Gimme a Break

The kids are on spring break this week. Less than three months ago they had nearly three weeks off for winter break. In less than three months, we’ll be looking at another long summer break. I just have one question: where do I sign?

In kindergarten, we had nap time. Once a day, everyone would spread their blankies on the floor and pass out. Every time I do that at work now, I get a letter from HR once again reminding me that such behavior is “frowned upon.” What’s wrong with taking a nap? If everybody did it at exactly the same time every day, it wouldn’t cause any lawsuits whatsoever.

In grade school we had recess and/or gym class. What a concept. Get up off your butt every single day and move around.

I hate to go all “Peter Pan” on everyone, but why do we have to grow up and lose all that? If the answer is, “Because grown-ups have to be responsible and run everything,” then I’d have to take a good look around and reply, “Yeah, I don’t think that’s actually working out so well.”

I hate to go all “Robert Fulghum” on everyone, but doesn’t it seem like if we continued doing all the things we did growing up, the world would be that proverbial happier place?

Of course, I know this is impossible. I mean, for example, if everyone took the summer off, we might find it a bit difficult to buy groceries and gas, never mind the three months of garbage piling up in your driveway. But how about a month off? And rotate it just so it’s not everybody all at once? This could work. I think I’m on to something.

I understand the logical nightmare this might cause. It would be even more difficult than calendar reform. So in the very likely possibility I can’t get the entire world to resume “Show and Tell” at ten o’clock every morning, I would at the very least like to have either: 1) a 36-hour day, or 2) a time machine.

Thank you.



14 Responses to “Gimme a Break”

Lesley said
on
March 18, 2009 at 4:40 am

I’ll take the 36 hour day!

Lucrecia said
on
March 18, 2009 at 5:43 am

Here Here!! Especially on the syncronized chill out time and 36 hour day!

Mara @ What's For Dinner? said
on
March 18, 2009 at 5:46 am

I’m a teacher, so I still get the whole 2 week break, spring break, summer break… too bad i have to work through most of them at another job to make enough money to live!

Nikki said
on
March 18, 2009 at 6:10 am

I like your ideas. Charlie for president in 2012.

Hallie said
on
March 18, 2009 at 7:17 am

Brilliant.

Hallie 🙂

Tom Rooney said
on
March 18, 2009 at 7:51 am

I’ll take the time machine. I want to go get Marty McFly’s sports book.

maggieapril said
on
March 18, 2009 at 8:02 am

Is there an online petition I can sign for the month off?

Tammy said
on
March 18, 2009 at 8:45 am

Yeah, I always wanted to be a teacher, until an ex in high school told me they didn’t make much money. Dang!

I do get 4 weeks of vacation every year, so I think I’ll just sign up for that time machine…

Biz said
on
March 18, 2009 at 9:40 am

I would just like 4 day weekends, with pay of course! 😀

Jennifer said
on
March 18, 2009 at 10:30 am

I was thinking the same thing! Not only were they off over x-mas, but they’ve had several more days off, then half days for conferences!

I would like to take a nap at work….maybe like George Costanza on Seinfeld where he paid the carpenter to build a shelf under his desk for an alarm clock, so he could take naps!

Tuscanystone said
on
March 18, 2009 at 5:02 pm

I hear Americans don’t get that much annual leave? We get 4 to 6 weeks here.

But yeah, I would prefer working 9 months and having 3 off. As it turns out I’ve worked 3 months and had 9 off for the last year which is not paying the bills man!

You can’t win!

Tusc 🙂

Quix said
on
March 19, 2009 at 3:16 pm

I get 3 weeks off a year (plus some holidays) but it never seems like enough. I just wish more places would institute 4 day work weeks. I’m down with 10 hour days if I got a whole ‘nother day off for it!

I also wish that more jobs would subscribe to the “get your work done and we won’t take attendance” theory. Who cares where or when I’m working as long as my deliverables come in on time? *sigh*

Charlie said
on
March 19, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Jeez, I’d be happy if I could get down to just five 10 hour days a week.

shannon said
on
April 9, 2009 at 8:15 am

17th of april 2009 or any date if possible please i really want to go on the show please can you contact me at shan_mich@msn.com i would just like a little bit of fun for my family and friends i have a mum sister my friend and friends mum to invite to come on the show i really hope i can have the most fun i could get ever in my intire life
THANKS for reading SHANNON aged 10