Life In The Office

I had my doubts that I was gonna get any Halloween treats from this weeks’ Office; since the “Costume Contest” would be taking place exclusively inside Dunder-Mifflin, I didn’t think there’d be much material for “Scrantonicity.” But there was enough to work with; I was able to stitch something together, like creating a costume from odds and ends lying around. So, here’s what I was able to scare up…

One of this week’s obvious references was the “Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Coupon Book.” That made me laugh, because right now at my workplace, our Human Resources Department is selling employees the “Seattle/Tacoma Entertainment Book.” It is chock-full of two-for-one coupons to area restaurants and attractions. I was a little disappointed that the show didn’t offer any examples of the coupons, real or mythical. I felt it would have been a hoot to have a cynic like Dwight randomly flip through the book, and tick off the discounts… a trip deep down inside the Lackawanna Coal Mine, or a ride on the Steamtown train, or a “buy-one-get-one-free” deal from a local pizzeria. Well, what do ya know, I got my wish in a “Costume Contest” deleted scene. The gang is shown discussing the various dubious coupons, including one for Dunder-Mifflin paper.

I also enjoyed Dwight’s imagined visual of the “Scranton Strangler,” complete with a super-hero-ish “S” emblazoned on his Zorro-like mask. As a kid, I went trick-or-treating in Scranton one year as Zorro. Hmm… If I still had that Zorro mask, I could have stuck a day-glo “S” on it, and… and… well, I think I would have been the best-dressed life of any Halloween party, if I had one to go to.

We find out that Danny Cordray owns a bar, called “Public School,” off of exit 11. All of the interstate exits through the city are numbered in the 190s, but Route 11 is also known as the North Scranton Expressway. That must be what they meant. Also, as an interesting coincidence, here in the Pacific Northwest there are two brothers that own a chain of brewpubs. Some of the restaurants are in old, renovated schoolhouses. I’m going to have to see if the local coupon book has a “two-for-one” deal at one of these “schools.” I’d like to think that when I drink, I’m a “class act.”

The wall behind Erin’s desk had a plethora of local stuff. Besides the Froggy101 bumper sticker and the University Of Scranton banner, I noticed a card stating “iBelong.org.” That is the local Scranton Employee credit union; there are two listed for the city… which does Dunder-Mifflin belong to, First CU or CMC-FCPI? I’ll see if I can find that out ASAP.

Visible on the breakroom soda machine was a graphic of a can of “Birchola.” A product of local bottler “Crystal Club,” Birchola is an interesting hybrid of birch beer and cola that I liked when I was a kid in the area. As I recall, it’s kind of like “Dr. Pepper.” LITO readers, am I right? I’ll have to have one on my next visit. I’ll use it to wash down all the Utz snacks, like those sitting on top of the Dunder-Miflin refrigerator.

Finally, I pointed out to my wife Ann that Angela was dressed for the costume party as “Tux,” the mascot for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins. Ann incredulously yelped “The mascot for the local hockey team is a super-sexy nurse with her heaving bosom hanging out of her hospital uniform?” I answered, “No, that was after Angela stripped off the penguin suit for something a little more, uh… comfortable.” Although, come to think of it, a “sexy nurse on skates” as a mascot just might improve the attendance when the Penguins play at Mohegan Sun Arena.

~ Bob