the Diva Platform

Today we’re headed to Florida for the holidays.  Since we bought plane tickets while the Boy was still unemployed, we focused on price.  Not surprisingly, flights to Florida during Christmas and New Year’s can get a little expensive, so we spread our dates out pretty far in order to save money.  We’ll be there for three weeks, which will be our longest stint yet.  We figured we had plenty of time to spare–and we could freelance from there.  Well, the Boy has to work at his new job, but since he’s telecommuting, he can do it from Florida just as well.

Hopefully the in-laws won’t get sick of me, lounging around on the couch, watching loads of cable reality TV (must watch “Hoarders“), and heading off to the fitness trail to work out.  I’m looking forward to a restful three weeks–even though I’ll be working as well–because I’m sure when we get back and our East Coast relocation starts in earnest, life will be a might busy.

While I’m gone, I think the blogging may be a little spotty.  I’d like to refuel and recharge a little bit more–even that week I took off, I didn’t really get a chance to take care of my to do list (for instance, my website still needs to be upgraded).  I’d like to experience life a little and come up with a nice little list of bloggable topics.  Oh, I won’t take the whole three weeks off–I’m sure there will be plenty of Floridian idiosyncracies to write about.  I just am going to hang loose a little when it comes to keeping a set blogging schedule.

We’re officially into holiday season, and I’m already wondering how people do it.  I don’t do nearly the work some people do for the holidays–for instance, since we go away, I don’t decorate the apartment–and yet, I feel totally sapped right now.  Maybe it’s because I have a decent amount of difficult work and my poor, old computer is getting slower by the hour, but I feel like I just can’t get around to doing the holidays.  Right now, I’m just taking life one task at a time and hoping I can focus on it enough to at least get it done and enjoy it while I do it.

Luckily, we’re headed to Florida soon.  Being in the warmth may feel more like Christmas to me!

On Saturday I was out going to the liquor store (!–but that’s a post for tomorrow), and I rounded a corner, saw a CVS sign and immediately said, “Fuck!”

Why?

CVS was advertising for Sweetest Day.  Sweetest Day is October 17.  Three weeks out!  Better get your flowers and candy now, before they go bad!

You might remember that Sweetest Day is one of my least favorite made-up holidays.  Apparently, according to a couple of sites, the folks here in the Great Lake states are big fans of Sweetest Day, which may mean why I hate it so much–we probably get it shoved down our throats more, hence the reason we eat it up more.

So this year, instead of just complaining about what a crap day Sweetest Day is, I’d like to have a word with my fellow Midwesterners.  Please, folks, stop the madness.  You don’t need an excuse like Sweetest Day to buy flowers and candy for your loved one and maybe get a fancy dinner at Outback Steakhouse!  Pick a random day and give your girl a daisy.  Surprise your guy with a candy bar.  If it’s the only way to declare your love, hit the Outback on a slow night and allow your fingers to brush up against each other as you devour that Bloomin’ Onion.  Just please, let’s not encourage the marketing madness to start up this early, because I’d really rather just complain about Christmas coming too early.

Today is Labor Day here in the States, which for me means the WOOGMS Labor Day Parade, maybe a cookout, and catching up on my newspapers.  Tomorrow I’ll be back at it!

Last night the Boy and I were walking home, and we saw a few groups of people going out to drink.  It’s Memorial Day weekend, after all, and although for some it’s a way to honor our troops and the dead, for others it’s an extra day to go out and party.

The Boy mentioned as much, and it’s true.  American holidays have become all about eating and drinking.  Have a barbeque, pop a cold one.  We like to use any excuse we can to party, even if the occasion is not necessarily a holiday.  Years ago, not that many people in the US celebrated Cinco de Mayo, and now it’s an excuse to go have a margarita.  Mardi Gras?  Huge party.  St. Patrick’s Day?  Even bigger drinking fest.

It makes one wonder what’s next.  Champagne on Martin Luther King Day?  A Polish vodka company branding Casimir Pulaski Day?

Or maybe we could all just take a moment and remember why we’re celebrating in the first place.  Heck, I’ll even drink to that.