And for my next trick...

...it seems lately, from everyone I talk to, that everyone's in an intense work mode.

Maybe it's preparatory to Thanksgiving - trying to get everything done before the holiday. Could be the time of year. I notice after we turn the clocks back and it gets dark earlier that the lighter mood of summer lifts and its "down to business".

I've been running around, going from project to project, finishing things over there and starting things over here and realizing I'll be working over the weekend. That's okay- when I signed up to do what I do for a living, that was part of the agreement. I do what I have to in order to get work done and actually over the years there have been very few weekends when I haven't worked - at least part of them.

But this weekend I think I'll be putting in full time hours. And again that's not unusual since Thursday is Thanksgiving and I have to make that up.

However it does leave me feeling as if I'm juggling things. I used to cope badly with that but as I get older I've found that a sense of humor works much better. Maybe I've just developed more confidence that I'll get things done, having seen myself do it over and over again. Or maybe I have a different perspective.

When we were growing up, my Mom used to tell us over and over again to plan our education so we could find jobs we liked. She emphasized that we'd be at our jobs most of our day and needed to think about what we'd like to do. I've never regretted the extra years in school or the part time jobs I worked to put myself through, or the other sacrifices I made paying for my education. It was worth it.

I like my work. And I know that I'm lucky that I work at something I feel that way about.

Keeping that in mind, even when I feel as if I'm juggling, really makes it all seem worthwhile. Speaking of juggling, check out this wheelchair tree surgeon, who adds a flair to his work by juggling...an axe...