Working Late, Missing Lots

Lately I've been working late quite a bit. The extra tiem itself doesn't bother me much. In fact, when I'm busy the time seems to fly. It's just when I get home I've missed so very much.

• I miss dinner a lot. Eating by yourself or while trying to get in that small bit of time with the kids is not fun.
• I miss relaxing and talking with my wife. After eating, putting the kids to bed and doing a few chores it's time for bed. Not winding down and only sleeping becomes a bit disconcerting. Our longest conversations seem to be over the phone and all to often interupted or cut short.
• I miss playing my video games. There's simply no time. My only video game time is kids games on the Gamecube with the children. They enjoy it, but I usually don't.
• I miss having unplanned time. What little free time is left is very planned out to fit in the things that need to get done when any opening is available.
• I miss sleeping in. I have not slept past 7:30AM since the spring of 2006. I'm not short on sleep, I get enough. It's just the luxury of getting extra sleep that's gone.

There's a few more things. But, at some point I'm going to have to start saying "no" to the extra work and taking my lumps at review time on my "effort" and "team player" scores...