Here's some disheartening news as we head into Memorial Day and summer-vacation season: 50 percent of U.S. employers expect employees to remain in touch with work during their vacations, and 28 percent of workers plan to contact their job at least once while they're out, according to the annual vacation survey of 4,400 workers by CareerBuilder.com.

Seems like the paycation will have officially replaced the staycation during this time of spartaneity. That said, given the trend of companies requiring employees to take work furloughs and, more significant, the rising number of unemployed Americans, perhaps it's not too bad to have to check e-mail or phone messages.

The survey also noted that 35 percent of workers say they haven't taken or aren't planning to take a vacation in 2009, and 71 percent of those respondents say they can't afford to take a vacation. e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Get ready for grilling season. And if you find yourself looking for things to do over Memorial Day, remember that May 18-25 is National Backyard Games Week.