It seems I've become a bit of a joke around the office. Everyone likes to make fun of my headphones that I wear at my desk so I can quietly listen to my music.
It makes me annoyed. I wouldn't feel compelled to wear my headphones constantly if they hadn't moved me from my office into a cubicle.
I listen to my music on headphones because....
I'm pretty sure that no one else wants to rock out with me to the christian praise music that I listen to (I do listen to more than that btw).
I don't want to listen to the music that the people play in the offices behind me....80s cheesemetal and some jazzy bluesy clarinet crap
I don't want to listen to one of the women in an office behind me cackle-laugh all day long.
I don't want to isten to the same woman bitch about her supervisor and co-workers loudly all day long to any one who will listen.
I don't want to listen to the guy in adjoined cubicle harangue and berate his fiancee like a child.
I also don't want to listen to the same guy talk about sports ad nauseum on the phone.
So say what you want...but I'm a lot happier with my head phones on.
Janelle's Journal
My Podcast Link
11/16/2007 12:24 #42162
Life in cubicle landCategory: work
11/14/2007 18:27 #42122
Office PartiesCategory: work
(e:changeisgood)'s mention of office parties was an unpleasant walk down the memory lane of my previous job. My previous job was in and of itself stressfull. I oversaw a lot of staff and clients and I was on call 24-7. To add to the joy of working there, we had mandatory office parties.
When I was a mere program manager, I was simply mandated to attend the office parties and mandated to pressure, twist arm, and make threats of various natures to get my staff to attend. I had to tell my staff who worked two jobs, went to school and had spouses and children that they must attend the party. Management is throwing a party for the staff, and darn't,they will show up with gratitude and appreciate it!
When I became program director, it got even better. I was mandated to mandate my program managers to attend and to pressure/bully their staff in attending. I also had to cook for the events and buy gifts for the chinese auction. Ok, so I hate the name Chinese auction, that alone pissed me off. I tried to get people to call it a ticket auction, but it never caught on...and I have to cook? What?
I'm a great cook. I love to cook. But I get stressed out cooking for work events. You know that people are judging your food, judging you and no one wants to be left with a bowlful of whatever they brought as indication that their food sucked. For one event, I made my sticky caramel rolls...usually very yummy. In my haste, I did something wrong half way through. I stomped my feet, pouted and started over. Then when I was rolling out the dough, I couldn't get it to roll out right...Drew walked into the kitchen to find me pounding the ball of dough on the counter with tears streaming down my face in complete frustration. I did manage to finish them, but they turned out crappy and no one ate them. So from then on, I refused to cook for events.
When I was a mere program manager, I was simply mandated to attend the office parties and mandated to pressure, twist arm, and make threats of various natures to get my staff to attend. I had to tell my staff who worked two jobs, went to school and had spouses and children that they must attend the party. Management is throwing a party for the staff, and darn't,they will show up with gratitude and appreciate it!
When I became program director, it got even better. I was mandated to mandate my program managers to attend and to pressure/bully their staff in attending. I also had to cook for the events and buy gifts for the chinese auction. Ok, so I hate the name Chinese auction, that alone pissed me off. I tried to get people to call it a ticket auction, but it never caught on...and I have to cook? What?
I'm a great cook. I love to cook. But I get stressed out cooking for work events. You know that people are judging your food, judging you and no one wants to be left with a bowlful of whatever they brought as indication that their food sucked. For one event, I made my sticky caramel rolls...usually very yummy. In my haste, I did something wrong half way through. I stomped my feet, pouted and started over. Then when I was rolling out the dough, I couldn't get it to roll out right...Drew walked into the kitchen to find me pounding the ball of dough on the counter with tears streaming down my face in complete frustration. I did manage to finish them, but they turned out crappy and no one ate them. So from then on, I refused to cook for events.
jenks - 11/14/07 20:50
Did anyone see The Office last week? Jim decided that mandatory once-a-week birthday parties are ridiculous and tried to have a "birthday month" party- celebrate all the birthdays at once- and people mutinied.
Every time I watch that show I laugh, and cringe.
Our work christmas party is like the highlight of the year.
Which is ridiculous.
Because it's not that fun.
And it's from like 6 - 8 on a wednesday night.
But the girls wearing freaking strapless ball gowns and get all decked out.
Did anyone see The Office last week? Jim decided that mandatory once-a-week birthday parties are ridiculous and tried to have a "birthday month" party- celebrate all the birthdays at once- and people mutinied.
Every time I watch that show I laugh, and cringe.
