Goodbye, Summer!
Aug 31st 2007
Karen RoseMy Life As A Plebe
Well, it’s almost Labor Day, the traditional end of summer and beginning of fall. Technically the first day of fall is September 23 this year, but let’s not get hung up on facts, okay? It’s almost Fall!
When I was a kid, this was a big freakin’ deal, because the first day of fall was the first day of school. This was very good for me, as I liked school. After I got over my first day of kindergarten trauma and my mean old first grade teacher, I liked school very much.
First day of Fall meant the trees would soon turn and the temps would begin to drop. It meant new pencils and notebooks and the smell of paste. 
I liked paste. If you were lucky, some kid in your class would eat some and throw it up. Now that was entertainment.
On Labor Day weekend, we’d have a picnic with hotdogs and hamburgers and potato salad. Some nice person would always bring a bucket of KFC. Kids moaned that school would soon end their freedom. I always moaned with the others, as I didn’t want anyone to know my evil secret - that I did like school. BTW - this was my high school.
Now, for us in Florida, school starts mid-August. Labor Day isn’t a rite of passage, it’s just another 3-day weekend (for which we are humbly grateful, don’t get me wrong). The trees won’t turn here in the Sunshine State and sometimes I miss that. But then I remember Fall was the start of leaf raking, soon followed by … snow shoveling (shudder). 
So I downloaded wallpaper for my PC that is fall foliage and I’m quite content, thank you very much.
Labor Day also meant the new season of TV would begin. Snarl - the new season starts later and later these days. 
HEROES doesn’t begin until September 24. I guess somebody in Hollywood thought that was really the first day of fall. FOUL!
So how will you celebrate Labor Day? Is it a big deal? Was it a bigger deal when you were a kid? Did you ever eat paste?
40 Comments »
40 Responses to “Goodbye, Summer!”
twolilhahas on 31 Aug 2007 at 12:18 am #
Wow, didn’t know Labor Day was coming up. lol I found out I was pregnant with my baby #2 on Labor Day in ‘02. I thought that was appropriate.
If I’m doing anything, I don’t know it yet. It was a big deal when I was in school because it was really retarded how we started school and had a holiday the very next week. Of course, I didn’t mind, but still thought it was stupid.
No. I have never eaten paste. Though I did eat a bath oil bead once…and it was really terrible. A memory I still have to this day and I was like three or four. LOL
Susan K on 31 Aug 2007 at 12:52 am #
I’m not sure if we’re doing anything on Labor Day or not. I actually forgot it was coming up. My days tend to run into each other now. Since I don’t work all day I’m not tired at night, so I don’t get to bed until 2 or 3 in the morning, so I sleep until 10 or 11. I know at some point this weekend we’re supposed to go with my finance’s dad to some festival I’ve never heard of. That should be fun. Other than that who knows.
I remember I used to be so excited to start school. Until I got there and got my first homework assignment. Then the excitement went away and I started complaining.
PJ on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:28 am #
I grew up on a lake in a small southern Michigan town. Labor Day signaled the end of summer and it was a very big deal. It meant the end of lazy days floating on the raft, swimming, skiing, boating and hanging out with friends. It was the end of cooking all our meals on the grill. It meant the clearing out of our neighborhood. Only a few of us were year-round residents, the rest were “summer people” from Chicago. It meant shorter days, cooler nights, glorious fall colors and lots of falling leaves. Of course, as a kid we didn’t mind the leaves at all since grown-ups raked them into mini-mountains for us to jump and play in (several times). After we had exhausted ourselves playing in the leaves they were all raked into a huge pile where the entire neighborhood gathered to drink cider and toast marshmallows over the bonfire they created.
to be continued…..
PJ on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:38 am #
Labor Day also signaled the beginning of school which thrilled me as I always loved school. The return to school also meant the start of football season which made me a very happy camper as I adore football season!
With schools starting earlier, I don’t think Labor Day carries the same end of summer significance it once did. Now, for many, it’s just a nice three day weekend at the beginning of September. For me, one thing that hasn’t faded with the years is my love for football and Labor Day still signals the beginning of that season for me. Tonight I’ll be cheering the local high school team at their home opener. My back-door neighbor is a Senior receiver on the team. Monday, I’m going to a pre-game BBQ with friends then joining the thousands streaming into Death Valley to yell, jump up and down and, hopefully, cheer our team on to victory at the Florida State-Clemson game. I live 9 miles from Clemson but I’ll be proudly wearing the garnet and gold. GO NOLES!
gannon on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:48 am #
No huge plans for Labor Day this year. We’re going to have some friends over on Saturday for dinner—drink some wine, gab a lot! Sounds good to me.
