Oh Crap...
... it would have been THE. PERFECT. SHOT!
But I didn't get it. I didn't get it!
Why not?
Because I am a lily-livered, cowardly chicken, that's why. If I had a shred of chutzpah, this post would have been adorned with the consummate illustration of road crews Hard-Not-At-Work.
Today as I neared home from a day at the office, I rolled up to an intersection of the highway that's been ripped asunder since, oh FOREVER. Since the light had just turned red, I scrambled at the opportunity to snap a fantastic photo when I counted ten, count 'em TEN orange-vested, hard-hatted construction workers posed in various motionless, un-working stances.
Three were deep in conversation, tools used only to prop themselves upright. Talking about anything but the job at hand, I'll wager.
Two were squatting: mesmorized by a river of water dribbling from one of the supply trucks parked in the corridoned-off, yet newly-paved lane.
Another four, all with their arms identically crossed in front of their chests, smirking at watching the endless line of vehicles crawl past at a snail's pace.
The tenth fellow almost looked busy.... at least he was sitting in a small front-end loader.
Which wasn't running, of course.
It really is a misnomer that they are called "Workers".
Unfortunately, just as I was lifting my camera to snap the previously proclaimed Perfect Photo, one of the "workers" (leaning on his shovel, natch) turned his sunglass-covered eyes RIGHT AT ME.
Crap! I dropped the camera on the passenger seat and stared straight ahead praying I could make my escape unscathed.
Was I afraid of him? Well, duh. He had A SHOVEL, remember?
I sat there pretending nothing was amiss, all the while imagining him tapping on my van's window with his weapon implement. Finally the light turned green and I sped off, cursing my bad luck.
And my spineless poultry-like demeanor.
So I didn't get a shot of them. Instead, I'll just leave you with a picture of ME.
*Cluck, cluck, cluck.*
Chicken Little image copyright Walt Disney Studios
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I'm getting a little more brave with my camera. I even took a snap of a guy, plumber I think he was, practically mooning me at lunch not too long ago. I was using my cellphone camera, but still...
If he did come at you with the shovel? Keep taking his picture until the light turns green.
haha You're braver than I am to even have the camera in your hand!
That would have taken a lot of guts that I wouldn't have had either.
*laugh* I whip out my camera to "scare" drivers who are riding my bumper. And you would've been gone before he'd gotten to your car... LOL
I know what you mean, there are times I've wanted to take a pic and didn't, often for a variety of reasons. Guess that's why I usually stick to landscape, nature photos...lol.
well the mental picture is still great lol
Oh, well....still a very good expose on construction workers!! Love your pic! http://Back2Brooklyn.blogspot.com
I would have been too skerred to take the picture, too!
That would have been as awesome picture! You're braver than me for at least attempting. I saw 2 of the craziest guys last night. I wish I would have taken their picture!
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt (yellow for uncourageous). I've always been tempted to start a contest for "best worker" at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Only there's no contest.
So Humor Me
At least you thought to attempt a photo AND you actually had your camera with you! That's two out of three, 66%, which is still a "Pass", isn't it?
....but it makes for a great story so you can take your head out of the sand;-)
Years ago when I worked in TV back in Boston, one of the reporters did an investigation into the Boston Dept. of Public Works. The workers were all videotaped standing around, chit chatting, doing errands, basically everything else but working. My station aired the stories, the state started a huge investigation, and Channel 56 got a ton of death and bomb threats.
Don't you just love our seasons? Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Road Construction.
So funny! I can picture it just fine without the photo (mainly because it is a common scene). Ha! Great description.
I wouldn't have had the courage either, so don't feel too bad. I might have taken a shot if our car was on the move, but that's because I'm a passenger and not a driver.
That may just mean that they're guilty of their work (that is they don't)
Maureen:
Wow, I think you are being just a little too rough on yourself. It's probably a good thing that you dropped your camera. Otherwise you may have found yourself in an unpleasant incident. It would have only taken one of those guys, seeing you with your camera aimed at them, to incite the rest of the group into a moronic display of, shall we say, very bad gestures and unseemly antics. Wouldn't that have been fun?
Happy trails.
You're way too hard on yourself. Those non-workers are a tough bunch. Heck, they were probably Teamsters. Teamsters are notorious for their laziness.
Experience has taught me that most of the Orange vested roadside paperweights that you observed were in management / supervisory roles. On any such project there are very few workers, but there is usually an armada of 'higher-ups' (workers that have been promoted due to tenure) that 'obsever the new workers to make sure they are doing the job correctly. The rule of thumb is 2.2 supervisors for each worker.
Our road outside our neighborhood has been ripped up for three weeks yet I never see any work done. I often wonder if they get paid just to put the cones out to make our lives miserable.
I think those same guys must be working on ALL the roads in my area! How it takes 9 months to repave 100 yards of road is a mystery to me!
Oh you gave me a real tonic for the day, i had such a good laugh. I thought this only happened in my neck of the woods. customer service is shot to shreds in South Africa, why? cos they get paid whether they work or not, so its just a matter of clocking in and clocking out.
I dont think i would have been any braver than you, truth be told.
smiles
Paola
lol. Next time tell him you have a shovel fetish. He'll run for the hills.
Just found your blog ~ love it! You are hilarious. Although you didn't get the photo ~ the story was a good one. You are still braver then me.
I will be back! :)
Have a Happy Day!
Catherine
Oh ... LOL! I would've snapped and then waved! He might have waved back! I'm pretty sure he isn't allowed to come and hit you, and you were, after all, only taking photos in a public place, which is perfectly allowable!
hahah, priceless!
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