Our work christmas party is like the highlight of the year.
Which is ridiculous.
Because it's not that fun.
And it's from like 6 - 8 on a wednesday night.
But the girls wearing freaking strapless ball gowns and get all decked out.
metalpeter - 11/14/07 19:25
I think that what you are talking about is wrong cause it is a mandatory thing. What some companies don't get is that if you like your bosses and they are good and you get along with people then the parties can be good. But what those places don't understand is that they are idiots to make something like that manditory. Since they are that dumb then there are other problems that would make people not want to work with management. See if Management was good here is what they would do.
Send out a memo or posting or spread it by word of mouth that there will be a party and that anyone who wants to should sign up. Lets face it if Tina and Tammy hate each other then they should have the option of not going.
I think what your company needed was someone like a Jahovoa Witness to say. I don't do parties and if you don't like it to bad. Oh and by the way I all ready talked to my lawyer and if any thing at all looks like a tiny bit of fall out from not going to the party, you will be sued and I will be paid for staying home, so don't even think about it.
I have known a few people that called in sick on those days. But that wasn't mandatory. Where I have worked it has all ways been vouluntary and that is the way it should be.
I think that what you are talking about is wrong cause it is a mandatory thing. What some companies don't get is that if you like your bosses and they are good and you get along with people then the parties can be good. But what those places don't understand is that they are idiots to make something like that manditory. Since they are that dumb then there are other problems that would make people not want to work with management. See if Management was good here is what they would do.
Send out a memo or posting or spread it by word of mouth that there will be a party and that anyone who wants to should sign up. Lets face it if Tina and Tammy hate each other then they should have the option of not going.
I think what your company needed was someone like a Jahovoa Witness to say. I don't do parties and if you don't like it to bad. Oh and by the way I all ready talked to my lawyer and if any thing at all looks like a tiny bit of fall out from not going to the party, you will be sued and I will be paid for staying home, so don't even think about it.
I have known a few people that called in sick on those days. But that wasn't mandatory. Where I have worked it has all ways been vouluntary and that is the way it should be.
jbeatty - 11/14/07 18:47
I recall one Christmas party we had at the managers favorite bar. It turned out to be a towny bar in the middle of nowhere. Anyway we were served lobster tails that were way past their prime, I assume he got a deal. People were skipping over the lobster and asking for seconds on potatoes. I almost burst out laughing when the owner came into the "dining room" to ask "aren't those lobster tails are as sweet as candy?"
I recall one Christmas party we had at the managers favorite bar. It turned out to be a towny bar in the middle of nowhere. Anyway we were served lobster tails that were way past their prime, I assume he got a deal. People were skipping over the lobster and asking for seconds on potatoes. I almost burst out laughing when the owner came into the "dining room" to ask "aren't those lobster tails are as sweet as candy?"
mike - 11/14/07 18:38
i'm sorry you have had such office party drama, I hope you don't run into any office parties any time soon. At eckerd our work parties are a little different and a little crazier than the average I would guess. One ended in video footage of naked coworkers playing beer pong? Appropriate ? no? Hilarious? yes
i'm sorry you have had such office party drama, I hope you don't run into any office parties any time soon. At eckerd our work parties are a little different and a little crazier than the average I would guess. One ended in video footage of naked coworkers playing beer pong? Appropriate ? no? Hilarious? yes
james - 11/14/07 18:38
I am so sorry you had to go through that. I always hate office parties. Work is work I refuse to be compelled to enjoy any part of it when asked.
But being forced to muscle people in? To have to cook a ton of food for people? What a horrible thing to do.
I hope this job has less mandatory fun.
I am so sorry you had to go through that. I always hate office parties. Work is work I refuse to be compelled to enjoy any part of it when asked.
But being forced to muscle people in? To have to cook a ton of food for people? What a horrible thing to do.
I hope this job has less mandatory fun.
11/11/2007 16:52 #42080
TorontoCategory: travel
Toront was one of the reasons I agreed to move to Buffalo and it certainly fulfilled all of my expectations.
Friday night we stayed at the Doubletree Hotel where we were greeted with warm gooey cookies. What a welcome! We also took advantage of the indoor pool and shoved small children aside to ride the water slide which did not measure up to the expectations (e:drew) had fed me. But that's not why we visited Toronto.
First stop of the day, Chinatown:
More specifically, Bright Pearl Restaurant for Dim Sum. It was my first dim sum experience and in my haste I settled for steamed dumplings when I should have held out for more fried dough concoctions such as the fried dough stuffed with red bean paste pictured on the bottom. Drew had the fried squid on the right and we both had the sticky rice with pork wrapped in a leaf on the left.
