Postcards from the Funny Farm

I just read that 460 million vacation days went unused last year by American workers … no wonder we have so many mental problems in our country! To all those people so worried about missing work I say this: “Be responsible, go on vacation!” This post was inspired by a discussion at Loose Suits.

Of course people with jobs that don’t offer sick days, like freelance writers and the like, might not click on this article. Theirs is a different dilemma that I could discuss at length as well. Having said that, we are all faces with the importance of taking vacations. So if we know how important they are, why aren’t we taking them? In my opinion, folks with vacation days would be “sick” not to use them!

Any problems we have at work and at home will get worse if we don’t use our vacation days.

I look at vacation days as a time to regroup. It’s a time to get romantic with your spouse. Vacations are a time to find inspiration in even those “nothing” moments. How many times have I taken a simple walk in a new place and had tomes of inspiration flood into my mind. It can heal what you thought was impossible stress. I have written my best songs while taking vacation time.  It can be really tough to find the flights you desire, that’s why it is helpful to plan way ahead.  If it is a priority and you are willing to wait you will fare better!

Looking for timely new york flights is even harder than looking for cheap flights to germany. However the flights to thailand can be bought at the last minute too. This is true for a number of other flights as well.

I’ve been highly stressed out at work before. (hasn’t everybody?) It can feel like radioactive heat burning you up … it deserves you a day off. After a “mental health day” the heat goes away. I get fresh new ideas that ironically make me more valuable to my employer. What? More valuable by taking time off? Yes. It’s a time to sharpen my axe.

I think the paranoia many have of getting in trouble at work for taking sick days is unwise. People need to get over it and just take those vacation days like clockwork. It just might be the difference between a promotion or being written up for lack of productivity. The article I read on this was truly staggering. The best argument for this is simple: Look at pictures of your loved ones over the past few years. When you do so you will see just how fast this thing called a lifespan is passing by. Is work that important to Americans? Do people think a real man doesn’t call off work ever? Do that many Americans really think they are heroes for not taking a vacation? Getting any getaway locations in mind yet? I am. Here’s a place to buy your travel supplies. Enjoy.

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I could write 1,000 posts about Vegas. It’s become one of my most favorite places to vacation. It makes sense since after all my wife and I got married there and had a great time doing so back in November of 2002. Vegas gave us its “off-color” blessing and we have been traveling back as much as we can every since.

The best place to stay is every place! But after that, I like the Luxor. It’s a wild Egyptian place that feels like a museum that rocks. The elevators, for examples, go up the pyramid diagonally and are labeled “inclinators.” If you’ve never rode in one you owe it to yourself.

We’ve been a few times in the summer and therefore start thinking about Vegas in the summer months. Now that we have our own pool, our backyard will have to suffice for now but I guarantee you we will be back. We go nearly every year.

I think our best vacation though was our wedding. It consisted of a stay at the Luxor, the Blue Man Group show (amazing), a trip to the movies, the MnM Museum, the World of Coke, and some yes … time in the all too magnetic casinos! They are everywhere and each on has different lures. So far, we’ve had great times in Vegas but none has topped the wedding one! Did I mention it’s a great place to get hitched ;) If I haven’t said enough, make sure you check out Things to do in Las Vegas for yourself! To close, make sure you take advantage of the special promotion where a person can win a handheld GPS by simply signing up for a newsletter at Trusted Tours & Attractions.

If you are planning a trip, make sure you check out the online travel guides.

My next vacation, btw, is set! Things to do in New York City are many. The one I want to do is see a taping of Dave Letterman’s Late Show.