It's Crunch Time

I have always felt that I am someone who works best under pressure. When I was in school, I would constantly wait until the night before to finish school projects. Once I even waited till the night before to start reading the required book for a book report. That night I didn't get much sleep, but I did get an A on the paper. I can even remember the book. It was "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale. The assignment was to read a self-help book for Mr. Stewart's Psychology class.

I guess it all the positive thinking that has helped me get through some of life's more interesting bumps.

Today I received the phone call that I have been anticipating. The real estate office called to let me know that the bank had listed the house we have been renting for sale. We have not received anything new in the way of an eviction notice, but that is probably because with the last rent check, I also included a letter informing them that we would be moved out by April 15th. So now we are committed to moving and our new house needs to be completed.

I have to say, our general contractor is a man of great patience. This is why we have him. While I may work best under pressure, I do not have much patience for those who do not work under the same agenda or sense of purpose as I do when deadlines are at hand. If I had my way, I would probably chain certain contractors up on our property until they finished what they are supposed to do. Obviously they operate with a different calendar than I do. In their world, Tuesday means maybe Friday and one day to finish translates to "If you are lucky it will be done next week."

Thank goodness for Rob. He has done a wonderful job coordinating all these different personalities to insure that the job moves forward, while keeping me from committing various felonies at times. At the start of the job, he told me that he wasn't intimidated by Rick, but I scared him. I hope he was just kidding, but a running joke through the whole project has been to let the contractor know that the next phone call will be from me.

Deadline to move is March 31st and I think we will make it. Everyday brings something else completed. WooHoo!!! is all I say.

I am also feeling some pressure as my job for the Hurricane City Police Department winds down. Instead of replacing me, the Department was reorganized. This has added a whole set of complications to training that I had not anticipated when I tenured my resignation. Not only do I need to make sure that the things that I did are passed on to someone else, I am trying to impart this knowledge in an enviroment of constant flux. I never know what to expect when I go to work; every day is something new or something changed.

So it is crunch time. Packing is commencing, both at home and work. Attention to detail is required even when my mind is on overload. And then there is that little thing called taxes that still need to be completed. Just keep smiling.