure!

Ok, I was... annoyed. I was... freaked. I already have a lot to deal with in my life now, and then.... this. Quite frankly, I wasn't sure how to deal. To flat out refuse any perceived intrusion into personal time? (That's well within my rights.) To go along to some degree, out of not wanting to be viewed as an asshole? Out of some partially genuine desire to help out my teammates? But I knew that if I start working 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, I will crack. Noboby wants that to happen. So where to draw the line? Bitscape was confused, perplexed, and fearful.

I believe the word "mentor" comes in somewhere here. ;)

Well, long story short, skipping a bunch: For me, it ain't the extra mile. The extra centimeter, perhaps. Besides not wanting to push myself beyond my limits, I'm really not certain that I would even want the potential so-called "rewards" that going the extra mile might bring. (Does the word "manager" need to be mentioned?)

Jumping to today. This afternoon. I asked if I would be willing stay late Friday night and/or come in Saturday. Remembering my last "Saturday" experience, I declined on that part. I agreed to take Friday night, and in exchange, I got off two hours early today. (Yes, the schedule is in major wierdness mode.)

I can just imagine what some readers might be thinking. "What, you didn't come home and post a rambling immediately? How disappointing!" lol. I'm slipping, I know. I'm slipping. :)

Well, I thought about renting a DVD or working on the Lounge code, but instead decided to use the time to take care of some personal shit that's been needing to be addressed for a long time.

This evening, I was on the way to go out to eat with the rest of the family, when I decided to have them drop me off at the mall instead. (The Crossroads mall. Not the big overcrowded pretentious mall.) I wasn't that hungry, and sitting in a restaurant for an hour just didn't appeal.

I got a snack at the food court (What is it about this day and food courts, anyway?), and proceeded to the record store, where I briefly marveled at cd prices which were even more outragously obscene that I had remembered them being before. $16.99. That's the SALE discount items, folks. I quickly decided I had no use for that place, but did note that I will probably be purchasing a soon-to-be relased album in the near future, at a place where the prices are slightly more reasonable.

After that, it was straight to the book store, where I spent the remainder of the time being a content vulture. Hopelessy addicted to the pages by the time departure came, I added another item to my queue. Maybe I'll review it sometime.

(I DO have, and have had for the longest time, a book review table in my web page database. It would be nice to take advantage of it. One of these days...)

Past bedtime. I need sleep. Writing in this web page is a critical component of my emotional sustenance. Oh damn, and I need to visit an ATM. Bah, I'll do it on the way to work.

Gotta rest.