I was like you, Karen, about school. After kindergarten separation anxiety and a truly mean 1st grade teacher—Sister Monica *shudder*!–school was fun, except maybe those big projects! We started after Labor Day when I was younger, but when we moved to Florida we always started earlier, so that first three day weekend was a nice break.
Even here in the mountains of NC, my kids have already been in school for three weeks. They start early to build in time for snow days, but so far they’ve had three early release days due to excessive heat. Oh, the irony! I am looking forward to the leaves changing, because fall is my favorite season. And since I have three slaves, I mean children, and a strong hubby to rake leaves it won’t be such a bad deal!
gannon on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:51 am #
PJ, I just read your comment. We are huge Gator fans in my family! Go Gators!!
I will say that except for the Florida-Florida State game, I do cheer for the Seminoles. In fact, a good friend of mine from high school played football for them. Gotta love football season!
gannon on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:59 am #
Karen R, I CANNOT wait for the new season of Heroes to start. Hands down one of my favorite shows!!
Lisa H on 31 Aug 2007 at 7:04 am #
My kids start school on Wed. My calander is marked “The most blessed day of the year” my children are not amused!
This Labor day we will probably have a small picinic with just Grandma and Grandpa. As a child that was what we did too.
I love fall!!! I live in upstate NY, where the foilage is gorgeous. Fall means pumpkins, hot chocolate, Mums, a trip to the Pumkin Patch, Apples and Apple Crisp, Crock Pot cooking and burning candles in the house! Fall brings us to Thanksgiving (which I love to cook) and Christmas Shopping (I love that too) and finally Christmas!
These next few months are my favorite!
No I never ate glue, but on occation, I eat raw dough, it’s pretty good!
twolilhahas on 31 Aug 2007 at 8:09 am #
Gannon, that’s hilarious! “Three slaves!” haha
Oh, and we’re Gator fans around here, too. But I always cheer for both teams, because they’re both Florida teams after all. Not when they play each other though. Then it’s Gators all the way! lol
We have one maple tree in our yard and it does the Fall leaf changing thing. It’s so cool. The front yard gets blanketed in big yellow leaves. I let the kids play in them last year. That was neat.
Karen Rose on 31 Aug 2007 at 8:16 am #
Raw cookie dough is yummy. One relative used to tell me it would puff up in my stomach and kill me, like rice kills birds after weddings. It hasn’t stopped me from eating dough. But perhaps I could use that as a murder weapon in a future book? Death by … Dough. I like it.
Let’s be clear. I never ate paste myself. I just like the smell. I didn’t huff, either! Paste was kinder and gentler back then. A few years ago I went to Walmart and bought SuperGlue for a project for my high school physics class and the CARDED ME. I was dumbfounded. I said, “You have GOT to be kidding.” The cashier assured me it was the law - that kids huff SuperGlue. Yes, the paste of my youth was gentler. But there was this kid, who like Mikey, would eat anything. I bet he even ate dough.
As a transplanted Floridian, I do not cheer for anyone. Not Noles, not Gators, nobody. I don’t want to get anybody mad at me. And I don’t like football. THere. I’ve said it. Don’t hate me…
Karen Rose on 31 Aug 2007 at 8:20 am #
I like the Pumpkin patch. We used to do this when we lived in Ohio. There was this wonderful orchard north of Cincinnati where you could pick your own apples. We’d do that every year and my DH would make pies and applesauce… Mmmm. I haven’t had a good apple cobbler in a long time. Now I’m getting hungry.
Okay TwoLilhahas - I’ll bite. Why did you eat a bath bead? Did you think it was something else? Was it an accident? Did it make you really sick, or was it just like getting your mouth washed out with soap - which has never happened to me, BTW. My mom would use tobasco when we got mouthy.
doglady on 31 Aug 2007 at 8:51 am #
Okay, ouch on the tabasco, Karen!!! My Mom used soap! My Dad always made a big deal out of Labor Day no matter where in the world we were. He insisted on a barbeque, even when we lived in England and there was actually snow on the ground. He stood out there, turning blue, cooking hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill that had to be reheated when he brought them inside. He LOVED to barbeque. My brothers have continued the tradition in their homes. Me, I will be working Labor Day, but I will grill myself a steak on Sunday when I am off in honor of my Dad.
You know, I don’t remember if I ate paste! I LOVED school and had no problems with the end of summer. I sometimes wish I lived somewhere that the seasons actually change. In Alabama we pretty much go from HOT HOT HOT to warm as heck to a brief winter and then rain. My fall indicator is the blooming of my azaleas. I have hundreds of them on my property and they are just gorgeous in bloom.
