Off the record, next week I’m going on vacation. </p><p>Please don’t tell anyone. </p><p>For whatever reason, it seems whenever I take more than a day off, something strange happens in Blue Springs.</p><p>Fires, robberies, lawsuits – these things have all happened while I was away, leaving my coworkers to deal with the mess. I say “mess” only because those are the things I usually write about. It takes a lot longer to track down information when you’re trying to call people who have no idea who you are. Plus, as we are a very, very small newsroom, being down even one person adds double the work to another. </p><p>This is why I don’t take too many vacations.</p><p>Well that, and if I do happen to be out of the office for a day, the e-mails and voice mails start piling up. Case in point, I was gone last Friday and Monday morning I had 37 e-mails to attend to. Multiply that times five and you’ll see why reporters never take a day off. </p><p>It’s almost more stressful to take a few days off than actually working. In a newsroom you’re working double time before-hand trying to get everything ready. Then, upon return, you hit the ground running because the news never takes a day off, why should we expect to? </p><p>So I’m a little apprehensive about being gone an entire week but I’m going to do my best to ignore it. I even have a list of rules for myself:</p><p>* No checking the <i>Journal</i> website. This is the hardest as I’m in charge of the <i>Journal’s</i> site. </p><p>I look at it like my baby. My coworkers are perfectly capable of uploading stories and photos but if they mess it up, I won’t be too happy. As a side note, have you visited our website lately? Photo galleries, online polls, breaking news and just about everything that goes into our print version is available online. </p><p>* No worrying about the possible stories I’m missing. It’s highly unlikely during the week I’m gone a Pulitzer-worthy story would land on my desk. </p><p>* No texting coworkers about things they may miss or have forgotten to get in the paper. Contrary to popular belief, the world will not end if a press release does not get into the paper. </p><p>* No dreading the amount of e-mails I’ll have to wade through Monday morning. I’m sure the number will be ridiculous, but here’s hoping it’s mostly junk mail I can instantly delete. </p><p>* Enjoy the vacation. This shouldn’t be too terribly hard – I’m flying to Seattle to visit one of my favorite aunts. Aside from the usual touristy things – eating at great local restaurants, a trip to Pike’s Place Market and at least stepping foot in the Pacific Ocean – we’re also driving to Canada to go zip-lining on Whistler Mountain. I’m not too keen on heights or throwing myself down a mountain attached to a safety line, but this seems like one of those very rare “once in a lifetime opportunities.” </p><p>Also, as my publisher pointed out, that would make for a great column. </p><p>So, for my sake as well as my coworker’s, stay safe Blue Springs. Don’t let anything too crazy happen to you and I’ll see you June 28. I’ll say hello after dealing with the 500 e-mails waiting for me. </p><p><i>Emily Jarrett is a staff writer for the Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7018 or e-mail ejarrett@bluespringsjournal.com.</i>