Here in the U.S., Labor Day is this coming weekend. And of course the Labor Day holiday was created to celebrate the pain and suffering of labor during childbirth. All over the country, families and friends will gather for parties where they will sweat, grunt, and curse to hell the son of a bitch that did that to them, all in recognition of the experience that is the miracle of childbirth. And the day will culminate with the ceremonial tossing of the placenta onto the barbecue pit, symbolizing that the wondrous labor is complete.
And it’s because of this that . . . . . Wait . . . . What? . . . . Hold on a second . . . . .
Okay, I’m being told that’s not what Labor Day is about.
Well, it doesn’t matter. Because I have three words for you that make the question moot: THREE. DAY. WEEKEND.
Three days without having to think about work projects, bosses, or the guy with the severe nasal problems in the next cube. Let’s all take this break together!
It’s Samapalooza, featuring The Skepchick Readers!
And we have all the money we need to do whatever we want.  Â
What do you want to do? Where should we go? What should I load on the Samapalooza iPod? Snacks? Beverages? Should we invite anyone else? Let’s Rock!!
The Afternoon Inquisition (or AI) is a question posed to you, the Skepchick community. Look for it to appear Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 3pm ET.
I’m going to celebrate the International Day of Bacon on Saturday by attending a bacon eating contest.
http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-21508-events-international-bacon-day-festival.html
Top that, plebs.
I’m feeling Irish, so how about some Irish drink, Irish indy rock and some smart skeptical Irish ladies so we can listen to pleasant Irish accents.
Bike trip down the Russian River sampling every winery along the way. As far as sounds go the gurgling water and the chiding Stellars Jays would be plenty. When it comes iPod time I don’t think you could do better than Katherine Calder. (Thanks for the tip, Skepchick!) Maybe some Pretty Girls Make Graves when we needed an energy boost. Oh, and St. Germain to mellow out with at the end of the day.
Who should we invite? How about some UC Davis oenology graduate students. Every grad student needs a break now and then and they could explain wine to us.
Oh, wait, we were supposed to invent something….. how about an International Day of Bacon? And we could have a bacon eating contest!
@James Fox: You’ve described most of my weekends, you know. The Girlâ„¢ is Irish… ish. Well, Irish-American anyway.
@James Fox:
@davew:
All right!
I have to do some work Friday, but in my mind I’m already there.
I assume you’re aware what the title of this AI is a euphemism for, or is it just a coincidence?
@Andrew Nixon:
Of course. Give me some credit.
It just so happens that Tuesday is when we’ll be back from Samapalooza. It’s multi-layered comedy.
I work this Saturday, so I get a grand total of a two-day weekend. Still nicer than my usual one-day weekend, especially since it’s followed by a three-day workweek and payday.
Ha! I am the guy with severe nasal problems in the next cube, motherfucker! Bwa ha ha ha ha–wait a minute….
Guess I’ll be taking claritin. Breathin’ ‘n’ shit.
Three day weekend? Ha, that’s a joke! I’ll be lucky to get one day off. My bosses (all 12 of them) are slave drivers with no regard for my well-being. Isn’t corporate America so awesome?
Meh, I’m a cook in a tourist town. Not only will I be working all weekend, but my job’s going to be even harder because of all the stupid tourists in town.
Backyards shall be ravaged!
Pizza shall be consumed!
D20’s shall be rolled!
There shall be a large fire on a beach. In yon fire shall be the clams and cobs and over said fire, shall be sticks on which wieners shall be stabbed and burned.
Beyond the fire shall be the tiki bar. In the bar will be all the various frosty adult beverages of anyone’s choice being served by the hot dude or dudette of your choice.
Beyond the tiki bar shall be the sweet blue water. In the foamy surf, beach chairs filled with revelers drinking frosty adult beverages.
Out in the surf shall be more revelers on flotation devices of their choice also holding frost adult beverages.
It shall be paradise and it shall go on for three days.
Bring your own towel.
I’m helping my boss move on Labor Day. I shit you not.
But in my dreams? K. and I are camping at Round Valley Reservoir in New Jersey. Sitting around the campfire looking at the stars and recounting episodes of Beavis and Butthead to each other as we laugh ourselves to sleep…
Also, beer and sex.
I’ll be celebrating my birthday. (Ok, its on tuesday, but last year it was on my birthday) My mom was in labor on Labor Day 19 years ago!
@Andrew Nixon: I had to google. Feeling old….
I’ve taken the day off on Friday, so I have a four day weekend. I have always been a friend of the working man. I’ve chartered the final remaining Concord and will be flying to Paris. I’ve booked a floor at the Ritz near the tower. Saturday, I’ll catch a ride on the TGV down to Chambery so I can have the finest steak in the universe at the Le Teneuo. Sunday I’ll head up to Geneva for the book market. Monday in Nice’ on the Riviera and then back to Texas. You know, like any worker. Workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains.
@Non Believer:
Duuuuude!!!!!!
@James Fox: I had to google. Feeling old….
Ditto and ditto.
I’m going on a road trip halfway across the country with my best friend just to see a band.
Yeah, it’s not creative or anything, but I’m pumped for it.
@James Fox:, @davew: “Shut up,” he explained.
By mere coincidence of scheduling, I get to have Labor Day off, and it’ll be my first day off since August 22. We’ve been running on average 11 hour days since then.
I’m looking forward to seeing my girlfriend and doing fuck-all for the entire day. Yay US Labor Movement!
For real:
1) Celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary
2) BBQ (a lot)
3) Celebrating a dear friend’s birthday
4) Hopefully some kind of gaming
In Sam’s imagination: Hard to beat the beach scene quoted earlier. Perhaps:
Win lotto, but Skepchick island, transport skepchicks and friends to said island, then commence the beach scene.
I’m working class, so I’ll be laboring. Thanks in advance for not jokingly asking me why I’m working on Labor Day. If people didn’t still need their trash collected/cars fueled up/lattes served/owies bandaged, then we’d all get a three-day weekend.
Why not visit a National Park?
Even though I just returned from working up there, I’m considering driving up to Hyder, AK to watch grizzly bears eat fish. Although, since I’ve just worked 31 days straight, seeing even more fish might push me over the edge….
“Labor Day” ::= a day set aside for us all to take a break and not do any work.
(Why? I’ve never quite figured it out. ;-)
Lots of whiskey.
My husband.
A hotel.
What’s up, Sam? You game?
@Elyse: So you’re a doublemint fan?
@James Fox:
Doublemeat!
Oh… wait…
Sam understands. He was there.
I, however, was not.