Friday, September 2, 2016

A Prelude to Change

Thought for the day:  Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.  [Douglas Pagels]

No telling what kind of pot you might find at the end of a rainbow, but if you drink enough water, you'll be plenty happy to find the kind that's in the picture.

In the meantime, let's enjoy the slide, shall we? This is Labor Day weekend, which of course means... no labor, people! (For you folks in Canada, Australia and the U.K., that's Labour and labour...) It's a time to relax and let things slide a bit. You could say it's the last gasp of summer, or a preparation for the upcoming change of season. Time to forget about baseball, (especially if you're a Braves fan) and start thinking about football. (Even if the thermometer is still reading close to ninety degrees...)

If work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich would have kept it all to themselves.  [Lane Kirkland]

According to the calendar, summer doesn't officially end for another three weeks, but for all intense purposes, most of us consider Labor Day weekend to be our last hurrah. Our last desperate effort to squeeze in another round of fun in the sun. You can be as active ... or inactive... as you'd like.


There's lots of things you could do this weekend, but whatever it is, I hope you take a little time to ...




escape from the usual grind.









                         
                                           
You could take a nice relaxing bubble bath,




take a nap in the great outdoors,








                                                          or enjoy a good ol' barbecue.






    Don't forget the watermelon!












You could spend the day at the beach,









                                                               or lying in the grass.

You can run, drive, golf, swim, fish, sightsee, or just curl up with a good book. Do whatever the heck it is you want to do, but don't forget...



summer will be over ... and the chairs will be empty... before ya know it.









And so, I raise a cup o' kindness to you, (You can fill it with whatever you'd like)


and wish you all a wonderful Labor Day.














At the end of this Labor Day weekend, I hope you can look back on it and say... It was truly golden.

                   Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.

** Images courtesy of morguefile seniorark and perfectlytimedphotos

P.S. Next week, I'll be posting on Wednesday, instead of Friday, as part of the Insecure Writers Support Group. (Yep, I'm a little insecure... I am a writer... and God knows, at my age, I need all the support I can get!) Hope to see ya then.

61 comments:

  1. I'm much too insecure to join the IWSG, but I'm glad we'll hear from you more often. Your photos are lovely and give me the feeling that summer really will end eventually. For now, we'll continue our inactivity because it's hot and because we might have a hurricane, or at least a tropical storm, on the way.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. HA! I don't buy that bit about you being "too insecure" to join IWSG, but it's a funny line, anyway. :)

      Yep, still hot here, too. I hope Hermine didn't give your area too much trouble. Our kids down there lost their power, but as far as I know, everything else is OK with them. We might get a little rain, but that's no problem, because we really need it.

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    2. We have power, but the internet comes and goes. I assure you I am really and truly supremely insecure. And sleepy. I woke up at 8:30. Much too early in the morning for me.

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    3. Shoot! By 8:30, half the morning is already gone! HA

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  2. Delightful post, especially as generously extended to the UK and countries that parted peacefully from England. As we know, the American Revolution was really a protest against superfluous vowels. Also appreciate 1st photo --with rainbow-- of The Blue Room, a parlor around which the White House was built.

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    1. Hmmm, now you've got me wondering: is it a case of the Brits using too many superfluous vowels, or are we rebellious Americans exhibiting a proclivity towards laziness by refusing to use them? Next thing you know, our kids will be communicating with baffling abbreviations like ROFL and IMHO. Oh. Never mind... :)

      Whoever takes up residence in the White House would probably appreciate whatever rainbow magic they can get, but they all blow the entire pot of gold just trying to get there.

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  3. Too many rainbows would be barely enough. They always make my heart sing.
    Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend. And life.

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    1. Rainbows make my heart sing, too. Ever see a double rainbow? They make my heart sing even louder.

      You have a fantabulous weekend, too.

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  4. Hi Susan - have a very happy time ... our bank holiday (ex factory holiday time) was last weekend ... but schools are back - so our world is moving along. Weather has briefly changed ... but we might get that last Hurrah of a full summer (as our weather in the south east! has been hot!) from Sunday into next week ...

    Fun images .. that's why I don't sunbathe! Cheers Hilary

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    1. Things are moving along here, too. Kids here went back to school in early August. (Lucky for them, most of the schools are air conditioned!)

      It's been a long time since I've done any sunbathing, but perhaps it's a pursuit best attempted with one eye open. :)

      Cheers back atcha!

