Photos coming ...
WELL! Repairs and renovations can be stressful BUT also a bit amusing! Improvisation and creativity are the game!
The Joseph Smith Memorial Building (where we usually occupy
office space) needs some serious repairs to the electrical and plumbing
systems. All systems were OFF beginning the week after the 4th of
July. Full time missionaries were moved to the North Office building Thursday,
2nd July. What an adventure! We now cross one of the busiest
intersections in downtown Salt Lake as we walk uphill to work and downhill to
our apartment. Yes, there are stairs, but I’d rather walk up or down the hill
than deal with 47 steps. 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.
Tuesday, 30 June the random construction workers that had
been meandering along our hallways and threading through our 3rd
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 plywood, 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!
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.
And did I mention that our main cafeteria is also closed 6
weeks for renovations! The elevators to the restaurant at the 26th
floor feel like riding a hay wagon enough that I feel nauseous so we pack a lunch
or walk home most days instead. We often like our simple, plain food better
than the menus available and seating in all areas is somewhat limited.
We returned to work on on June 30th 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 sleeping 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. 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, equipment was not moved to the NOB with full time missionaries. Service
missionaries are working from home or having a 2-week break, and a few shortened
their missions a few weeks and went home. The rest of us are working during
this change from 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 most chairs press awkwardly on my right thigh and cause pain
that can be avoided be simply standing. So Elder Ames brought my stand-up desk
from home.
He also noticed a stack of empty binders along one hallway,
and realized they could be used increase his productivity by elevating his laptop,
which he perched on a small inexpensive stool we keep in our apartment. Some others
created similar arrangements, and a few brought in their own versions of possible
arrangements.
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!
