As I took the elevator up and back, to and from the math homework boxes so I could turn in my MATLAB homework, both times two students got on the elevator wearing gloves and moving a large, wheeled trash bin with biohazard warnings on it, apparently relatively empty with its top cover askew. And if I recall correctly, I noticed on the down trip another sticker which indicated that its contents was used needles. This obviously was a bit unsettling.

Now in the abstract, this isn’t all that surreal; if it had happened in the Biology Department, Medical School, Pharmacy School, or Medical Center, it would have been quite reasonable.

However, as should be apparent by the second sentence of my post, this didn’t happen in any of those places. It happened in the Math building. What the heck? Why on earth should there be used needles in the math building? Personally, I’m at a loss.

I’m reminded of a Calvin and Hobbes comic (paraphrased):

(Phone rings in the house)

(Calvin answers the phone)

Calvin: Oh, hi! Yes, I’d like a large pepperoni pizza please, extra anchovies.

(Caller expresses befuddlement)

Calvin: What? Oh, sorry, must be a wrong number. (Hangs up phone)

Calvin (breaking the fourth wall and addressing the reader): I like making a person’s day just a bit more surreal.

Have a surreal day, ADRIAN!