Union Station Labor Day Weekend Begins

We usually walk to the air conditioned Union Station when it is too hot. To get there today we needed to pass through the blocked off streets around the Capitol Building set up for Senator McCain’s funeral services. I always ponder what the business is for people coming and going to and from the trains. Some are obviously dressed for work with suits and business attire and hanging identification tags. Others are tourists and visitors getting ready to spend a few days in the city while others are heading back home just having finished theirs. Suitcases come in all shapes and sizes. There are always those running late and scurrying through the place. The food court on the lower level has something for everyone. There are shops and restaurants on the upper level. The main terminal, ticketing, arrival and departure gates are all on the main level with metro stations accessible on the west end. A lot of people have made their way to this destination over the years. It’s within walking distance from our house with a lot of things going on in between. So I hope everyone coming and going has a safe weekend ahead. It is quite a scene to observe. 

Labor Day Concert on the Capitol Lawn

We went to the Memorial Day dress rehearsal concert in May on the west lawn of the Capitol. It was quite busy for a dress rehearsal, and we heard the Beach Boys. Smokey Robinson and Kenny Loggins were at the dress rehearsal concert for the Fourth of July. We knew the weather was going to be lousy for the fireworks so at least we got in some of the activities. We ended up standing and or walking through most of it. When we first moved here ten years ago, we bought folding chairs that are carried in shoulder bags. But they are ten pounds each and we used them probably twice. So last evening we decided to attend the Labor Day concert and brought a blanket and a couple jackets since it is starting to feel more like fall in the evening. This concert is really low key compared to the others - the crowds are smaller, the security is less visible, it's not telecast, and the show itself is typically the national symphony orchestra playing music with no "big" name acts. We got there exactly at eight and sat down on the blanket. I have to say it was the worst concert we've been to in ten years. Either the crowd was not animated, or the group that was there chose the worst songs to sing - no one had ever heard of her or them. What was nice was the absolutely beautiful evening. And it was the first Labor Day that I knew I wouldn't have to go back to work when the holiday weekend ended. 

Gypped out of a Holiday or Two

When I worked full time over the last almost forty years, it was a pleasure to have a three day weekend.  In the private sector, we had eight holidays. But working in health care twenty four hours a day seven days a week, you didn't always have off on the actual holiday. It had to be worked in to the schedule so that you got it within that two week pay period. Gradually I made my way in to an office setting and at least had a more reasonable schedule and consistent holidays off.  Since moving to DC, I had the additional benefit of getting ten paid holiday days off instead of just eight. Since I went to part time in March of this year, my schedule changed to three days a week and from nine hour to eight hour shifts. Sunday evening is is no longer a torture. By Monday, the work week has already started. But when it comes to holidays, I gypped myself out of at least four by having every Monday off. Now when I see the holiday sign at work it doesn't mean so much to me anymore. In the end I would rather have every Monday off rather than just a few during the year. Maybe I can change a fixed work schedule to one a little more flexible...and schedule a work day on a Monday Holiday. Or maybe I can adjust six days down to five.