Campus Visit
Feb. 27th, 2012 11:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livingdebI visited campus today because I had some errands, choosing today because there was a birthday party for the tower's 75th anniversary, and I was wondering if there would be a cool cake to take a picture of. Nope. They had lots of big cakes from the local grocery chain, with lots of orange; I didn't even eat any.
The bus
But let's back up a bit. At the Cameron light, I saw the bus coming and said something like "oh, don't tell me." The gal next to me said, "You mean the bus?" I said, "It always comes at the worst possible time." She said, "I think we should run for it." So we ran across the street against the light and totally caught the bus. On the bus I told her, "Thanks, I was going to give up."
So actually the bus actually came at the best possible time; I even had time to do some of my errands before the birthday party.
The campus
It was a little weird to be on campus again--because it felt not at all weird. It feels like a home away from home. And then I realized that I have been on that campus longer than I've lived in any of the places I've lived. The longest I've ever lived in one dwelling, by far, is in my current house. I've lived here almost sixteen years. But I was a student for three years and an employee for over 22 years on this campus. It's not even my favorite school; it's just handy.
The library
First stop: the library. I returned a book.
Then I looked into using my Texas Exes membership to get a Courtesy Borrower Card. I had to fill out a form and show a picture ID, and then I got a laminated card which expires at the same time as my Texas Exes membership, but can be re-loaded if I renew my membership. It's not as good as my staff ID card--I can only check out books for four weeks, like students, not four months. That's fair, though. And I can still renew the books online. So, no big deal.
The whole procedure was quick and painless, and I'm glad the card is durable.
The package place
Then I went to some place that ships packages (forget which one; I know where it is, though) and gave them a box of angel turds and bubble wrap to recycle.
The office
Then I checked out the cake and went to my former office. I got to talk to three people, which was nice. And I got to get my sweater, which was still in the filing cabinet that I had forgotten to go through. While I was there, I cleaned out some recyclables from that same cabinet.
The bank
Then I went to my credit union to deposit a check.
And I got a signature guarantee so that I could cash in my 457 account. I had tried to get one at a local bank on Friday, but the only person who could do that was at lunch. At 2:45 pm. So I tried again later that evening and she said I had to have an account at that bank.
I'm not totally convinced that you can't get one of these signature verification things at a financial institution other than one where you are a customer, but since I was heading to campus anyway, I just took care of it at my own credit union. The guy I talked to was just as clueless as expected, but it turns that they have several people who can do it for amounts under $100,000.
And do you know what kind of documentation they require to confirm that it's under $100,000? They ask you. And then just trust you to tell them the truth. Shocking.
The post office
Then I mailed that document. Even though it was four pages, it was still only 0.8 ounces, so I just slapped on a Forever stamp and off it went.
The rumors
Then I ran into a couple of more people I know on the way back to the bus (it was between 12 and 1 by now) and talked to them. And then a couple more people I know joined us and one of them is a big gossip. I heard things ... well the most shocking one was confirmed by others. Let's just say that:
a) I am still clueless about basically all social interactions between everyone.
b) I no longer feel quite so guilty about bringing down the entire degree audit system. Basically, if even half the gossip I heard is true (and it is all consistent with what little I do know, though not with any of the optimistic interpretations I had slapped on to everything), the whole office is going down and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it, so the best anyone can do is to try to escape unscathed. Basically, what I heard supported the proposition that things must be amazingly bad if even the most clueless, responsible, do-gooder was bothered enough to quit without having another job lined up. But I don't like that proposition.
c) It has occurred to me that a bureaucratic job where you can get written up for insubordination is just weird. And is it insubordination if you just explain that you were following orders which, in hindsight, were not wise? Dilbert strikes again. Well, not Dilbert, but the pointy-haired boss or Dogbert or somebody.
The bus
When I got to the bus stop, my bus was already there and not pulling away. I just got on it and went home shortly thereafter. Because it wasn't rush hour, it was very quick. And the weather was very nice, so overall the trip was lovely (except for a few of the shocking horrors which hopefully aren't true) and productive.
I did forget to withdraw cash, though. Oops.
Cake of the Day
This one was done by someone below the age of 13.
