When I realized yesterday that this weekend is Labor Day Weekend, I felt a strange mix of ennui and excitement.
Ennui because, for years, I spent Labor Day in Palm Springs with friends. It was an annual tradition that I looked forward to—a last splash of summer before fall rolled in. But then the pandemic hit, and like so many things, that tradition shifted.
I haven’t quite made it out to the desert yet. I’m still working on my health and slowly rebuilding my savings. But with a little luck (and a lot of discipline), I’m hopeful I’ll be clinking glasses poolside again next year with my dears, nears, and queers.
For now, though, I’m excited to embrace something simpler: a staycation in my new digs. Honestly, a few days off in a row sounds like just what the doctor ordered. I’ve been eyeing a stack of books for months, and this weekend feels like the perfect excuse to finally dive in.
My plan? Sitting outside, soaking up some late-summer rays, and getting lost in a good book…or three.
Being an independent small business owner means I get to make my own schedule—for better and worse. The “better” part is the flexibility. The “worse” part? Unlike my past corporate jobs, I don’t have sick or vacation days. If I don’t work, I don’t get paid. So I tend to work ahead, doing my best to deliver value to my clients and subscribers.
This week I’m hustling to get all my duckies in a row—editing montages, drafting newsletters, and spotlighting some of my favorite past posts and videos.
The goal? To set things up so I can unplug and actually enjoy the break, without that nagging feeling of guilt.
Come Friday, my plan is simple: close the laptop, lean into rest and relaxation, and not set an alarm for a few days. Lazy mornings and reading marathons sound great to me.
Here’s to carving out time to pause and recharge—however and wherever we can.
Keep calm and get your duckies in formation!
Clint 🌈✌️
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FOR YOUR (SUBSTACK) CONSIDERATION
ON THIS DAY = AUGUST 27
BIRTHDAYS
1871 = Theodore Dreiser = American novelist and journalist
1877 = Charles Rolls = English engineer, businessman, Rolls-Royce co-founder
1873 = Maud Allan = Canadian dancer and actor 🌈
1890 = Man Ray = American-French photographer and painter
1908 = Lyndon B. Johnson = American politician and 36th POTUS
1928 = Joan Kroc = American philanthropist
1916 = Martha Raye = American actor and comedian
1935 = Frank Yablans = American screenwriter and producer
1937 = Tommy Sands = American pop singer and actor
1939 = Edward Patten = American singer-songwriter
1942 = Daryl Dragon = American keyboard player and songwriter
1943 = Tuesday Weld = American model and actor
1944 = G. W. Bailey = American actor
1945 = Marianne Sägebrecht = German actor
1947 = Barbara Bach = American actor and model
1947 = Peter Krieg = German director, producer, and screenwriter
1950 = Charles Fleischer = American comedian and actor
1952 = Paul Reubens = American actor and comedian
1955 = Diana Scarwid = American actor
1955 = Robert Richardson = American cinematographer
1956 = Glen Matlock = English singer-songwriter
1961 = Mark Curry = English television host and actor
1961 = Tom Ford = American fashion designer and film director 🌈
1961 = Yolanda Adams = American singer, producer, and actor
1964 = Stephan Elliott = Australian filmmaker
1969 = Cesar Millan = Mexican-American dog trainer, tv personality, and author
1969 = Chandra Wilson = American actor and director
1969 = Reece Shearsmith = English actor, comedian, and writer
1976 = Sarah Chalke = Canadian actor
1979 = Aaron Paul = American actor and producer
EVENTS
1859 = Petroleum is discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania, leading to the world's first commercially successful oil well.
1955 = The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published in the UK.
1958 = Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is released in theaters.
1964 = Mary Poppins is released in theaters.
1992 = Martin premieres on Fox.
HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES
PORTRAIT + QUOTE OF THE DAY
“When I am on my deathbed, I don't think I will be thinking about a nice pair of shoes I had or my beautiful house. I am going to be thinking about an evening I spent with somebody when I was twenty where I felt that I was just absolutely connected to them.”
Tom Ford
Frankie says “Relax!”
Happy Holiday!!
Cheers & Sante,
Larry