This entry is dedicated to one of those "that guys" every large office has.
This is dedicated to the "what exactly do you do here?" guy.
He has an office, or at least a cubicle, and he always looks busy. You just have no idea what he's so busy doing. There's no apparent input or output.
He's never the guy you ask a question of. No one ever says "I don't know, check with Hank" or "That's really Hank's area of expertise, he'll know what to do". No, you never need to talk to that guy. He's usually quiet and keeps to himself and doesn't really talk much, thus eliminating any possibility you will ever know what his function is. He's listed under a generic or totally vague title such as "Assitant Administrator". There are no real clues as to what his function is.
My "that guy" at LGSC is Patrick.
His desk is on my floor, in a work area smaller than that of the guy listed as "Facilities Supervisor" who refills the office supplies. He's hardly ever at his desk, suggesting he is somewhere doing something important.
The only clues I have to his function are: I once saw him photocopying a whole bunch of packets for distribution. However, since I did not receive one of these packets, I have no idea what their content was. Second, he occasionally sends out faxes...yet they're always addressed to the same person.
Our usual interaction consists of passing each other in the hall where we exchange customary awkward greetings and move on with our lives, or (and this is my favorite) in the kitchen.
For some reason, in the afternoons if I happen to have found myself chained to the copier, which is located in the kitchen, I will encounter his water drinking ritual.
After lunch, he goes to the bathroom, then comes into the kitchen and turns on the purified water faucet, let's it run for a few seconds, and proceeds to fill a styrofoam cup of water and drink it while standing at the sink. He then repeats this system at least once, sometimes twice. He then tosses out the cup and returns to his desk to continue doing whatever it is he does. One would think...hey Patrick, you know, you can take those back to your desk and drink them at your leisure. There's no need to chug them like you've just escaped the Sahara. There will be more later.
I also never see him come into work or leave. Considering I sit right by the elevators and the only stairwell you can get to other floors through, I'd notice. He either lives under his tiny desk or he's so busy with all his "work" he needs to work overtime.
Oh Patrick and your weird glasses and super awkward existence. What would the 4th floor be without you?
No really I want to know, what would be the difference?
I don't want to know what he does. It would kill all my fun. I just pretend he's a secret agent.
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10/10/2007 15:14 #41575
That guyCategory: work
10/04/2007 21:35 #41500
Debbie DownerMy entires are usually dedicated to things to annoy me so I'll talk about good things now:
Oscar is really the cutest cat ever and he occupies a great deal of my energy. In the middle oftypging that sentence i had to untangle the squeaky mouse that hangs over my bedroom door from my fan to prevent him from attempting to do it himself. HE'S SO CUTE!!!
Work is not great but at least I have a job and a steady income, even if its not fantastic. I do have some people I enjoy working with, but they work on different floors. Come to think of it, that's probably why I like them there is a floor buffer between us. My bosses (the two attorneys who I actually work for) are really nice even if they don't give me a lot to do. And I've started a tentative search for a new job.
My friends are sweet. I had a dream that one of them was dating K-Fed and it didn't occur to me that this was odd until I thought about it as I was getting out of the shower, haha.
I've been a member of agym for MONTHS and I never go, but I just found out I can go to any BAC and use it and its all good. So I went tonight and worked out and feel at least moderately better about myself.
A friend is getting married this weekend and it should be fun. I gotta go look at a wedding gift now, bye!
Oscar is really the cutest cat ever and he occupies a great deal of my energy. In the middle oftypging that sentence i had to untangle the squeaky mouse that hangs over my bedroom door from my fan to prevent him from attempting to do it himself. HE'S SO CUTE!!!
Work is not great but at least I have a job and a steady income, even if its not fantastic. I do have some people I enjoy working with, but they work on different floors. Come to think of it, that's probably why I like them there is a floor buffer between us. My bosses (the two attorneys who I actually work for) are really nice even if they don't give me a lot to do. And I've started a tentative search for a new job.
My friends are sweet. I had a dream that one of them was dating K-Fed and it didn't occur to me that this was odd until I thought about it as I was getting out of the shower, haha.
I've been a member of agym for MONTHS and I never go, but I just found out I can go to any BAC and use it and its all good. So I went tonight and worked out and feel at least moderately better about myself.
A friend is getting married this weekend and it should be fun. I gotta go look at a wedding gift now, bye!
10/03/2007 15:41 #41475
Grad School, Schmad SchoolCategory: school
On the one hand its great to have a former professor whose opinion you trust to help you out with the planning the future career thing.
On the other hand, its not so great when it comes to her challenging you to try harder and go for that big name school you'll need on your resume when all is said and done and you're looking for work. Thereby putting on a great deal of pressure. I know she knows my limitations and won't send me off into the world blindly with no clue as to what to expect.
