Lesson 1: Learn how to count your days

You may think you know how to count, and you may think you know how to count down the days until you get X, but you would be wrong. Very, very wrong.

For example:

If today is Monday, and your only day off this week is Thursday, forget what you think you know. By Visayan reckoning, you only have 1 more day until your three days off.

Let me explain.

So today’s Monday, right? Well that day doesn’t count. And Tuesday is practically already over with. So that leaves just one more day, Wednesday. Makes sense, right?

And when you get off work on Wednesday, well, that’s still a day, right? And you still have some free time on that day, right? So Wednesday counts as a day. And then you’ve got all day Thursday. And since you don’t have to go to work until 2pm on Friday, well, that day’s practically almost over with, so that counts as your third day off.

Next example:

If what you’re counting involves work, only count Mon-Fri, since those are “working days”. So right now I’m waiting to submit a form for something at work, and I have to wait until Monday 27 August 2007, and today is Monday 20 August 2007. By Visayan counting, that’s only three more working days. Today doesn’t count, of course. And tomorrow doesn’t count since we’re practically already there already.

I’m still struggling with this, myself. But I’ll tell you what, though–this kind of logic has helped me get through some pretty shitty weeks at work.

Is your head spinning yet? All this makes perfect sense to Miriam .