Sometimes my ambition gets the better of me...

Whew! Tuesday was a little exhausting to say the least. In the process of recuperating from a wonderful/event filled/emotional roller coasting weekend, I was also responsible for getting some last-minute work assignments checked off my to-do list.

But, being typical me, I pushed the assignments to the very last possible minute. I knew I should have started my article the moment I accepted the following prompt last Thursday night:

But...like I said, my weekend plans kept me pretty preoccupied. 

However, I, of course, wasn't going to refuse the offer of writing another article for July's issue. Not only would it mean I'd get another shot at being published, but it would also show initiative and drive. And in the work industry that's got to count for something. I mean, did it really matter that I had accepted the task of completing a 1.5 week story in just 3 days?

I think what we're seeing here is the fact that my ambition gets me stuck in some pretty sticky, pressure inducing situations. Luckily, I was able to pull through this time, but only out of sheer luck (aka divine help!). 

My assignment was to write a story about a bowling team in the valley. Easy enough, right? Well, not when all the teams meet on every day of the week except Tuesdays. This is a problem because 1) Tuesday (yesterday) was the only day I could work on the article; and 2) My article was due Tuesday night! 

I'm sure you can imagine the pressure I was feeling when 3:00 o' clock rolled around yesterday afternoon and I still didn't have a team to interview. 

As I called one bowling alley after the other asking about meeting times and league tournaments, I felt my stomach sinking as I considered how disappointed my editor might be if I wasn't able to finish the assignment I had so quickly and graciously accepted (thanks a lot performance-based self!). 

As the evening approached I still had one more bowling alley to call. I almost didn't even make the call because I assumed it would lead to the same empty results. But, I dialed anyway. Low and behold, this bowling alley had not one, but two leagues playing that very night. 

Can I get a halelujah?!

Once the bowling alley attendant told me the game time I grabbed my keys, hopped in my car, and burned some freeway asphalt as I sped across the US-60. I was able to meet up with a lovely team of 4 people who have thoroughly enjoyed bowling together for the past two years.

All this makes me realize I have a love-hate relationship with deadlines. One minute I'm craving the adrenaline rush as I fly down the freeway in hopes of catching the last available interviewees for my article, and the next I'm wiping away beads of sweat from my forehead as I frantically type up a 400 word story with a 100 word sidebar--all within  a 4 hour time segment. And let us not forget I'm a naturally anxious person, like, ALL THE TIME. This means adrenaline rushes either cause me to shut down, or they make my stomach twist around in knots until I hyperventilate.

Fortunately, after sending in my rough article, I did receive encouragement from my editor. Have I ever told you what a remarkable woman It think she is? Hmmm...more on her later. 

Anyway, later last night I received this email: