The last few weeks at work have been interesting... to say the least. A little back history: because my company's too cheap to hire backup for me; taking a long vacation for more then 2 days off is near impossible, normally.

Then last week I got an e-mail notfying me of a mandate requiring all employees to take a FULL WEEK off for vacation by the end of March whether they have the acrewed vacation or not.

By the time I'd want to take off my forced week I would have had 2 earned days off and 3 days unpaid. Considering Ive had enough money to blow $1500 on camera equipment over my first 3 paychecks... 3 days of being unpaid is not a major hit for me. Id be more then willing to take it.

So I started making preliminary plans for vacation in Arizona; calling up my grandparents and letting them know I would try to make it down around Feb. Was getting all excitied to go get some good use out of the new gear in the scenic awesome landscapes of AZ when my dreams got crushed with one conference call...

Apparently because I'm a new hire under 90 days I'm exempt from the mandatory vacation. And because I'm exempt and they are going to be stretched thin as it is during this time I can't even take those 2 days off... FFFFFFFfffffff...

I don't have it in writing yet. There's still a chance my manager and corporate aren't on the same level.

Of course, in that scenrio I'd have less notice to make plans; but Ive made short term plans to go down to AZ before. 80% says Im staying up in Minnesota curled into a ball from the cold that week tho *sigh*

The infurating Irony of all this is I was the ONLY tech on the call who WANTED the time off. The rest were all whiny little bitches that they were being forced to take it off. To make matters more ironic is they are all midwest techs too. And we've had a BRUTAL winter this year.

I'd gladly give up even a FULL WEEK of unpaid leave to go someplace warm. Why cant I take the place of these narsacistic workaholics and get the time off they are all bitching about?

So I dont know... I guess if I dont get to go to Arizona I may accerlate my plans for getting into a studio now for the first week in March. This winter has been so brutal I deserve some sorta escape from it. Id much rather have Arizona and play a little more consevative in starting the studio up... but if thats not an option well...

I guess I'll have nothing else to do with the money I'd put aside for the trip... and I don't want it just to go into buying more crap. Would like something more gratfying to come of it one way or the other...