Everybody Get Random in Book Four: Ichi-no-Tani 2017

Not that it is new but… my body and eyes hurt. I really hope that (after Wednesday) I can (1) get new glasses and (2) get eye drops to fix the high pressure. I honestly wouldn’t mind going blind except for the fact that computers, video gaming, and reading would be… uh.... lets just say “more difficult!” And… as to the body… I know the pain won’t go away. I know that if I run another 1.96 miles tonight… that pain is going to get worse. But… right now… I haven’t the energy, the body, the stamina, or the health to even run all of that. Frankly, I end up walking at least half. Now, since my goal is to be able to consistently run a strong 3.11 miles by the end of the year… I need to keep pushing. Just… the damnable pain.

Y’know what sounds REALLY good? Well… a few things. Let me see if I can’t concisely write a few of them down.

(1) An entire week off to sleep in, watch Television, play Video Games, read Prosebox and just recoup my energy.
(2) An entire week off with the Wife in Bermuda, Bahamas, or Hawaii. Soaking in sun, enjoying the calm of the ocean’s sounds, drinking fruity drinks as we go in and out of sleepy, restful naps.
(3) A weekend (or just a long evening) of ridiculous passionate life-altering sexual debauchery.

In other words… it sounds like I need a Honeymoon. lol. We never got one. Hell, in all of the time Wife and I have been together… we’ve never once just… gone on Vacation, just the two of us, with no “ulterior motive” (like Wedding or Family Reunion or something.) That includes when we were dating. So… July 2005 to today. No vacations for us. No honeymoons. No wonder we’re so fucking tired and cranky, lol.

But of course… we absolutely can NOT do one this year. First of all, she won’t be able to get the time off work because she is still “in her first 6 months” at the new location. Second, I’m allowed a grand total of one week of vacation from the firm. For non US Citizens with questions, allow me to attempt to preempt you: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations, sick leave or federal or other holidays. These benefits are matters of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee’s representative). Important to note that, for many, people view Japan as the land where people work themselves to death… but even Japan has laws requiring vacation time and other leave. But… in the United States… you are not guaranteed any form of Sick Pay or Vacation Time. Even still, I am kind of making it known that… My Cousin’s wedding and bachelor party were scheduled before I took this job. I am IN my Cousin’s wedding. AND my cousin is marrying a Filipino woman (big Asian wedding). So if the firm doesn’t like me needing 4 days for that… they can fire me. I have no problems saying “I put family first” in future interviews.

So… all of that? Yeah. No vacation for this year. And (frankly, horrifyingly)… I have serious doubts about a vacation for next year. Because either (1) Wife will have finally started figuring out what she DOES want to do with her life and, as the newest greenest person in whatever company or outfit she winds up in… she likely won’t get first crack at time off and the like; and/or (2) My work. Next year, I’ll either quit my current position (again) because it is insanely offensive to pay me $30,000. OR I’ll get a raise but stay at 1 week of vacation per year and won’t risk Vacation Time because five days over 12 months can easily evaporate due to emergencies and the like.

Now lets turn it political again, lol… I’ll grant you that Senators and Congressmen are required to do a lot of fundraising and other stuff so their “Time in Chambers” isn’t 100% of what they do when they are actually working. That said… Congress typically spends around 140 days in session each year. Less than 40% of the year. Meanwhile, the AVERAGE American Employee (according to Business Statistics) gets a total of 16 days of combined Holiday/Vacation Time per year. Or… vacation/holiday equaling less than 5% of the year. To cap this off with even more random facts… The average United States Citizen’s yearly income, based on most analysis tools, is approximately $51,000. The average United States Senator’s yearly income is $174,000 per year.

Funny tip… and this is just studying human nature and understanding how the world at large works from an observational standing.... if people are allowed to take leave, are paid better… in essence, if you treat employees like PEOPLE instead of like THINGS… they tend to work better and work harder. If you treat people like THINGS and require them to work themselves to burn out… you increase turn over, decrease efficiency, and (in the big picture) hurt your own bottom line.