All Things Irksome: Okay, maybe not all the things that I find exasperating, but some of the ones that are really bugging me right now. This was supposed to be a list of things, but there were too many, and too much I wanted to say that I had to break them down separately.

Rant #2

Cliques!

So I have a problem. I have been out of high school for 20 years, but my social life (or lack thereof) is still directly impacted by cliques.

I work part time, and mostly from home, but I do go into the office two days a week. This is mostly because I was going crazy working from home with little or no contact with other human beings. There is only just so far that a conversation with the dog or cat can go. We are social creatures, and I am a very social creature. I like people—in general. I love to people watch (I am doing it right now at Starbucks while I write this). I like to have conversations with strangers. How are we supposed to learn anything new if we don’t reach out to others?

                Anyway, like I said, the main reason that I go into the office is to be around people. I thought that I would make friends and go to lunch with the others. Maybe go out for drinks after work, but no. This is where the cliques come in. There are the customer service and provisioning people that clump together, the sales agents that seem to be pretty solitary, and you have the sales analysts that do things together. (the different sections seem to be kinda catty to each other) And, then you have me. I am a different branch on the tree. I am the only person in my department, and *GASP* I am the boss’s wife.

                No one wants to hang out with me because they think I will tattle to the boss. I can’t say that I wouldn’t, but I can’t say that I would, either. So, all-in-all, it really makes no difference that I go into the office. I could be doing laundry.

Kinda Like My Job

So, yesterday I really didn't want to be at work. I was super tired, even though I went to bed at a "reasonable" time. I had a midterm after work. I hadn't read for the class before that. I needed a mental health day from work. So I took one.

I came to work at my normal time, I finished the project that I had started the day before and then.......
I decided the coffee area was messy. I took everything off of the counter, wiped everything down, refilled all the condiments, cleaned out the microwave, and set everything back where it goes. As I was cleaning, I noticed that we were low on a few things--we only had two filters left, and there was still a long day ahead, they were going to want coffee tomorrow. My job is a little bit of everything. I am the administrative assistant, the marketing assistant, purchaser, and part of the provisioning team. I order parts, services, and do all the shopping for the office. I keep the techs in coffee and candy. I get to spend someone else's  money.

And so, I decided I had to shop. 

I went and bought the coffee filters, the Splenda, the cold cups, the candy. I had to get out. I drove the long way. I wandered around Smart and Final looking at things that I might want to go back and buy for home. I picked the longest line for checkout. I got out the company credit card, and I had to smile.

I got to go shopping, and I wont go home to the 3rd degree about what I am spending money on, because, It's not my money!!! My husband wont care that I needed shopping therapy to improve my day, because he wont see the bill!!! Oh, happy day.

The only thing was, after wasting as much time as possible, and stopping to pick up lunch (Super Burrito Rules), I still had a half hour left when I got back to the office.

Next time I need to plan better.