Why do we think that an 8-hour work day is necessary? Why can't people be allowed to work until they get a few projects done or meet a certain production quota and then be allowed to go home?

I feel trapped when I'm at work for 8 hours straight. The only thing that helps me to keep my sanity is the fact that I get a small paid lunch break, which I usually use to leave my office and breathe non-recycled air. Even so, I feel sick after sitting inside for hours on end - I want to be outside playing with my dog, pulling weeds from my planted pots, fishing, walking, sleeping on a blanket - anything but sitting at a desk working (or pretending to work) on some mundane task.

I'm so rarely outside, and I'm certain it's the same way for most other cell-bound office workers. This feeling always becomes worse in the summer, when it's gorgeous outside the window and people walk around in light airy clothing while I and my miserable companions inside bundle up against the winter of AC that some hot-blooded male has decided to inflict on the offices in the building.

Now, normally I love my job. In fact, the things I've been doing today at work haven't been too boring or tasking. But I've still been here for six hours with very minimal contact with other humans, and my eyes hurt from alternately staring at a bright computer screen and staring at faded papers to decifer a dead person's handwriting. (So far, I've gone through more than ten three-ring binders of class notes, lectures, examples, and grades in this person's handwriting.)

I guess it doesn't help that I'm so completely exhausted. Oh yeah, and the sore eyes and headache can't be helped by the fact that I haven't had any caffeine yet today. Hmm, that first cup of coffee sure makes a difference as to how the day will turn out when your addicted to the legal drug!

Can I just go home and go to bed on my front lawn? :)