We wandered around looking for lucky cats to add to the lucky cat collection, but no luck...
but we did enjoy the sights....
And I also found my favorite fruit from south asia...rambutan....
We visited the largest mall in the area. I'm not a shopper but it was an incredible view of consumerist culture....
We stopped by India Land to celebrate Diwali. India land was only two blocks long, not much to see, and the celebrations weren't hopping when we got there, so off to other things...
We wandered around some more. Drew had an improv workshop and by the end I was exhausted and ready to go home.
(e:Leetee) asked for impressions from a first time visitor. The public transportation system was incredible. The city was clean. People were really polite and really helpful. There was a whole range of accents outside of what I think of as the Canadian accent so I was a little intrigued. I didn't see a lot of historical sights, buildings, homes, streets, everything looked really modern, but maybe I didn't see those areas. Restaurants were everywhere. I swear I saw a sushi restaurant on every corner. I thought that was kind of funny. It seemed more expensive than Chicago, but less expensive than New York. So even though I really liked it, we probably won't be living in Toronto any time soon. But all in all, can't wait to visit again.
Friday night we stayed at the Doubletree Hotel where we were greeted with warm gooey cookies. What a welcome! We also took advantage of the indoor pool and shoved small children aside to ride the water slide which did not measure up to the expectations (e:drew) had fed me. But that's not why we visited Toronto.
First stop of the day, Chinatown:
More specifically, Bright Pearl Restaurant for Dim Sum. It was my first dim sum experience and in my haste I settled for steamed dumplings when I should have held out for more fried dough concoctions such as the fried dough stuffed with red bean paste pictured on the bottom. Drew had the fried squid on the right and we both had the sticky rice with pork wrapped in a leaf on the left.
We wandered around looking for lucky cats to add to the lucky cat collection, but no luck...
but we did enjoy the sights....
And I also found my favorite fruit from south asia...rambutan....
We visited the largest mall in the area. I'm not a shopper but it was an incredible view of consumerist culture....
We stopped by India Land to celebrate Diwali. India land was only two blocks long, not much to see, and the celebrations weren't hopping when we got there, so off to other things...
We wandered around some more. Drew had an improv workshop and by the end I was exhausted and ready to go home.
(e:Leetee) asked for impressions from a first time visitor. The public transportation system was incredible. The city was clean. People were really polite and really helpful. There was a whole range of accents outside of what I think of as the Canadian accent so I was a little intrigued. I didn't see a lot of historical sights, buildings, homes, streets, everything looked really modern, but maybe I didn't see those areas. Restaurants were everywhere. I swear I saw a sushi restaurant on every corner. I thought that was kind of funny. It seemed more expensive than Chicago, but less expensive than New York. So even though I really liked it, we probably won't be living in Toronto any time soon. But all in all, can't wait to visit again.
leetee - 11/14/07 19:54
thanks for sharing what you thought of Toronto. I love hearing the perspective of someone who is new to the city. It's my favorite city above all i have been to, or lived in including London and Leeds in England, Halifax, Vancouver, NYC... so many others. As a travel show in Australia once said, "it's like New York City run by the Swiss."
I certainly don't think of historical achitecture when i think of Toronto... the city centre isn't historical the way it is here in Buffalo. Major growth in the city was modern. Quite a few neighbourhoods are historical, outside the core, which is mostly where you were and they tend to be residential.
Montreal tends to be more historical.. as does Quebec City, but don't go unless you like to be mistreated! OK, i am so biased, i hate hate hate Montreal... so totally don't take my word for it, i guess.
It is an expensive city to live in... and a lot of people commute... or have totally fab jobs and rent a closet to sleep in.
Your post makes me want to go... been too long since we have visited. I wonder what is happening at the ROM... and if the construction is done yet!?!
thanks for sharing what you thought of Toronto. I love hearing the perspective of someone who is new to the city. It's my favorite city above all i have been to, or lived in including London and Leeds in England, Halifax, Vancouver, NYC... so many others. As a travel show in Australia once said, "it's like New York City run by the Swiss."
I certainly don't think of historical achitecture when i think of Toronto... the city centre isn't historical the way it is here in Buffalo. Major growth in the city was modern. Quite a few neighbourhoods are historical, outside the core, which is mostly where you were and they tend to be residential.
Montreal tends to be more historical.. as does Quebec City, but don't go unless you like to be mistreated! OK, i am so biased, i hate hate hate Montreal... so totally don't take my word for it, i guess.
