Day 24 – The Cabbagetown BIA tapes it all up… but some rebels tore up their sign
Every morning of this strike after my venti mild, I need to excuse myself and find the closest washroom. It’s been Eaton Centre for the longuest time but where I am at right now, Tim Hortons is just across the street and I wait until someone needs to go buy a drink or bagel and go with them and use the facilities while they are ordering.
So this morning I make my way there with a co-picketer and while he orders I zig-zag my way into the 2 person male washroom. Someone is already in the stall, so I plant myself in front of the urinal and unzip. There is a very bad smell in this washroom and all of a sudden the guy in the stall starts lamenting:
Guy: “OOOOooooo noooooo!”
Me: (silence)
Guy: “AAAAaaaaahhhh”
Me: (silence)
FLUSH SOUND
Guy: “Oooooh lord!”
Me: (silence)
Guy: “Nooooooooo”
FLUSH SOUND
Me: (silence)
The smell is atrociously pungent.
Guy: “Nooooooo”
Me: (silence)
FLUSH SOUND
By this time I’m done and am washing my hands extra hard. The stall door opens, I look up in the mirror and see this small man walking out, with no intention of washing his hands, opening the door and going into the restaurant. I use my foot to keep the door open, I have no intention of touching the door knob after him… and then I see it… his sweat pants are covered in shit… of course that was the smell, and of course he didn’t make it to the washroom in time… it’s vile and disgusting.
Today, more than any other day since that strike started, I feel like that pair of sweatpants. Eventually they’ll get cleaned and get back to new, but today, they’ll go about for awhile just disgusting everyone around them for no real fault of their own.
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Clean up the cussing, and send that to the media.
That is brilliant, made me laugh and cry (on the inside) at the same time. Dammitall this thing needs to end.
Hey SB
Thought I’d check in. Things are relatively uneventful– just trash and more trash–everyday is trash, rubbish, refuse and garbage. It becomes somewhat of a zen experience When you are a trash collector *be* a trash collector. Trash empties, trash fills up.
I have now probably experienced every disgusting trash related thing that there is to experience and have survived to tell the tale.
I think you may need to expand your horizons outside of the “picketers circle walk”. I see groups of strikers in my area setting up with lawn chairs, music, shade umbrellas and cold drinks. They are likely bored out of their mind but they do not seem uncomfortable.
I was hopeful at the beginning of the week that the strike might be close to ending but after chatting with several hard core union members on the line this week I am less optimistic.
Other colleagues of mine who are on strike but not participating in the picketing are increasingly anxious to return to work. Another missed paycheck may see more applying to return despite the threats against them. This of course will create ugly workplace conflict once the strike finally does end. ugh
As for your Miller sign– I think he is likely done as Mayor after this term, largely due to the strike. I doubt very much if the Union will be pleased with his replacement. Voters do have short memories but there is a pretty strong undercurrent of anger right now. I have had thousands of conversations with the general public since the strike began. I have heard all sides of the spectrum. imo CUPE public relations has been terrible– really– the CUPE message is not out there at all.
wedding ring story=excellent
Take it easy– this *will* end sometime– hopefully sooner rather than later.
William: I WILL NOT CENSURE MYSELF… ahahaha… can you believe I said that with a straight face?
Maizey: I feel for you, it’s probably one of the worst place to be at right after the water plants. As for walking, I chose that group for a simple reason, we all believe in interacting with people instead of pissing them off, and I certainly do not want to contribute to the image of lazy asses sitting on chairs pretending to be at a party while this is going on… my rent and my credit is riding on this strike, I have no interest in making it look fun to others. Thing is CUPE is there for it’s members not for the residents, their message should be whatever they want their members to know… the City on the other hand, they should tell the truth to their tax payers about what is going on instead of their leader lying on TV constantly… I understand he has no interest in running for mayor after his term is done, but it doesn’t mean he has to go down in Toronto’s history as such an louse. I wish any of the two Adams would run for mayor, Vaughan or Giambrone, they’d sure get my vote.
And yes, this will end eventually, and I hope to Bruno that it’s sooner than later.