# 10 days straight! I need a vacation. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 13, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743 "2005-05-13T21:15:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/1 "2005-05-13T21:15:16Z")
I’ve been working for Ten days in a row. My eyes hurt. My arms hurt. My work e-mails are starting to look like my SDMB posts (i.e. three or four in a row on the same subject. Too eager to put the issue out of my mind and get on with something else) And my neighbourhood noise situation getting beyond a joke. I’m starting to feel desperate for peace, or a bb-gun to shoot the newest member of the morning soundtrack (a bird, that stands on the satelite dish outside my window, and squawks the most unlikely squawk. It sounds like the bird is half rattle-snake) Oh well. I’ve been promised a pay rise. That should help the alcohol budget to dull my morning senses. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/2 "2005-05-13T21:57:28Z")
Gee…most people feel _good_ during the manic phase. My condolences, dude. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/3 "2005-05-13T22:02:46Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Gee…most people feel _good_ during the manic phase. Even when they are sleep deprived? > [@](#): > > My condolences, dude Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/4 "2005-05-13T22:06:09Z")
Well, ten straight days of work is normally something only undertaken by manic bipolars or coke addicts, so, yes, even when sleep deprived. Still, since you’re clearly _not_ enjoying yourself, I do sincerely hope you get both sleep, and some waking time off to enjoy some recreation for a change! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/5 "2005-05-13T22:08:33Z")
This thread is more appropriate for MPSIMS. Thus, I shall move it there. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/6 "2005-05-13T22:13:13Z")
Duuuude…too burned out to even rant properly! Shall we start a pool? How long til we see Lobsang on the roof with a deer rifle? ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/7 "2005-05-13T22:22:46Z")
Let’s just say I’ve had… thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/8 "2005-05-13T22:31:46Z")
You’re gonna have to take…steps. ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/9 "2005-05-13T23:08:26Z")
I have 45 minutes left of day 12 in a row. Yikes. But it’s been a good week; I got an unexpected award at our companywide meeting this week, and I’m finally getting a promotion and a big raise, so my efforts are paying off. TGIF! ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2005, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/10 "2005-05-13T23:53:23Z")
But first I’ll need me some… tools. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/11 "2005-05-14T14:53:18Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Well, ten straight days of work is normally something only undertaken by manic bipolars or coke addicts… You mind if I use this quote in my resignation letter (which I will hopefully get to write soon!)? My company seems to think it is just peachy keen to schedule a person for ten straight days, especially before and after a vacation (happened to me for my last vacation, and believe me, that just negates the entire vacation right there.) Oh, and you only really need seven hours between shifts. Well, if you beg and plead and whine, we’ll stretch it to nine for you _sigh_ but you’re inconveniencing us with your need for sleep and a shower. And be happy and pleasant and upbeat to your customers, even if you are considering strangling absolutely every other living being on the planet! This is more sweatshop than union shop. I know exactly how you feel, **Lobsang**. I just hope that you are getting a vacation…or at least a nice long weekend when it’s all done. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/12 "2005-05-14T16:06:36Z")
I have been working for six years without a vacation. Dude, as a vacation-needer, _you are an amateur!_ ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/13 "2005-05-14T17:28:08Z")
> [@Tamex](#): > > You mind if I use this quote in my resignation letter (which I will hopefully get to write soon!)? Not at all! I wish I could recommend a good dealer to help you get through your last two weeks of current employment, but the quote’s all I got, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/14 "2005-05-14T17:34:48Z")
_hands over a paintball rifle to **Lobsang** , ducks and flees_ Everybody run! (My sympathies, _mio amico_. Hope it gets better for you… _hugs_) ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/15 "2005-05-14T17:35:31Z")
I just got off of a three week stint so… Three weekends toast. Working 10am-Midnight every day. Quite the suck-o-matic. But it ended on a week filled with holidays, so I got to catch up on sleep before the weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Secret\_Seth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@Secret\_Seth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Secret_Seth)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/16 "2005-05-15T00:03:12Z")
21 Days. When the boss and family (my co-workers) went on vacation. I KNEW I had a right to complain! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/17 "2005-05-15T03:36:51Z")
While working on a government project in the early 80’s that was way behind schedule, I worked 48 straight days, the streak was broken by Thanksgiving. And what did I get for all that work? Laid off 4 days before Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/18 "2005-05-15T04:08:06Z")
> [@](#): > > I have been working for six years without a vacation. Why? Don’t want to come off as snarky, but assuming you don’t actually prefer to never take any time off, what is so important about what you do that you couldn’t possibly sneak in a week of holidays here and there? With that said, one can find plenty of folks with oilfield experience who would laugh like drains if one told them one has worked a mere ten days in a row, especially if one gets to go home at the end of the day. Our field jobs presently require anywhere from two to four weeks of 12-hour shifts at a time, usually in a fairly remote offshore location (at least one gets roughly equal time off). My personal longest was seven weeks on a wellsite in Guatemala, a week off to partially recover from a case of dysentery, then another six weeks on the same location, back around '86 or so. That was pretty bad, but I’ve heard worse. After that stint, I pretty much refused to do anything like that again and told them they were welcome to fire me if it was a problem. They didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/19 "2005-05-15T04:22:08Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > Why? Don’t want to come off as snarky, but assuming you don’t actually prefer to never take any time off, what is so important about what you do that you couldn’t possibly sneak in a week of holidays here and there? I have a job with a state-run company in a classification called OPS for “Other Person Services.” For us, there are no benefits, no overtime, no vacations. Any days I have to take off cost me the salary I would have made if I was working that day. Including Christmas and Thanksgiving. There is nobody else on the staff who knows how to do my job. Every time I pass by one person’s office, I am reminded how the one day I couldn’t come in due to food poisoning, a program that had gone off without a hitch for 26 years got screwed up because nobody else there knew how to assemble it. This person made up a commemorative sign to tape to his office window. And that’s why I haven’t had a vacation in six years. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743/20 "2005-05-15T16:16:14Z")
> [@](#): > > For us, there are no benefits, no overtime, no vacations. Any days I have to take off cost me the salary I would have made if I was working that day. Including Christmas and Thanksgiving. OK, well then, I must presume that this job is highly rewarding in some intellectual sense, since otherwise it appears that massive advantage is being taken of your skills and dedication. I’ll say no more. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/10-days-straight-i-need-a-vacation/303743.md?page=2)