I like that 'damn' emoticon!
I have the same situation, if I don't use my vacation and sick leave, I lose it.
SL, seems like you need to take time for yourself. Set priorities and delegate. If you spread yourself too thin, it is not going to benefit anyone. I am usually like that so I know how hard it is to say no. You need to take care of yourself first! Many of us women can't do that. Can't someone else deliver presents and go to the movies? Sometimes kids don't care who delivers the gifts as long as they get something.;)
LOL!!
Our prblem is that we're short-staffed and overworked. It's the deadlines that are killers, particularly in court cases. You wouldn't believe the sheer volume of time and effort has to go into them, seeing to it that each case is in compliance with court orders, as well as all the reports and documentation that goes into them. I don't mind delivering the gifts. It is just very time consuming, especially the ones that are 130 miles away or so. And the movie was my idea. I want to take these giorls to see The Chronicles of Narnia movie. And I need to make cookies for Dawn and Tyler. Oops, did I forget to mention Christmas shopping? Actually, I have already gotten Dawn and Tyler's major gift taken care of and shipped, but that's it.