Break Me Off A Piece of that Kit-kat Bar - 2012 NHL Lockout

I have a friend who works for Canada Post.  He was actually my postman when I lived in Red Deer.  How cute.  I don't think he looooooves his job.  His knees are already wearing down at the age of 24, and I have literally heard dogs growling and barking when I've called him while he's on rout.  Of course with being a postman, the most interesting thing that has happened so far for my friend was a strike.  They refuse to work until the union figures their shit out and in the meantime the guy who was making a modest living struggles to make his rent.  We don't seem to pay too much attention these days when Canada Post goes on strike, but seriously how am I going to get my mail!!!?

It's September 2012.  The NFL season has started, and normally we'd be gearing up for hockey as well, but we're not.  The boys aren't heading down to camp, they're still negotiating or for most...still golfing. This is what we call a "lockout"?  The term sounds a little harsh if you ask me.  I guess I see it as an extended vacation, but then I'm reminded of the old Kit-kat campaign ("-But how do you know you're taking a break if you weren't doing anything?" - "'Cause I'm having a Kit-kat").

Why does this whole ordeal seem so ridiculous to the average Joe?  Because he isn't rich.  The average Joe doesn't care whether all the money goes to the players or to the owners, because he is lucky to gross $75,000 annually.  Joe works Monday to Friday at a job he hates, hoping to not see an e-mail from his boss over the weekend.  Average Joe just longs for his 2 weeks vacation, which will probably be wasted visiting in-laws because he can't afford a real trip.  Maybe the average Joe works for Canada Post...and maybe, he just wants to watch hockey.

And these hockey guys are fighting over a pay cut from say 2 million down to 1.5 million?  An absurd amount of money to do something that they love for 6 or 7 months of the year, and a number with enough zeros behind it to allow them a pretty lavish off-season.  I don't think any of those guys are hurting too bad from this extended vacation (lockout).  Even a 4th liner like Paul Bissonnette recently tweeted the reply, "Well how about in your next life you dedicate it to something that pays more..." only days after tweeting, "Jager race on the golf course".  Yeah, he sure is hurting.  Probably deserves an extended summer anyway for how hard he works and how many minutes he plays during the hockey season.

Here's what's really alarming...

You know what else happened this month?  The anniversary of 9/11.  Anyone know the average salary of a firefighter?  What's the longevity of their career?  Is there a risk of their whole career ending due to one accident?  Hey @BizNasty2point0, what if one of those guys dedicated their next life to something that pays more?

And all this fuss over the NHL?  Play hockey, don't play hockey.  Be rich or don't be rich.  Take an extended vacation from 'doing what you love' until you can figure it out.  Have a damn Kit-kat while you're at it, but GIVE ME A BREAK!

I'm more concerned about receiving my mail on time.