Happy September 1!  There are only 115 days until Christmas.  In my opinion it is time to start playing Christmas music.  However, this is not an opinion shared by everyone.  Today is the birthday of Mari Gorman, Yvonne De Carlo and Gloria Estefan.  On this day in 1799 the Bank of Manhattan Company opened in New York City (the forerunner of Chase Manhattan), the first Pullman sleeping car went into service in 1859 and in 1976 the New Jersey Meadowlands racetrack opened.  It is National Day in Malaysia, in Mexico it is Presidential Message Day/Opening of Congress and in the US, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands tomorrow is Labor Day.

Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.  The first Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union.  The form that the observance should take 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” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.

The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886.  The first state bill was introduced into the New York state legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887.  On June 28, 1894, congress passed an act making the first Monday in September the legal holiday.

Just as a side note, Labor Day is not the end of summer.  The official end of summer is on September 22 this year.  This is the Autumnal Equinox, when day and night are each about 12 hours long.

We have just returned from our latest trip to visit our friend Pat, down the shore.  Fortunately for Pat and the lovely Elaine, there is no end to the trials and tribulations that plague the world of academe, so they had plenty to talk about.  It is a shame that no one in state government has discovered these two.  They would not only fix the system, but save us a great deal of money in the process.  The down side, based on what I have heard, is that there are a number of people who would be out of work.  Ah well …

One group that will suffer now that school is back in session will be the wine industry.  We have spent the past couple months doing our best to keep things going, but with Elaine going back to work, our trips will be somewhat curtailed.  We will do our best whenever we get the chance, but the wine people will just have to learn not to put all their grapes in our basket.  We are only three people.  How much do they expect us to do?

If you have ever seen the program Restaurant Impossible on the food network, you know that it is about helping restaurants that are failing get back on their feet.  We had an experience with an establishment that could soon be in that predicament during our trip to Pat’s. We were looking for a place to purchase a pizza.  It was around 7:45 in the evening.  One place that we thought about was rather expensive so we decided to keep looking.  I suggested a place that we had driven by several times.  Pat said she was not sure we would be able to get a pizza there because she had called them once before and was told they don’t do take-out after 7 PM.  I know, I was incredulous, too.  Could I see a show of hands by those who have heard of this?  I thought so.  Robert Irvine would be all over that in an instant.

Anyway, Pat called and they accepted our order and told us that it could be picked up, wait for it, in 30 minutes or sooner.  What does that mean?  Tell me it will be ready in 15 minutes, which is the standard around here, or in 20 minutes and I can understand that and plan my travel time to get me there as it comes out of the oven.  But 30 minutes or sooner has got to be one of the most bass-ackward ways of telling me when my order will be ready.

So, I have estimated when I will leave and depart at the appropriate time.  I arrive at the establishment and become a little suspicious.  The place seems to be closed.  Most of the lights appear to be out and the staff is sweeping and mopping.  I try the door facing the parking lot and it is locked.  I go around to the other door and it is locked, also.  I go back to the car and call the lovely Elaine.  It is possible that I misunderstood and went to the wrong place.  

When I explained the problem, Pat called them and verified that the order had been placed and that they were open.  They said yes and as Pat hung up with them, one of the girls came to the door and unlocked it.  I went in, got my pizza (which I think was done in 15 minutes based on the temperature when I got it) and left.  As I was getting into the car, the girl was locking the door again.  The interesting part is that it was 8:10 PM and according to the sign they had by the register, they were open until 9 PM.  I suppose it was 9 o’clock somewhere, but not where we were.  So, Robert, if you ever get a call from this place, there are just a few reasons why they need help.

This week’s fact tells us that 4.5 pounds of sunlight strike the earth each day.  That explains my weight gain every summer – at least that is the story I am going with.