A Strange Dualism, To Be Sure

I constantly joke about how my job is cushy, except when it's not. Some days, like today, it's a weird combination of cushy-yet-asskicking, due to scheduling idiosyncrasies. I worked from 4PM yesterday to 8AM today, and find myself back at work for a 4PM to 8PM half shift because one of the guys in my department had a family obligation. While having to get to work after four and a half hours of sleep is no picnic, now that I'm on the job, it's a pleasure to be here. The grounds are beautiful, the weather is gorgeous.

The first hour on the job, I was able to hang out with the day shift, all of whom I like immensely, and our site visitors, who tend to be a warm, happy bunch. I even ran into one guy who came to the site I was working yesterday at the end of the day, to whom I gave some information about booking visits online- he took my advice and spent the entire day visiting our sites, which pleased me to no end.

I spent a good portion of the remaining time walking the site, concentrating on the hilly sections. I am toying with the idea of walking the length of the Old Croton Aqueduct and want to toughen up the ol' footsies.

Right now, I am full of vim and vigor, but I know I'll be dragging my tailfeathers around when I get home. It's funny, I can go hell-bent for leather for a couple of days, but there's an inevitable crash... I'm not in my twenties anymore, and look back on the days when I could go out all night and be okay for work or volunteering the next day after three hours of sleep with a sigh.

Now, I can take only so much of an asskicking, which makes me appreciate the general cushiness of my situation.