question of the weekend: What holiday would you invent, and how would you celebrate?

I vote for 'Happy Nevermind' day, the slackers holiday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzwiwV0EfVk

At around 1:18.

I vote for celebrating the late Patty Donahue's birthday, which will be this coming Monday. You're welcome to join me if you wish. But I would prefer it if you don't smoke for reasons that should be obvious from the link.

Our daughter has decreed that one Saturday a month should be "Read Only Day." As in just books, no computers or DVDs or going outdoors. It's tough to commit to it (especially as the weather turns nicer) but it's cool when it happens.

"Tell the truth day" inspired by "Liar, Liar."

I bet everyone would stay home and hide, so we'd get "Real Day off Day," as a bonus, too.

I remember a guy at my parents' church saying that the Bible should be followed strictly, and my Dad asked him how he could go out for dinner, which he does every Sunday, if all the waitresses and cooks stayed home and rested? The guy actually looked surprised. The things people don't think about.

And I agree in general terms; holidays are so very middle class. The rich don't need them and the poor can't have them.

I'm kinda surprised! When I read the title, the first thing that came to mind was 'MaryAnn's gonna invent Tennantmas'. :) But I like the Real Day Off concept.

Inspired by Bluejay's daughter, I would propose 'Share A Book Day', wherein all celebrants exchange books that they love that their friends have not yet read.

Every day is Tennantmas, Orangutan....

How about "Tomorrow's Eve"

I would propose 'Share A Book Day', wherein all celebrants exchange books that they love that their friends have not yet read.

Our local library hosts occasional "Book Swaps" on certain weekends--just come in, dump your used books on the table, and pick up books left by others. It's more "giving away what you don't want" than "sharing what you love," but it's interesting to see the kinds of books others choose to give away, and we've found some real treasures.

I had another idea--in the spirit of Carnival role reversal, something like "Opposite Day" or "Someone Else's Shoes Day." The office grunts take over the executive offices, and the CEOs staff the cubicles and mop the floors. Teachers and principals switch roles. Stay-at-home parents switch with working parents. And people can try switching ideological positions too, maybe in formal debates, but they have to give it a sincere effort. Conservatives defend the Progressives' agenda and vice versa. Just a day to try to see where everyone else is coming from.

How about Free Blow Job Day?

I mean, let's get real here, nobody needs a new reason to shell out $4.95 to Hallmark. We want a holiday with some teeth.

I’d institute A Real Day Off Day, during which all shops would be closed -- so no big sales, and the store employees get a Real Day Off too -- and absolutely everything except the most essential of essential services (such as hospitals) is shut down so that people can just stay home and chill out or go visit friends and everyone can chill the hell out for a day.

On a more serious note, I found this to be an interesting thought experiment... how exactly would a "real day off" day work? The police would still need to work, and firemen. But if we're visiting friends, we might need a gas station, right? Or a toll-booth operator? Should the radio stations close down too, so it's just static? Television? Movie theaters?

Internet server companies? Power companies? Gas?

Park employees? Lifeguards?

Supermarkets? Groceries?

It's actually difficult to imagine a "Real Day Off" day that isn't the same as most current national holidays. Some jobs just don't have that luxury. And, when you really think about it, a "Real Day Off" day is most likely to be hella fucking boring. And impractical!

But as I said, it's a fascinating thought experiment. About the only thing I could come up with that would be okay to close is liquor stores, but that's the worst idea ever!!

MaryAnn, newbs: There used to be a Real Day Off Day. It was called Sunday. And how did it work? Well, you knew that everything was going to be closed, so you got everything you were going to need by Saturday afternoon, or borrowed from a neighbor, or just got by without until Monday. What a concept, eh?