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16 December 2003
odd kinds of excitement (or, we just want to work in peace)
Today's turning into a busy day, and it's just past noon. Parking has been prohibited on Olympic Blvd, creating confusion and more traffic problems than usual, due to a large Teamsters' rally at Roxbury Park in support of striking Ralph's/Von's grocery workers. (It seems the Ralph's corporate office is in Century City, which is a few blocks away; the park is one block over from our house).
Traffic's in a snarl, tempers are flaring, and there are motorcycle police trying to keep things moving and dealing with the fender bender that just happened at our intersection. (For whatever reason they seem to be conducting their conversations over loudspeakers--perhaps a feature of their nifty police helmets.) It wouldn't be quite so disruptive if there weren't news helicopters hovering over our house...
Actually, let me correct that: the assembled throngs are now marching east on Olympic banging drums, cheering, and screaming. Supported, in part, by motorists who feel compelled to lean on their horns as a show of support.
That dentist appointment at 5:00 today is going to be an oasis of calm...
1:17pm UPDATE: A thundering group of Harley-Davidsons has joined the march to make things even louder. And buses are now being detoured down our residental street. What sympathy I had for those involved in the dispute has fizzled.