Date:         Mon, 4 Nov 2002 05:26:04 -0500
Reply-To:     Data Services <dataservices@ATTBI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Data Services <dataservices@ATTBI.COM>
Subject:      Proud (long semi-rant)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi All;
Boy, am I proud of my 1983 Volkswagen Westphalia Camper. 

 It's 3:30 AM over here in Malden, and I just got off checking the supplies at the picket line in front of the GE Lynn Aircraft Engine plant Fairchild gate.  Local 201 is on Strike!  The issues are about keeping American taxpayer research funded jet engines, including the F414 military engine - the best d**n tactical engine built today (flames acoming?:), built right here in the United States as opposed to Rumania or China or some other "low cost pole"(Mexico is getting too expensive).    And when they raise our health care costs in January and double our co-pay cryin' poormouth and the health care crisis (GE board members also sit on the boards of major pharmaceutical companies.  Who is in a better position to make a difference, them or middle class blue collar workers? ) while the corporate gluttony that the Jack Welch debacle only gives us a glimmer of (excuse me, 16.8 BILLION made in the year AFTER Sept. 11) , We'll put our money where our mouth is and hit them with a strike Again!!  You don't see an American flag waving out in front of that plant (there is one inside the plant that goes up and down according to which countrie's dignitaries are around). There are alot of Heroes out on that picket line. It's cold out here still, with only the fire barrels and camaraderie to keep you warm.  And the Bus was is one of those heroes!!

End of rant.  For more information see http://local201iuecwa.org  Thank you for your patience.

Anyway, It was a weekend strike and involved setting up two picket lines, one a 24/7 and the other for (2) 12 hr. shifts.  Being the co-chair of the Activities Committee,  it fell on my small crew to arrange setting up, breaking down and moving the tables, food, coffee and accoutrements to support the picketers on the line.  As there were many "holes" in our schedule, it took my bus and I and sometimes someone I would just pull out of the line (usually had never been in a Vanagon, or any such VW since they had 2 windshields-pretty funny, some or 'em), to move LOTS of stuff at any hour, in various weather.  From cases of soda and water, some in monster coolers - too wide for mere mortal vehicles, such as a Lincoln Town Car (older BIG one) and some pickup trucks (mine [the Bus] is covered and has lots more space), to hundreds of sandwiches for the Family Day on Sunday to the extra tables and gear we needed for the media after they finally noticed us (2 days after we started on Thursday night, if you're counting ) when Senators Kennedy and Tierney came down with Shannon O'Brian (running for Governor, good woman, got my vote) to bags of coffee leaking trash ( only took me a day to figure out that the bags were leaky and I needed a tarp on the floor ) to a quick change to elegant people carrier, it was a champ.  The Tiico engine that went in last year ran flawlessly (shameless plug,  still looking for that operable later model tach dash pod for short money, after all, I'm on strike).  Everyone who comes in contact with that vehicle just cannot believe its versatility, economy of operation and space, and just how the heck much stuff you can put in it and still not be cramped!!

Boy, what a vehicle.  My daily driver and my family's cabin at/in the ______(insert desired place).
I look around me at what's on the road and think, AHAH, after all these years, I was Right!  Can't wait for Ski season when I listen to people complaining about how crummy their skis get on the ride up on top of their car or in the back of their truck.  And we don't even need to go into how warm and convenient a place it is to change!

Dave B
1983.5 Tiico Westy
1983.5 WBX Westy