It is an expensive city to live in... and a lot of people commute... or have totally fab jobs and rent a closet to sleep in.
Your post makes me want to go... been too long since we have visited. I wonder what is happening at the ROM... and if the construction is done yet!?!
metalpeter - 11/12/07 17:52
Sounds like a good time. Depending on what part of Toronto you are in it seems to me that there are also a lot of Coffee Places.
Sounds like a good time. Depending on what part of Toronto you are in it seems to me that there are also a lot of Coffee Places.
jbeatty - 11/11/07 20:31
Oh! btw A Chau market on naigara street sells fresh Rambutans!!!
Oh! btw A Chau market on naigara street sells fresh Rambutans!!!
mrmike - 11/11/07 20:20
Their Chinatown is a lot of fun. The kensington market district reminds me of what Elmwood wants to be. Never had an issue getting around there.
Their Chinatown is a lot of fun. The kensington market district reminds me of what Elmwood wants to be. Never had an issue getting around there.
jbeatty - 11/11/07 17:36
I have never been to Chinatown there, it looks neat. I would have to say I wasn't as impressed with the Toronto public transport as much as I am with Montreal's.
I have never been to Chinatown there, it looks neat. I would have to say I wasn't as impressed with the Toronto public transport as much as I am with Montreal's.
11/09/2007 09:34 #42055
I wanna be a sorority girl....Category: life
(e:drew) is going to TMBG concert with our friends and I'm going to something he defines as "lame". But we're all going to party hard after the concert, so it's cool. 
I'm going to the meeting of an elite women's social group. It's actually not that elite, but it's fun to pretend it is. It's basically a sorority for women. I never did the social sorority thing in college, but this sorority is a business/social organization that supports women in education. My mommy was in it and she is sponsoring me. But sort of like sororities, I have to go to meetings at all the different chapters in the area and I have to be invited to join a chapter...and oh, the drama!
After only 2 meetings, I was invited to join chapter A. But, oh, this isn't the chapter that I want to join. I want to join chapter B. So I'm going to all the events and meetings of chapter B in hopes of securing an invitation from this chapter. But meanwhile, I don't want to decline chapter A's invitation quite yet because maybe it's the only invitation I'll get. So I have to dance around any questions from chapter A about why I haven't accepted their invitation while I'm dropping hints to Chapter B, that I want to join them.
So, therefore, I am sending my husband and friends off to the TMBG concert without me.
I'm going to the meeting of an elite women's social group. It's actually not that elite, but it's fun to pretend it is. It's basically a sorority for women. I never did the social sorority thing in college, but this sorority is a business/social organization that supports women in education. My mommy was in it and she is sponsoring me. But sort of like sororities, I have to go to meetings at all the different chapters in the area and I have to be invited to join a chapter...and oh, the drama!
After only 2 meetings, I was invited to join chapter A. But, oh, this isn't the chapter that I want to join. I want to join chapter B. So I'm going to all the events and meetings of chapter B in hopes of securing an invitation from this chapter. But meanwhile, I don't want to decline chapter A's invitation quite yet because maybe it's the only invitation I'll get. So I have to dance around any questions from chapter A about why I haven't accepted their invitation while I'm dropping hints to Chapter B, that I want to join them.
So, therefore, I am sending my husband and friends off to the TMBG concert without me.
11/06/2007 09:15 #41998
I didn't read the fine printCategory: life
and got totally duped by NY Times...
This weekend after a long break from the Buffalo News, I picked it up again and remembered why I stopped buying it. There are a lot of things I like about Buffalo, the local paper is definitely not one of them. And I WANT to like the local paper, because I like to keep up on the local news. But I give up. I'll just catch up on local news via Buffalonews online.
So I wandered over to the NY Times and it seduced me all over again. In my lust for a good Sunday paper, I failed to fully comprehend the rates. It really looked like the price was $3.25/week for the Sunday paper and for the first 12 weeks you would get it at 50% of the rate...turns out $3.50 is the 50% off the rate price. After 12 weeks it jumps to $6.50. Stupid, stupid me. I can get it for $5.00 at the General Store on the corner. So now I have to be smart enough to remember to cancel it after 12 weeks else I'm going to be paying $1.50 for the privilege of having it delivered to my door instead of walking down the street less than a block to buy it for $5.00.
