Started off my day with two shots (Hep A and flu), but then there were donuts at the office! So that's nice.

I had scheduled what I thought was a call with someone in New York, but I guess he thought I was there, too, because he emailed suggested we meet at the Bouchon bakery. I would love to meet there! But [sadface] no.

Allyson, I'd agree with the others. Just make a vague statement about health problems, medical thing, personal emergency. My response to that would be, "I hope you're feeling better," in a tone of voice intended to convey that (1) I accept your explanation, and I'm not asking for more info, but also (b) I want you to know that I wish you well.

I'd save the wilder stories for the nosy types. And maybe for people that I'd feel comfortable enough to joke with -- which are people that I'd be willing to share details with, and probably know at least something already.

Tell them you were raptured but it didn't take.

Or probably what Fred said.

What's your employee status with these guys - freelance contract? Hourly?

Not that I know how that affects what you should say to them, but it probably does.

I think it is always okay to say something like "I know this is a temporary situation and i am trying to keep up with the extra work load but it is just too much, we need to make some kind of adjustment.

ETA: I can delete if you want.

I suck at unplanned (I'd thought I needed to take a day next week until yesterday) days off. Woke up in a panic just before 5, groggily realized unnecessary, turned off alarms, crawled back into bed and proceeded to double my sleep time. And it is too early for tulips. So now I have no plan.

Tell them you were raptured but it didn't take.

That would be fun in the Bible Belt. Then you could look uneasy and say, "What, you didn't go? You weren't taken up? Um, never mind then."

And now I'm covered in cat from my ankles to my chest and the coffee cup is empty and there's half a pot left on the counter. This is how days get wasted.

-t, I just deleted because I'm being a big lazy whiner.

What's your employee status with these guys - freelance contract? Hourly?

I'm a freelance contractor.

I think it is always okay to say something like "I know this is a temporary situation and i am trying to keep up with the extra work load but it is just too much, we need to make some kind of adjustment.

I don't know if that's okay. I feel like, as a freelancer, it's my responsibility to figure out how to get it all done, and if that means working until 11 every night and weekends, then that's what I have to do.

And other people do this (I don't mean at the AMA; I mean other people who have other jobs work crazy 20-hour days for weeks at a time) so it doesn't feel okay to be overwhelmed and stressed by this, or to even SAY that I'm overwhelmed and stressed by this, especially when other people who work crazy long hours don't complain. I feel like the problem is with ME and that I'm the lazy whiner who probably should get a job at McDonald's if I can't handle working until 11 every night.

I feel like, as a freelancer, it's my responsibility to figure out how to get it all done, and if that means working until 11 every night and weekends, then that's what I have to do.

That's not true. As a freelancer, you have the ability to only accept as much work as you want or need to do, if you're in the enviable position of too much work.