And talking to J***, the gentleman I helped to move, he's telling us stories of the mines and Fort Mac. The drug policies, of interest, 0 tolerance for drugs, you have to have gone 12 hours without alcohol (they're not being too unreasonable there), but they test as well for Cocaine, Marijuana, etc.
They don't fuck around. IN the mines, if there's an accident underground the whole crew is tested, if any are positive they're all let go. It doesn't matter. Marijuana, that stays in your system 30 days. So nobody on these crews smokes dope. Cocaine, on the other hand, only stays around for 4...
You get the idea. They're 2 weeks in, 2 weeks out, and everyone has a plan when they first get back to civilization...
***
J*** is telling us how when he was in Fort Mac. the guy he's with eats a handful of sawdust. He observes, a couple of times, the guy reaching into his pocket, taking out a handful of sawdust and chewing it down. So by and by he asks the question, and the guy explains that tomorrow's payday...
This explains nothing, and so after a bit J*** asks for clarification. Payday, all the workers gather and there's a regatta. The Fort McMurray yachting club. Everyone lays out a turd on the tailing pond, the first one across wins, the loser loses his cheque.
It's important the turd floats, hence he's devouring sawdust.
Now you know where my mind is going, I'm picturing a regatta of sloops and sailing boats, all outfitted with toothpick masts and toilet paper sails, the occasional pirate flag, the cultural elite of Alberta on the sidelines, cheques in hand, cheering them all on...I imagine the trophy that comes with the winning, a (of necessity) "Shit" in a bottle sat upon the proud winners mantelpiece...
If you've never lived in Alberta you wouldn't believe it. If you have you know you're only getting the bits fit for "public" consumption...
But if you wanted to explain the politics this is where you'd start...