A Day of Labor
Hello everyone.
I bet you thought I had moved to the other side of the world or something, didn't you? Nope. But remember, when a vacation by my Sister leaves Mom alone in the office and it's the end of a month, then it's the first of a month, and then a Holiday Week-End all rolled up into a nice package, then I am in my crate sulking and watching Mom work like a crazy person. No Blogging can take place when Mom is like that.
So it's over. Tomorrow is Labor Day, and the schedules are all set (if you didn't call before today, you might want to cross your paws that you can get some services).... and today, Sunday, is not exactly a day of resting, but I do get to BLOG. I still can't Tweet properly and that is making me very, very frustrated, but I'm back to my Blogging! Sometimes my Tweeter works, sometimes it doesn't, so if you aren't hearing from me, don't think it is cause I have forgotten you.
Tomorrow is one of those stupidly named holidays. Tomorrow is Labor Day. And yet, no one does any labor on this day. Nope. Instead it is all fun and picnics and back-yard bar-b-ques, etc. So why do they call it Labor Day? Why don't they call it Day of No Labor?
It's been awhile since I went with my Mouse Person to visit my friends at Wikipedia, so I figured it would be a good day to do that and find out why we have Labor Day. This is what I learned:
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 7 in 2009).
The holiday originated in Canada out of labor disputes ("Nine-Hour Movement") first in Hamilton, then in Toronto, Canada in the 1870s, which resulted in a Trade Union Act which legalized and protected union activity in 1872 in Canada. The parades held in support of the Nine-Hour Movement and the printers' strike led to an annual celebration in Canada. In 1882, American labor leader Peter J. McGuire witnessed one of these labor festivals in Toronto. Inspired from Canadian events in Toronto, he returned to New York and organized the first American "labor day" on September 5 of the same year.
The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.[1] In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the US military and US Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[2] Cleveland was also concerned that aligning a US labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.[3] All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.
The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families. This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.
Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parades. Speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key than May 1 Labour Day celebrations in most countries, although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer recess. Similarly, some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school. However, start dates for schools vary widely, beginning as early as July 24 in urban districts such as Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles. In addition, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons. The NCAA usually plays their first games the week before Labor Day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day.
So now you know what I know about Labor Day. I still think they need to change the name, but since there is very little chance of that occuring, it will just have to do.
And guess what? Guess who is coming to my home tomorrow? Luke Robinson and Hudson and Murphy! Yep, my 2Dogs2000Miles friends are arriving from Harper's Ferry in West Virginia and should be here around 3pm tomorrow. Yahoo! We are going to do so many fun things!
First we will let Mr. Luke and da' boys rest a bit, and then we are having a wonderful gourmet Fish Taco dinner in our back yard with lots of good friends coming to meet our celebrities! I'm so excited cause I love, love, love, fish tacos!
Here is a new picture of Mr. Luke and Huds and Murphy, and look how clean they are! I bet this isn't the way they are going to look when they show up at our home after having walked all the way here. HA! I will post some TRUE pictures of how they will look. Huds and Murphy are even clean in this photo and I know that they DO NOT look like this all of the time.
On Tuesday evening September 8, 2009, from 7-9pm, we are going to have a small ceremony at Leesburg Dog Park (at Olde Izaak Walton Park) and we will listen to Mr. Luke tell about how important this cause is to all of us, and we will plant a NEW TREE especially in remembering of all our companion animal friends who have crossed to The Rainbow Bridge and then EVERYONE IS GOING TO HOLD A CANDLE and say a small wish and a prayer.
It will be wonderful.
There are going to be so many events happening and I don't want to flood you with everything all at once, but tomorrow I will make my Blogging show you where the events will be and that way you can plan ahead.
Right now, I'm planning on my fish taco consumption.
Love and LIcks,
Bob
----- so excited to meet my friends, Luke,Huds & Murphy
.......... so excited to be invited to The Dinner Party
............... not so excited that I'm taking a bath first, however
Categories: Our Friends
Tags: 2 Dogs 2000 Miles American Pit Bull Terrier
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