First Tuesday in November

    The first Tuesday in November means different things to different peoples.  In the U.S., it is Election Day.  The speeches are finished, the endless smear ads are off television and we all figure out when we will go to the polls.  Get up early and go before work?  Go on your lunch break or after work. Nah, eat supper first and then go.
     In Australia, the first Tuesday is RACE DAY.  The Melbourne Cup, now in its 150th year, runs the first Tuesday in November.  Everybody gets excited.  The off-track betting locations are humming and every workplace has a sweeps going.  Parties galore with women dressed to the nines from footwear to fascinator.  Who has time to watch a horse run when women's hats are on show everywhere?! It's like the Kentucky Derby on steroids.
    Except no one gets a day off work for the Kentucky Derby.  Melbourne Cup Day is an official city holiday in Melbourne. Yes, a day off for the races.  Can't get in to the Cup? There are a couple of other tracks around to get the transcendental experience or your TV at home.  Plenty of people skipping work (cough, cough. got the flu, boss) in the rest of country to cheer on the ponies.
   Now don't be too surprised that this Land of the Long Weekend --and numerous days off-- would call off work for a horse race.  Elections are held on Saturday --as an alternative to a day off-- to make sure no one's four minute voting effort is handicapped by a 6⅜  hour workday.  More than a few Australians scoff at silly Americans for working on Election Day.
   And positively stymied why Yanks would clock in on Race Day.
   Just in : Americain won the Melbourne Cup.  Don't tell me : someone named Aussie was voted into the Senate....