This weekend after a long break from the Buffalo News, I picked it up again and remembered why I stopped buying it. There are a lot of things I like about Buffalo, the local paper is definitely not one of them. And I WANT to like the local paper, because I like to keep up on the local news. But I give up. I'll just catch up on local news via Buffalonews online.
So I wandered over to the NY Times and it seduced me all over again. In my lust for a good Sunday paper, I failed to fully comprehend the rates. It really looked like the price was $3.25/week for the Sunday paper and for the first 12 weeks you would get it at 50% of the rate...turns out $3.50 is the 50% off the rate price. After 12 weeks it jumps to $6.50. Stupid, stupid me. I can get it for $5.00 at the General Store on the corner. So now I have to be smart enough to remember to cancel it after 12 weeks else I'm going to be paying $1.50 for the privilege of having it delivered to my door instead of walking down the street less than a block to buy it for $5.00.
uncutsaniflush - 11/06/07 20:42
Did you know that there are at least two different editions of the Sunday NYT available in Buffalo? This past Sunday I inventoried the Elmwood/Auburn Wilson Farms and I discovered that there is a $5 edition as well as a $7 edition. The $7 edition is "later" in newspaper terms. Because I was working, I didn't really get the chance to inspect the product. But I suspect that the $7 edition is actually a NYC edition with all the local news and classified for NYC while the cheaper $5 edition is one with regional stuff sans NYC-local stuff.
Did you know that there are at least two different editions of the Sunday NYT available in Buffalo? This past Sunday I inventoried the Elmwood/Auburn Wilson Farms and I discovered that there is a $5 edition as well as a $7 edition. The $7 edition is "later" in newspaper terms. Because I was working, I didn't really get the chance to inspect the product. But I suspect that the $7 edition is actually a NYC edition with all the local news and classified for NYC while the cheaper $5 edition is one with regional stuff sans NYC-local stuff.
mrmike - 11/06/07 10:13
Silly "paper of record"
Silly "paper of record"
jbeatty - 11/06/07 09:34
UB actually gives students the NYT and USA today (which my brother affectionately calls Mcpaper) for free, kinda strange that we still have to pay for the Buffalo paper though.
UB actually gives students the NYT and USA today (which my brother affectionately calls Mcpaper) for free, kinda strange that we still have to pay for the Buffalo paper though.
If I listened to the music that Janelle listened to (and I don't) or I listened to "power ballads," (no again) I would for CERTAIN wear headphones, unless they interfered with the method of suicide that I was using, as a punishment for catching myself listening to said music.
And that, in my book, is part of the fun of talking about music--making fun of other's bad choices. It must, however, be done in fun. Call me an idiot for liking Pink, but don' call me an a-hole.
I'm not sure where all your hostility is coming from (e:scott)? there is no reason to be calling people assholes.
First of all "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" is an awesome just because it was out around my 2nd year of high school doesn't mean it isn't good anymore. Yes the same guy who likes Metallica, Hatebreed, coldplay, The Shiela Divine (man I miss that band), Sevendust and lots of other forms of rock does like a good power ballad. That being said the earphones sound like a good way to drown out the office. But I don't know if that is a good idea really doesn't that just make an isolated cubicle more isolated. You can put the volume so only you can hear it. That James Blunt parody is good, i did hear another one that wasn't that, that I can't remember.
i'm going to share something with you that (e:libertad) sent me when my 'office' was sharing a kitchenette with 2 other people.
may i suggest, just for this one song, you unplug the headphones ;)
:::link:::
Now, I will not berate the man who enjoys listening to power ballads. Like that god damn 'every rose has its' frickin 'thorn' song. If they want to slow headbang at their desk all day to it, more power to them. But when they play it outloud for all to suffer to, that is a different story.
So, I really can't understand why your co workers are being horrendous butt holes when you have done them the courtesy of sparing them from music they may not like (if they are listening to cheesemetal and fake jazz clarinet, their taste is below consideration).
But, that is office life.
Might I also add ignore assholes that put down your music choice.
No one wants a job in a cubicle. Those of us who work in them do so because we got a powerful need to eat food once in a while. Food costs money. To get money, we need these things called "jobs".
Unfortunately, most jobs that pay enough money to live on involve cubicles these days.
Thing is, a good set of earphones can make that cube life a bit more bearable. So, I say go on with your terrible Christian crap-music listening self!
Ignore your idiot co-workers, and ignore the comments of pretentious a-holes who put down your cubicle job, too!
I could never work in a cubicle filled office. I would end up killing someone for sure. I used to work in a shop that was adjacent to an office like that. The people that worked there were the most miserable human beings I have ever known.