FeyRhi on 31 Aug 2007 at 9:08 am #
No, not a paste eater myself, although I consumed my fair share of clover in the front yard. LOL Thankfully I broke myself of my grass habit by highschool.
This weekend is a big deal for us because it is the annual ‘Ribfest’ on the waterfront. Hubby’s mouths starts watering at the beginning of Aug *G* It is lots of fun, I eat WAY too much and pig out on baked beans but it’s only once a year so I do it guilt free.
Karen Hawkins on 31 Aug 2007 at 9:56 am #
Wow, you guys know how to partee!
I love family picnics because I love grilling food … well, I love to watch the dh (Dear Heart) grilling food while I merely pour the chips in a bowl and set out the purchased baked beans.
And isn’t K-Fry Original Recipe the foods of the Gods? I love that stuff and I do NOT want to know how many calories/fat grams/etc it has. Just DON’T TELL ME!
Claudia Dain on 31 Aug 2007 at 10:06 am #
KarenR, I’m with you; Labor Day is supposed to be the last hurrah before school starts. There is something seriously wrong with a world in which school starts before Labor Day.
Labor Day is for lazing around on a lake. Period. That’s as far as my imagination and my wish list takes me. I did this as a kid and I’m going to do this in a few days. Lakes and Labor Day, along with hamburgers and franks on the grill…just a natural combination.
I loved going back to school, too. Loved the new clothes,the new school shoes, the new notebooks and fresh pens, the crowded halls after the quiet of summer.
And I love looking forward to the new TV season, though that’s all messed up too. When does 24 start again? Jan? How about Lost? House? So many stations now means multiple “new seasons” to anticipate. I love watching debut shows, eager to be thrilled. Anyone else excited about New Amsterdam?
Karen Rose on 31 Aug 2007 at 10:42 am #
Yes, KarenH KFC is the recipe of the gods. TAB is the nectar. And when you eat KFC and drink TAB at the SAME TIME, miraculous things happen to the calories. They disappear. It’s true.
Depends, Claudia - what is New Amsterdam? I might get excited about it if I knew what it was about. I’m ready to get lost in a new series!
FeyRhi - Ribfest, ummmmmm….. That sounds good. DH makes good ribs. Maybe I can convince him to make some this weekend. It beats paste for sure.
Doglady, enjoy your steak and lift your glass to your dad for me.
Claudia Dain on 31 Aug 2007 at 11:12 am #
New Amsterdam: from what I can gather, it’s a guy who’s 400 years old, from when New York was New Amsterdam, who was cursed/blessed by a native American shaman to live until he finds his true love. He’s still alive, living in Manhattan, doing police or detective work, looking for his True Love. That’s all I know so far. It sounds so romantic and I LOVE that he’s 400 yrs old.
Karen Rose on 31 Aug 2007 at 11:43 am #
I’ll check it out, Claudia! It’ll be interesting to see how they deal with the historical aspects of New York/Amsterdam of 400 years ago.
Now for the $1million question - is our 400 year old guy hot? I’ll have to go check it out on the web.
colinfirthfan on 31 Aug 2007 at 11:56 am #
I have never eaten paste. EWWW! Never huffed anything either. The smell of astdry erase marker in my office - makes me dizzy!
I love eating cooking dough and cake batter. Tastes better than when it is bakes. Of course with all the salmonella scares now I never let my kids eat batter!!
I hated going back to school but loved the new books and pencils etc…
SuzyQ on 31 Aug 2007 at 1:11 pm #
Labor Day weekend is always my son’s birthday celebration. My nephew has the same birthday so it’s just a big party with the whole family and close friends. I serve food all day long. My one friend once told me (at around 9:00 as we were firing up the grill for more hot dogs) “If you ever want people to leave you have to stop serving the food!”
Karen - we still do the pumpkin patch thing. The place where we go makes their own apple cider donuts sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, still warm of course. Add a glass of warm apple cider and I’m in heaven!
Karen Rose on 31 Aug 2007 at 1:30 pm #
One of my favorite things about fall was the smell of burning leaves. I don’t think that’s allowed in many places anymore. Too much danger of wildfires - especially in areas where there’s been drought.
SuzyQ, apple cider doughnuts sounds wonderful!
Colinfirthfan - I don’t let my kids eat the batter either. It’s bad for them. It’s not bad for me, though, LOL. I’m just protecting them, right? And that leaves licking the bowl all for ME.
