Rant #2,215: Work Work Work Work (Idle Hands Are the Devil's Playground)

Good morning, everybody!

Today is Labor Day, the day we celebrate ourselves--the U.S. labor force, the greatest labor force in the world.

And unlike you, I am celebrating Labor Day by laboring.

Yes, once again, I am working on Labor Day.

We supposedly have an issue to get out at work, and every day is precious.

But when you work for a company that is going down for the count and wouldn't know a deadline it if stared them in the face (it always does), I am really working for appearances sake, and so I can exchange working today with an extra day off that I am going to take for my vacation, on Yom Kippur, a day that I fast on and won't work on.

No eat, no work.

I work on most Labor Days, because that is just the way it is with my company. Due to present circumstances, this might very well be the final Labor Day that I will have to toil for them, but there won't be any nostalgia in the coming years on future Labor Days if, in fact, what I am saying is true.

Labor Day is supposed to be a day off, but it rarely is for me.

Woe is me!

Not really, but I could have used another day to recharge my batteries.

Here is what I had to say about this situation in Rant No. 797, September 5, 2012, in edited form:

"Today is Labor Day.

Most of you who are reading this have the day off from work. You can frolic with your family, have a barbecue, and enjoy yourself on the unofficial last day of summer.

I can't. I have to work today.

Yes, I labor on Labor Day, and I am not too happy about it, to tell you the truth.

Sure, we get the day back to us as a "makeup" day later when we need it, but laboring on Labor Day when everyone else is off is a pain the neck, adding to the pinched nerve in my neck that I already have.

I have read the "Dennis the Menace" comic strip seemingly since I could read, and today's panel pretty much summarizes how I get into my own mind that working on Labor Day isn't that bad.

Dennis tells Joey and Margaret the following:

"What's so good about Labor Day? We don't get presents and there's nothin' special to eat."

That is about the only way I can get through this day.

So while you are swimming, barbecuing, watching a baseball game, or taking it easy, think of me and my plight.

No, I don't think you will, but evidently, the world doesn't stop on Labor Day."

Woe is me!

I have got to stop thinking that way, but to me, Labor Day is just another day on the calendar.

I join millions of others who work on Labor Day, so I am not alone.

However,  cannot make lemons into lemonade today, but I will try to make the best of it.

So have a great holiday, and I will speak to you again tomorrow.