For my friends in the northeast, enjoy this cheery and festive preview of spring. At least you guys aren't all stuck in snow chasms, with no place left to shovel the new snow.
The bus
But let's back up a bit. At the Cameron light, I saw the bus coming and said something like "oh, don't tell me." The gal next to me said, "You mean the bus?" I said, "It always comes at the worst possible time." She said, "I think we should run for it." So we ran across the street against the light and totally caught the bus. On the bus I told her, "Thanks, I was going to give up."
So actually the bus actually came at the best possible time; I even had time to do some of my errands before the birthday party.
The campus
It was a little weird to be on campus again--because it felt not at all weird. It feels like a home away from home. And then I realized that I have been on that campus longer than I've lived in any of the places I've lived. The longest I've ever lived in one dwelling, by far, is in my current house. I've lived here almost sixteen years. But I was a student for three years and an employee for over 22 years on this campus. It's not even my favorite school; it's just handy.
The library
First stop: the library. I returned a book.
Then I looked into using my Texas Exes membership to get a Courtesy Borrower Card. I had to fill out a form and show a picture ID, and then I got a laminated card which expires at the same time as my Texas Exes membership, but can be re-loaded if I renew my membership. It's not as good as my staff ID card--I can only check out books for four weeks, like students, not four months. That's fair, though. And I can still renew the books online. So, no big deal.
The whole procedure was quick and painless, and I'm glad the card is durable.
The package place
Then I went to some place that ships packages (forget which one; I know where it is, though) and gave them a box of angel turds and bubble wrap to recycle.
The office
Then I checked out the cake and went to my former office. I got to talk to three people, which was nice. And I got to get my sweater, which was still in the filing cabinet that I had forgotten to go through. While I was there, I cleaned out some recyclables from that same cabinet.
The bank
Then I went to my credit union to deposit a check.
And I got a signature guarantee so that I could cash in my 457 account. I had tried to get one at a local bank on Friday, but the only person who could do that was at lunch. At 2:45 pm. So I tried again later that evening and she said I had to have an account at that bank.
I'm not totally convinced that you can't get one of these signature verification things at a financial institution other than one where you are a customer, but since I was heading to campus anyway, I just took care of it at my own credit union. The guy I talked to was just as clueless as expected, but it turns that they have several people who can do it for amounts under $100,000.
And do you know what kind of documentation they require to confirm that it's under $100,000? They ask you. And then just trust you to tell them the truth. Shocking.
The post office
Then I mailed that document. Even though it was four pages, it was still only 0.8 ounces, so I just slapped on a Forever stamp and off it went.
The rumors
Then I ran into a couple of more people I know on the way back to the bus (it was between 12 and 1 by now) and talked to them. And then a couple more people I know joined us and one of them is a big gossip. I heard things ... well the most shocking one was confirmed by others. Let's just say that:
a) I am still clueless about basically all social interactions between everyone.
b) I no longer feel quite so guilty about bringing down the entire degree audit system. Basically, if even half the gossip I heard is true (and it is all consistent with what little I do know, though not with any of the optimistic interpretations I had slapped on to everything), the whole office is going down and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it, so the best anyone can do is to try to escape unscathed. Basically, what I heard supported the proposition that things must be amazingly bad if even the most clueless, responsible, do-gooder was bothered enough to quit without having another job lined up. But I don't like that proposition.
c) It has occurred to me that a bureaucratic job where you can get written up for insubordination is just weird. And is it insubordination if you just explain that you were following orders which, in hindsight, were not wise? Dilbert strikes again. Well, not Dilbert, but the pointy-haired boss or Dogbert or somebody.
The bus
When I got to the bus stop, my bus was already there and not pulling away. I just got on it and went home shortly thereafter. Because it wasn't rush hour, it was very quick. And the weather was very nice, so overall the trip was lovely (except for a few of the shocking horrors which hopefully aren't true) and productive.
I did forget to withdraw cash, though. Oops.
Cake of the Day
This one was done by someone below the age of 13.
For my friends in the northeast, enjoy this cheery and festive preview of spring. At least you guys aren't all stuck in snow chasms, with no place left to shovel the new snow.