US Holiday

Indigenous Peoples' Day 

Basket with Game Pieces: photo by Cliff Hutson

I am taking another day off by referencing something that I previously wrote about this contentious American holiday.

Labor Day (USA)

 A fun fact:

September 2026: photo by Cliff Hutson

September 7 is the latest date Labor Day can mathematically occur under its statutory definition, i.e., the first Monday of September.

Workshop Companion Notebooks: photo by Cliff Hutson

I am making a very long weekend of this holiday; so rather than natter on I am going to refer you to what I feel is the best post I have written about it.

A fun quote:

“One is not idle because one is absorbed. There is both visible and invisible labor. To contemplate is to toil, to think is to do.”

- Victor Hugo

A Festive Week

 Happy Birthday, America

American Flag: photo by Cliff Hutson

The 250th anniversary of the United States of America is this coming Saturday and observances will take place all week long leading up to it. I don’t feel celebratory at all. I am not going to write about that as my horoscope says - "This is a poor day to get involved in controversial discussions about politics, religion, racial issues or even plans about travel, legal or medical matters or higher education. Whatever the issue - there will be a sense of conflict and above all, there will be confusion . .  . ' 

Classic American Lunch: photo by Cliff Hutson

However, I will probably have at least one traditional meal over the weekend.

Floral Fireworks: photo by Cliff Hutson

I  hope that you all enjoy what ever it is that you are doing..

National Eat What You Want Day

A Day of Indulgence

Observed annually on May 11th, in the USA, National Eat What You Want Day is a day of indulgence. It is all about setting aside dietary restraint to enjoy the foods you crave. Though, for many of us it is a day much like any other day. I try to  make wise choices, but I don't always succeed. 

Poking around the Internet I found out that it was created by Thomas and Ruth Roy who have invented at least 80 American "holiday" observances. 

I also came across a list, created by a Vancouver marketing agency, of the foods Americans would mostly eat everyday if they were not worried about the consequences. The list of these foods accompanied by photographs I took - because of course I would have at least one of each - is as follows:

#1: Pizza (13%)

#2: Pasta (12%)

#3: Burgers (11%)

#4: Ice cream (11%)

#5: Tacos or burritos (9%)

#6: Chocolate (9%)

#7: French fries (9%)

#8: Donuts (7%)

#9: Cake (6%)

#10: Chips (5%)

#11: Cheese (4%)

#12: Cookies (4%)

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

A Long Weekend

 Bookended by two holidays:

It is a long weekend here in the USA and it includes two holidays. Last Saturday was Valentine's Day and today is Presidents'  Day, which gives us an extra day off.  I can't recall ever having written about the first. However, what I wrote about the second last year works just as well this year. So, I am going to leave it at that.

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

An ellusive dream 

We Can All Dream: photo by Cliff Hutson

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day did not become a reality as a federal holiday until nineteen years after he won the Nobel Prize, and fifteen years after his assassination. But, now, each year on the third Monday of January, many Americans honor his birth, life, and dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed - "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."

Sadly, there are people who are actively trying to diminish his memory, if not history itself, and what he hoped to accomplish. Recent events illustrate that much work needs to be done to protect the gains that were made and to move forward to ensure that all people receive due process and have the opportunity to live their lives in freedom and strive for happiness. Otherwise, America could become the kind of country that they used to say we were not. 

Time Flies

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana 

Bananas: photo by Cliff Hutson

I hope that everyone who observes Labor Day is having a good one.

Joyeux quatorze juillet!

 Bastille Day

Dame de Liberté: photo by Cliff Hutson

This day marks the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, a fortress in Paris that was infamous for holding political prisoners, at the start of the French Revolution in 1789.  

Things will be quiet in the USA. We have never made as big a deal out of Bastille Day as we do Cinco de Mayo - which interestingly enough is another date that commemorates a foreign event involving the French. But, usually there is plenty of wine, and French food to found somewhere.

Brie et du pain Français: photo by Cliff Hutson

Brie en Croûte: photo by Cliff Hutson

Croissant: photo by Cliff Hutson

But, this year, I might just go to a drive-thru and get some "Freedom fries". I will also watch Casablanca.  That is a personal tradition that I have long held.  The scene where "La Marseillaise", the French national anthem, is sung in a 'duel of anthems' with the Nazis is one of the most moving in any film that I have ever seen. I can't imagine ever growing tired of watching it.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité!

PS:

It is also Shark Awareness Day!

Great White: photo by Cliff Hutson

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr). is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of January each year.

This year, it being January 20th after a presidential election, it is also Inauguration Day; leaving me less optimistic about his legacy and the fate of my nation than ever.

