War on Trash: Day 22 (the real Monday)


 Posted on July 13th, 2009
 by Patrick 4 great comments. Room for one more!

Very recently, an alarming number of comments on this ongoing journal have suggested that my reporting may not be as balanced as I’d like it to be. Both comments were in regards to the more upbeat, colourful photos I’ve been accompanying my posts with. In hindsight, I suppose that these may be somewhat misleading. Kinda like this:

abandoned CUPE outpost

This could easily be mistaken as the final portrait of a vanquished foe. But it is, in fact, simply good timing. The canister was still smouldering when this shot was taken and the strikers were probably just on break (big surprise!). Okay, well, it was Sunday afternoon. But still — they’re the bad guys!

I sincerely hope I didn’t lead anyone down the wrong path. The War is still raging. Maybe it’s just that it’s become normal for us who live in it; run-of-the-mill; almost mundane. The stalwart tin soldiers along the sides of streets are all packed to capacity, but the sight has become so commonplace that it doesn’t seem worthwhile to mention anymore.

Not when there are more urgent, immediate needs in the rest of the city. Many shop attendants (at least the ones I’ve talked to), are reporting a severe shortage of sticky fly paper strips. A number stared at me as though they had no idea what I was talking about, like they didn’t understand English. That was probably the case. But no sticky paper for me and I could really use some.

Luckily the War is taking place in the middle of a (thus far) very pleasant summer, and all those fruit flies can go straight to hell as far as I’m concerned. There’s plenty to see and do outside while their minuscule corpses carpet my carpet:

"Copper" on location

Since I moved here just over a year ago, this popular film location (the house a few doors down), has hosted at least four major productions; the kind that close the street and have edgy, over-caffeinated set managers walking around wringing their bony hands making sure no one walks into their open shoot. Or maybe they’re really just praying for good lighting. Maybe death.

But no umbrella in the face! Just handsome cops with glowing complexions and a boom mic guy who will never be out of a job. Any man with the natural ability to scrub elephant anus will not be unemployed if he doesn’t want to be, that’s just facts:

elephant cleaner

I wasn’t able to find a single relevant mention for the movie “Copper” so this is either a super hush-hush film (in which case I’m committing treason right now), or it’s going direct to DVD.

Well, it’s been another terrifically real Monday but we got through it. Some, like the gentleman who with a partially severed foot was dragged for five clicks (about three miles) by a train, had it more real than others.  “Ouch!”, indeed, Sergeant Tim Burrows.

I feel it’s only right to ask…

Have Mondays ever assaulted you or touched you in inappropriate ways?

  • Every week. I think Mondays should be illegal. (21%)
  • Does "inappropriate" mean my wee-wee? Because if so, then yes. (17%)
  • The entire week should be lined up against the wall and shot. Viva la revolucion! (14%)
  • Umm, you do know that by allowing multiple answers the results will be meaningless, right? (12%)
  • Not really. I enjoy Mondays because I work for myself. (10%)
  • Mondays are days. They can't hurt you! That's silly! You're silly! (10%)
  • Not really. I enjoy Mondays because I'm clinically and dangerously psychotic. (7%)
  • Mondays are neither here nor there. Now Wednesdays...those ya gotta watch out for. (7%)
  • What does that even mean?! None of this even makes sense!! (2%)

Most readers say: Every week. I think Mondays should be illegal.

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4 Comments on “ War on Trash: Day 22 (the real Monday) ”

  • Kelly
    July 13th, 2009 7:11 pm

    Wow, what a mess! I cannot imagine seeing these sites so close.

    Kelly


  • Patrick
    July 15th, 2009 9:36 am

    No worries, Kelly; I do the trash diving so you don't have to.


  • satish kumar k s
    July 15th, 2009 3:43 am

    plz pardon me as i cant stop looking at your photos rather than the text. great photographs


  • Patrick
    July 15th, 2009 9:35 am

    Oh that's okay, Satish, I have the same problem. But apparently they have a pill for that now.


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