tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post8466304969065995988..comments2023-10-11T04:09:53.564-07:00Comments on materfamilias writes: Poisons and Antidotes, Pleasures and Frustrationsmaterfamiliashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-3009047402005172912007-09-15T11:18:00.000-07:002007-09-15T11:18:00.000-07:00Deja, yes, it's been frustrating and I spent much ...Deja, yes, it's been frustrating and I spent much of yesterday e-mailing back and forth. At least now folks are paying attention, and I don't think this will happen again. In fact, the contractor is claiming that the pesticide used was indeed permethrin, one of the chrysanthemum ones, but mine and my colleagues' experience suggests otherwise.<BR/>I actually don't mind ants and actually quite admire their industry and their architectural skills -- but not inside!materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-51442558876378268382007-09-15T08:11:00.000-07:002007-09-15T08:11:00.000-07:00Ugh, that's horrible! Here, a lot of the extermin...Ugh, that's horrible! Here, a lot of the exterminators now use concoctions make from orange oil or chrysanthemum juice which are allegedly non-toxic to any critters other than bugs. But it's nuts that you have to go to battle for a safe workplace.<BR/><BR/>May I also just add that I HATE ants, the silent and sneaky little bastards! This is the time of year we always get infestations; when the weather has hot-and-dry bouts I can always expect to get up in the morning and find them in the kitchen, no matter how well we've cleaned the counters.Susan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005855250089328310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-91924545658148153412007-09-14T17:53:00.000-07:002007-09-14T17:53:00.000-07:00Lisa, Puttermeister: Thanks for the sympathy. As f...Lisa, Puttermeister: Thanks for the sympathy. As fellow academics, you know how important that office space is for taking deep breaths in between classes, if nothing else. I've been e-mailing back and forth all day, with both admin types and union reps, and I'm going to let it go once Paul comes in the door with dinner fixings. And some of that perspective-in-a-bottle!materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-34014783881764875242007-09-14T13:30:00.000-07:002007-09-14T13:30:00.000-07:00How incredibly frustrating. A clean, well-lighted...How incredibly frustrating. A clean, well-lighted space is so necessary to productivity and general mental health. I'm actually rather surprised that you weren't warned; in our fabulously litigious US, one would think the university would be afraid of being hit with a lawsuit of some kind. You seem fortunate, at the very least, to have a dean who would take the time to visit and assess the situation. Small comfort, I'm sure, but there you are.<BR/><BR/>Your students sound wonderful: congratulations on a lucky draw in that department!Puttermeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15197963173046860661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-17549112114698914962007-09-14T10:09:00.000-07:002007-09-14T10:09:00.000-07:00Sorry to hear about that rather hellish sounding w...Sorry to hear about that rather hellish sounding week, Frances. That strikes me as pretty outrageous...and more than a little frustrating. I recall the photo of Paul transporting that little couch in to make the space comfortable... I hope your new office space is permanent or at least available for a good while while the old one off-gases or whatever it does...here's hoping for a nice relaxing weekend of fresh air. LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com