ready, set, strike!

i feel that i would be remiss not to comment, at least briefly, on the major occurrence of the transport worker's union strike that has brought all nyc subway and bus service to a halt. while this may spell catastrophe to many, to me, it spells snow-day.

although i am fortunate enough to live in an area that is in close (or at least, reasonable) proximity by foot to any area of manhattan i would need (or choose) to go, i certainly sympathize with all those who have no choice but to commute to work with 3 strangers in a car, or hoof it across the brooklyn bridge. the images are fascinating, and there is no doubt that this strike is an event.

i don't subscribe to any such theories that the strike has crippled the city. from what i have seen, everyone that needs to get somewhere, has found a way to do so, however inconvenient the process. the city is still very much alive, and morales are very high. i spent the day yesterday working from home (aka christmas shopping...i said i could walk to work. that doesn't mean i intend to!) and felt almost more in the spirit of the holiday than i have this past month, despite my several trips to rockefeller plaza and the like.

today, i did actually decide to venture into work after lunch. i have an appointment in midtown that i need to keep this afternoon, so i figured i might as well make an appearance at the office in the process. one of my favorite, and most striking, images from the strike so far was on my walk up 5th avenue. madison and 5th are two of the major streets that have been closed to traffic other than emergency vehicles. it's always fascinating to see something so grand and so familiar in a different light...in this case, a nearly empty light. loves it.

the most humorous image, however, came as i rounded the corner of 42nd street onto 6th avenue. taped to the steel gate blocking the entrance to the closed subway station, was a small white sign emblazoned with the words:
MTA-
F#%K YOU
-SANTA