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On Thursday, we walked into the office to find plastic sheeting hanging from the ceiling, and it reminded people of the movie, "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial," when government forces covered Elliot and E.T.'s house in Saran Wrap.
Imagine a parade of grown men and women scrunching up their throats and saying, "E.T. phone hommmmmme." Then again, we're talking about newspaper people, and grown-up for us should be judged on a sliding scale.
Speaking of maturity, I tried to get the copydesk to spray-paint graffiti onto the plastic sheets. I put one in charge of profanity and another in charge of gang symbols, and expected them to handle their duties in a quasi professional manner, considering the nature of the assignment.
When I came into the office the next day, I realized that I have no authority around this place because the plastic was bare.
Work's been progressing on the outside of the building, too. Crews have dug up concrete, dirt and clay to fix some sewer pipes. We're sorry for any inconvenience to customers, but speaking as an employee, it hasn't been much of a hassle for us.
The other day, we were given 10 minutes to move our cars from one part of the parking lot to another. Five minutes later, Sheena Barnett, Scene writer, was gigged for having the last car in the lot. We all pointed and laughed, but she took it like the good sport she is.
If that's the worst she gets, then she's doing fine.
I was driving to the office after a late assignment, when a vehicle kicked up a rock that dinged my car's windshield. There's no proof, but I suspect the rock had spent some time in the Mighty Daily Journal parking lot before encountering my windshield.
It was frustrating, and I had a story to write. But there's a trick I learned to cool my head: When things are going good, think of someone who's got it better; when things are going bad, think of someone who's got it worse.
I remembered a few days before, when a fellow driving on Green Street ran into another vehicle in front of the Mighty Daily Journal. That's rough, a whole lot rougher than a ding that I've already had fixed for $37.53.
Other than that expense, I'm enjoying the construction project. There's something new every day, and I've learned quite a bit about my co-workers.
After a team poured concrete to cover holes in the parking lot, I instructed members of the copydesk to put their initials into the concrete.
Let me tell you about the copydesk: They're the sort of people who would be happy to put their initials into concrete, unless they're told to do it.
Rebels, every one of them. Except for the Bulldogs. And there's a Memphis Tiger, but let's not confuse the issue. You know what I mean.
M. Scott Morris is a Daily Journal entertainment writer. Contact him at (662) 678-1589 or scott.morris@djournal.com.