And it begins. *Updated*

(A warning. A work vent is about to commence. I desperately need to get this out.)

My busy season.

I am completely overwhelmed with work right now. And I’m not dealing very well with it.

I’m in Phil.adelphia this week for our year end client work on my one client. The manager came out yesterday and today – he had to fly to Wisconsin this afternoon. And this morning, at 10:30am, he asked me if he could review my work. Because he “wanted to get it done and reviewed before he had to leave this afternoon.”

Ok, so I’m supposed to be here for the WEEK. I STARTED the work yesterday.

Um. So no, it’s not ready for review yet.

So most of my morning and early afternoon consisted of me frantically getting through my revenue work, documenting it, and doing a quick self-review so he could look at it before he left.

And then, I got an email from ANOTHER manager, asking about the status of where we are for NEXT week’s audit. And he asked me to figure out how best to test an incredibly complex calculation – by tomorrow.

In the same half hour, the partner on my third engagement emailed me and asked me to get him an agreement so he can talk with our national office about the accounting for a pretty complex revenue transaction.

And at about 5pm tonight, I wanted to scream. And pull my hair.

Instead, I worked until 8. And then came back to the hotel, ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and a chocolate shake from room service, and watched The Bi.ggest L.oser.

And here I am, at 10pm, reading about the calculation of the FAS 123R tax windfall pool for companies who went public after the effective date. And trying to digest it so that tomorrow I can figure out the best way to test the company’s calculation.

Because, well, I have no choice.

This is the nature of my job. I have to balance multiple clients, multiple deadlines, multiple people needing my time. We have hard deadlines… and a LOT of work to get done between now and then.

And really, it’s only 6 weeks. I can do anything for 6 weeks.

Right?

____________________________________________

After a good night’s sleep, I’m feeling a LOT better.

It’s just work.

Thing is, I’ve been overwhelmed with work for a couple of weeks now – ever since I got back from vacation. And what Bea said about pregnancy brain? I can’t say it’s true about everything, but my ability to multitask has gotten much worse. What doesn’t show up on my actual written down list of Things To Do flies out the window.

I’ve been dreading busy season because of this for a while now. 

Equally as hard is for me to play the “pregnancy” card. My managers, partners, and coworkers have all been great in not treating me any differently since I told them I was expecting. They don’t expect any less of me. And I don’t WANT to deliver less because of my situation.

But. The fact is, I am pregnant, and there is SOME effect on me, right? I will just have to do my best.

(And of course, know both my physical and mental limits.)

Anyway. Thanks for listening. I just need to focus on the fact that I can only do my best.

And you know what? This IS my LAST busy season. My 5th and final one. The work will all get done, as it always does, and I’ll come through it just fine.

I hope, anyway.