3rd shift weekends sat and sun? YUCK

Yes, that's the norm. Most people work the Friday before their weekend off.

That might usually be the way it is for full timers, but you're only a part timer. I've always told the schedulers in the past if I couldn't work a certain day because my husband is already working. The reason being that someone needed to be home with our children. I don't know if you have young children that you can say you need to be home with. It's not fair to you to never have a whole weekend free. She is avoiding you obviously, but keep on doing what you're doing and don't give up trying to contact her. Even go to the DNS if you have to and tell her you can't work on Fridays or that you need at least every other weekend off including the Friday before. Lie if you have to and say you have another job or another obligation early Saturday mornings. It might not seem right, but you don't want to be taken advantage of either. I bet everyone in the office cherishes their weekends so why shouldn't you. If you were aware of this schedule at the time of your being hired then that's another thing. You should've spoken up then and there about your availability. I know it's hard sometimes. At first you think you won't mind doing something, but then you realize you don't want to anymore after a while. I've been through it too such as choosing to work nights or every weekend as well. Then I came to my senses and had to make a change. Good luck to you and hopefully your facility will accommodate you soon enough.

It sounds like you're already doing the right thing. Be persistent.

With your current schedule, you may not be able to get every other weekend off, but you may be able to use vacation time occasionally to get a Friday off. Combine that with the Saturday and Sunday you already have off and you've got yourself a 3-day weekend. :)