Strike!

I'm on strike right now, along with the rest of the workers at my job.  It has been difficult for me because I'm not getting paid and don't get benefits while it drags on.  I want to return to work, but not without a fair contract.  Some things have been fun, like the Hasidic Jewish guy who pulled up in his car to yell and swear at us that he is out of work, so we should be lucky to have a job. 

Overall, I would say 99% of the response from the public I have encountered has been positive, especially among city workers such as the police, fireman, streets and sanitation, and transportation.  They have been giving thumbs up and honking and waving, which has kept us going, and for me even gives me a chill inside, reminding me that we're fighting for the right reasons.  Despite the fact that most people seem supportive, the press has been overwhelmingly one-sided and presenting skewed facts.  So, you get guys like the dumb ass I saw today standing in his office window around 12 stories up, wielding a baseball bat.  I motioned for him to come on down and discuss things with the all of us, but he was content staying perched up there. 

Passing the time has been one of the biggest challenges.  Today I decided to go for a jog with a giant sign wrapped around my torso, and I enlisted a new a coworker to join me.  He is under even more stress than me, being a newly married first year employee who hadn't even gotten his first paycheck with the strike hit.  Since I figure running helps me clear my head, I thought it could be good for him, which I think it was because he is excited to do it again tomorrow.  Believe it or not, I think my fellow workers and others were responding well to our athletic approach to picketing.  I'm hoping more keep joining in like where Rocky runs with all those Philadelphia citizens of all ages in the movie.  That or I'll just drink too much coffee and eat lots of donuts and go pee a few dozen times at McDonalds (which I feel weird about so I always try to buy something).

Then just when I was feeling really inspired and excited to get home to make a "Fight the Power" playlist for my cohorts, I found that my external hard drive crapped out and I lost all my music.  This was at first a dramatic blow for me, but after sitting down to write this post, I have already mellowed out and see the big picture.  How many songs that might be gone forever off my iTunes is annoying, but I have a pretty terrific life with lots of wonderful people around me.  Until next time . . .

Thanks for reading.