Sunday, February 03, 2008

Secret Canadians

It feels bizarre to be back to using the Internet, back to Blogland.

Who are all you people again?

Part of my confusion can be down to exhaustion. It's crunch time at work; my life consists of sleeping or working. No time to exercise or socialize or laundrysize. I did take time out to showercize, but even that was a bit questionable.

Luckily, the rest of the team is taking the afternoon off to watch some kind of football game, so I'm taking a breather to catch up on email and blogs. It feels very strange to be sitting here in my new house (My house) reading what everyone out there has been up to. You've all been busy, clearly. Very productive people who somehow manage to balance family, work, blogging and that sleep-thing.

How do you do it? Maybe you're all secret Canadians. (I mean besides Miss Keziah and Scope, who are quite open about their nationality.)

A Canadian ministry sent out a directive to its employees urging them not to use their Blackberries on evenings or weekends. (Or during meetings, or during lunch...) It's kind of sad that they have to tell people to relax now and then. But maybe it will help some people learn to balance life and work.

Perhaps it's a sign I should emigrate. That way I'd have time to exercise. And do laundry. And whine. No, no, I'll aim for two out of three.

18 comments:

Crabby McSlacker said...

Yet another reason I want to be Canadian. I can't imagine any US employer ever, ever, cautioning employees not to work too hard.

Diana Swallow said...

This is something my old company would have done in an attempt to get us to use less minutes, word it so it sounded as if its for the "good of our life" LOL. I quit that job in 2001 and I'm still cynical!

C said...

Do glad you're back in Blogland! Sorry to hear about the work overload. Hopefully things will calm down soon at work so life can go back to normal. Whatever that is.

the Bag Lady said...

Freakin' government - trying to run our lives...Jeez.

Typical. Treat us like kids.

What's next? They'll make it against the law to smoke in our cars when there are kids under 16 in the vehicle. Oh, wait, they already did that in Nova Scotia somewhere.

Glad to see you back in blogland, Mary!! You can come be Canadjun anytime!!

Keziah Fenton said...

Yay!!! Mary's back online!! Sorry life is so crazy but we're glad to hear from you. Is Tanji in the new house too?

Feel free to bring her for a play date with Ky some time. Pfft what's a few thousand miles and an International border amongst friends?

McB said...

Am I reading this correctly? Are you now Merry, the blogist formerly known as Mary? Oh Merry Mary, so contrary ... and how does your new garden grow?

Which concludes laconic Xavier's fun.

JavaChick said...

There are plenty of reasons why I am happy to be Canadian, but that particular directive has not made it's way to my office yet. Too bad.

I loooovvve today's blog picture!

Reb said...

Of course that was sent to government workers and was assuming they didn't have other jobs. Here in Alberta - some people have to work two or three jobs in order to pay rents during these boom times.
God I love being Canadian! Boom times, working and living in a tent in a park in the middle of the city. Makes me very grateful for my apartment.

Anonymous said...

I'm focusing on finding that balance. I'm part of a simplicity circle, and it helps. It's not an easy thing to do in this rush-rush society.

marie said...

We Hosers are funny.

I work for a level of government now and I have to be TOLD to go home and shut things off at the end of the day...

Odd, eh?

Heather said...

glad you are back! no, not a secret canadian. just a crazy american!

Heather said...

glad you are back! no, not a secret canadian. just a crazy american!

The Merry said...

Hi Heather!

Wow, but there are a lot of Canadians out there. I hadn't realized I knew quite so many :)

Except I don't like the thought of people having to work several jobs and live in the park. That doesn't sound so benevolent. And I hadn't thought of that directive as being a Big Nagging Brother sort of thing, more of the kind of helpful hint you never hear from an American boss.

I shouldn't complain. I worked 12 hours today, and I'm going to do the same tomorrow, but at least I'm appreciated! (Some of the startups I've worked for in Silicon Valley, you could work 18 hours and still be expected to work a 10 hour day the next day. I can't do that. Didn't want to even when I was a young'un. Friggin' startups grumble, grumble...

the Bag Lady said...

Merry - life sucks...the Cowboy works 16 hour days, EVERY day. He gets up at 3:30/4:00 every morning, and gets home between 7 & 8 in the evening. Including weekends. Can you spell workaholic...?

therapydoc said...

Hi, just found your blog. It's great!

Unknown said...

Ha!

If I don't respond to emails over the weekend on Monday my boss is like "hey - what happened to you this weekend? Didn't you get so-and-so's email?"

Grrrrrr....

Socialized medicine. A bush-free govt. AND a work-ethic that ends at 5pm on Fridays? COUNT ME IN!

The Merry said...

Hi TherapyDoc -- thanks! I enjoyed visiting your blog.

ThickChick, I think we should switch countries with the Canadians. Do you think they would accept a slightly used president and an oppressive work week?

Doesn't sound like the Cowboy would notice any difference, actually. That's a pain, Bag Lady!

Frank Baron said...

Not all us Canuckleheads are laid back. Some of us work darn--wait a sec....

Sorry. Time for my post-lunch nap. Snuck right up on me again. :)