I used to be able to tell my kids I was checking their Halloween candy for dangers. I’d check all the Reese’s peanut butter cups and pronounce the candy “OKAY.” But they caught on. Dang.
dbrown3400 on 31 Aug 2007 at 1:55 pm #
Fall is my favorite season. For Labor Day weekend we would have big family barbeques. Which family depended on whether it was Dad’s time to have me and my brother or our time to stay at home. Sometimes, there would be that last summer fishing trip. Of course, there were fall fishing trips.
I loved fall, as many of you have said, for the new books, pencils, etc., but I loved school itself. It meant no more babysitting my four younger brothers. I still had to cook the evening meal. I didn’t mind too much because I love to cook
I’m looking forward to New Amsterdam. Here is a link that tells something about the show and has additonal links as well.
http://www.tv.com/new-amsterdam/show/68703/summary.html
I’m just afraid too many new shows are going to be opposite each other and I can’t afford TiVo on top of my DVR *g*
dbrown3400 on 31 Aug 2007 at 2:00 pm #
Raw cookie dough is fantastic as is raw brownie dough, but it must be Pillsbury Original Fudge Brownie. I make it w/o the eggs and you don’t really miss them. I don’t know how they would turn out if you baked them that way.
I’ve never sniffed glue, on purpose, and never eaten paste at all. I’ve had my mouth washed with soap once. It only happened in our house with verbal offenses so I learned when to keep my mouth shut. I loved to drive up to Vermont and upper New Hampshire to see the foliage when I lived in Nashua, but we have beautiful areas here in NJ if you catch them right.
Donna
Nicole Jordan on 31 Aug 2007 at 2:06 pm #
LOL about the paste, Karen! I remember those days as a kid, only I don’t remember much about Labor Days back then.
And when I grew up, I had to work a lot during most holidays.
This weekend we don’t have much planned because we’ve been sooooo busy lately. Hopefully we’ll use it to relax and maybe hike.
And yes, I’m excited about New Amsterdam, even though I don’t like vampires much.
NicoleJ
Lisa H on 31 Aug 2007 at 2:11 pm #
What would prompt a kid to eat paste?
I can just see some strange little boy looking at the white stuff going, “I’ll bet it tastes just like vanilla pudding…mmmm..”
Or another kid going, “They say I can’t eat it…I’ll show them…yeah its pretty nasty but I’ll show them…”
Really who would eat it???
Karen Rose on 31 Aug 2007 at 2:29 pm #
That kid in my class, Lisa H! He would do about anything on a dare. I always liked to spread the glue on my fingers and let it dry, then peel it off and pretend I was Cinnamon on Mission Impossible peeling off my mask!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it…
I always thought Barney was the coolest member of the MI team - he could build a spaceshuttle out of baling wire and spit. He was the original MacGuyver, but the MI force used guns. I loved that show.
Do not even talk to me about the MI movies. We just don’t want to go there.
Nicole, have fun hiking.
So is this New Amsterdam guy a vampire? Or just cursed? Must use DBrown’s link to find out.
twolilhahas on 31 Aug 2007 at 2:32 pm #
Karen, LOL…I do remember why I ate a bath oil bead. I was like three and they were so pretty. At three, anything that is that beautiful has to be good. I learned very quickly that it was NOT good. I remember sitting on the sink and Mom using a dry rag to wipe the oil out of my mouth. Hilarious now, but I was really upset then. As far as I remember, I was not harmed…not upset tummy or anything. Just a really nasty taste in my mouth.
Karen Rose on 31 Aug 2007 at 2:40 pm #
Well, I’m glad you were unharmed, Two.
Okay, I have done the recon on New Amsterdam.
1) It doesn’t air until Jan 1, 2008
2) It’s on Fox
3) He ain’t a vampire, just cursed because he did a good deed and saved the life of an Indian maiden 400 years ago who was to have been killed by a sword. In return, she makes him immortal until he finds true love.
4) He’s not hard on the eyes, but I would not call him “hot.” Maybe the pics on the website were too small. I am getting old, you know. Eyes are not what they used to be. Nor is anything else…
Freshechelle on 31 Aug 2007 at 2:43 pm #
I skipped the eating paste thing. There was that time in kindergarten I forced tears because Anthony T. put a straw wrapper in my milk. I forced the tears because I was jealous of the other girls that got attention by crying over dumb things. How pathetic. Labor Day? That’s the one that was attributed to the rise of labor unions, right? Yeah, so I guess we’ll remembering Jimmy Hoffa and thanking him for the braces (dad was a teamster, they had good orthodontal coverage.)
dbrown3400 on 31 Aug 2007 at 3:24 pm #
http://us.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/6297/ActorNiko_Leste_14560921_400.jpg.html?seq=3
Y’all decide.
db
Judy F on 31 Aug 2007 at 3:46 pm #
I love fall. Though anymore around here it seems to go from hotter then hell to freaking cold over night. LOL
Karen I used to do the glue on the hand thing. LOL
Enjoying To die for
colinfirthfan on 31 Aug 2007 at 3:49 pm #
He’s not bad at all. Definite potential there.
