Master_Shake

Today is memorial day in the US. It is listed as a holiday where I work but everybody knows you have to show up anyway, even if it's a few hours later and you don't have to wear a tie.

I tried to use the extra morning time to get some errands and things done, but of course all the banks and post offices are closed. The Wal-Mart and mall parking lots are obscene, and traffic was horrendous. It took me an extra 30 minutes to get into work because the local tools were having a parade. It was a total inconvenience and caused my ulcer to act up again.

What I want to know is if anybody got anything out of the day. Sure, if you had the day off and you were able to veg out on the couch or finish up some home improvement project it must have been very nice for you.

But did you get anything out of it being Memorial day? Did you watch the parade? If so, what did you get out of it?

I don't understand this nation's compulsion to watch the local Future Farmer's Association run a lame float down the street, or for everybody to smile as the crappy high school band plays music badly.

Do these public displays of nonsense do anything? Or is it all just as much a pain for everyone else as it is for me?

Since I was able to get nothing done except burn through a few extra gallons of gasoline, I would have preferred this to be just another work day. Anybody else feel the same?

And of course, we have July 4th coming up to look forward to. The greatest lame-ass parade day of all time.

Wouldn't things go more smoothly if people were just allowed to take their vacations and days off in shifts? Does everybody taking a day off at the same time really do anything for anybody?

__________________
-------------
You know something, I don't think the sun even... exists... in this place. 'Cause I've been up for hours, and hours, and hours, and the night never ends here.

Disk_Pusher

The parades have meaning for those who want them to have meaning, but instead of gawking at a float I'd much rather show my appreciation by donating time or money to veterans associations, or learning more about the members of my family who served and died in the armed forces. But in all honesty, these are things I believe I should be thinking about every day. The holiday shouldn't be an excuse to finally pay attention to our national history.

I know I'd rather it not be another work day, simply because I am lazy. Although the idea of vacation shifts was initially appealing to me, I think it would be somewhat annoying when your best friend has Friday off and you get Monday off instead or some such situation.

And in regards to the Wal-Mart parking lot... your Wal-Mart is open?

cyrnel

MS, I won't wax pedantic about observance. Try looking for the fun or interesting.

The polar opposite of WallyWorld, visit an aircraft museum. We're lucky enough to have one nearby with the Spruce Goose, an SR71, and a hundred others including WWII military craft. On weekends and holidays several veterans man displays who're happy to talk about their experiences. Sure, some are dry, but the good stories are golden. Those guys are dying off at ~1000/day so the opportunity is passing.

Quite a few of these places around the country. Just googled this <a href="http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/museums/pa.htm">small list for PA</a>.

I agree though, traffic sucks. Shouldn't these people be at work?

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

TM875

Today was just a normal day (well, night...I work thrid shift) for me. The only difference is an added $1.50 an hour for holiday time. Other than that, no parades, no high-stakes shopping, nothing. Holidays don't enthrall me at all. I don't see the point - I can go out and grill and drink beer any day of the week, why am I obligated to do it today? Why would I go to the shore on a weekend when it's packed, when I can go on a Wednesday when it's empty? I just don't get it...


Disk, our Wal-Mart is open (along with practically every other store). Those of us in the Northeast look at this as prime retail-day, so nothing closes. Hell, our Wal-Mart is 24 hours and only closes on Christmas and a half-hour on Easter.

And our high school band is one of the best in the nation - it's the only reason I'd show up to the parade

__________________
"I've made only one mistake in my life. But I made it over and over and over. That was saying 'yes' when I meant 'no'. Forgive me."

Sage

your wal-mart closes at christmas?

One has to remember that national holidays are pretty arcane anyway. I didn't get anything out of today except feeing annoyed that I couldn't go to the beach when I was so close by last week (was going to take this weekend to go to the beach after being close while visiting Martel's parents).

__________________

Demeter

I'm Canadian. No holiday today. But it was last monday, Victoria day, we celebrated the Queen's birthday. I didn't work, but for double time plus stat pay I would have liked to.
In itself, I accomplished nothing that day, being that I had worked a long hardweekend & was exhausted.
Holidays don't do much for me.

__________________

I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
William Shakespeare

Carno

I got paid time and a half at work today