Labor Day (USA & Canada) 2024

 The End of Summer

Scovil Hoe: photo by Cliff Hutson

The three day Labor Day weekend marks the end of a magical time of the year for many people. However as I retired almost fifteen years ago it is much the same to me; and cooler weather is still weeks away. But, I need little excuse to party and will indulge my long weekend by referring you to this previous Labor Day entry.

I hope that you all had a good Summer and will enjoy this weekend as much as you can.

Memorial Day - 2024

A Day of Remembrance

Flag: photo by Cliff Hutson

Many people see Memorial Day as the unofficial start of Summer, and a time for picnicking or grilling. That is OK, but can be difficult to reconcile that with its intended purpose.

Irish Soda Bread

 Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day (and Any Other Day)

Yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day which gave me an excuse to dig into my Irish heritage and live it up a little. One manifestation of this was going to the local farmers market and buying an Irish Soda Bread.

Soda bread is an Irish tradition that can be eaten any day of the year. But, here in the USA it is mostly baked in droves in the lead up to Saint Patrick’s Day and seldom seen outside of that window of time.

While the traditional recipe calls for just four ingredients - soft wheat flour, salt, baking soda and sour milk (buttermilk is more commonly used today), Americanized Irish soda bread adds sugar and is filled with raisins or currants and caraway seeds. Sometimes, it is almost cake-like.

The loaf I picked up is clearly from the latter school. It is large enough that I will be eating it for several days. I like it heated and spread with butter - Kerrygold, of course.

There is one more Irish inspired indulgence that I did not exercise yesterday. That is having a Guinness Float. I intend to rectify that this afternoon. 

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission. 

Thanksgiving Aftermath

 Whoa Nellie!

The Thanksgiving holiday, observed last Thursday here in the USA, can exact a toll:

Ouch!: photo by Cliff Hutson

Between the Thanksgiving Day meal itself, and making use of any leftovers, many people have trouble following their regular food regimes.  And, at least one of us apparently paid the price. [Those are my feet in the above photo.]

Turkey & Biscuit Sandwiches: photo by Cliff Hutson

I have a particular fondness for the rolls or biscuits severed with dinner. My late wife used to make a batch just for me. Those that I don't polish off then are used to make sandwiches with the leftover turkey. On this occasion, I went with avocado - I actually prefer jellied cranberry sauce from a can.  That may sound odd to you, but I have been doing that for years and have made some converts to the cause.

Pumpkin Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

Pumpkin pie is also a favorite. I bet that I will not get many arguments with that.

 Homemade Apple Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

Apple pie, of course, is nothing to sneeze at. This serving was presented with a topping of Dulce de Leche ice cream.

I hope that, if Thanksgiving Day is a holiday on your calendar, it was good one. 

A Long Weekend

Labor Day - 2023

Stetson Weekender: photo by Cliff Hutson

This weekend marks the end of Summer for many. Others see it as a welcomed three day break. Others may just get today off. And, let us not forget those who will have to slog on as usual.

As for me, I have had a rough couple of weeks and am taking a break* from the labor of doing a full fledged post (such as they are).

I am just going to refer you back to last year's entry, which I really like. Happy Labor Day!

*I am writing this on Thursday, so it is four days for me.

Four Day Weekend

 Taking the Day Off

Long May It Wave: photo by Cliff Hutson

Dicking around all day is much more fun than trying to be serious - so I am just going to refer you to "The Meaning of July Forth . . .". 

On July 4, 1776, all Americans definitely had not been created equal. And today they still haven’t been. This has been underscored now as we watch a gang of reactionaries claw back rights we (and other minorities) have won over many decades of struggle.

Memorial Day - 2023

Some Gave All

A Salute: photo by Cliff Hutson

All gave some. Some gave all.

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day^]) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. From 1868 to 1970, it was observed on May 30.

May Day

International Workers’ Day 

Lunch Box: photo by Cliff Hutson

May Day, also called Workers’ Day or International Workers’ Day, day commemorating the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement, observed in many countries on May 1. In the United States and Canada a similar observance, known as Labor Day, occurs on the first Monday of September.

Marxist theorist Rosa Luxemburg wrote in 1894, "As long as the struggle of the workers against the bourgeoisie and the ruling class continues, as long as all demands are not met, May Day will be the yearly expression of these demands. And, when better days dawn, when the working class of the world has won its deliverance then too humanity will probably celebrate May Day in honor of the bitter struggles and the many sufferings of the past."

Sadly, the struggle continues for too many.

