Dr.T.,
I feel your pain. My first office was on the top floor of our building. There was an interesting crack running from the fluorescent light fixture, down the slanted ceiling, to the wall above my window. At one point, I noticed that there was water in the light fixture. I moved when plaster started falling on my desk.
My second office was great: it was right next door to the first. There was plenty of fresh air because of the wind that howled through the panes of the window.
Now, I have the department chair's office. Sadly, I had to take the job to get the office.
Oh, well. The water has to get through three floors before it hits my books. (That's what they call progress!)
In the words of Kurt Vonnegut, "So it goes."
Also, there is no smoking on our campus. It is strictly verboten. So, the courteous professors cross the street to smoke away from the buildings. The less courteous hide behind dumpsters.
It hardly matters: they are all smoking cigarettes.
I dare not bring a pipe to campus: it might give our insurance company hives. Also, I never have time to smoke when I am on campus. There's a lesson for you: never leave the classroom. Administration is not what (little) it is made out to be.
Best,
Book (a bit bitter at the end of the semester, but, still, Book)
