Activism Not Achieved

[lydamorehouse]

I was supposed to attend an Indivisible Zoom last night, but I just couldn't face human beings yesterday.

I had similar troubles with this stuff in the last go-round, but this time I'm hoping to have cracked the code. I signed up for three of these, all of which are going to happen within the next several days. I know I have a tendency to glance at the clock around 7pm and think, "No, nope, I am out, I am done people-ing!" so I have chosen ones that happen at different times throughout the day with the understanding that I will make ONE of the three. 

Also, this week continues to just be hard.

I did just come home from a fun distraction, however. I went to a training session for my new temporary seasional job as a ticketer (tagger) for snow emergency parking violations. I am a little disappointed that as a newbie I will not be given my own route to drive alone. On the other hand, given that we are driving around in company vechiles when it is legitimately scary to be out and about in WEATHER, I can see the logic of having a second person around. Also, I'm excited to discover that I won't be REQUIRED to work the night shift. I was ready? But, I'm just as happy to not have to, though the shifts are nine hours. Which is... a lot for this old body.

I mean, I can always quit. Or pray that we have a winter like last year where literally no snow emergencies were called. 

I would like to at least see what the job is like one time. There are some cool things about it, including the fact that you get a "badge" number, even though we are not cops. The actual ticket writing (which we practiced) was kind of fun? I don't know. It will no doubt be grueling as fuck and I will hate it (especially the part where I am working with someone else.) I will need to invest in some better boots. My feet tend to get really cold and jumping in and out of a car in slush and snow is going to be hard on the old tootsies, as they say. 

But, I am now basically ready to roll. It's supposed to snow this week!

If nothing else, I got paid to go to the training. One guy, in the row behind me, fell asleep so hard he was snoring. I was one of three white people there, though the room was divided pretty evenly men/women. I will say that at least one or two other people looked like they might be queer and/or nonbinary. I mean this is very much a fill-in as you can kind of job. Most people, at a guess, were working another job... possibly several. I, at least, have the luxury of being able to sleep the whole day away the next day, if necessary, to catch up on sleep.

So, I dunno. I will let you know what it's like if it ever goes off!

Comments

[profiterole_reads]

At least you have an Indivisible for when you're ready. The French one has been dead for a month and a half. No idea if it's an unannounced hiatus or if it's dead for real.

[lydamorehouse]

Ugh. I hope your French one isn't dead. We all need to organize while we can.

[profiterole_reads]

Well, that was one thing among others. The French tag #upthebaguette on Tumblr has some good stuff and we can all talk together. The French Indivisible was really top-to-bottom communication, so not ideal, but there were a few good ideas.

[pameladean]

I know perfectly well what Indivisible is and receive emails from them on the regular, but I still read that as "an invisible Zoom."

I am pretty sure that you can get heated socks, though I've always wondered if they fit well into boots.

P.

[lydamorehouse]

I briefly thought I might have written Invisible Zoom, since I am dyslexic!

I will look for heated socks!

Also, I just wanted to say that I heard about what's been happening with DDB and I'm thinking of your whole group of loving folks during this time. I don't know if Lydy or David told you, but I accidentally got the email intended for Lydy for the colonoscopy appointment. I mean, it's one letter difference! I'm kind of surprised I don't get more things for her and visa versa. Anyway, that made the news seem more personal even though I know that we are all not especially close.

[pameladean]

Oh, thank you. I keep meaning to make a post, but haven't gotten up the verve yet.

They did not tell me, but I am minded of all the times I emailed Jane Yolen about one of her Poems of the Day (she had a mailing list for some time and sent whatever she'd done that day, rough or not) and got my friend Janet instead. This was more pleasant, and ended in my being able to send her a couple of the poems with Jane's permission.

Autocomplete really has a lot to answer for.

P.

[pameladean]

Adding to say that I really appreciate this comment and your kindness. P.

[profiterole_reads]

Happy Birthday!