I’m in a snowglobe!

The Washington DC area has not seen much of the wintry side of life lately but today changed that situation real fast! Last night, the weather guys on tv brought out the Bread-o-Meter (a spoof on everyone who runs out to stock up on the necessities in the threat of a storm that lasts 24 hours or less) to measure the anticipated precipitation. On a scale of 1 to 10, they measured it at 1. I am not sure where they were measuring exactly but in my neck of the woods (both work and home), it was over 3 inches for sure. I stayed at work as long as I felt guilted to do but when I saw what appeared to be freezing rain falling, I called it quits. I don’t do freezing rain on top of 3 inches of snow for NOBODY!

 As it was, I should have left an hour or two earlier. The road outside my organization was slick and down a hill. The traffic was backed up on the hill going up the other side and I was nervous about actually making it. I turned around at the first opportunity (which many others were doing) and wound my way through the back roads to reach the main roads. Thankfully, I used to live in that neighborhood so I knew where I was going the whole time. The roads weren’t cleared very well but they weren’t on hills either.

Forty minutes later, I arrived home. The worst part of the trip home was near my home. The road hadn’t seen a plow or sand all day so my car just slid around. I canceled my evening plans and am now nestled warmly at home.

It was a gorgeous snowfall though and I enjoyed watching it out the windows of my boss’ office. Apparently, the next snowfall is scheduled to come on Saturday – when I am in North Carolina!

The Cubicle Farm Police

Did you know that if you thumbtack all of your important documents and information onto your cubicle walls that it could potentially damage the “insulation” that supposedly soundproofs your cubicle? Baloney! As mentioned in a previous entry, I have heard so many conversations swirling around my cube, I could write a book on em. Today, one of the conversations had me laughing – they had no idea I could hear them! So, obviously, my cubicle (and theirs) is not soundproof.

A month or so ago, a memo went out that we were to remove all documents and papers from our cube walls because the holes were ruining the soundproof insulation they were made with. I ignored the memo because I felt it to be somewhat high-schoolish and Big Brotherish. The nature of a cubicle farm is that nothing is very secret. Walls are what provide privacy - cubicle walls do not count! So, to think that my 10 thumbtacks are going to damage the ozone layer of my cubicle walls is just ridiculous! Hence, my snubbing of the memo.

Well, snubbers of memos are apparently checked up on by the Cubicle Farm Police. A few days later, I arrived at work to find all of the things that had been so neatly hung on the cubicle walls with my colorful thumbtacks the night before, were stacked on my desk. I was infuriated! How dare someone come into my personal space just to see if I had “toed the line.” We are NOT in high school – we are adults and I am sure we all understand that Cubicle Creators cannot possibly manufacture a true soundproof cube with 3/4 walls. I can still hear everything even though the thumbtacks are out and the “wounds” they made in the soundproof walls are “healed” (so, technically, I shouldn’t be able to hear anything, right?) 

Think about it – soundwaves in an open space carry… so my conclusion is that it is actually scientifically impossible to create a soundproof cube.  Guess it’s time to send my scientific findings to the Cube Farm Police so they can give up their catty cause.

I am writing from my Cube!

This is the first time in a loooooong time that I have actually written in my blog from my Cube. I just finished my bowl of Cheerios and have put out a few fires today.

My boss is away on an executive staff retreat that she doesn’t want to be at. We had a few laughs on the phone about how negative the meeting was going to be. That is just how our organization operates. The rest of the world may be able to accomplish something but for some reason, we just can’t. It’s impossible. Apparently, everyone else who can do whatever it is we can’t is just living an anomaly. It definitely cannot be done!

Anyway, our conversation reminded me of this awesome website which sells merchandise parodying the Successories motivational merchandise company.  It is called Despair Inc. Check out the one on Tradition – that describes our organization to a ‘T’. This is the first time I’ve worked at a place where some of Despair’s products could actually be displayed proudly in the halls. Sad, but true.

I was laughing so hard as I perused their site this morning. I am in no way affiliated with them – just want to pass the laughter on.

Well, I have some work to do. Invoices to submit for payment, emails to write, questions to get answered – all in the pursuit of a paycheck.

Take care – don’t despair!

Cubicle Farm Noises

You can learn a lot about your unsuspecting cubicle mates by listening very carefully. Phone conversations, gossip amongst their close office mates – it’s all there for anyone to hear. You just need to listen. I’ve learned about co-workers’ pregnancies, their kids’ problems, how to cure various health issues, what the problems are with an upgrade to a website. You name it, I’ve probably heard about it – and you probably have too.

This just goes to show that one needs to learn some Cube Etiquette before picking up that phone or giggling over the latest gossip. If what is overheard is taken out of context and then repeated at the water cooler – rumor mill here we come! And that so does not what make for a great day at work.

So, keep your personal discussions to a minimum in the farm unless you want to entertain the world. In that case, spill the beans – we’re all listening, whether we want to or not.

Short Work Weeks… just like I like em’

I have now completed my work week in my lovely cubicle thanks to a part-time schedule and the fact that New Years landed on Tuesday and I had off on New Years Eve as well. So… let’s see, I think I was in my cubicle a grand total of 10.5 hours. Hhhmmm… just like I like it!

Nothing much happened – as you can imagine. I feel like I have been glued to my computer though as I have been blogging and working on some sites. I am ready for a break!

I read an article from the October 2007 issue of Incentive that telecommuting is on the rise. Oh, to be in that number… according to the article, it may only be a few years down the road before that is a viable option. A recent survey indicated that 50% of the respondents feel that telecommuting will be the norm in 5 years. It is beneficial for both employees and employers because of cost reductions in rent and equipment costs and less absenteeism with more productivity. It would seem that the opposite would happen but companies already implementing the telecommuting option are proving otherwise.

Check out the article – it has some great news for us Cubicle Dwellers… We may have to change the blog to Armchair Dweller before long…

Enjoy – and dream!