Lethal boredom, magic cures

I have decided to skip class today. We're supposed to be practicing making websites for the midterm exam, and frankly, we did that Monday, too. I almost died of boredom, and having escaped one potentially lethal situation, I'm not eager to run into another. Besides, I've already officially failed the class...which points out some of the inherent stupidity of the system in place...so my competitive edge is gone anyway. So I'm not going. (I have failed, by the way, because this is a community college, and they have an attendance policy. Since I actually WORK in the field they're trying to teach, I have a little thing called deadlines, which must be met. If you miss three classes during any one semester it's an automatic "F." So despite the fact that I'm a professional graphic designer who could kick any one of these kids around the block when it comes to web code and design, I have an "F" for living in the real world, living up to my contractual obligations and making deadline. ?!!? Wow. Bureaucracy as education. For the win!)

I have, at least for now, solved my badge problem. Lots of bad stuff has been said about the product Badge Magic. I hear that it goes on great, but you can't get the patches back OFF again, should you wish to do so. People have, in fact, ripped uniforms trying to get them off. I think this is due to a lack of direction and understanding. Most of these folks are just grabbing the patches and pulling. They've put a very strong adhesive on them and then try to pull it off...it's going to probably rip the uniform. The website says you can use any solvent to take the badges off (they recommend Goof Off)...and the neatest trick in the hat, IMO, is that if/when you want to remove all the patches, simply dry clean the damned uniform. Dry cleaning is a solvent, it will remove all the adhesive. All you have to do it ask them to dry clean it in a bag so that you can recover your patches afterward. The only downside to that which I can see is that I was counting on getting the shirt cleaned and pressed twice a year to keep it looking good, but I think I can make that sacrifice. If it starts to look too darned awful I'll just wash it and get it starched and ironed again. That'll perk it right up.

So...I stuck all the badges on last night. You have a big sheet of stickiness, all the patches are outlined on the sheet...you peel off the protective covering for the badge you want to attach, press the patch on the sticky part, peel the patch off and the adhesive comes with it, tuck in the extra, and stick it to the shirt. Rub hard with a spoon, then throw it in the dryer for 10 minutes. Done. Dry clean to remove 'em all in another year or so.

We're supposed to go camping this weekend. It's cold...OK, 60 degrees...and rainy and the wind is blowing and I keep shivering thinking of camping in this. It's a Boy Scout event, of course. It's supposed to get down to 48 degrees the night we stay out there. I feel a trip to the Alpine Shop coming on! I was also flipping through my favorite camping book in the world, and thought, "I should tell the Den Leaders about his book." When I went to the Scout Shop to get the Badge Magic, I saw the book on the shelf under the camping stuff. Ah! So they know about it already! It was kind of validating, actually. The authors also have a book out on backcountry skiing. (These guys are serious. They camp under tarps.)

Speaking of which....I should probably feed the cats, start the laundry, grab lunch, and go through the camping list. 'Tis time.