Labor Day Weekend 2012

Labor Day, my father used to say, was a time to labor.  We did, and lots of people do.  When I was out this morning from before moonset until 9 a.m., ample evidence of ongoing work presented itself, work that had started hours before I was able to get fotos.  I love the light at daybreak.  Here’s Freddie K Miller north of me and

northeast of me a few seconds later.

Here’s Margaret Moran before sunrise east of me as she returned  from assisting Saudi Hofuf into port, and

here’s Catherine Turecamo about a half hour later (exactly 07:33 . . . remember that) exiting the KVK west of me.

Here’s Atlantic Salvor towing dredge spoils out as Mary Alice returns with a scow, and here’s

the bigger picture as Salvor moves east of me.  Vessel in the distance is Titan.

Here’s looking north at Weddell Sea at moonset, and

looking southward at Rosemary Miller parading a pair of pickups around the same time.

Here are Gramma Lee T Moran, Siva Sincerity, and  . ..  again .  . . Catherine Turecamo arriving from the east.  Time is 08:51, almost an hour and a half later than the previous shot of Catherine.

And two more of the trio, mere

minutes later.

Here’s a mystery . . . I’d swear that was Taurus, but AIS says Taurus is in Louisiana.  Can anyone identify the Kirby tug here?

Happy Labor Day, and if you have to work, I hope you at least enjoy it, as I did as a kid.

Labor Day 2011

Labor Day weekend is upon us again, but I can’t remember when it seemed quite this polarized, although if you read the first two sentences in the section here called “history,” maybe the celebration of the day was born in conflict, polarization, and then reaching out for solidarity.  Check out the Post editorials from the  Washington  and the Huffington.  I liked this foto essay in the New York Times Magazine here.

For many of the first 20 years of my life, living on a farm where Labor Day was a holiday in name only since harvest had to be taken then, I heard that on “labor day” one labored.  End of story.   And that was not such a bad way to spend the day.  Work challenges,

ennobles,

unites,

bonds,

accomplishes,

fulfills,

satisfies,

and ultimately feeds us, and others.

Happy Labor Day, whatever you do or don’t do.

Al fotos by Will Van Dorp.

Tug Race Countdown 2

So if you’re not tied up with your labor on Labor Day Sunday, see you at the tug race.  It’s a festive waterfront event, where vessels that come to compete are the ones not engaged at that hour.  It’s part Labor Day picnic.  Here are the details.

Will Sarah Ann be there?

Or Laura K.

Meagan Ann?

Maurania III,

Greenland Sea,

or Craig Eric?

Here’s some of my posts from the event in 2009, 2008, 2007,  and 2006.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.  See you Sunday.

Tug Race 2010 Countdown

To see last year’s post from August 30, click here.   For info on the race next Sunday, click here.  If you scroll through that previous link, way down in the fine print you’ll read that this year’s race is dedicated to the memory of Don Sutherland.  Below is a short video I made at a memorial to Don held in June 2010 aboard PortSide NewYork’s Mary Whalen.

This post is dedicated to those folks who . . . on Labor Day . . . can’t make the tug race or even the family BBQ because they will labor in the house,

on the bridge,

on deck,

following the border,

in the service,

pushing oil around, or

trying to clean it up.

Happy Labor Day.