In Hamburg with the team this week. Today, while being very professional-like on a conference call, this loud, mechanic, grinding noise kept happening every minute or so. It was just my colleague Justin and I in the office, and he and I kept looking at each other each time it happened with puzzled looks followed by big shoulder shrugs. Sounded like construction - like a drill. Perhaps they were doing some work outside, or on the roof? Justin even peered out the window at one point to see if he could figure out from where it was coming. Sounded close. Really close.
Then, my colleagues Jessica and Pia came back into the office and sat down at their desks. And there it was again, that noise! I continued with my call. Whatever.
The noise kicks in again, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Pia rush over to my side, wide-eyed, but trying to stay silent as she scrambled - I was like, "what the...."
Then I see. My pashmina (that is a long cashmere scarf/wrap that girls wear to keep warm) was slowly getting sucked down the slot of an automatic paper shredder parked on the floor next to my chair.
I maintained composure on my call while Pia struggled with the pashmina to not let it get sucked in any further (oh, it was wrapped a couple times around my neck, BTW...thought I felt a strange tug...) until she finally got to the "reverse" button on the shredder whereby it then started coming back out, slowly but surely.
We then had to put the phone on mute to gather ourselves again because there was screaming laughing. Which sort of continued throughout the rest of the day. Good stress buster, especially given no one got strangled or lost a finger.
But here is where I make my all-out consumer endorsement for TIE RACK-brand PASHMINAS. Would you beleive that the pashmina came out of the shredder COMPLETELY undamaged?????? We were perplexed! Not a pull, tear or shred I tell you! So, if you ever stop by a Tie Rack kiosk in a shopping mall or airport, I can hereby tell you that the 50% Pashmina Cashmere/50% Silk Made in Nepal (Dry Clean Only) variety are fully indestructable and well worth however much you pay for it.
