I rarely do mischief. It turns out though, there was some recently of a variety I like, that I accomplished. It pleases me intensely. What is it, pray tell? Well! I'm glad you asked.
Back when I was spreading pumpkins around last week, Dr. Hill, the professor next door to the Salaita lab, actually REFUSED my pumpkin! He was sitting there talking to Eric and I handed Eric a pumpkin and tried to hand him one, but he waved his hand tiredly and said, "No thank you, sweetie, I have too much to think about right now."
I was somewhat amazed. I also consider this to be a curious response. What, I wonder, does a pumpkin have to do with *thinking*? I do not know. But apparently, pumpkin = a short-circuit or an overloading of thought in Dr. Hill's mind. Very curious.
Eric took the pumpkin and stared at it, bemusedly.
I told Yvonne in my lab about Dr. Hill's unexpected response while walking to the international lunch last Friday. She had the most funny hypothesis - we kind of brainstormed it together. She said, maybe, each object on his desk requires his additional thought - so that, if just ONE more object were placed there ... it'd be the last straw and he'd have a mental overload, incapable of thinking ANY more. I find this theory to be HIGHLY entertaining.
Yvonne said - you know what? You should sneak into his office and put a pumpkin on his desk and SEE IF HE NOTICES! I was like >D (mischievous sneaky grin face) - yesssssssssss. I SHOULD! The PLOT was on.
SO.
Today, around 3 p.m. I took a pumpkin out of my stash and peeked into the hall. I had seen earlier that Dr. Hill's new office door was open. I looked in and there was a lady adding books. I asked her if this was his new office. She said, oh, no it wasn't, it was the one next door. Dr. Hill wasn't there though. He was down in A316 for his student's defense. [...]
This was all the information I needed.
To my intense delight, his office door was AJAR. I sneaked in and placed a pumpkin upon his shelf, near a stack of books, and sneaked out quickly again, as if nothing was amiss.
MISCHIEF MANAGED.
AH HA HA HA HA AH HA HA HA HA!! You WILL NOT ESCAPE THE PUMPKINS!!
May that be a lesson, to all you professors who refuse THE PUMPKIN. Dr. Blakey also refused my pumpkin. He's next on the mischief list, I think. BUT. His refusal was my fault. I ASKED him if he wanted a pumpkin and he said no, that was all right. I didn't make it clear that this was NOT in fact, an optional matter.
I relayed the info to Yvonne - I did it! - pumpkin has been PLANTED in his office! She was quite pleased. I am quite pleased. I wonder if he'll notice! I wonder if he'll throw it away. If he does, that's ok. It means he noticed. If he does, I'll rescue it, if I can. But who would do that? Ahhh well. Some just don't appreciate the glories and SHEER ECSTASY of pumpkins. It's ok. There's hope for everyone.
And the pumpkins, they must continue!