I hadn't planned on voting in today's Writers Guild election to end the strike (not to be confused with the other, forthcoming vote to ratify the new contract). It's going to pass overwhemingly and it sounded like a lot of bother to go to the Writers Guild Theater, park, go in, etc. But then I realized something: In one of the many coincidences in which my life abounds, my "every two year" ophthalmologist appointment was today…in the building next to the theater during the voting hours. In fact, it was easier and cheaper to park for the vote (they validated) than to park for the eye doctor.
What wasn't easier was to navigate through the mass of reporters — TV, radio, newspaper and ?? — that were massing outside, with all the TV guys either taping stand-ups or grabbing writers for quick interviews. The vote may not be known by 11 PM because it's been so heavy. As of around 3:00, more than two thousand proxy ballots had been faxed-in and while everyone knows the outcome, someone still has to verify and tally and do whatever else they have.
The mood seemed jubilant. I spoke with our president, Patric Verrone, and told him that while I'd voted to end this strike, I'd also voted to reopen the '85 and '88 strikes for him to renegotiate. He pretended to find that funny but I think he appreciated the compliment.