Two and a half days and counting...

[altivo]

Starting Friday I'm off work and NOT accepting calls until May 1. I haven't had that much continuous time off in more than a year and it's way overdue. *rubs hooves together in anticipation of no schedules, no needy library users, no weird questions...*

Nope, not going anywhere, except for one weekend in Michigan with goldenstallion. Nope, no plans for any major projects except getting a saddle back on my mare. Unlike me, she has had too much time off.

Oh, and happy birthday to aerofox too. ;)

It's 8:30 pm, nearly a full moon, the dusk has only faded in the last half hour, and it is 64 F. outside. Could it really be spring now?

Comments

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

No weird questions? Does that mean you're taking a break from Live Journal also?

[corelog.livejournal.com]

*laughs* Good point! :D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*snickers*

No. But maybe I won't do any of those "ask me anything" type memes.

[corelog.livejournal.com]

Hey hey, sounds good, Tivo! :D I think you've definitely earned it.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I dunno about earning it, but I'm taking it. May 1 is when they give out new vacation days, and theoretically I lose the ones I haven't taken. No way am I letting that happen.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

I just finished an 11 day workweek myself tonight.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Eew. I can't do that.

[chibiabos.livejournal.com]

I do it at the beginning of every month (it varies between 10 and 14 days depending on how the weekends -- my normal workdays -- are setup; starting the 28th, for instance, I'll have a 12 day workweek).

When you think about it, we're all just whores. We sell our bodies to a boss for a few dollars per day.

[calydor.livejournal.com]

'Grats on the time off, let it be better than it was last year.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, let's see. How could last year's bad experience repeat itself? I suppose Tess could start acting the way Dawn did. Gah, please no.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

So what will you do? Be a lord of leisure? Braid your mane...unbraid it? Eat Tiramasu with a long spoon? :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I'm trying not to make definite plans because I'll end up trying to do too much. But there's spinning and weaving to do that could take up the whole time easily. Or spring cleaning. I need to clean and oil my saddle and bridle, and work with Tess in the round pen before I even put them on her. My desk here is buried in papers and junk so I can hardly write and can't draw at all. Getting any one of those done would be fine.

Then there are fences to work on. The neighbors to the west have already put their property up for sale, after just a couple of years there, so now is the time to make sure the fence on that side is all good.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

And this is time off? ;)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Sure. It's doing things that *I* want to do, when I feel like doing them.

[hrrunka]

Holiday time is good! I'm taking almost the same break, but I'll be a long way away, in Western Australia. With a bit of luck summer will be turning to autumn there. ;)

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

I don't know what its like in WA but on the East coast its very very nice, although a bit cold in VIC from what I'm told. But in QLD it's bliss

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You are quite the traveler. I'd love to visit Australia, but could never stand the hours in the air.

[hrrunka]

Yeah, the hours spent in a cramped plane do require endurance of a sort. It's the bit about travelling I don't like...

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

I've taken all this week off, and have next Monday off as a result of Easter as well. Sometimes its best to just take some time off to sit and recharge your batteries. I dunno how you lot in the States keep going without burnout.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

We don't. Most USians are burned out all the time. I think Europeans have a better idea in general of the need for relaxation and time away from work. The US suffers from a terrible case of Puritanism combined with Protestant work ethic that has always taught that "idle hands find the devil's work to do." Obviously I disagree.

By the way, a little bird says it's your birthday too. Hope you have a good day. :)

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

There is a ballance to be struck between idleness and slavery. I think the EU more or less has that ballance about right. The trick is to avoid extremes at either end. Another thing you might want to try is working only the hours you are paid for.

The long hours culture made in-roads into the UK workforce as well, but the unions are working to redress this.

At the end of the day, earning money is all well and good, but life should come first. If you have no life, there is no point in earning the cash in the first place.

Thanks for the birthday wishes. *hugs a large equine*. I just wish you could come to my party. :D

[altivo.livejournal.com]

The US has created a clever loophole for the "working only the hours you're paid for" argument. Many of us are "off the clock" and are technically not paid by the hour. Our pay is a flat rate per month or year regardless of the hours required and we are expected to put in as many hours as necessary.

Obviously, that is subject to interpretation and if it comes to lawsuits over wrongful dismissal or whatever there are certain limits that would be rationally applied. But it rarely comes to that. Back in the 80s I worked for a progressive employer who limited the work week to 35 hours. We were "off the clock" but they really did let us put in just 35 hours. Then the Reagan administration came in and the social climate moved in favor of corporate board rooms. The 35 hours were increased to 37.5 hours with no attendant pay increase, and then increased again to 40 hours. People were angry and threatened unions and resignations, but nothing happened. Unemployment was rampant and money was getting tight, so they got away with it. Two years later they simply relocated the entire operation, dismissing most of the staff and rehiring them in the new location at lower pay and with fewer benefits. It was utterly disgusting and a typical US corporate action.

[ducktapeddonkey.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your vacation!! I hope you get great weather for it.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I like almost any kind of weather, so I expect the weather will be just fine. Having daylight and the time to enjoy it is the biggy.

[aerofox.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Thank you 'tivo! *hugs* ^_^

I hope you have a relaxing time off!