No, I do not work outside the home. But I do a heck of a lot on the inside – besides the kids, the husband, the house, and the pets, I also write. A lot. And of course, handle 75% of the “other things” like bill-paying, doctor appointments, endless paperwork, shopping, etc.

I have, over the course of my life, naturally worked outside my home. I’ve held a myriad of jobs, sometimes more than one at a time, averaging probably 45 hours a week over a period of 25 years or thereabouts.

My husband works over 50 hours a week, outside the home; his chosen field is retail. He’s very, very good at what he does, and he’s very, very conscientious.

Sometimes it drives me nuts. Like today.

He gets one day off a week. The rest of the days he’s working anywhere from 8-10 hours a day, starting at 6:00 a.m. So on Sundays he should not, in my book, have to go to the store or even think about the store.

Typically there are a few phone calls, just to check on things. Sometimes there’s a small crisis that can be handled by phone. Sometimes, like today, he has to go in.

Part of the problem, of course, is that he thinks others can’t handle what he does. Part of it, too, is some really ridiculous company policy.

I really do try not to complain – but I think it’s silly when people just blow off work and don’t show up, or make up a problem just to be able to leave early. Do they not realize they’re completely expendable? That we’re in a recession (at the very least) and they should be grateful they even have a job to go to?

Seriously, what the heck is wrong with the world? Guys like my husband have to pick up the slack, yet they still get screwed by the system; even by their employers who know they can get away with it. And what does the government do? Like someone said, they aren’t in place to actually help, only to appear to help. For example, like the new “stimulus” plan where my hardworking husband will see maybe an extra $10 a week on his check.

Whoopee. Yeah, that makes up for it.