When you break your routine ...

It's really hard to get back to the routine after a long, busy weekend with no stringent schedule. Today was a real Monday, which I had almost forgotten because of the Thanksgiving holidays.

During the last few days, I ate a lot (and still working on left over). Went to see the Rockets play the Bulls (which the Rockets managed to lose) with our younger daughter and some friends. Watched part of the Texans football on TV when they were leading by a big margin only to lose by blowing it at the end (which I found out later. What's new with Houston football?). Hung some Christmas lights and set up the Christmas tree. I even managed to go for a run and ride the bicycle on the weekend (trying to stay fit is hard work. There is truly no free lunch). I also went out with our younger daughter to a fabric store and bought some cloth (she wants to sew a dress for herself). We even watched an old movie on DVD as a family (which rarely happens these days). On Sunday my wife cooked some more food and invited a close family to dinner. All in all, it was a great weekend.

I almost forgot about the drive to work in the wee hours of every morning, the emails that had to do with all business (and no politics or jokes or gossip), the worry about project cost & schedule, the trips to be made to contractors' offices to watch their progress, the outstanding invoices, the late deliveries, etc. All good things do come to an end. I pushed the paddle this morning through the crowded highway to face the reality. It's like you wake up after a sweet dream and find yourself with a backache on a hard bed. But the alternative could be worse. You may find yourself in a foxhole with no bed at all. Hey, you can't have a Thanksgiving weekend every weekend. Then it won't be any special.

So I am busy again greasing the American industrial machine to make a living.