September 17
What's happening?? I haven't written because what is there to say? I'm still out on strike. I'm into my second almost full week of picketing. Picketing has been a real eye opener for me, in a lot of ways. I wear a sign. I walk around. There's been a ton of food--today, in front of my building, there was a block party. FIVE grills were set up. Two deep fryers. Six long tables of food. A DJ. The street was closed. It was a delight to watch the doctors pour out from the surrounding buildings, shaking their angry fists at the police, complaining about the noise and the traffic. I overheard one doctor scream at a striker that we were being "highly inappropriate". The strike snapped back "Well, tell the president to SETTLE!! GO COMPLAIN TO HIM." The doctor stomped off to talk to a cop, who shrugged and said "They have a permit."
What's been interesting to see is how people react to me. People I deal with EVERY DAY when I'm working pretend they don't see me standing there. They suddenly become fascinated with the clouds or a lump of gum on the ground. It's awkward, to say the least. I imagine that when this is all finally settled going back to work is going to feel strange, because I've gotten used to NOT being there. I mean, other than the no money thing (and honestly, I get picket pay. Not as much as I'd make working, but it's SOMETHING.) I'm kind of liking it. What's not to like? I stand outside. The weather has been beautiful. Like I said, I wear a sign ("ON STRIKE. Local 34 Local 35"). I get free coffee and food. People are friendly (other picketers, I mean). I haven't heard of too many instances where picketers were harrassing people going in to buildings. I haven't called anyone a scab. I haven't flipped or burned cars. I haven't chanted, although the songs are quite catchy. Want to hear one? I'm sure you do! Sing along at home, if you can:
WE ARE THE UNION!!
THE MIGHTY MIGHTY UNION!!!
WHEREVER WE GO!!!
PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW!!!
WHO WE ARE!!!
AND THIS IS WHAT WE TELL THEM!!!
WE ARE THE UNION!!!!
THE MIGHTY MIGHTY UNION!!!
LOCAL 34!!!!
and
LOCAL 35!!!
1199!!!!
ANNNNND GESO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn't that awesome? I haven't chanted, and yet, I have it memorized. Go figure. It's just THAT catchy!!!
The union has been pretty cool about paying some of my bills, though, so I'm not going to knock it. When I run out of money totally, it might be a different story.
Speaking of running out of money! This is the weekend Nicole and I head for Atlantic City--hurricane be damned. We've been planning it for months. Nick burned 6 cds of MP3s for us for the trip. I have my fancy clothes all lined up, batteries in my digital camera, and energy to spare. Coincidentally, the Miss America pagent is ALSO going on this weekend, and of the maybe 7 times I've been to AC in my life, this will be the THIRD time Miss A. is happening while I'm there. The boardwalk of AC is pretty funny anyhow, what with the RANTING NUTBAGS who skulk around. When you throw sash-wearing Miss Americas posing for photos with horny businessmen?! Why, that's a recipe for hilarity, right there.
I'm sure I've told this story, but I'll tell it again, because other than my honeymoon (yes, we went to Atlantic City for part of the time. You have a problem with that?) this is the best thing that ever happened to me there (well, okay, the fact that I bought a mix tape with a song called "Let Me Be Your Underwear!*" on it was pretty damn funny, too). My family from Indiana (Aunt, Uncle, 2 cousins) were visiting Brooklyn (I still lived in NY at the time--I was probably 22 or thereabouts) and they decided that driving down to Atlantic City would be a great, fun way to spend a day.
We get there, and we all split up. Megan and Susan (the cousins--Susan is the one who got married this summer) and I took off in one direction. After a little illicit underaged gambling by them (What? I'm an enabler! Why would I deny them the fun of a slot machine? What kind of shitty cousin would I be if I did that?), we figured that we shouldn't press our luck (Me: "I'm old enough to be here legally, and I want to come back some day!!!") and started wandering up the boardwalk. We came upon a rather large crowd, surrounding a woman playing the electric piano. WITH HER TOUNGE.
Why, I hear you ask, was she playing the electric piano with her tounge? Well, because she had no arms or legs. She was a torso! And nothing more! She was flat on her stomach on top of some sort of bed with wheels, head dangling over the keyboard, playing with her tounge. We stood there, slackjawed, not knowing whether to laugh or cry until she finished her song. Stunned applause followed, and in the silence, Megan yells out "PLAY HEART AND SOUL!!!!!!!!!!!"
I'll see you all next week. Or maybe tomorrow. I'm still on strike you know. Stay safe if you're in the path of the KILLER STORM OF THE CENTURY!!!!!
a long time ago - home - email - soon