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Tue
22
Apr '08

Things said at work, redux

Things I say

  1. I’m moving back to Shimmer land. Screw the gods.
  2. Just be sure you aren’t screwing when the actors get there.
  3. Can I get a stiffer rod?
  4. I can retain his rods if I hold them between my pelvis and his head
  5. May I touch your dead animal head?
  6. He couldn’t get it up.
  7. All I have to do is buy this moosehead and then pick up some KY jelly.
  8. I think I can give you a donut but I’ll have to sacrifice a baby bunny
  9. Give me a second to wash the blood off my hands
  10. All right. Who wants to be tied up?

What it really means

  1. I had been painting Greek gods for a show all day and needed to get back to layout
  2. Discussing set construction at a theater.
  3. The metal rod had too much spring in it for the weight of the puppet’s hand.
  4. I kept dropping the arm rods of a puppet that stood waist high.
  5. I was moving some taxidermy heads
  6. At the end of a long day, a puppeteer was too fatigued to lift his arm, and heavy puppet, over his head.
  7. I needed to complete a purchase of a taxidermied moose head on e-bay to be used as set dressing in a show about Teddy Roosevelt. The next item on my to-do list was to pick up KY jelly for another show. It goes in the bottom of ashtrays as a fire safety measure.
  8. We needed a donut to appear magically on stage. The only foam that I had that had the right density was part of a baby bunny prop.
  9. I was mixing stage blood and had it all over my hands
  10. I needed to test a trick rope that had a quick release.

Article Series - Things said at work

  1. Things I can say at work, that you can’t.
  2. New things said at work.
  3. Things said at work
  4. More things said at work.
  5. Additional things said at work.
  6. Yet more sayings from work
  7. The latest things said at work
  8. Things said at work, redux
  9. The further adventures of things I say at work
  10. Again, with the things said at work
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12 Comments »

12 Comments

  1. Brian Dolton Brian Dolton on 23.04.2008 at 05:09 (Reply)

    You love your job, don’t you? :)

    1. Mary Robinette Kowal Mary Robinette Kowal on 23.04.2008 at 09:43 (Reply)

      I really do.

    2. David de Beer David de Beer on 23.04.2008 at 10:56 (Reply)

      Took the words right out of my mouth.

  2. Mike F Mike F on 23.04.2008 at 08:20 (Reply)

    You should make it a quiz. Just to see what peoplecthink you are talking about. On second thought, I’m not sure that is a good idea.

    1. Mary Robinette Kowal Mary Robinette Kowal on 23.04.2008 at 09:49 (Reply)

      That might be fun. Maybe I’ll try it next time.

  3. Rob Kimbro Rob Kimbro on 23.04.2008 at 09:45 (Reply)

    I’m curious (and confident that there’s a good answer): why KY in the ashtrays and not the traditional sand? The trays are too shallow and the KY less visible and less likely to escape?

    1. Mary Robinette Kowal Mary Robinette Kowal on 23.04.2008 at 09:50 (Reply)

      Yes and yes. Plus, they were glass ashtrays.

  4. -d- -d- on 23.04.2008 at 14:35 (Reply)

    How much does a moosehead cost?

    1. Mary Robinette Kowal Mary Robinette Kowal on 24.04.2008 at 00:10 (Reply)

      Between $1500 and $3000. I found one on Craig’s List for significantly less.

  5. Jason Sizemore Jason Sizemore on 23.04.2008 at 15:00 (Reply)

    “I can retain his rods if I hold them between my pelvis and his head”

    *gulp*

  6. Jen Jen on 23.04.2008 at 23:46 (Reply)

    You know, “Take Your Kid to Work Day” is coming up… can I be your kid? It sounds like too much fun. :)

    1. Mary Robinette Kowal Mary Robinette Kowal on 24.04.2008 at 00:11 (Reply)

      Sure! I had the pleasure of taking your kid (Ken) to work so next time it’s totally your turn.

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