Wayne State University is Weird, Just the Way I Like It…

To better understand this entry, you should probably read the previous one. It’ll just put you in the right frame of mind, as moments after typing it up and pressing send – I found myself in the following situation:

I noticed the battery low light on my laptop task bar. This didn’t make any sense. I was plugged in to a socket on the second floor of the Purdy/Kresge graduate library (they are renovating — but still…) and should have been receiving the juice without any obstacles. Frustrated enough at Charles Martel already — I picked up the laptop and carried it around to each of the sockets — plugging it in — unplugging in — watching it drain down to 33% before finally packing up with a sigh and deciding to head out.

When I got downstairs — all the lights were out — and the alarm was going off.

There was none of this on the second floor – mind you — where I was at “peace” sifting in and out of the collection in the midst of remodelling. Apparently – some of the circuits that connect the alarms on the second floor have been flipped off while they tear out the walls and whatnot. Whatever the case — the alarms on the first floor were ON and it was DARK…

I began to wonder whether I was caught in the towering inferno — if I was in fact doomed to die in a library – not having heeded what little warning there was — “maybe it’s a bomb…ohmygodabombimgonnadie!” I headed towards the exit — through the deserted library — at a brisk pace and a little confused…Then remembered I still had a reference book in my bag — slid it on a table — and continued outside.

Immediately upon exiting I came across a WSU patrolman and asked,
“So, are they, like, closed?”
“I think so…”
“Or is there a fire drill or something, cause I was just in there and the alarms were going – the lights were off – and there ain’t nobody in the place…”
In the tone of Police chatter into the walkie-talkie on his shoulder:
“mumble mumble got a fire drill at mumble mumble fiver?”
“negative”

And looking at me:
“You just hang out here while I check this out…”
So there I sat and ate my leftover tabouli from lunch, waiting patiently until about 15 minutes later when the officer emerged:

“Sir,”
“Yes?”
“They are closed sir.”

Anyways — to make a long story short — the library staff locked me in the building…A fitting end to an eventful day that included sitting in on the Tri-Chapter ASIS&T Summer 2005 meeting: To Google or Not to Google — on a videolink – something I’ll save for later when I don’t need to drink a beer…

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