Recently, I had to serve a mandatory day of picketing for my union. I looked forward to this task with great eagerness because of the big rat. Since "rat" is an epithet used to describe a non-union contractor, a large inflatable rat is set up outside the offending jobsite. I love the rat. It just strikes me as hilarious. So, I brought a camera and posed for pictures with the rat on a sub-zero day. Keep in mind that there was a crowd of burly construction workers looking on in astonishment just out of view. The things i do for you people...

The rat gets patriotic.

The rat has got me down.

We make up.

Everything is cool with me and the rat.