constance: (reporting for duty.)
constance ([personal profile] constance) wrote2005-10-18 11:26 pm

New math

Sometimes, I like to think to myself, Oh, my job is okay and all, but it would really be about ten times better if only X, where X = "we could work from home sometimes," or X = "we could bring our pets to work," or X = "I were actually paid the going market rate for my services," and so on. Okay, regardless of whether these things come to pass or not, I do fine. I may be underpaid, I may not be able to wear my footie pjs to work, but overall, I can't complain too loudly, even if I do sometimes quietly dream of ways to make everything just a little sweeter.

Amazingly, though, things have just got a little sweeter on their own! One of the X values I always wished for was the chance to work a 40-hour work week in four days, and get a three-day weekend as a tradeoff. This particular dream was born in the days when I discovered that many construction companies work this way, and was solidified when I worked more demanding jobs and would put in ten- and twelve-hour days as a matter of course in my five-day week; I used to use this dream as a sort of stress release, as I kissed my fiftieth or fifty-fifth manhour of the week goodbye.

And now this particular dream has come true! Due to rising fuel costs and some complicated schooling changes, and also the fact that a lot of people in the office commute from small outlying towns, our office has given us the option: we can work four long days a week or a more traditional work week, whichever we like, and I--despite the fact that I live about six minutes from my office--get the same option, because it wouldn't be fair to give some of us this option and not others, and I am not above taking advantage of this little loophole. Well! I will have regular two day weekends now, and on the occasional weekends the bookstore gives me, I will have three. I'm already trying to decide what to do with my semi-regular three-day weekends.

I know you want me to visit you, but you're too shy to say. Right? Because plane tickets from the Atlanta airport are pretty fucking cheap, is all I'm saying.

:::

I picked up my lovely and ludicrously sweet dog at the vet yesterday afternoon. She is so very beautiful and fuzzy in her freshly-groomed glory! And no matter how nice it always is--and it is, believe me, always nice--to be able to sleep the whole night through without having to go outside once or twice or (God forbid) three times, or not to have to make a fuss about her getting into the litterbox, every time I pick her up, I wonder how I've managed to get along so well without her.

I really don't know how people get along without pets. And I'm not sure why they'd want to, as much trouble as they can be.

Oh wait. STILL ITCHING LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS. Now I remember why.

[identity profile] laurelwood.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
I'M not too shy to clamor for a visit! Have you packed yet? Oh, wait. You probably want to enjoy your fuzzy, freshly-groomed dog for at least a couple of weeks (a good grooming lasts that long, doesn't it? I know nothing of such things, having only had crewcut-type dogs). But after that, there's really no excuse to tarry. (The eco-dollhouse exhibit's still waiting for you!)

Congratulations on the compressed work week! I'm glad for you and for all the other people who'll benefit from opting for that kind of schedule. Dennis had that option for a while and it was great. At the time, I didn't even think about the fuel savings, but of course, it wasn't such an issue back then.

Still itching? Arggh!

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
OH YES I AM STILL ITCHING. OH YES.

You are already on the list, I promise! I know your address, and I would have shown up on your doorstep eventually, willy-nilly. We will have to think up a good time. Hmmm.

[identity profile] 21stcenturysei.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
Please do come to visit us, too! And don't worry, you and you alone are getting a special extension on Fantasy Band until you're unBenadryled. Fleas stink. Remind me to tell you about the time I sprayed so much FleaRaid at Dan's apt that I had to go into the backyard and throw up...oh wait, I just did. In any case, I'm sending anti-flea and heal-tofty rays at you from our nation's capitol.

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahahahaha, I totally sympathize with the throwing up. The Zodiac I'm using makes me feel like I am about to asphyxiate at any second. It's like Russian Roulette, only with fleas and poison!

And I am determined to visit you and drag you to touristy museums. Be warned!

[identity profile] kickthebeat.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 09:07 am (UTC)(link)
!!! four ten-hour work days had been an option at my AZ retail super giant employer RIGHT BEFORE I WAS HIRED; naturally, I couldn't get them to give me such a fantastic schedule. :( it would have been supernice, too, to have three nights off a week.

I wish I could get them here. it would ALMOST make 600am worth -- who am I kidding, nothing makes 600am worth it. bitches.

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
No indeed, nothing makes 6 am worthwhile! If that was my option, I'd be opting out thank you. Instead, I'll be working 8am-7pm with a lunch somewhere in there, and while that's a little on the early side for me, it's still completely reasonable.

ARGGG!

(Anonymous) 2005-10-19 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
Tis is chris the pirate speakin' from the bot'm of his hearrrrt: Come visit us soon. Or you'll be walkin' da plank!

Re: ARGGG!

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
NO PIRATE CHRIS DO NOT WALK ME. I am on my way! I am bringing my deck-swabbing equipment and my bucket of blood, specially purchased at the pirate supply store! Also plenty of pieces of eight. Oh, and a parrot, if you think Henry wouldn't mind.

[identity profile] bowdlerized.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
If you come visit me, we can:

- visit the Superhero Supply Store affiliated with the McSweeney's/826 tutoring program!
- camp out outside Jonathan Safran Foer's house!
- inspire the envy of EVERYONE AROUND US!!!!11

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
:D <3 :D <3 :D <3 :D <3 I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!

We must also spend a night outside Myla Goldberg's house! I wouldn't want her to feel left out of the crazy stalker experience!

[identity profile] bowdlerized.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
You will have to supply Myla Goldberg address, then, as it is not in my possession. But we can have a literary stalk-a-thon, if you please! :D <3 :D <3 :D <3

[identity profile] bowdlerized.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
LIVEJOURNAL ATE MY FINAL HEART! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!

ahahahaha

[identity profile] leestone.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
LIVEJOURNAL ATE MY FINAL HEART!

*uses as LJ title*

Re: ahahahaha

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
PERFECT!

Down with LJ's heart-eating habits.

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I was wondering! Does Bow love me less? Is she trying to tell me something? Thank goodness this is not the case!

(Also, I will get on finding Ms. Goldberg's address for stalking purposes.)

[identity profile] leestone.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
hi flan. <3

I want to come visit, it's my turn! But then I'm saving my pennies for an apartment, so. It might have to wait a few months. :/

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, that is completely understandable--just keep in mind that the Cherry Blossom Festival is March 23-26!

You arrived safely? Paperwork all filled out? Everything okay?

[identity profile] leestone.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep, everything's all right. My training hours are a little spotty--I won't be working regularly till I'm done, and even then I can't seem to find out about how many hours a week I can count on--that was a terrible sentence. WHat was I saying? Oh. Yes. I'm fine. O_o Poor but fine.

Love you.

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
LOVE YOU TOO <333333333

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
*SHAKES FIST AT LJ*

THEY HAVE EATEN MY HEARTS TOO!!!

[identity profile] somniesperus.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I want a visit!!!

...after the semester is over. 8-|

[identity profile] tofty.livejournal.com 2005-10-19 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes!!! I will visit anytime, my dear, and I do not even need a plane ticket for you! At least, I don't think so. :?