Allergic to Work

For the last couple of weeks, I have had a headache every day.

I jokingly mentioned to Joanne from Coconut Palm Designs that I was allergic to work.

Now I think I really am because I also noticed those same headaches that make me want to throw up and push my head in to relieve the pain miraculously go away once I leave the office for the day, only to return when I step inside the building.

I spoke to the human resources person about testing the air quality inside the office. She suggested getting rid of old newspapers, which collect dust, and will check the vents.

However, the air quality was tested two years ago and everything was fine.

I wonder if I can go on long-term disability due to my allergic reaction to work.

You Know You Are a Redneck When ...

I grew up in a small town. I currently live on a street that is closely surrounded by two small towns and my nearest grocery store is another small town away.

I have fabulous memories of small-town living - hours spent outside, building forts, hiking through trails, discovering CC Tree, playing in fields.

I went to high school in a larger town and then immediately went to Humber College in Etobicoke for journalism, doing my work placement at The Villager in the Bloor West Village.

I had no trouble going from small-town girl to big-city woman.

But if you listened to city dwellers, particularly those born and raised in the city, you would think that anyone who grew up or chooses to live in a small town must be a redneck.

Why is that?

Why is it OK to make prejudicial remarks about people who live in a small towns?
I expect many “city folk” are racist as noted by the number of hate crimes you read about in the city papers.

It’s been my experience that if you are a good person, a good neighbour, other things simply don’t matter.

“Country folk” like people who are friendly, who don’t mind stopping to chat and lending anything from power tools to a cup of sugar.

So I am sure people will forgive me if I get a little angry if people assume that because you live in a small town, you must be a redneck.