Changed roles for weekdays leaves us all weak, dazed
By Beth Teitell

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

Seems every time you turn around something is being declared "the new" something else: Anxiety is the new calm. Chubby is the new svelte. Arms are the new thighs. This fall, black and silver are the new black.

And now it appears Thursday's reign as the new Friday may be coming to an end, at least in duck-duck-goose circles. I was at a children's birthday party, sneaking bites of my son's serving of cake, when another mom leaned over. "I can't wait until Monday," she whispered.

Monday? But it was a gorgeous Saturday morning, and the forecast for Sunday was pure sunshine. "You don't know?" she asked. "Monday's the new Friday."

Why? That's when her children's babysitter comes back on duty. "The weekends are exhausting," she said. "The beach, the pool, the overnight trips. No one can wait to go out Monday night."

Workers of the world - or at least parents of the world - unite! On Monday, that is.

Could it be true? Could Monday really have unseated Friday?

Well, it's certainly moving in on Friday's turf, especially in suburbia, at restaurants such as Blue Ginger, where the early week crowd has really picked up this summer. And Monday's also showing its muscle downtown at Radius. "It's like a sleeper day," chef Patrick Connolly said. "Lunch always ends up being busier than we thought, and at dinner time the communal table will turn into sort of a happy hour at times."

No one's happier about Monday than a woman I know who has three adorable - but very active - preschoolers at home.

"No more wine for me," she said on a rare Saturday night out. "The baby gets up early, and I'll be `on duty' with him all day. I need to be sharp."

Thinking about her when I awoke yesterday morning, I jumped out of bed and let out a cheer before heading to work: TGIM!

But no sooner had I pumped my fist in the air, then questions emerged: If Monday's Friday, does that mean Friday's Monday? And when's "hump day?" Saturday? Or is that the new Sunday?

One thing's for sure: Parents aren't the only ones celebrating Monday. "Monday's my daughter's Friday, too," one mother said. "She's probably glad I'm out of the house - the babysitter's more fun than I am."

Meanwhile, there's only one month left of these family-filled summer weekends. Or is there? After all, the hip thing these days is to vacation into September. That's right - August is the new July.