When do we find out exactly what it was?
IN this case it was a
duct tape covered spray can on the table of the other ME at the shop - the "old man of the theater" as it were. When I got hired, part of my career ambitions on the resume was to either become "a world famous designer" - not likely, or "the old man of the theater" which was during the interview was possible in no ceiling as to where I went, but not really in that specific way given they already had someone in that
role. Story of my life, always get to places and there is some grumpy old man of the theater that knows all and has done all in some way over me who teaches me a lot but in many ways also stands in my way for growth, or at least is often a
safety net above me in asking his advise before I screw up in a big way on some things.. In this
current place it became after a few years a
bit different, I'm considered "(his nick name) lite." This as if a lite beer. In other words a
bit less intimidation and lecture in asking a easy question but still the right answer. Real team the other ME and I are, he looks in on me for most everything and so do I with him as a backstop to each other. Helped me in some very important ways, and set many of the standards that now are often industry standards, my job to revise and refine what has already been built upon in "polishing up that turd really well". Always good to have a team of people that are trained differently, get along and in both admitting neither knows all and each is well trained enough to ask in for an observation of what you are doing so one does not forget something important.
Anyway, on his very messy work table I saw that can of spray something the opposite of
duct tape wrapped in and labeled as such. Granted I knew and many suspect his joke right off the bat, but he would not tell so I won't either. Respect the heck out of the guy even if he is a
bit more barbaric in some ways and anial in other ways than my style. This granted we always agree no matter for detail on end result.
Beyond this all, when we moved to the new shop we attempted to remove Goof Off from the company. In fact it was officially banned by the upper management. There was to be none of it anywhere in the building. That lasted about a week. Had this replacement by it by way of the company Zep by the name of ZepOff. Spray cans of a similar compound to Goof Off. After the first week people started getting really nasty chemical burns to beyond the more soft arms - to even their fingers by way of using the stuff. It was taking the paint off the
road boxes and lighting fixtures - this beyond just taking the Sharpee writing off labels. Nasty stuff. Took about a month to officially get rid of the stuff from the shop. Took a can home and used it for paint remover - decent for that but only equal to normal paint remover. On the other
hand, any of it touched you and it burned much more than even paint remover. Really nasty stuff. Back to Goof Off... Amongst other rules of the new shop that fell to the way side upon reality.