There is an abandoned building right next to the one I work in. I didn't realize this at first, and I was merrily watching people go in and out the window without a drop of suspicion.
"There goes one!" says one of my co-workers one day.
"That's an interesting way to get in and out of the office," I respond. Maybe we should try it. I mean, we have Nerf guns and beer Fridays, but the folks across the alley seem to be having more fun.
"It's an abandoned building," he looks at me like I've just said something strange. I immediately pretend like I've never used anything other than a door to enter and exit a building. Go out a window for fun? Me? Never.
This Monday I was sitting at my desk when I see a bicycle wheel start to come out the window. I am even more astounded when the rest of the bicycle comes out. I guess it's logical that the bicycle wheel would be attached to a bicycle, but I couldn't get over the fact that someone planned to take a bicycle down a fire escape.
A man climbs out of the window. I stop working and stare at him. He sees me and waves. I wave back. He seems nice. I continue staring.
"Look Dude," I think at him, "I don't care if staring is rude. I want to see how you plan to get this bicycle down the fire escape."
He throws the bike over his shoulder and starts climbing down the ladder. The bike swings perilously, throwing him off balance and knocking into the ladder. I gasp and stand up so I can see better. About six feet off the ground, the ladder stops. He jumps off. I can no longer see him, but I hear the thump as he hits the cement.
Hopefully he stuck the landing.
Really, if you work downtown, you're bound to see something weird going on. One of my former work sites was in the Denny Triangle, and we always had people drinking at the bus stop, lots of ambulances, and someone who really liked trees. It seems like anytime I think I'm some place normal, I find out something that makes me question that assertation. My first apartment in this city? Built on the grounds of a former amusement park. First job? Place was haunted. Current home? Found a tombstone on a walk down the street. Go to a conference outside the city? Place used to be a cult.
I'm not kidding about the last one, either.
I was sitting at a conference on a red velvet pew, trying not to throw up or pass out, when my boss casually mentions that we're in a former cult compound. Now you know me, I love stuff like this. But, being four months pregnant and sick as a dog, all I could do was nod and file away the information for later. And no, I didn't throw up. I can't imagine someone trying to get vomit out of velvet.
Sometime later, when I didn't feel like I was dying, I googled the place to see if it was true. Now my memory could be wrong, but I don't remember my boss saying "Sex Cult" Follow the link if you dare. Probably the oddest thing about this cult compound is that it was converted into a training center for police officers. And for whatever reason, it gets used for MH and CD conferences occasionally.
Meanwhile in my futureverse, Charlotte is faced with a difficult decision when she meets her previous teammate Sam in battle. Will she do what she needs to do and take him out, or will she take mercy on her former friend? I would tell you, but you know . . .
"There goes one!" says one of my co-workers one day.
"That's an interesting way to get in and out of the office," I respond. Maybe we should try it. I mean, we have Nerf guns and beer Fridays, but the folks across the alley seem to be having more fun.
"It's an abandoned building," he looks at me like I've just said something strange. I immediately pretend like I've never used anything other than a door to enter and exit a building. Go out a window for fun? Me? Never.
 |
| The ceiling in the lobby where I work. I love historical buildings. |
This Monday I was sitting at my desk when I see a bicycle wheel start to come out the window. I am even more astounded when the rest of the bicycle comes out. I guess it's logical that the bicycle wheel would be attached to a bicycle, but I couldn't get over the fact that someone planned to take a bicycle down a fire escape.
A man climbs out of the window. I stop working and stare at him. He sees me and waves. I wave back. He seems nice. I continue staring.
"Look Dude," I think at him, "I don't care if staring is rude. I want to see how you plan to get this bicycle down the fire escape."
He throws the bike over his shoulder and starts climbing down the ladder. The bike swings perilously, throwing him off balance and knocking into the ladder. I gasp and stand up so I can see better. About six feet off the ground, the ladder stops. He jumps off. I can no longer see him, but I hear the thump as he hits the cement.
Hopefully he stuck the landing.
 |
| And this is where we put the mail. |
Really, if you work downtown, you're bound to see something weird going on. One of my former work sites was in the Denny Triangle, and we always had people drinking at the bus stop, lots of ambulances, and someone who really liked trees. It seems like anytime I think I'm some place normal, I find out something that makes me question that assertation. My first apartment in this city? Built on the grounds of a former amusement park. First job? Place was haunted. Current home? Found a tombstone on a walk down the street. Go to a conference outside the city? Place used to be a cult.
I'm not kidding about the last one, either.
I was sitting at a conference on a red velvet pew, trying not to throw up or pass out, when my boss casually mentions that we're in a former cult compound. Now you know me, I love stuff like this. But, being four months pregnant and sick as a dog, all I could do was nod and file away the information for later. And no, I didn't throw up. I can't imagine someone trying to get vomit out of velvet.
Sometime later, when I didn't feel like I was dying, I googled the place to see if it was true. Now my memory could be wrong, but I don't remember my boss saying "Sex Cult" Follow the link if you dare. Probably the oddest thing about this cult compound is that it was converted into a training center for police officers. And for whatever reason, it gets used for MH and CD conferences occasionally.
Meanwhile in my futureverse, Charlotte is faced with a difficult decision when she meets her previous teammate Sam in battle. Will she do what she needs to do and take him out, or will she take mercy on her former friend? I would tell you, but you know . . .