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  5. The way my bum is expanding, I soon won't have to choose a colour to slide down, I can cover the entire rainbow :(
    love the baby with the watermelon :)

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    1. HA! Good one. What can I say? More colors, more magic. :)

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  6. I do hate the end of summer but look forward to some cooler weather. We have plans but the tropical storm/former hurricane could put a damper on it. From what I see on the weather reports, your area is or will soon be experiencing it's wind and heavy rain. Stay safe and hopefully it won't be too bad.

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    1. After this long hot summer, I'm more than ready for the smells, sights, and cooler weather of autumn. We're still seeing temperatures in the nineties, so I'm gonna have to be patient a little longer.

      We're far enough inland to expect no real problems from Hermine. We're hoping to get some rain, though.

      Have a super weekend. Don't let a little rain on your parade dampen your spirits!

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  7. Happy Labour Day Weekend to you too......in this Canadian city it is neighbourhood free exchange day....(no that is not a wife swapping event)....a chance to put out goods you no longer want and take a look to see if anyone has anything you DO want set out for the taking. Sounds like labour to me lol.

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    1. That neighborhood swap sounds like a great idea. After all, one person's trash is another one's treasure. But, you're right. Sounds like more work than I wanta do, too. :)

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  8. lol if a dog ever did that to me, he's get the big snip snip in no time.

    A relaxing way sure works for me, but I really need that pot of gold. Can I take half a pot and call it a day?

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    1. That picture with the dog cracks me up. Talk about a rude awakening!

      Sure, go for the half-pot, and then go take a nap.

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  9. Great weekend to you, too. I've been out of school since 1973, but fall begins the day after Labor Day, just as it did when I was in the fifth grade.

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    1. Back in the dark Ages, we didn't start school until after Labor Day, but our grandchildren start in early August. And they live in Alabama and Florida, where it still feels like the middle of summer. Poor things.

      Whenever the cooler temperatures of fall decide to um, fall, on Georgia, I'm more than ready for them.

      You have a super weekend, too.

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  10. Most of us writers are dreadfully insecure, but I didn't know we had a "group". That's a comforting consolation.

    Where did the summer go? It seems like only a few hours ago it was Memorial Day. I saw Halloween candy at Walmart yesterday...a sure sign of autumn.
    The photos are hilarious - - baby in bubble bath ...and the doggie peeing with alarmingly good aim...

    I do have a watermelon, which I will devour this weekend. Have a delightful End of Summer Bash, Susan!

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    1. Yeah, and it's a terrific group, too. You should join!

      Where did the summer go? Heck, where has this whole year gone... this whole decade? Didn't we just hit Y2K a couple years ago...?

      Enjoy that watermelon! (Have you tried a yellow one before? Verrrrry sweet.) You have a super weekend, too. No bash here, unless you count the pool balls my hubby and I will be knocking around on our table. ('Twill be delightful, I'm sure.)

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  11. I didn't think September would EVER arrive!

    These images and your accompanying thoughts are DELIGHT-full! That "pot at the end of the rainbow"? I'm still snickering.
    It's (still) far too hot to consider spending time outside-on-purpose, but I've a chock-full of fond Labor Day memories that still make me smile.

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    1. It's been a long hot summer, hasn't it? Let's hope it starts FEELING like September real soon, too.

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  12. Happy Labor Day Weekend. Ray and I are headed to Alaska - rah!! Celebrating Ray's 60th from August and just life in general. Take care and I'll be out of pocket to comment, but your writing is so awesome - no need to be insecure. Write On!!

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    1. Same to you!

      WOW!!! Alaska! That's fantastic! (I think when we turned sixty, we may have gone to Subway... HA!) I hope you guys have a wonderful time. (Take lots of pics to share, please!)

      Take care.

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  13. I hope you have a great holiday weekend, Susan. Fun post! We don't have any big plans as of yet, but I think that's probably a good thing. :)

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    1. You have a great weekend, too. No big plans here, either, and that's just the way we like it. We had enough parties and big-crowd bashes in the past to last us a lifetime. :)

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  14. Same right back to you! Have a wonderful holiday weekend. :)

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  15. Happy Labor (my spell check is having a breakdown at the American spelling) Day Susan!

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    1. HA! I appreciate the spelling effort, my dear.

      You have a super weekend, too.

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  16. Happy Labor Day, Susan! Hope you have as much good weather as possible. We are trying to sneak in a pool party tomorrow before the rain moves in from the storm

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    1. Same to you. We're actually hoping to get some rain. I hope you're able to squeeze that pool party in. Then again, you could always swim while it's raining...

