As hard as it is to take time away from our Patch we honored the intent behind what colleague Charles Burress calls: "The Day of the Wandering Apostrophe" and coned off the computer Monday -- promptly finding everyone else hard at work.

We never can get these holiday things right.

The mechanics, the dentist, the lovely girl spooning out great heaps of ice cream at the Moraga Loard's when we visited Monday night -- everyone was on the job. It started to guilt us out.

"Have to do it," the dentist said. "Can't afford to take the time away." In the midst of our tortoise-slow economic recovery it was interesting to hear so many folks still so hard-pressed to get by that they'd ignore a federal edict to honor the nation's first president (even though George's birthday isn't officially until Wednesday).

And when we did sneak a peek at the computer we found no slackening of email from Patchers with things on their mind and tales to tell.

A local coach wanted to know why two all-weather sports fields at Orinda's Wilder development have not been pressed into service for the hordes of Lamorinda kids ready to kick, pass or punt on any of the multitude of sports teams clamoring for a patch of grass of their own.

"The city of Orinda, apparently having no need for the field rental revenues, has decided (to) deny their use until further notice, reportedly some time around March of this year," one slightly peeved local coach wrote. We promised to see what the city had to say and we'll print it hear soon as we hear back.

Lafayette's Mark Raynor wrote asking for an "investigation" into how our workdays seemed to be lengthening, with start times getting earlier and earlier and quitting time rapidly becoming a quaint remnant of bygone days.

"We had a work crew with a jackhammer outside our house at 6:15 a.m.," Mark wrote. "I thought a water main had ruptured or something but they said they just liked to get and early start so they could 'beat the traffic'... we were astonished."

We've noted this, too, with garbage and service trucks starting their days earlier than ever and the work day extending into late evening and beyond.

"When did this start to happen and why is it allowed?" Mark wrote, and we could only offer our sympathy and a weak "we don't know."

Then there's the kerfluffle surrounding our story on Lafayette's massage parlors, which we called out for being perhaps a little garish but which -- depending on whom you speak with, of course -- are either innocents caught up in a contemporary suburban Salem Witch Hunt or full-service flesh peddlers offering patrons more than a deep Shiatsu.

Your editor has covered similar issues in other towns in the past and remembers entering one establishment and asking why they "masseuses" were all wearing hot pants and six-inch heels -- and why there were cameras in each "pleasure cubicle," but I'm married now and will leave this one to other, more enterprising reporters.

In any case it's nice to be back on the job again (I like to work. Strange, isn't it?) and we're here for you so check in when you can and we'll ask the questions you want answered.

How 'bout those gasoline prices, eh? Anyone?