Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The Ice Cube Caper

For the last week of school (I did mention it was the last week of school didn’t I?) I packed up 4 sandwiches and 4 sodas this weekend to get me through the last week of school lunches. I did not feel like worrying or being inspired about lunch this week. This morning before leaving for school, I also packed a sandwich size ziplock bag with ice. I like ice with my lunchtime soda, so I bring in my own and leave it in the freezer at school. This way I was set for the week.
At lunch time this afternoon, I pulled the bag of ice out of the freezer to add to my soda. The bag was only half as full as it was when I put it in the freezer. Someone took my ice! A couple of my colleagues listened to my plight. One of them asked if my name was on it, while the other one disagreed that that even mattered. I didn’t have my name on it, but the idea never even occurred to me. We are adults. The person who took it knew it didn’t belong to them.
Now, please don’t think that I’m really posting this about missing ice. What does ice cost? I have no idea, but it’s not like I don’t have more at home. I would have even shared my ice if someone had asked. The issue I’m having is that someone would take something that didn’t belong to them. Taking something out of the fridge that I didn’t bring in would also never occur to me. Who does that?
After my conversation with my colleagues, I found a black pen and wrote my name on the bag because this glass of ice-chilled caffeinated soda is about the only thing getting me through the day lately, and I didn’t want to lose anymore. I can’t believe it’s come to that.

14 comments:

  1. What if it was ice set aside for a medical purpose?

    It is pretty rude, but you don have to give the culprit the benefit of the doubt if it did not have your name on it. They may have thought! oh Finally someone brought in some ice for these hot days!

    Plus it was ice, now had someone taken half your sandwich, or if someone takes your ice again after you have written your name on it, then war must be waged.

    I did have a friend who used to eat all of the expired yoghurts left in the work fridge. Does that count?

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  2. @hula - ha ha ha! I love the expired yogurt story in a weird kind of way. Well, my name is on it now, so no excuses!

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  3. That's the kind of shit that drives me nuts. It was mean childish and lazy.
    And it's not the size of the thing that matters, it's the effort.
    I will say this though, there may be some mitigation it they brought a bag of ice from the supermarket the very next day.

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  4. p.s. why on earth have you got me putting is a Verification Word while you are moderating. Sorta belt and braces eh.

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  5. @Vince - I'm on my way in to work now. If there's a new bag I'll be sure to update. As for the word verification, I had no idea. Changed it.

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  6. I know what you mean...sometimes people take sodas or frozen lunches...I mean, who does that?

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  7. See, you know I would say something that would totally annoy you about this so I will just say, I hope noone else touches your ice.

    Life is short though. Remember that.

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  8. It's just so sad that the only thing getting you through these days is a cold soda.
    Yes, they are stealing. I would say that if you had an ice-cube tray in the fridge that everyone filled when empty, then it's everyone's ice. But since it was a small bag, then it's someone's personal ice.
    And is school still going on? What's that all about? Isn't Summer almost over? m.

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  9. @jlo - we had a teacher at school whose lunch was taken a couple of weeks ago. It's ridiculous. It doesn't matter if it's just a frozen lunch or yogurt or ice, it's making an inconvenience for the person who took the time to bring it. Not only is it stealing, it's inconsiderate of others. Which was my point.

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  10. @Becky
    As I said, it's not about the ice in the least. Ya know, in class we constantly have the discussion about being respectful of others and asking permission before taking others' things. We hold kids to this standard, so why shouldn't adults be as well...even if it's just ice?

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  11. @mark - I know that's why the soda is what is getting me through the day. Intravenously would be better at this point. :) This year has been the longest school year of my life!

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  12. I solved that problem with a dorm fridge in my classroom! I want to put up a note in the staff room taht says, 'Behave in here like your students are watching you!"

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  13. Someone stole my peanut butter at work once. I sent out an e-mail looking for it--I was MAD!

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  14. @M - Yah, some teachers do have those at the schools I've worked at. Maybe that's why!

    @Blonde Duck - ha ha! I'd like to read that. :)

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