I’m Sorry I know You Are At Lunch, But….

An open letter to all coworkers everywhere.

I know I can not be the only one who hears this statement A LOT at work. “I know you are at lunch but” …….followed by……”I have a question, here is a file, can you do this for me, do you have a minute” etc.

We do not have a lunch room and as I do not have time to leave for lunch (and also have nowhere to go) I stay at my desk and mess around on the interweb for a bit. During that 30 minutes I like to pretend that I am all alone in a locked room with no distractions; just me, my microwavable lunch and the computer. Of course actually achieving any solitude is impossible when you sit in a cubicle right by the door and at the center of the office, but I strive to at least pretend that I have some morsel of privacy for a few minutes each day. I have managed to block out the constant drones around me; the beeping of the copier, the ringing of the phone, the annoying chatter that echoes through the entire office and I have to say I am fairly good at doing so. Well, I can block out just about everything except loud crunching. (Why people WHY must you crunch loud?!) Yes, I manage to block out all of the office hullabaloo that takes place around me, that is until my fleeting moments of peace are interrupted by those dreaded words, “I’m Sorry I know You Are At Lunch, But…”.

Let us take a moment and just dissect this phrase if we can, because I find a number of things that are wrong with a person saying this phrase to me.

First: “I’m Sorry”. Are you? Are you really sorry? Are you sorry that you are disrupting my “me time” or are you just saying that in an attempt to make yourself feel better for the unnecessary question you are about to ask me and the interruption to my lunch you are about to cause? I am guessing if you thought long and hard you are not really, that sorry. I’m sorry, I’m just say’n.

B: “I know you are at lunch”. Had you just started talking and then said as you saw me take another bite of my 4 cheese penne Lean Cuisine “Oh I didn’t realize you were at lunch” I may have forgiven you for simply be unperceptive to the activities taking place within my 4x6 area. But noooo, to come out and acknowledge the fact that I am at lunch and you know it and yet you still just have to talk to me right at that very moment is unacceptable.

3rd: “But…” This is where I believe you make your fatal mistake. When walking up to me and noticing that I was infact partaking in lunch you could have made that phrase above a statement and just said “I’m sorry, I know you are at lunch.” (period) And leave and I will come to you when I am done. But no, you choose to add a but at the end of that phrase and that but is not what I want to hear while trying to enjoy my 30 minutes of serenity during my otherwise crazy work day.

I guess I shall say this. I get 30 minutes for lunch. 30 quick minutes where I am stuck in the office. I understand things happen, but (and this is my but to you) unless there is a fire or someone is hurt or I am in grave danger…please give me my 30 minutes of attempted peace and quiet and I promise if you do that I will not dream of throwing my half eaten apple at any of you or dream of paper cutting you with our file folders ever again. I know I am nearly not that important that 30 minutes of not talking to me will cause chaos to ensue and the company to crumble. But I guess I should be happy you all think that highly of me.

Thank you,
Jenn

Happy Administrative Assistant’s Day!

To all of us secretaries who have to deal with keeping others organized, last minute deadlines, shoddy writing skills, forgetfulness, spending an hour at the copier, stupid projects, technology that doesn't work, doing the work that no one else wants to do and at times being under appreciated I hope you have a lovely day and know this…you are the backbone to most companies and many of these people could not function without you!!! Ok, I may be a little bias but it is the truth! ;)

Now bring on our pizza lunch and leave us alone for 1 hour!

The Little Things...

Today at work we are getting TWO new copiers. I can not begin to tell you how excited I am about this. Yes, I know that is a bit sad….but seriously I am pumped. The copier has been a piece of crap since I started working here and has just got gradually worse over the year. You know the episode from The Office where they are fighting between a new copier and chairs…..well I think that copier was ours!

But now, well now we have these totally cute and really fast copiers. Now I can be more productive, and by productive I mean I can get my work done faster so I have more time to spend on the blog. Aw…..life is good.

Because I Can't, I Have To.

So our restrooms at our office are out of order. We have some sewage leak thinging (technical term) outside of our office - blech.

It started at 11:45 am today and a contractor won't be out until tomorrow between 10-12...boo.

I went over to my trusty hotel where I eat lunch on occasion to use their facilities. But now it is nearing 3pm and I am starting to get that feeling again. Of course I think because I have been thinking about NOT having the restrooms available when I need them that it makes me have to go more!! (I know, weird)

Of course our one boss told us that when we have to go we can just go home for the day. Which is great but no one wants to be the first to leave...so us girls are all trying to hold it - at least until it gets closer to the end of the day. I wish they would just tell us to go home!

My Afternoon Delight

Today I decided to take my lunch and the 30 minutes I have and just get out of the office. (I typically just stay at my desk) I don’t live close so where does one go that is close and where I won't be bothered…..well how about a hotel parking lot! Sure, why not?! Just me and those other people looking for a little weekday afternoon delight.

