Here's an article from yesterday's NY Times that relates to the whole doormat situation. The article quotes Francis X. Gribbon, the deputy commissioner for public information for the FDNY.

The building code, Mr. Gribbon said, “includes language that says, ‘Corridors shall be kept readily accessible at all times, free of combustible items.’ ”

Are doormats combustible items? Well, yes. But this still sounds like ball-breaking to me.

Trauma at Sephora!

Ok, how's this for gross? I'm on my way to physical therapy for this stabbing pain in the middle of my back and I duck into Sephora on 34th Street for a spritz of Chanel No 5 and to look around at some makeup I am needing. I'm not in the store for 30 seconds when I see one of the employees (recognizable by her black outfit and headset) standing by the bins of tools and applicators for sale in the middle of the store. She's got one of the lavender colored buffers and she's using it on her nails. Then she finishes and puts it back in the bin with the others!

WTF? Are you kidding me?

I walk over and look and sure enough, there it is right on top, with a big white stripe of exfoliated skin and nail matter.

I approached the nearest employee who was luckily also recognizable wearing the black ensemble because she wasn't wearing a DAB of makeup. In a makeup store! What's up with that? I told her what I just saw. She asked me to describe the person and I did as best I could then I led her over to the bin and pointed out the scuzzy used buffer (I couldn't face picking it up myself!) and she picked it out.

Honestly, how is this for real? Can you even believe this? Don't even get me started on the other employees in the store. Where are they hiring from, Mo'nique's Charm School?

I mean the store does have samples all over the place, but you can't just use something like a nail buffer and then sell it to someone else! An employee especially should know better, and at the very least have an understanding of basic hygiene! Plus, it's TWO DOLLARS, people. She probably even gets an employee discount.

I'm shopping at Sephora on line from now on, if at all!

London Terrace Door Mat Update

Well, since I slept through the LTTA meeting on April 12 I had to wait until today when they gave out the newsletter to find out if anyone confronted the building rep about the doormat situation. Here's the quote:

Doormats - In answer to questions, Mr. Di Schino addressed the removal of doormats from hallways, saying it made Rose subject to a code violation. Several tenants queried the Fire Department and were told that there is no regulation forbidding the mats. However, Rose will continue to remove them but will hold them in the basement - not throwing them out.

Because they're such nice people.

I bumped into a group of firefighters last week and asked them if it sounded like doormats were a legitimate fire code violation. They said that it didn't sound familiar, but that they (Rose) may be interpreting some vague wording to their advantage (advantage, for what?! To toss doormats? WTF?), like "no flammable materials shall be stored in common hallways." I can see that, but why be such ball breakers over this? I'd be interested to hear from others in large apartment buildings if they have doormats or not.