Huh. He and I are both wrong.

Susan, can you have a small fan at your desk? That you could point facing away from you, so that powerful scents don't make it to you?

Also, would it make you look like too much of a nutter to keep a small dish/tupperware of coffee beans on your desk, for emergency aroma-cleansing? That's why Lush stores have the coffee beans -- your nose can get overwhelmed by all the smells, and the coffee beans sort of re-set your sniffer.

I think getting into the vast realm of fabric softeners, detergents, deodorants, hairsprays, soaps, etc. with scents that cling to the wearer is kind of a non-starter.)

Heh. I was once given a ride home from the airport by someone -- this is after I had been flying for 6+ hours and had been awake and moving about for at least 12 hours (meaning, any lingering scent of soap, shampoo, etc., was not really lingering or even still in existence). I got in her car, and she looked at me, reached down and flipped on one of those car ionic breeze things, POINTED IT AT ME, and then looked at me expectantly, as if waiting for me to ask what it was. Since I knew what it was, and I really wanted to get back to my own home, I didn't say anything.

Finally she said, "It's an ionic breeze; it gets rid of offensive odors!" Mind you, this was after she had pointed it straight at me.

If I had been willing to put up with the hassle of getting my bags out of her trunk and then lugging them back to the terminal so I could get a taxi, I would have. But I was exhausted, and, again, just wanted the comforts of my own (apparently STINKY) home, so I just said, "Huh."

Not only have I never accepted a ride from her again, I avoid her whenever it's remotely possible. I get that some people have legitimate, health- or life-threatening allergies to fragrances. And a car ionic breeze (if they actually are effective at "cleaning" the air) is a good way to deal with one's own personal allergy. You just don't have to be a dick about it, after YOU OFFERED to give me a ride.

I did keep a pillbox of ground Blue Mountain in my bag for emergencies. Doesn't really support extended use, but it's good to block the fumes while I beat a retreat.

Steph, that woman is...damn. Beeyotch.

Heath Ledger has died: [link]

The actor Heath Ledger was found dead this afternoon in an apartment building at 421 Broome Street in SoHo, according to the New York City police. Mr. Ledger was 28.

At 3:31 p.m., a masseuse arrived at Apartment 5A in the building for an appointment with Mr. Ledger, the police said. The masseuse was let in to the home by a housekeeper, who then knocked on the door of Mr. Ledger’s bedroom. When no one answered, the housekeeper and the masseuse opened the bedroom and found Mr. Ledger unconscious. They shook him, but he did not respond. They immediately called the authorities. The police said they did not suspect foul play and said they found pills near body.

eta: paragraphs from article

CNN has it on Breaking News: [link]

[deleted xpost]

My friend just emailed me that news.

Christ, I'm older than Heath Ledger?

ETA: Not to make it all about me, it's just -- Brad Renfro was only 25 and Heath was 28, and it's freaking me out a little.

I have heard of "scent-free workplaces" but I don't know how they work. I've also heard that Santa Cruz has an ordinance that prohibits discriminating against someone based on smell, but I don't know how that works either.

Heath Ledger

So sad. I feel for Michelle Williams and baby.