This week I had one of those rare moments between work projects to pause and take a look around. I mean that literally — I actually took a look around in my office and noticed that I have accumulated some stuff in it that one might not be able to count on finding in your typical faculty office.
For example:
Wee containers of red pepper flakes, obviously left over from the last time I brought a slice of pizza to my desk. (That may have been Spring 2008.)
A votive candle wrapped in fabric with a tag attached that says “Thank you!” I cannot for the life of me recall who gave it to me, or for what I was being thanked. My best guess is that it may have come into my possession 2004 or 2005.
The winner, though, is the object leaning in the corner of my office next to the whiteboard.
It’s a didjeridoo.
I even remember why I brought it to the office.
It was being used to help create a character in the fictional firm “Philosophy, Inc.” created as part of the video segments for an online version of the “Professional and Business Ethics” course my department teaches.
I don’t remember how we decided that playing a didjeridoo would help flesh out that particular character’s backstory.
Nor do I remember how it came up as we were talking about the characters that I was in possession of a didjeridoo.
But at least I remember why I brought the didjeridoo into work. This is comforting to me.
(Before you ask: No, I’m not a competent didjeridoo player. Not even close.)
These moments of noticing some of the odd stuff that has found its way to my office make me think that there might be something entertaining about a virtual scavenger hunt through the three-dimensional offices and labs of bloggers.
Ideally, I think the list of items to be found should be constructed by someone innocent of the contents of the offices and labs that are “in-bounds” for the hunt. And bloggers would want to explicitly agree to have their items among the hunted (since I suppose certain items might be enough to blow someone’s pseudonymity).
Anyone else up for it? (Perhaps there will be prizes …)
Yes! Sounds fun.
My life is currently a scavenger hunt (moving in 2 weeks, downsizing by half). I had to be scrupulous about getting rid of almost everything from my various offices, with barely time to long beyond whether each item was recyclable.
I’ve found stamps everywhere, some of which I have to ask the USPS to ID the value of. Just be sure to look at the stamps if you get a Christmas card from us in December (or after).
Have a good Office “Hunt”!
I’m in.
I saw a dude on the street today with a fucking didjeridoo.