Nevermind the whole Ph.D./ dissertation thing, I don't even know if I'm smart enough to get into any program let alone a highly selective top school. Oy. Nevermind the cost!
Grad school is hard...and I haven't even gotten into it yet.
On the other hand, its not so great when it comes to her challenging you to try harder and go for that big name school you'll need on your resume when all is said and done and you're looking for work. Thereby putting on a great deal of pressure. I know she knows my limitations and won't send me off into the world blindly with no clue as to what to expect.
Nevermind the whole Ph.D./ dissertation thing, I don't even know if I'm smart enough to get into any program let alone a highly selective top school. Oy. Nevermind the cost!
Grad school is hard...and I haven't even gotten into it yet.
maureen - 10/03/07 17:26
you can definitely make it in grad school, little maloyster. it sounds tough but finally going to school for something you love makes all the difference. as for the $$, i believe most ph.d. programs cover the majority of your costs. you just have to help them do research and/or teach-- both good experiences for you. either way, shoot for the degree, program, and school that fits you best because, whether it's a big name or not, if they aren't doing the stuff you're interested in, you won't make the most of all of those extra years in school. good luck, smarty pants. (and look at some schools in boston, you can come visit!)
you can definitely make it in grad school, little maloyster. it sounds tough but finally going to school for something you love makes all the difference. as for the $$, i believe most ph.d. programs cover the majority of your costs. you just have to help them do research and/or teach-- both good experiences for you. either way, shoot for the degree, program, and school that fits you best because, whether it's a big name or not, if they aren't doing the stuff you're interested in, you won't make the most of all of those extra years in school. good luck, smarty pants. (and look at some schools in boston, you can come visit!)
ladycroft - 10/03/07 15:59
Grad school is more in depth and faster paced, but you can handle it. "Big name" schools don't mean shit in the real world, contrary to your professor's belief. You can be a tool and go to a top 10 bank breaker, but you're still a tool when it comes time to interview. Go to a school YOU like that has a program that fits YOUR needs and YOUR wallet. You get out of education the work you're willing to put into it.
Grad school is more in depth and faster paced, but you can handle it. "Big name" schools don't mean shit in the real world, contrary to your professor's belief. You can be a tool and go to a top 10 bank breaker, but you're still a tool when it comes time to interview. Go to a school YOU like that has a program that fits YOUR needs and YOUR wallet. You get out of education the work you're willing to put into it.
09/27/2007 16:56 #41364
UGhCategory: work/people are dumb
It's so bad how much I can't stand this woman I work with. Like I've never disliked someone that I work with thus much. Normally I can find some way to get around it but she's weird, homophobic and don't get me started on her weird personal life she enjoys sharing with us. She thinks the worst of everyone and always has a nasty thing to say. I don't know that I've ever heard her say something nice about anyone or anything. It's always mean spirited.
The other day I heard another woman i work with talking about how she overheard someone make a comment to their son about some guy, basically implying that their son was gay. And she was like "I don't know, I mean it might have been true!" and my response was "who cares?" It just blows my mind that there are people in this world who really believe that there are like 7 gay people in the world and they all live somewhere else.
I just can't handle the closed minded ignorance that comprises so much of our population.
Basically i need to quit my job and find one that pays the same but isn't working with 40 year old angry divorced women with 5 kids who have never left Buffalo and never want to.* I just realized every secretary I work with grew up in Buffalo and their parents live here too. That fact had never crossed my mind before.
Only 11 months til Grad School.
The other day I heard another woman i work with talking about how she overheard someone make a comment to their son about some guy, basically implying that their son was gay. And she was like "I don't know, I mean it might have been true!" and my response was "who cares?" It just blows my mind that there are people in this world who really believe that there are like 7 gay people in the world and they all live somewhere else.
I just can't handle the closed minded ignorance that comprises so much of our population.
Basically i need to quit my job and find one that pays the same but isn't working with 40 year old angry divorced women with 5 kids who have never left Buffalo and never want to.* I just realized every secretary I work with grew up in Buffalo and their parents live here too. That fact had never crossed my mind before.
Only 11 months til Grad School.
- DISCLAIMER: I have nothing against Buffalo, it's my home, but we all know those people who don't leave Buffalo and not because they love it here, but because they don't realize that there is a world outside Buffalo that they can actually go to that isn't Disney World.
tinypliny - 09/27/07 21:32
I have what I call the "Bliss Mantra" to get me through such situations.
You keep on smiling and nodding at everything negative but the minute you step out of work/their office/they step out of your office/cubicle, you erase *everything* they said and start afresh.
