An Hour in the Post Office Lounge

You know the routine… you just finish photographing a cupola (this photo set was done within an hour after the Wilson Hall Cupola photo set was shot), and then go down to check and see what’s in the mail today, and hoping it’s money.


Well, no money today, but I did get two packages in the mail... interesting...

Well, no money today, but I did get two packages in the mail… interesting…


So let's see what package #1 contains...

So let’s see what package #1 contains…


Well, I'll be, there's a fire alarm signal inside! Who'd have guessed?

Well, I’ll be, there’s a fire alarm signal inside! Who’d have guessed?


However, it seems that there's something else in here, too... let's inquire further.

However, it seems that there’s something else in here, too… let’s inquire further.


Neat... retrofit plates with ADA strobes. I know which horns I'm going to give a strobe to...

Neat… retrofit plates with ADA strobes. I know which horns I’m going to give a strobe to…


Having finished sifting through that box, it's time for package number two...

Having finished sifting through that box, it’s time for package number two…


As a safety precaution, since the sender misspelled my name, the JMU Post Office people put some notes on there to make sure to check that I'm expecting a package, and that I am the correct recipient. We don't want any threatening letters with an entire box full of a strange white powder, do we?

As a safety precaution, since the sender misspelled my name, the JMU Post Office people put some notes on there to make sure to check that I’m expecting a package, and that I am the correct recipient. We don’t want any threatening letters with an entire box full of a strange white powder, do we?


No threatening letter, and no anthrax. Good to know. Turns out this is fire alarms! Yippity-hoo!

No threatening letter, and no anthrax. Good to know. Turns out this is fire alarms! Yippity-hoo!


These signals are similar to the fire alarms we had when I lived in McGraw-Long Hall. It will be neat to hear the sound that the alarm on top makes, as I haven't heard that tone in two years.

These signals are similar to the fire alarms we had when I lived in McGraw-Long Hall. It will be neat to hear the sound that the alarm on top makes, as I haven’t heard that tone in two years.

These signals are similar to the fire alarms we had when I lived in McGraw-Long Hall. It will be neat to hear the sound that the alarm on top makes, as I haven't heard that tone in two years.


The Wheelock 7002T... I got two of these in this package. You can never have enough Wheelock 7002Ts, in my opinion.

The Wheelock 7002T… I got two of these in this package. You can never have enough Wheelock 7002Ts, in my opinion.


As you can see, the strobe of the Wheelock 7002T, at only 0.4 candela, is not very bright, but it's still an amazing signal.

As you can see, the strobe of the Wheelock 7002T, at only 0.4 candela, is not very bright, but it’s still an amazing signal.


Continuing on, I also got a pair of some old pre-ADA System Sensor horn/strobes. Here's one of them.

Continuing on, I also got a pair of some old pre-ADA System Sensor horn/strobes. Here’s one of them.


In this same package, I also got the ADA-compliant version of the same signal, though it needs a screw or two to hold the strobe plate in place.

In this same package, I also got the ADA-compliant version of the same signal, though it needs a screw or two to hold the strobe plate in place.


This is another Wheelock product, this one being a Wheelock MT that runs on house current.

This is another Wheelock product, this one being a Wheelock MT that runs on house current.


After I had my moment with the fire alarms, my friend Tess came by, who also had a package today.

After I had my moment with the fire alarms, my friend Tess came by, who also had a package today.


So let's see what's inside!

So let’s see what’s inside!


"Hmmm... a book of some sorts!"

“Hmmm… a book of some sorts!”


Meanwhile, here's all the alarms again...

Meanwhile, here’s all the alarms again…


Turns out that not only did the book come, but she got food in the mail. Always fun, indeed.

Turns out that not only did the book come, but she got food in the mail. Always fun, indeed.


While Tess and I were visiting, Krystal, a friend of mine, and a Potomac resident, came by with her own package.

While Tess and I were visiting, Krystal, a friend of mine, and a Potomac resident, came by with her own package.


Here, she's showing us what she got.

Here, she’s showing us what she got.


And now it's time for a three-way conversation. We all get along so well, don't we?

And now it’s time for a three-way conversation. We all get along so well, don’t we?


Among other things, we discussed how annoying this thing is. I had them both beaten on that one, as I remembered that during my freshman year, when that thing was new, it made sound, too. I was reading the newspaper in here one day and that thing was going on and on, and so I just walked up, reached over to the wall, and then pulled swiftly, and all of a sudden, that machine was silent, the screens were dark, and the plug was on the floor. And I was darn proud of myself. JMU has since learned to put a vending machine in front of it if they don't want people to unplug it.

Among other things, we discussed how annoying this thing is. I had them both beaten on that one, as I remembered that during my freshman year, when that thing was new, it made sound, too. I was reading the newspaper in here one day and that thing was going on and on, and so I just walked up, reached over to the wall, and then pulled swiftly, and all of a sudden, that machine was silent, the screens were dark, and the plug was on the floor. And I was darn proud of myself. JMU has since learned to put a vending machine in front of it if they don’t want people to unplug it.

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