If you work in accounting...

...then you know that this is the week from HELL! 

It's the end of the year and the end of the quarter.  Everything needs to be done NOW.  And to top it off?  This year the "eves" fall on Friday's.  So for those of you that AREN'T in accounting, that means that you have to pay employees on a Thursday instead of on Friday.

If you're a bookkeeper like me, then not only do you have to deal with payroll, but everything else as well...accounts receivable, accounts payable, credit and collections, blah, blah, blah.  And if you work for a small company, chances are you also have some other "office" duties thrown in as well!  Can we throw in an end of the year work comp case to complicate things?  Or how about the copier taking a powder just when you have to scan and send 60 pages of documents that have to be somewhere in less than an hour?  And how about said copier also being the fax and now nobody can fax anything because the feeder isn't working?  Hey, and why not throw in a few unemployment claims that have to be answered before Thursday?  Sure thing, I'll get right on that. Anything else I can do for you?

While everyone else is happily kicking back because it's a short week and there isn't a lot going on, you're running around like a chicken with its head cut off.  And even though you're grateful that you're getting a long three day weekend, you can't help but feel sorry for yourself because you have to cram five days of work into four!  All you can think about is three long days of NOT having to do any accounting.  And that includes paying any bills, updating your checkbook...anything remotely close to ACCOUNTING.

But alas...the joke is on all of us accounting folks.  Because guess what?  The real fun starts on Monday, January 3rd.  Can you say quarterly and year end taxes?  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Setting up all the new files for the new year.  Purging the old...It goes on and on.  I'm sure I'm forgetting something.  That's why people in accounting like check lists.  Otherwise, we'd forget something really important.  Like filing taxes.

I think I'll be able to rest sometime in mid February.  So in the meantime, if you know anyone in accounting, give them a wide berth.  Just smile and nod as you pass them in the hall or at the copier.  If you hear the talking to themselves, just keep on going.  They aren't talking to you or anyone in particular.  They're cursing themselves for getting into the accounting field.

But you know what you can do?  What the heck.  Take a chance and your life in your hands.  Give them a hug and offer to buy them a drink after work to thank them for always making sure you're paid on time...each and every week.  Go ahead.  Give it a try.  They need it.  I need it.