It’s another sizzling day, with soaring humidity, thanks to all the back-to-back storms over the last 24 hours. The people who are headed to the beach, or up north to their cottages, are rejoicing about the heat and humidity – the rest of us, not so much. At least me, anyway.

While walking this morning, there were few vehicles as I trudged down Emmons Boulevard, so I suspect the pilgrimage to the north country began last night.

I had a few outdoor projects planned for over the long holiday, but, with the threat of heat, humidity and pop-up storms every day, those projects will be tabled. Oh well … there’s lots of time to catch up before the snow falls. I hope so anyway.

Unfortunately, I have a list of indoor chores that need my attention – perhaps it would be good if it rained and I stayed indoors and skipped the walks. Definitely, I could check off those items!

For years Labor Day was a time to hunker down and stay indoors and begin the Fall cleaning. I took a few extra vacation days and my mom and I would work hard to get the rooms up to snuff. It seems to me that each long holiday I always had “the list”, a not-so-fun list of chores or items to be accomplished over the time off. My mom would compile that list and slowly the items would get checked off. But usually, by the time I returned to work after my “time off” the listed items on the agenda might have gotten accomplished, but I felt rather listless myself from expending all that energy on housework and cleaning. My mom and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye on housework.   I now have my “to-do” lists in my head and it seems they are rather loosey-goosey, but I try not to beat myself up over getting everything done anymore.

I know this mindset began at Labor Day 2011 when I began my walking regimen.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle said “the end of labor is to gain leisure” … I like his thinking.

I hope you have a safe and happy “toes-up” holiday.