No phones. No people talking. No computer. No questions. No one walking in and out of the office. No drab surroundings. Basically NO interruptions at all. Just my music, fresh air, sun, and a chance to unwind. It was lovely.

Note to self – hang out at hotel parking lots for lunch more often.

Um, This TOTALLY Makes Up For Yesterday…And Then Some!!!

Today one of our clients brought in a few of his grand children. They chilled out in our office while he was in a meeting. I gave them some highlighters, crayons, paper, pencils and other office supplies. A little while later they came back and gave me this adorable card!!

Folks, THIS. MADE. MY. DAY. I loved it!

In case you cannot read it clearly the front says “Thank you so much” and the inside says “You Rock”, “P.S. Your So Sweet” and “ Thank you pretty lady (I would write your name if I new it.)” Hehehe….I think I prefer pretty lady instead of my name!!

Seriously, this is beyond precious and so thoughtful!! (this is so being hung up in my cubicle!)

Just add it to my list of Pet Peeves.

So I have a new Pet Peeve to add to my already too long list.

We have a foot shuffler, a zombie walker, a static creator, a man with 100 pound feet in our office. I have to say that I just don’t understand this!

Every time he comes up to the part of the office I am in I hear him, shuffling away – LOUDLY, like he has just walked across the Sierra Desert and doesn’t have the will to walk one more step. Maybe his shoes weigh too much or are too big, maybe he is perpetually tired, maybe as my dad use to say….”You are just being lazy. Pick up your damn feet!” I shuffle as well at times, usually when I am very tired or have slippers on, but not every time I walk! UGH


When you are in a shared office your pet peeve lists grows. People eat too loud, walk too hard, type too hard, blow their nose too often, snap their gum loudly, talk too much, or some days just their presence is annoying. I know I fit on someone’s pet peeve list at times just like they can be on mine at times. It is what it is but I just had to vent.

Yeah, I know sound like a grumpy bitch….put it on your list.

Things that make you go...ew

One of the ladies I work with, her son has pink eye! EEK!!!

Pink eye terrifies me! I don't know if it is b/c I wear contacts and put my fingers in my eye, but I always seem to catch things like that.

I have my hand sanitizer by my side...I am on the defense!

(My eyes feel itchy. Don't touch jenn, it is just in your mind!!)

When it Rains.....

So today I had TWO voicemails from different companies calling to set up interviews for potential jobs. I don't think I had two interviews during my entire 4 months and now this! haha Isn't that always how things go?!?!

All I can say is, you snooze you loose!!!!

It Finally Happened!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly 4 months ago today I lost my job and have been unemployed since.

However today I can finally say the words I have been SO desperate to say....I GOT A JOB!!!!!

I can't believe it!!!! Thank you MD for your help with this! I am SO thankful to have this opportunity and so excited to try something different in my life! I believe that sometimes the best things in life are not always planned....and I know that this is one of those times!

I am ready to start this new chapter, which will infact be starting tomorrow!!! I am ready for the challenge of something completely new and can't wait to see where this opportunity goes!

I GOT A FREAK'N JOB FOLKS!!!! YAY!!! :-) Bring on 2008!!!!

I also have to give huge HUGS to my husband, family and friends who have been the best support system a person could ask for. I don't know if I could have gone through this without you! It is hard to stay positive when things just don't seem to be going your way, but you all helped me through the last 7 months. I love you all so much!!!

And isn't it Ironic....Don't you think

The word ironic is sometimes used to describe events and/or circumstances that might better be described as simply "coincidental", “improbable", or “unexpected”.* To me, when something ironic happens I usually follow the situation with words or phrases such as “really”, “come on now”, “are you serious”, (or my personal fav.) “what the f&$k!”.

An example of irony:

There is a job fair that the job solutions agency told me about which is being held at (wait for it) O. Community College….my previous employer.


Yep, that God she really likes her irony!


*From online definition

Talk to me....

Ok, so after 2 1/2 months and no luck finding a job the suggestion of talking to a headhunter was brought up. Side note: Headhunter just sounds scary! Like I have done something wrong!

So I googled headhunters for Ohio and the searches brought up an assortment of random websites for temp agencies and stuff. So I thought I would ask and see if.....

1. Anyone has used a headhunter/search firm to find a job?

2. Pros/cons to using one?

3. Any you would recommend?

I plan events for a living so alot of supplemental staffing places don't really work for me. But I thought if there was another option out there that might help me find a job, even if it was a secretarial job I better explore it. I only have a few more months on my unemployment and frankly - I am freak'n bored out of my mind!

So any feedback on headhunters (good or bad) would be MUCH appreciated!