Thoughts

Today I'm sitting in my office - I'm almost done unpacking. I actually have quite a bit to do, but I'll get it done. Life these days is in many ways uncertain. Jamie and I are really lucky about our jobs. But the economy is terrible. And not only that - we live in a city where the major doesn't care about the community. I mean, his idea of running this city is to raise no taxes, but cut 700 subsidized childcare spots, cut funding to community centres and outdoor hockey rinks, festival funding and other community building initiatives. I think in times like this it is utterly important to bind community together instead of try to tear it apart the way he has done. Thankfully our city councillors were on the ball for a change and out-voted slimy Larry as our so-called major is known in these parts.

So now we are on day 31 of a transit strike. And it has been disasterous! And once again it's slimy Larry who is causing the problems. It's another attempt at a money saving venture. And the longer the strike lasts, the more money he saves. And it is over something (a scheduling system) that has not only been in place for 30 years, but is also the only benefit drivers with seniority have. It's ridiculous! I don't blame the drivers. In the world of bus driving there is nowhere up to go. So this is the only incentive they have for staying with what they're doing. Literally!

So now the city is still grid locked during rush hour times, which are now earlier and longer, people; especially single parents who don't own cars still have no way to get their children to daycare, students have no way to get to school/university, small businesses are close to going out of business, and let's not even talk about the results of an increased amount of driving in the city - the emissions measurements must be through the roof! All because slimy Larry wants to save a buck or two! It's unbelievable, but it is wearing on people now and that's not good!

We have personally not been as badly affected as some. It take up to three hours what used to be done in 30 minutes maximum. But that's it and we're counting ourselves lucky! Jamie has done pretty much all the driving to and from daycare for the past month. Now it's my turn and I'm definitely ok with that. My director is ok with me being a little late in the mornings if traffic is bad, but we just realized that I can actually make it to work pretty much on time if I leave about 10 minutes earlier.

What I've decided to do instead (with my director's approval) is to instead of heading straight for downtown after dropping Theo off at daycare, to head one exit further west and pick up one of my friends/co-workers (who is a single mom of three without access to a car) so she doesn't have to spend $40 per day on cabs to make it to and from work. So now I'll be picking her up in the mornings and my director will be dropping her off in the evenings. That should work out much better for her and We'll only be slightly late.

The only deciding factor in this little initiative is the availability of parking in the downtown area. If we can make it into town and still find a parking spot the system will work. If not, I won't be able to do this unfortunately. So let's see how this works out tomorrow morning. :)