Grandma flew in today.

I can't remember the last time we had Grandma around for Christmas. They moved to the west coast when I was very young, and of course I have no memory of those first Christmases.

Excellent.

A new smoking policy was released at work today.

Two policies actually. The first one is designed to help our staff quit. As a retailer selling athletic equipment, The Sporting Goods Company figures that they should promote healthy living within the company. To this end they are offering to help people pay for remedies. Smoking cessation programs and products do not come under the company's medical coverage, so the bosses are planning on shelling out hard cash instead.

All the employee has to do is join an approved program or use an approved product and not smoke for one whole year. If they can do that, they get reimbursed the cost of the treatment.

I know a few smokers, and I see that as a heck of a big commitment. One year? Whew! I don't think Mom went six months after her hypnosis before she picked them back up.

The second policy is more ominous, restricting the areas where smoking is allowed and firming up the amount of time allotted for breaks.

One big thing was to state, in no uncertain terms, that smoke breaks are part of the one hour of permitted breaks each employee gets in an eight-hour day. That includes lunch, coffee breaks, whatever.

I have a sneaky sort of glee over this. Back when I worked for 'Cool Independant ISP Inc.' (now a fully-owned subsidiary of Amalgamated WeOwnEverything Corp.), people were going off every half an hour or so for a 'quick smoke'. It all added up to nearly two extra hours of break a day! Which I didn't get, being a nonsmoker. Hah! Take that!

I'm afraid I do have the nonsmoker conceit. I get to feel all big and stuff because I'm not sucking carcinogenous byproduct into my lungs deliberately. No, I pour all my unhealthy addictions directly into my stomach, thank you very much!

I may be overweight, and at risk of scurvy, but my lungs are clean, dagnabbit!

Shuffledog's Slacking at the Office Tip #4: Don't try the old 'smoking break' dodge. As you can see, it no longer works so well.

Mom Rating: 3 out of 5. Mom thinks it's good that I don't smoke. I shouldn't make fun of people who do though.

Tree Day

Boring Tuesday

Take me home, big fella

A solemn pledge to try to post daily during the month of December, as both a gift to my readers, as well as a thank you for your support.