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plasterwelder

chasing cracks in century-old plaster with a triangular scraper and a putty knife holds all the magic of digging a half-inch splinter from beneath your fingernail.
once the loose material has been banished from the wall or ceiling, the stopping point always seeming elusive and ”stable” plaster remaining suspect, a Pepto-Bismol-pink-colored paint called ”Plaster Weld” is slathered over the scraped areas, plaster edges and cracks. this bonds the new plaster to the old and seals the old plaster so moisture will not seep under the old layers and pop sections from the wall or ceiling.

after fifteen minutes of plasterwelding, the acrid smell seems to disappear—has it coated one’s sinuses?, is it erasing one’s olfactory response?, are brain cells sinking in the quagmire of its gaseous grip?
the can reads: ”non-toxic”. the smell belies this claim, the dizziness argues for toxicity, the steady giddy laughter and shape-shifting walls would be evidence for potential internal damage.
ha hee hee brayeth the plasterwelder.

2004-02-17 19:28

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  1. It goes without saying that there are relatively inexpensive masks that filter vapors. It also goes without saying that you think it's funny that I am such an alarmist when it comes to these things. Fact is, old age has fewer charms than most people assume ... it's not all rolled pants legs and clam-digging and that daily glass of liquid fiber. Neither of us want to watch the world go by while we beg Rocko the male nurse to turn up the oxygen flow just a little, please, just a little more. You think having some coworkers call you a pussy hurts, wait til you have a lung removed.
    Genghis John    Feb 18, 10:24 PM    #
  2. There has to be a vain connection like misplaced hair or toe fungus to act as a motivater to stop the abuse. I recently saw a TV report about a study that evaluated motivations to stop smoking. Wrinkled skin came in near the top. What I'm saying is, lung replacement is too extraordinary to be used as a deterrent. The idea of green nipple hair is just more frightening. Let me know if you need special stitching on your new mask; perhaps "GHG" might be attractive.
    no damn good    Feb 20, 05:38 PM    #