Happy Vets day.

Happy Vets day.

Happy Vets day.

So the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon was held today.

Stopped due to the abnormally high Heat Index at about the half way point.  1 death from the heat.

Teekl wondered why my department didn't work Traffic Control for the event, and I asked that question to one of my Supervisors at the end of Saturdays Cubs Game (yeah, the bums blew it.).

TMA 40 replied (yup, no bosses names on this site) that 2 years ago was the last time that the TMA's worked the event.  Due to the fact that at the time there were not enough part time Traffic Aides to work the event, Full timers from the Central Business District detail were called upon to work it also.

The Part Timers (under direct control of above named, TMA 40) did the job perfectly.  Traffic Blockades went into place in the correct locations at the correct times, traffic was re-routed without major issues, crowds were controlled perfectly.  No Complaints.

The Full timers fucked it up on their end (Big Suprise there).

The Full time Traffic Aides apparently don't understand (at that time at least) that when someone in authority calls over the police radio, that we all carry; to put into effect all closures; IT MEANS THE FULL TIMERS ALSO.

The supervisor in charge of the Full Timer Detail had to hustle around and barely got all the closures into place in time for the runners to hit the intersections in question.

As a result of that cluster fuck on that end, the deputy Director of the OEMC in City Hall yanked the event from the TMA's and gave it back to the Police Department.  8am to 5pm for the marathon.  Figure at least 2 hours before and 2 hours after for the detail for getting things in and out correctly.

13 hours of wages screwed away by the Full Timers on the Detail because 80% of them are too lazy to put up baracades when they are told too.

Half the time, when working with them in the Central Biz District last year; they show up to work and instantly start to bitch and whine about their back or feet or how sick of the job they are.  But GOD forbid you tell them "Why didn't you call in sick then?" or "Why don't you retire if its gotten to be too much for you?" They look at you like you are growing a third arm out of your forehead and are nuts to ask the question.

Then of course there is the fact that there are 800 of us part time Traffic Aides that would almost suck a *bleep* to be promoted to Full time on this job.

Lets see:

8 hours a day, Mon thru Fri. 40 hours a week times 2 weeks per payroll check.  16.59 per hour to start. Benefits. Paid Vacation time. Comp time towards your pension. Time and a Half for holiday work.  Double time for Sunday's.  As full time.

verses;

20 hours a week (maybe), 40 hours per paycheck (maybe), 83 hours a month (if your lucky). Time and a half IF you break 40 hours in a Sunday to Saturday work week.  No Benefits, no paid vacation, no extra bonus for holidays or sunday work.

Tough choice.

Dear God let me get into the Police Academy this next year.

So Teekl and I went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago today (since we live here) because they opened the Star Wars "Where Science meets Imagination" event.

Waiting in line for the 9:15am CST opening.  First in line to get in to see everything.

Props from every movie.

Han Solo's Episode IV costume.

Chewbaccas Costume and Bowcaster from the Original Episodes and Sith.

Obi-Wan's, Palpatines, Mauls, Shak Ti's, and Windu's movie prop saber hilts.

Tusken Outfits, Amidalas costumes, Prequel and OG C3PO and R2D2, Probe Droid model, ImpStar model, TIE model, Y-Wing and X-Wing models, Tantive Corellian Corvette model, Grevious ship model, Snow StromTrooper costume, Vaders complete costume, Jawa, Tarful, Salipin, Mace, Yoda, Obiwan costumes, Leia Epi IV costume, Medical droid from Emipire Strikes Back, Lobots head gear, Lukes T-34 landspeeder, the Falcon, Droideka, the whole 9 yards.

So, Amy and I are wandering around and she spots someone that looks alot like Anthony Daniels.  Her comment is easily guessed at that point.  I follow the person for a better glance and I confirm that its Daniels.  WOW!!!!

Amy is standing next to a museum security guard as I walk over to her and give the confirming comment, yeah; thats Daniels.

The Guard asks what the big deal is...so I explain to her who it is that we spotted, and I make the comment that while we would Love to meet him, he appears busy and we don't want to intrude (Perfectly normal for us as we both understand that celebs don't always want to be bothered by rabid fans looking for a photo op or an autograph.

After the comment to the guard, she nods and walks off and we make our way around the exhibits to an interactive moisture vaporator/droid manufacture station display that I start to fool around with in an attempt to make the most efficient and productive farm out of the available resources.  Since I played SW:G for some time in the past, I figure I have a good shot at getting a High Efficiency rating for the simulation.  As I am playing around with it, I am startled by a cultured, British accented voice that asks me how its going with the simulation (or something like that, my recall on the comment is a little off due to my surprise).  I instantly recognize the voice as belonging to Mr. Anthony Daniels and my eye bug out and my jaw drops.  At this point the simulation ends as he is showing me how to change the view point by rotating the display table where all the pieces of the "game" goes.

I really don't remember what was said, asside from  the comments that I made; along the lines of "Mr. Daniels" and " its an honor" and other things like that.

Amy comments that the discussion revolved around the simulation that I was using and how I comment on the things I noticed as I was trying to make the most efficient layout I could get in the allotted time given.

I think I managed an Eff of 80% with a Productive output of about 86%.

He was impressed with my results (as near as I could tell in my shocked state) and made a few more comments before he excused himself and wandered off.

Amy and I both looked at each other with AWE.

Afterwards, Amy found the employee that we had chatted with about him and she commented that she found the right person to talk to and informed them that we were such fans that he searched US out to chat with!!!!!!

George Lucas was at the Museum today to inspect the displays and pass final judgement on the layout.  Unfortunitely, he was slated to arrive at 4pm CST (right at closing time) and as it was just a rumor, Amy and I left before 4pm.  Billy Williams was also rumored to be arriving at the same time.  Turns out, that via a web search; Amy has comfirmed that Lucas WAS at the Science and Industry Museum today in Chicago. DOH!!!! I know one of the people that work for the Museum through my job with the Chicago Traffic Aides Department, and we probably could have gotten to stick around to see him arrive with a simple request....

I have stood in line for an autograph from David Copperfield, I have been less than 30 meters from "Weird" Al while in concert, I have been the same distance from Rare Earth and Siouxsie of the Banshees Fame, as well as having been 25 feet from the current champs of Beatles tribute bands (1964, The Tribute).

This is the official First time that Lukes Landspeeder has been on display outside of the Skywalker Ranch, and I have a photo of me within 2 feet of it on display that will be posted soon.

Oh My Freeking God, Amy and I win the Internets for today.