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  17. Terrific holiday pictures! Sometimes I wish I were an insecure writer. As it is I am just insecure, full of self-doubt. If I were a writer I would at least be talented at something. Alas, I can only strive for mediocrity.

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    1. Hi-ya. Thanks for stopping by, and leaving a comment. It's nice to meet ya.

      Ah, but I beg to differ. You blog; therefore, you ARE a writer. The big difference is bloggers get immediate feedback via comments, which can be very gratifying. When you write a book, even people who claim to "love" your book rarely take the time to write a review, which CAN lead to certain feelings of insecurity. If one were so inclined. (Which we all are!)

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  18. Even though I live in Canada... it is Labor day to me too... it's because my mom was an American and she taught me the American way. When I went to Primary, my teacher said I was a wonderful student but that I was adamant that a Z was said like Z and not Zed... my mom told the teacher that was because it was Z and not Zed... lol

    Anyway, I am going to miss summer even though I truly love the fall, I just don't like the winter... maybe I won't mind it when I start working from home xox

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    1. Whether you call it Labor Day or Labour Day, I hope you have a good un, girl!

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  19. Have a great Labor Day weekend! I am so looking forward to Fall and cooler weather...which will be here in just a short three months. Or four.

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    1. You, too! Yeah, I know all about your "cool" weather. All fifteen minutes of it. :)

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  20. Have a wonderful weekend. I brought home a huge stack of papers to grade. I'll try to get them finished before Monday.

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    1. You have a wonderful weekend, too. Grading papers doesn't sound terribly relaxing, but I reckon it goes with the job.

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  21. Can you believe how quickly this year has flown by? I hope you're having a wonderful Labor or Labour Day weekend!

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    1. No, I sure can't. Seems like only yesterday, we were seeing in the new year 2000...

      I hope you have a super weekend, too.

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  22. Hi, Anna. It's nice to meet you. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. I do appreciate it. Your poetry is lovely.

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  23. Hope your weekend is lovely! Change is in the air, and I'm grasping it for all it's worth!

    Happy Weekend!

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    1. Thanks! I hope yours was, too. The temperature barely made it to ninety yesterday, so that's definitely a change I can embrace! (Supposed to be back into the nineties later this week, but little by little, we're getting there...)

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  24. Our monsoons are winding down but the latest storms were light rain and we had severals days of double rainbows !
    Hope you had a lovely weekend.

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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    1. Double rainbows mean you're doubly blessed! :)

      I hope you had a lovely weekend, too. Cheers right back atcha.

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  25. Not looking forward to the cooler weather, but I am looking forward to Pumpkinfest. Had some fun this weekend, hope you did, too :)

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    1. That's 'cause YOUR "cooler weather" takes the thermometer to extremes! :)

      Yes, ma'am. Always.

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  26. Awesome pics! Our cooler months are gone now and summer is coming!

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    1. Thanks! No cooler weather here yet, but any day now... maybe. :)

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  27. Labor Day weekend is such a great time to say goodbye to summer.

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    1. I'm ready to tell it goodbye, but I don't think it's ready to leave yet. :)

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  28. I guess we am always relaxing Susan, being retired (I usually say retarded) so a holiday weekend makes little difference to us. I still have to provide food for hubby and me. Now that glass you raised should be full of the fizzy stuff for me. I hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend at least. Round here it is as hot as Hades by the way.

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    1. Yeah, my hubby and I are enjoying retirement, too. (Ain't it great?)

      Champagne it is, then. Cheers! (It's hot as Hades here, too.)

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  29. Thinking of you and the horrible hurricane that is coming your way in GA. I hope that you and yours are safe and out of the danger zone. Bless you.

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    1. Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. We shouldn't feel any effects here in our area, but we're holding our breaths to see how our son's place in Florida fares. He called about 6:00 last night, and said a mandatory evacuation order had just been issued for his area, and he was planning to head our way within an hour. Half an hour later, he called to say they'd changed their minds and were going to Orlando to stay a night or two with his in-laws. I think it was a good call. Under the best of conditions, the drive from there to here would take about six hours, but the roads were jammed with people trying to escape Florida, so who knows how long it would have taken them. Their home is surrounded by enormous Spanish moss-draped trees. Flooding shouldn't be a problem, but we're concerned about one of those trees coming down on their house. We'll just have to keep the faith. Again, thanks. Bless you, too.

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