Strike attire Day 5 (I feel mean today, nobody better get in my way)

I don't think I have gotten this much colour on my skin since I was a single-diget aged kid who used to spend all day at the beach. Imagine! People spend a ton of money to go south to soak up the rays when all they have to do is go on strike and picket for 4 hours a day at their own place of employment! I'm not spending money at all! In fact, I'm not even making money! Good times!Yesterday and today have been hot, humid and not particularly fun. My legs and feet are in so much pain I almost stayed home today. I had a mini meltdown when my shoelace knotted and I couldn't get the stupid thing undone. I was going to miss my bus, I couldn't walk down the stairs and I am just TIRED.Oddly, today, around 1:00pm, most of my pain vanished. I think I passed the point of no return. I am happy I have two days off to sit at home and not climb mountains. I might even sit through choir practice.We're keeping each other's spirits up. At least we're trying. Yesterday and today we had some sing-a-longs happening on the line and of course, those of us from music harmonized. Heh. We can't help it. We're musical.

Day 4

I'm slathering on the SPF 30 every two hours. The stupid stuff drips into my eyes when I sweat though and then I have stinging eyes, that run and I can't see. It's so much fun! The fourth day was cool and overcast, so I was pretty happy.We're seeing support from other groups and it's helping keep morale up. In fact, Thursday everyone on the picket lines were gifted with pizza which was paid for by one of the other unions on campus. I can only imagine THAT take-out bill! The pizza hit the spot and gave us all a moment to sit down and laugh together. I have been having fun counting calories burned and I figured since we hit the 25KM mark for walking in 3 days, a couple of tiny slices of pizza would be nice! I was so full from that that I didn't even get to my own snacks!

Day 5

I am out of clever-type tank tops to wear though. I have some more witty t-shirts, but it's been way too hot to put those on. Today's attire was boring, so I didn't photograph it. Heh.I don't want to be doing this. I have to because I need the tiny bit of pay it's going to bring in. As I have said in each of these posts, I am trying to see it as a boot camp and a good form of exercise, but I'll tell you - I HURT. I am discouraged and I am exhausted. If I wanted to be on my feet all day, I'd get a job that requires that. The biggest problem is the steep hill I have to climb to get where I am going and then walking on the hill for 4 hours. I can already notice a difference in my legs from this though, so, huzzah?

Day 6

I don't particularly think that striking is the best way to get what you need, but I don't really have a choice. I can't go out and get another job because I am so wiped out from my stupid picket shift that I wouldn't make it. We've been really lucky and have avoided any rainy days, but I know they are just around the corner as the season changes. Not that I want to stand in the rain for hours, but I might prefer it over the sun.I am so happy it's the weekend. I shall not walk anywhere for two days and it's going to be heaven!Hoping to write this weekend about all the exciting meals I have been making! Today's lunch was preempted by my wonderful husband bringing me McDonald's cheeseburgers and sitting with me for a few minutes. Yes, McD's isn't the best, but I needed a pick me up! And hey, almost 30Km walked in 4 days towards the end! GO ME! Sure the 3000 or so calories I burned with the walking probably made up one cheeseburger, but I don't care. ;)There's always something to chronicle in my life lately - from the street destruction last year, to this stupid strike... I can't wait for the day I can look back on all of this and laugh.