Month: March 2007

Crankypantsing

Instant Review: Laundry

Shelly

It irks me grievously when folks abandon their clothes in the washer or dryer. Last night, I took two loads of clothes down to the laundry room, to find that someone had commandeered both machines, then left them there after the loads were finished. I removed their clothes and dumped them on the tops of the dryers (unlike normal people, they did not leave their baskets downstairs), and I have a few observations:

  1. The clothes did not smell fresh. In fact, they smelled stale and kind of gross. Maybe they were using unscented detergent? Or maybe they’d been sitting in the machine for several days? In either case, I recommend a half cup of ammonia in the water, to deodorize everything and leave it sweet smelling. If it works on cat pee (and it does!), it’ll work on stale laundry.
  2. Lime green sequined thongs. Plural. Also, purple with pink trim.
  3. Velvet bedspread that appears to have once been red, but is now pink.

There’s nothing quite like having to touch someone else’s thongs, especially when they are wet and they smell kinda fusty.

Crankypantsing, Photography

Sinks! In! Bags!

Shelly

(Not entirely unlike pigs in blankets)

On and off, for about a year now, the end sink in the 3rd floor, west tower restroom has worn a trash bag. Occasionally, the bag is removed for a day or even a week or two, then, inevitably, a new bag is secured in its place.

About a week ago, I noticed that the bag on the end sink was floating on a pool of water. The sink was leaking, and the drain was clogged. I pulled the bag away, so the maintenance folks would notice that there was an issue, and the department secretary called in the problem. Later that day, on a subsequent trip to the restroom, I noticed that the bag had been resecured over the still-full sink. It seems as if the plumbing folks believe in magical cures.

This week, the next two sinks in the line are sporting brand new trash bags of their own. I haven’t a clue what–if anything–is wrong with them. The only functioning sink is the one at the far end, and by functioning, I mean there is scalding hot water a-plenty, but the cold water does not work..

I’m starting to wonder if it’s not some sort of wacky art installation. Considering that the art building is just across the parking lot, it’s entirely possible. Or, maybe the building maintenance crew are fucking with our heads.

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And, as a bonus, here’s a shot of the wall to the left of the sinks. The tiles began bowing out about six months ago, and finally implodiated sometime last winter. I’m waiting for the tampon machine to fly off the wall and attack someone.

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Also, is that not one of the ugliest bathrooms EVAR? And I actually like teal.

Art, Pets, Photography

Coffee Table

Shelly

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Gerry’s coffee table: Before

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Gerry’s coffee table: In progress

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Gerry’s coffee table: Finished (19 x 40 inches)

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Harriet napping behind me on the couch while I work (yes, that’s her back foot tucked under her chin)

I spent the afternoon and evening collaging a coffee table I got from Gerry when he moved. It’s a nice size, and is good and sturdy. But, even though it’s oak, it had a sorry sort of paint job and the corners were a little chewed up. So I did what I always do, and decoupaged the living hell out of it. I probably won’t paint it for awhile yet, because I’m still pondering colors. I’m seriously tempted to tart it up with metallic jewel tones. I’ve also got several furniture painting projects in line before this one (including repainting the other work bench coffee table, which has been banged around and chipped up), so the new coffee table will have to wait its turn.

Photography

The ones that disappeared are back

Shelly

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Spring Leaf Buds Opening on Bramble

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New Leaves

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Last Fall’s Milkweed Caught in Multiflora

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Morning Dew on Multiflora

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Sun Dappled Vines Twined Around a Branch

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Fall Leaf Nestled in the Branches of a Fir Tree

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Ivy

I went out this morning and took pictures while the dew was still on the leaves. I love this time of year, when everything is just starting to emerge. There is a pale, lacy green tinge around the trees. The migratory birds are starting to return–someone has been singing in the tree outside my bedroom window. The peepers are peeping. The grass has turned from winter brown to dazzling green. The sky is an impossible shade of blue. It’s warm enough to open windows and let in the fresh air. I imagine I’ll get tired of it quickly, though, because with warm weather soon turns to hot weather, and open windows let in the sound of noisy neighbors. And y’all know how much I love hot weather and noisy neighbors!

Crankypantsing, Photography

Feel the Powah!

Shelly

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I don’t know about y’all, but the last thing I want while in the bathroom is to “Feel the Power.” Just sayin’… Not to mention that this thing sounds like a DC-10 clearing for takeoff. I don’t know how the folks who have offices across from the bathrooms can stand to listen to that thing. (Please click through to the full-sized image to get the full effect.)

In other crankypantsing news, there’s nothing quite like finding out one of your coworkers has a confirmed case of pertussis, and that if it’s the person you suspect it is (the higher ups obviously can’t tell us who is sick), she sits two desks away from you in Ye Olde Cubbe Farme. And sh\’s been sick on and off with respiratory problems for months. And you’ve obviously been well and truly exposed to It.

We are not amused.

Of course, there are only two places in town that have the vaccine. One of which–the county health department–only stocks the preserved version and the other of which–the university health center–we are not allowed to patronize. It looks like the preserved version will be $50 and the preservative free version, when they get it in stock (which will take about a week) will be twice that.

Now, it seems to me that, this being one of those required-to-report type diseases, and it being that the exposure occurred at work, the university would want to cover the cost of vaccinating those who want the vaccine. That’s what they did when there was a measles outbreak on campus a few years ago. So far as any of us know, though, there are no such plans. I find that odd. These are the same folks who push the influenza vax on us. Seriously. Every fall, we get multiple e-mails urging us to get vaccinated, and vax are given out in the library lobby, for crying outloud.

(Tomorrow, I shall attempt to get pix of the crazy signs in the staff kitchen, as well as the infamous sink-in-a-bag.)

Pets, Photography

And More Dog Blogging

Shelly

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“Hello, human! Why are you on the floor?”

I was sitting on the floor, trying to get a picture of the cat. Harriet suddenly decided she had to be rightinmyface. It’s a crappy picture–blurry and washed out–but sometimes that’s the best you can do when you’re working with pig-headed models.

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I used the yellow Holga SSFS filter for this one, but it turned out awfully dark. The bright yellow sunshine is kind of cool, though, I think. I’m still playing around with the filters and trying to get a feel for them. The prismatic ones are hugely entertaining, but quirky to work with. I think I’ll have better results outside, so I’m going to try that next.