Category: Crankypantsing

Crankypantsing

Instant Review: Abraded Cornea

Shelly

Ow! Wow, is it ever a special kind of pain.

I went to (NotSo)PromptCare, and they gave me a prescription for antibiotic eye drops and pain killers. Thank the Invisible Pink Unicorn for insurance, because $23 worth of drugs would have been $100. I don’t even want to think what an office visit would have cost without insurance.

I just hope that I did not contract some form of plague during the two hours I sat in the waiting room. A girl a couple of seats down from me had some upper respiratory disease and could not breathe through her nose or swallow. That’s just what I need!

Crankypantsing, Photography

Happy National Library Workers’ Day

Shelly

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It’s National Library Workers’ Day, and as a token of appreciation, the dean’s office handed out sport bottles with the li-barry logo on them. As I was not expecting anything, I suppose I shouldn’t complain. However, somehow, I am underwhelmed. Maybe I’d be more impressed if the water here didn’t taste like it was filtered through an old gym shoe? It’s absolutely undrinkable, unless you add Emergen-C to it, to freshen it up.

I am also T-I-R-E-D. Mr. Upstairs woke me up at the ass crack of dawn yesterday, with his television blasting away. It was my one morning to sleep in, of course. I got up and got ready to take Harriet out. As I was sitting on the couch, putting on my shoes, I heard the upstairs sliding door open. When Harriet and I went outside, there was a big splat of liquid on my patio. The jackass had dumped something over the edge of his balcony again.

Grrr. It looks like I’ll need to call again to complain. And while I’m at it, I’m tempted to bitch about the hummense Cadillac that is always parked in the fire lane. I counted no fewer than 16 empty spots this morning, when I was out with the dog, so it’s not like the car’s owner is parking illegally because there are no available spots. He just likes to park in the fire lane. The problem is that A) that’s dangerous and B) everyone who parks perpendicular to the fire lane has trouble backing out. I had to do a three point turn just to back out this morning, and even then, I very nearly clipped his tail end. Fuckwit! And, parking there creates a bottleneck, so that two cars cannot pass each other.

I mentioned that I’m tired? There’s not enough caffeine in the world to keep me awake today, so I have a feeling that I’ll be doing sleep dips soon. Hrmf!

(Photo: Electric Pole 1 April 2007)

Crankypantsing, Photography

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

Shelly

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At last count, there were sixteen signs in our tiny kitchenette. This is just a sample of the madness. Not shown are the two signs near the sink, telling folks to wash out their recyclables. Nor the twelfty signs instructing people not to brew more than two pots of coffee at the same time. Thankfully, the sign on the front of the microwave, telling us that some kinds of pigs are cute, but the kind that doesn’t clean up the microwave after using it isn’t one of them, has disappeared.

I sometimes get irritated by all the ridiculous signs–what are we, kindergarteners?–but I’m afraid that they are actually necessary. Unfortunately, the folks who need the signs are the ones who do not read them.

For example, we have an on-going problem with tripped circuits. If you turn on too many appliances at once, we lose power in the kitchen and will have to wait for maintenance folks to find time to reset the breaker for us. One of the offenders is the folks who insist on using the frigging tea kettle while the microwave is running. But it never fails that when I’m using the microwave, someone comes in and turns on the tea kettle. Instead of reaching over and turning the tea kettle off, I call them names (on the inside!) and turn off the microwave until they are finished. You’d think they’d get a clue at the precise moment that I turn off the microwave. You’d be wrong.

But wait! It gets better! The microwave is plugged into a power strip. This is to keep it from getting zapped in a power surge, only it’s a cheap-assed power strip, and they are not effective. Not to mention that it’s unsafe to put an appliance that pulls that sort of power on a flimsy power strip.

Crankypantsing, Music

YouTube Gems

Shelly

Before going to bed last night, I took out the dog and called the weather line. The temperature was 46F. Anyone want to guess whose air conditioner was running?

This has been floating around for awhile now, but just in case there is anyone out there who missed the darling otters, check it out. Right now.

And if you need a chaser for all that cuteness, there ya’ go. Never before have I been faced with the realities of simultaneously peeing my pants with laughter whilst vomiting. And, on second thought, perhaps that explains the laughing gnome? Hmmm.

Crankypantsing

Mr. Upstairs Update

Shelly

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Sunlight on Rain Drops on Wood Post

I think he may have received his noisy bastard letter. His radio was blasting jazz when I got home, then it switched to blathering pundits, but by 7:00 he’d turned it off entirely, and he was quiet for the rest of the evening. It’s almost too good to be true. I guess the acid test will be how much noise he makes over the weekend.

And while I’m crankypantsing, I recently downgraded to the one-at-a-time Netflix plan. I noticed that they seem to think that means I don’t want my fil-ums as quickly, because an extra day has been added to the turn-around time. Not cool! I returned Tideland on Tuesday, and will supposedly receive my next disc today. I should have received it yesterday. Waaah!

Crankypantsing, Photography

Lovebird Feathers and Puppy Teeth

Shelly

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Andy sent me some puppy teeth and feathers from their lovebirds. Um, the feathers are from their lovebirds, and the teeth belonged to a visiting puppy. The feathers are bitty, but I think I’ll be able to incorporate them into something.

In other news, I finally managed to get fed up enough to complain about Mr. Upstairs. Boy did I not want to do that, but I really didn’t have a choice. Yesterday, I was treated to the twin blarings of his television and jazz music. I’m sorry, but I draw the line at being invaded by a jazz band. The office manager’s response to Mr. Upstairs dumping random crap on my patio was “Eeeew!” She said they’d send him a letter, so hopefully within a day or two, the noise level will drop, and things stop falling from the sky.

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Crankypantsing, Pets

Department of Complaints Department

Shelly

It’s supposed to get up to 78F today, with storms late in the afternoon. Tonight, the low is supposed to be 28F. It was a little chilly last night (I’m guessing it was about 50F when I got up). Too cool for a fan, but too warm not to have it on. Unfortunate, because the fan provides white noise, which masks some of the weird, random sounds that come from upstairs during the night.

Which brings me to my complaint o’ the day. Why, oh why, is it necessary for Mr. Upstairs to practice scales at 4am? Up-up-up-up-up, down-down-down-down-down. I usually get up at 4:30, so I didn’t appreciate being waked up a half hour early by him plunking on the keyboard. And stomping in time with the, um, “music.” That went on until I left at 5:45.

He’s also added an early evening session of step aerobics to his routine, of which I approve in theory (exercise is good!) but cannot abide in practice (step aerobics is noisy!).

I’m going to have to complain to the management folks. I don’t want to. Really, really, really, I don’t. I have a feeling that the guy has bigger issues than just being an asshole, and it’s probably not fair to expect him to have any concept of what constitutes socially acceptable behavior. But, damnit, he’s driving me to tears!

In other crazy neighbor news, a new tenant moved into the apartment above the Bumpases. He’s got a cute little white Pit Bull, but she’s an obnoxious pain in the ass. He left her out on the balcony most of the day on Sunday, and she bark-bark-barked at every little thing. And when I took Harriet out for her afternoon potty break, she snarled and growled and flung herself at the balcony railing, trying to get to Harriet. Not good. She’s up on the third floor, and I’d hate to see her fall. I also think she’s awfully young to be exhibiting that level of dog aggression, even for a Pit Bull. They usually don’t get snarky until they’re a year or two old, and this girl is maybe 4-5 months old.

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.

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.)