:-))
Nicole Jordan on 31 Aug 2007 at 4:08 pm #
Hey, thanks for the info on NA, Karen! Really glad he’s not a Vamp! I saw the “immortal” thing and immediately thought of vampires.
And thanks for the link, Donna. Very nice!
>>>Raw cookie dough is fantastic as is raw brownie dough, but it must be Pillsbury Original Fudge Brownie.
Donna, my fave Pilsbury cookie was Butterscotch Nut. LOVED that cookie. But they don’t make it anymore, wahhhh.
Sabrina Jeffries on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:16 pm #
We’re doing nothing, NOTHING, I tell you, for Labor Day, except trying to stay cool. After growing up abroad, I was never used to that particular holiday, so I still sort of consider it a non-holiday. Thus it takes me by surprise every year when people actually plan things for it.
darkshire007 on 31 Aug 2007 at 6:46 pm #
I won’t be celebrating Labor Day this year; I found out today at 5 p.m. that I have to work the weekend! Joy for me!! Anyhow, it’s not really a big deal, just a chance to sleep in and spend more time reading. It was a very big deal when I was a kid. My mothers family is Irish (like almost inbred, pure Irish) and the families are big (my mother is one of seven and I’m one of six) so any long weekend was a chance for EVERYBODY to get together. That means all 100 some odd of us would go to the city park and take it over. It was a good time though, lots of water balloon fights. Did I ever eat paste? No. But I did know a kid (his name was Bucky) who ate cat food and slept with his eyes open. Creepy, I know.
dbrown3400 on 31 Aug 2007 at 7:28 pm #
> > > my fave Pilsbury cookie was Butterscotch Nut. LOVED that cookie. But they don’t make it anymore, wahhhh.
Returning after a short nap, she says, yes Nicole, I had forgotten about that one. Why do manufacturers “build you up just to let you down” if it’s such a popular item. Or, were we the only two?
> > > And thanks for the link, Donna. Very nice!
Doesn’t he remind you of Denis Leary of Rescue Me? I keep wondering if Leary hasn’t had a face lift ’cause he looks younger now than he did in The Thomas Crown Affair w/Pierce Brosnan. I’ll withhold judgement on his “hottie” potential until after the first couple episodes of the show — my test case limit. Or zero if he’s opposite too many of my other shows. I can only tape two at a time. *g*
db
Kay on 31 Aug 2007 at 8:44 pm #
I’ve never eaten paste, but I love cookie dough. My kids and I are going to make cookies tomorrow, and we will eat more dough than cookies!
Labor day weekend in the Twin Cities means Minnesota State Fair, and that’s where we’re headed this weekend. Cheese curds, deep fried Snickers-on-a-stick, and mini donuts! NEVER schedule a physical w/ a cholesterol check in early Sept if you live here!
There are a couple of old maples starting to turn, and we will be seeing lows in the 50’s soon. I love fall in Minnesota.
Oh yeah, and the kids go back to school on Tuesday–yippee.
Karen Rose on 01 Sep 2007 at 12:03 am #
Well, I know what we’re eating this Labor Day weekend. All the things that were in my kitchen freezer that are now thawed and in my garage frig. My frig/freezer died today. This is not just sad. This is $800 sad. Plus my Edy’s Rocky Road was RUINED before I even opened it! Ack.
But we’re eatin’ good this weekend! Steak, yum.
Tracy Kay on 01 Sep 2007 at 12:48 am #
We’re celebrating my birthday on Labor Day this year! My birthday’s not until the 6th, but we’re celebrating on Monday :o)
I’ve always love the smell and feeling of going back to school….but after about…the first day or so, I got over that little ray of hope that school might actually be fun.
There was a kid in my Kindergarten class who always ate paste…His name was Alex and I sware that he ate paste until we were in like 4th grade. *shudder*
TheNightPoet on 03 Sep 2007 at 12:00 am #
I will be celebrating Labor Day by working. Fun fun. I’m trying to keep an open mind and not think about how many hours in the day are being wasted where homework goes. Normally when I have the day off, my family gets together at a local park and grills hot dogs and hangs out together. It’s a lot of fun. It’s nice to just be with my family and relax for the day. In my family, at least on one side of the family, it’s a big deal to have a picnic and all that. As for the paste question, nope, I can’t ever say I ate paste.
Andrea