This way, every opinion I form of people are mine, and mine alone. An added advantage is that you can be on good terms with virtually everyone with the "Bliss Mantra".
I have what I call the "Bliss Mantra" to get me through such situations.
You keep on smiling and nodding at everything negative but the minute you step out of work/their office/they step out of your office/cubicle, you erase *everything* they said and start afresh.
This way, every opinion I form of people are mine, and mine alone. An added advantage is that you can be on good terms with virtually everyone with the "Bliss Mantra".
janelle - 09/27/07 21:01
I was so disillusioned when I got my first job out of school. I really believed that people grew out of the whole catty/gossipy/mean spirited stuff when they got to the workplace. Turns out that the catty/gossipy/mean spirited people in highschool are still that way in the workplace (not that none of these people don't ever change, just many don't seem to). And it's amazing how work cultures support that kind of attitude. I have worked in non-profits with co-workers that dedicate themselves to helping people, but wouldn't think twice of tearing apart another co-worker to their face!
I was so disillusioned when I got my first job out of school. I really believed that people grew out of the whole catty/gossipy/mean spirited stuff when they got to the workplace. Turns out that the catty/gossipy/mean spirited people in highschool are still that way in the workplace (not that none of these people don't ever change, just many don't seem to). And it's amazing how work cultures support that kind of attitude. I have worked in non-profits with co-workers that dedicate themselves to helping people, but wouldn't think twice of tearing apart another co-worker to their face!
vincent - 09/27/07 17:20
Drama is everywhere. It doesn't matter where you work or where you go. Some people and socioeconomic classes hid it better than others but it is still there in one form or another. Going to grad school and hopefully landing employment in a place where everyone has achieved a high level of education will help in that cause. Just keep in mind that it will be a bit more subtle and discreet.
Drama is everywhere. It doesn't matter where you work or where you go. Some people and socioeconomic classes hid it better than others but it is still there in one form or another. Going to grad school and hopefully landing employment in a place where everyone has achieved a high level of education will help in that cause. Just keep in mind that it will be a bit more subtle and discreet.
hodown - 09/27/07 17:17
I know totally how you feel. Trust me it's not only Buffalo that is that way. It's a vast majority of corporate America. It blows my mind on a daily basis.
I know totally how you feel. Trust me it's not only Buffalo that is that way. It's a vast majority of corporate America. It blows my mind on a daily basis.
09/25/2007 20:42 #41327
Running SucksCategory: running
Running sucks.
So my d-bag sister has "inspired" me to take up running. No for real though, she didn't try to get me to do it all it was legitimately all my idea
I officially started "training" for a 5k yesterday, I actually had to run today and it freakin BLOWS. I was so sweaty and tired and I didn't even run a mile. (I'm kinda fat and I'm in a shape, but not exactly the optimal desired shape if you hadn't noticed yet)
Spending all day in heels sitting at a desk and then running like immediately after work is probably not the best tactic, but whatev. I have like a month until the 5k, in which I'm sure my time will be awful, but at least I can say I tried it. I might grow to like it...eventually.
It took (e:mk) like 2 years to actually enjoy running not just that "I feel good about myself after I suffer through it" enjoy it, but like actually look forward to it. I hope to get there eventually.
House and Law & Order SVU premiere tonight! woohoo!!!
So my d-bag sister has "inspired" me to take up running. No for real though, she didn't try to get me to do it all it was legitimately all my idea
I officially started "training" for a 5k yesterday, I actually had to run today and it freakin BLOWS. I was so sweaty and tired and I didn't even run a mile. (I'm kinda fat and I'm in a shape, but not exactly the optimal desired shape if you hadn't noticed yet)
Spending all day in heels sitting at a desk and then running like immediately after work is probably not the best tactic, but whatev. I have like a month until the 5k, in which I'm sure my time will be awful, but at least I can say I tried it. I might grow to like it...eventually.
It took (e:mk) like 2 years to actually enjoy running not just that "I feel good about myself after I suffer through it" enjoy it, but like actually look forward to it. I hope to get there eventually.
House and Law & Order SVU premiere tonight! woohoo!!!
I always meant to read this blog, but only got to it today. How fascinating!! Hahaha. :)
On to episode two...
hahahahhaa I loled at this blog. I love wackos, especially the part about the Styrofoam cup.
I love the little nuances of workplace interactions and rituals. I could write post after post about stuff like this.
And actually, at my workplace, I'm the person who looks busy (I'm actually not) and I know people walk by my office thinking, what the fuck does she DO here? I was this mysterious figure in the corner office. Now I'm the mysterious figure in the cubicle.