Okay, I didn't really care what they were demanding. It was better everything, I'm sure. No one goes on strike to demand worse. It made me realize, though, as I was stuffing another load of laundry into the washer machine at 5:30 in the morning, then hurrying to unload the dishwasher so I'd have my favorite coffee cup to start my day, that there's just no way I could go on strike.

For one, when would I have time to make a clever sign? And as for picketing, well, that's a cool idea and all, but I'd have to mow the lawn first. Or get the eldest kid to do it. She's a teenager. 'Nuff said.

For another, if I went on strike, it would be about an hour before there'd be a complete household meltdown. No one could find any clean socks, people would forget how to feed themselves, and the animals would surely pass out from hunger because there'd be no one reminding the children to feed them or let them out.

For a third, I'm the chief bottle washer, accountant, website designer, word writer...in short, everything in my business. I do hire assistants from time to time when I get overwhelmed, but I am pretty much it. If I went on strike, there'd be no books getting written. No e-mails getting answered. No mail getting sent. No website updates being made. And all I'd end up doing would be making my editor wonder if I'd been run over by a city bus.

But if I do go on strike, I'd demand a lot of creature comforts. A bigger shoe budget, for one. A hot tub in my office. There's got to be a way to write and bubble away. Some kind of mental dictaphone that would just take the ideas and slap them on the paper. And most of all, a personal chef who would do my bidding and when everyone complains about dinner, take it without flinching.

Ah, maybe there is some merit in striking. I think I'll look around for some poster board and markers. ;-)

Shirley