KEEP HAVING FUN

WELL! Repairs and renovations can be stressful BUT also a bit amusing!

Improvisation and creativity are the game! We usually occupy office space in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB) but will soon be working in the North Office Building (NOB) for 2 weeks. 

The JSMB needs some serious repairs to the electrical and plumbing systems. All systems were OFF beginning the week after the 4^th of July. Full time missionaries were moved to the NOB Thursday, 2^nd July. What an adventure! 

traffic at State St. (Hwy89) and North Temple St.

We now cross one of the busiest intersections in downtown Salt Lake as we walk uphill to work and downhill to our apartment. That means waits of several minutes at crossings both ways, for trucks, bikes, cars, and buses - are all delayed by crowds of pedestrians. 

Yes, there are stairs, but I’d rather walk up or down the hill than deal with 47 steps. 

down hill from NOB driveway to busy intersection

We love being able to walk most places we need to go (except church – we are assigned to attend a Spanish speaking Ward that is about 20 minutes south. And some ups or downs make little difference.

Tuesday, 30 June the random construction workers that had been meandering along our hallways and threading through our 3^rd story office spaces all month suddenly became a seriously, coherently noisy, crew.

They hammered, drilled, and sawed to remove the lower half of some large windows, replaced that with vented particleboard, and after hauling in large black tube and tub looking bits of this, that, and other things, they initially walked away leaving gaping, gigantic holes showing circles of blue sky pouring in fresh air – seriously! We began joking about the new ventilation system! 

And one missionary joked the we now were working in a 'holey' building!

Elder Ames strolling along past the window noticed a noisy field trip of mid-teens passing across campus and, when some looked upward, couldn’t resist sticking his hand out and waving – much to their giggling delight. Someone suggested we should take turns sticking our heads out the holes if only someone below might take our photos. Elder Ames volunteered BUT it was time for lunch and we all decided to save such silliness for after we ate (the cafeteria has deadlines).

And did I mention that our main cafeteria is also closed 6 weeks for renovations! The elevators to the restaurant at the 26^th floor feel like riding a hay wagon enough that I feel nauseous so we often pack a lunch or walk home most days instead. We find we like our simple, plain food better than the menus available - plus table seating in all areas is somewhat limited.

We returned to work on on June 30^th to see construction workers had returned and been busy while we were gone. Sigh! Such disappointment! They put together those black pieces of this, that, and other things to make – WHAT? What are those things? What are they doing? I told the sister nearest the holes that it appeared a giant alien was now lounging along the partition between her desk and the hall walk space.

We worked the remainder of the week with the crews preparing for closure. We learned they were constructing and installing A/C systems. It was ventilation – since all power and water will be off these AC units will be powered independently so that despite triple digit temperatures the repair crews can continue their work. An all time high temperature of 109 F was recorded that week. 

exterior with one of the 'lounging aliens' trouser legs

A snapshot of the exterior shows many windows in various stages of the process.

We had missed our chance to be truly silly but have no fear. That did not stop a creative missionary from taking snapshots of us and using AI to stick our heads through the holes. We have quite a bit of fun among the missionaries in our zone, even while actually doing some data transfer.

Our main work stations have 2 monitors and Elder Ames and I have stand up desks. We can stand or we can lower them when we want or need to sit. However, our equipment was not moved to the NOB with the full time missionaries. Service missionaries are working from home or having a 2-week break, and a few shortened their missions a couple weeks and went home. The rest of us are working during this change using laptops and one monitor. 

Hallways at the NOB are fairly narrow and some areas feel almost like a storeroom.

AC there is quite cold so some missionaries wear winter coats or sweaters. And we all adapt as best each of us is able. I stand the majority of each day because many chairs press awkwardly on my right thigh and cause pain that can be avoided be simply standing. So, using our wagon, Elder Ames brought my stand-up desk from home.

3 work station adaptations

He also noticed a stack of empty binders along one hallway, and realized they could be used to increase his productivity by elevating his laptop, and perching his monitor on a small inexpensive stool we keep in our apartment for visiting grandkids. 

Some of the other missionaries created similar setups, and a few brought in their own versions of possible arrangements. One even bought an extra monitor with stands for her work. 

My father often told us, “If it’s not fun don’t do it – and if you’ve gotta do it, make it fun.” Some suggest our work is a bit tedious. We find it exciting to download, compare, standardize, collate and help publish the data necessary for you (and everyone else) to build and extend your family trees. And many times it seems there are angels guiding our work. 

We see and feel miracles every day – YES! EVERY DAY!

Keep having fun!