Day of the Dead

Día de los Muertos

Skull: photo by Cliff Hutson

October 31is the eve of Día de los Muertos also known as "Day of the Dead". I did a post on the multi-day festival a couple of years ago. I humbly refer you to it here.

I would also like to bring to your attention nice spread done on this year's Day of the Dead Parade and celebration in downtown Austin by Kirk Tuck, a professional photographer.

Halloween

Halloween (2006): photo by Cliff Hutson

Today of course is also Halloween, which is my least favorite holiday.  Perhaps that is due to my late wife insisting that everybody in the house wear a costume to greet the children (and some adults) who came to our door for treats.

See photo above.

Labor Day

Whatever the work is, do it well:

Lunch Box: photo by Cliff Hutson

Today marks Labor Day's 140th anniversary in America. It is a federal holiday observed annually on the first Monday of September. The day celebrates the labor movement in the US and the contributions and achievements of the American worker.

This year, the day has been more in the forefront of my mind as for my birthday a friend gave me a classic lunch box that reminded me of from whence I came.  

Working-class kid:

The term “working class” often typically describes members of the labor force that do not hold a bachelor’s degree. Common working class occupations include restaurant employees, auto mechanics, construction workers, and service-type workers.

My father owned his own business, but it entailed a lot of hard physical labor. And, from the time I was tall enough to push a broom and until I entered college I worked alongside him as much as my schooling and sports allowed. One reason why I like the new lunch box so much is that it reminds me of how we carried our meals and snacks when out on a job.

[Note: I just finished watching the "A League of Their Own" series on Amazon Prime Video. I enjoyed seeing all of the lunch pails in many of the scenes at the screw factory.]

I also found jobs on my own. Thus, I ended up mowing lawns, pulling weeds, clearing brush, and doing janitorial work in my tweens (that was not a term back then) and teens. One job of a different sort was helping an architect measure buildings to aid in his design of renovations to them. That got me to thinking about going to college and moving on up in the world.

A good union job:

Working with my Dad was hard. But, it was honest work and I took a great deal of satisfaction in it. However, I could see that it had its limitations and knew that I would have to strike out on my own. 

Labor Day grew out  of the labor union movement. The fortunes of organized labor have ebbed and flowed over my lifetime. When I entered the official workforce, around one-third of U.S. workers were members of a union, and I became one of them. Sadly, to my way of thinking, today, union membership is at just 10 percent of workers, with local government employees accounting for most of those. 

There is no doubt in my mind that collective bargaining boosted my pay, improved my benefits and give me some modicum of control over my schedule so that I could work part time and carry nearly a full load in college. I was able to cover all my expenses - rent, food, tuition, and so on - and graduate with out any debt. 

Through no fault of their own, many young people today will not be able to do the same, should they have the same desire. Jobs like that just do not seem to exist in the County of Los Angeles where the "minimum wage" is well short of the "living wage".

You are not the work you do; you are the person you are:

Office Space: photo by Cliff Hutson

Since graduating college, I have had many kinds of jobs, but I have never considered the level of labor to be the measure of myself, and I have never placed the security of a job above the love of family. 

And, even though most of my tech career was spent behind a desk as a manager I was always pro union. I believed that what was good for the people who were on my team was also good for me, and ultimately the business. May be that is why I never made the "C-suite'. 

Juneteenth (Observed)

 Independence Day

On Juneteenth: photo by Cliff Hutson

For many African Americans, June 19 is considered as independence day (we were not free in 1776). It commonly referred to as Juneteenth. It marks the date in 1865 when Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order Number 3, which ended the enslavement of Black people in Texas — a full 2½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Long celebrated in Texas, and some other Black communities across the country, the day became a federal holiday in 2021. This year it is being observed today (Monday, June 20), complete with offices and schools closing, as the actual date fell on a Sunday.

I have to admit that I am surprised that all 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, recognize Juneteenth as “a holiday or observance.”  There is, of course, some push back from that sizable element of American society that I characterize as being ashamed enough of our history that they do not want it taught in school. Observing Juneteenth just adds to their discomfort. But, I was a bit taken aback when I read the other day that some Black Texans feel that having the day as a nationwide event cheapens it for them. While I agree that the crass commercialization of the holiday is dead wrong, I feel that the increased awareness is a good thing and honors our culture.

Personally, although born and raised in California, I feel that I have a more than legitimate claim to Juneteenth as my mother was a Texas native. The family never made a really big deal out of the day, but would mark it with a meal of Southern dishes such as fried chicken, potato salad, macaroni & cheese, and greens. And, yes, watermelon. 

Fried Chicken Dinner: photo by Cliff Hutson