day 217 - who decided that Saturday was chore day?

Today is the 7th day of the 31st week, the 5th day of the 8th month, the 217th day of this insane babbling experiment [with only 141 shopping days until Christmas, but I have the youngest granddaughter's and my daughter's birthday to contend with first], and:

• Green Peppers Day
• International Blues Music Day
• International Hangover Day [appropriately always the day after International Beer Day]
• Mead Day
• National Clown Day [but Congress has adjourned for summer break.  Please note the World Clown Association does not approve designating members of Congress as clowns]
• National Disc Golf Day
• National Jamaican Patty Day
• National Mustard Day
• National Oyster Day
• National Play Outside Day
• National Electric Traffic Light Day - the first one was installed in Salt Lake City, Utah on this day in 1912.  International Traffic Light Day is December 10th and celebrates the first non-electric traffic light back in 1868
• National Summit Day
• National Sunflower Day
• National Underwear Day
• Sandcastle Day
• Sleep Under the Stars Night
• Taxpayer Appreciation Day
• Work Like a Dog Day - seriously?  On a weekend?

Quote of the day:

"When ambition ends, happiness begins."
~ Thomas Merton, American Trappist monk [then ordained priest], writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist, and scholar of comparative religions.

It's a nice summer day, and the work week is over.  Time to prop up your feet and relax, or to get out and do something fun, right?  But....  

You know the feeling, everyone [but someone rich enough to pay people to the mundane stuffs] does -  sure you have the day off, but there are things around the house that need doing and the list just keeps growing and growing.   

You can ignore the chores for a time, but sooner or later, the laundry has to be done, you have to clean up, the groceries have to be bought and put away, and you do have to fix something to eat [then clean up afterwards].   Then there are the stray things that don't sound like they take up a lot of your time and energy, but do.  For example, things from my list for this weekend:  

• laundry - the machines do the washing and drying, but yes indeed, you still have to do the folding and putting away
• breaking down boxes and taking them out to the dumpster - oh wait, the dumpster is almost full.  Okay, this will work, but I have to stand there and hold up the lid with one hand fumbling with the items I am trying to discard with the other
• writing a blog post - hmmm, I'm not sure this particular jumble of words makes sense much less be interesting....
• changing batteries in a device - you do it, it isn't working, fumble with the batteries, still not working, go online and google it, put the batteries in correctly, then test it, and put it away
• gluing an item back together - but first you have to climb on the stepladder to get it down, then try and apply this glue that supposedly is quick acting but seams to stick mostly to your fingers, let it dry, climb back up and then try to get it hung
• Amazon is eliminating many KINDLE subscriptions and you have to set up those accounts differently if you plan to keep reading those publications
• doing the online grocery order to be delivered from the list sent to you by your blind friend and trying to find all the items/brands listed
• it's August and I still haven't flipped the bathroom from the current rugs, shower curtain, and towels to the seascape like I had planned

Somehow I don't remember the chores taking so much of my attention when I was younger.  Weekends were for craft shows and movies and day trips and visiting with family or friends - and they were both fun and refreshing for the most part.  Granted I am short of breath and energy these days, but I find myself resenting that my two days off means Saturday I work around the apartment and Sunday I finish up then collapse as it becomes just another work night because Monday is back to work again.

I think I need longer weekends - and thus I support the four day work week, but I don't think I can manage four 10 hour days anymore.  Can we just keep our pay the same and agree that 32 hours is full time?  Does this mean I am unambitious?  I certainly would be happier...