Anatomy of a Meeting

Ah... Staff Meetings.

Or well, any meeting for that matter. Nothing like the joy and camaraderie that comes from being shut in a small, most often, window-less room with your coworkers. Some of whom, apparently forgot to bathe sometime this week.

Who am I kidding. 

Staff meetings, whether weekly or once in a blue moon, only detract from the important things that need doing at your job. Like browsing Imgur, or painting your nails at your desk, thinking that no one in the office notices the smell of acetone and nail polish contaminating the common space like the aroma of burnt popcorn. (We all know it was you, don't play dumb.)

All joking aside, meetings make up a critical amount of time during the working hours. From staff meetings, client lunches, interviews, and wining and dining, most of our days in the office are jam packed with a lot of talking. Its a miracle any actual work gets done!

During my many years of office experience I've noticed one thing in particular, it doesn't matter what the topic is about, or who is presenting, there is a pretty common theme among meeting participants. See Exhibit A (lovingly provided for your lulz by my husband):

Now it's my job to take minutes, so you can see where I am on the chart, but where, pray tell, do you fall, dear Blogites?

Leave a comment below to tell be about your favorite meeting mishaps and misdemeanors!



Today's Daily Overheard comes from an anonymous source!

What coworker says: "I've got subpoenas for our client."
What I hear: "I've got some penis for our client."

Have a Daily Overheard? Submit it today! 

The Problem with Privilege

I am probably going to get hate mail for this, and its most likely going to be rambly.

I had to stop reading social justice blogs about checking one's privilege. I am exceedingly aware, that as a white woman living in the United States under the age of 30 I have a lot of privilege.

No one questions my motives when I go somewhere. I do not make less money because I am a minority. I grew up in an upper middle class family as was able to go to college. I didn't know what hunger was and really still don't. I have always had enough to eat, a family that encourages me to follow my passions, and access to education. I am fortunate. This doesn't mean I don't care about those who struggle and need help.

I was not denied the right to marry the man I fell in love with. But this doesn't mean I don't feel strongly about EVERYONE having the right to marry whomever they please. I am someone that believes in equality.

This doesn't mean I don't make mistakes.

Here's where it gets tricky.

Reading social justice blogs made me hate everything.

Have a favorite author? Here. Read a diatribe on how this mistake they made makes them a terrible role model. Doesn't matter if they apologized. They should check their privilege before speaking.

Enjoy a TV show or book series? Here. Have a list of reasons why your favorite show is degrading to X population. Still think overall its pretty good even though there are some places where it can be improved? Check your privilege, not everyone can look past those things because they live them every day.

Do you have what society considers the "ideal" body type? Check your privilege! Fat people can't buy clothes as easily or as cheaply as you can.

Every single post I read made me hate the things I love just a little more.

Because there is no happy medium. Yes, things are problematic. We live in a society that isn't equal. There is rape culture. There is still racism. There is still hatred. There are still inequalities among people.

But refusing to accept people's apologies when they are sincere, and continuing to bash them and their works of art because of an unintentional mistake? Enough is enough.

You've got to let light in some where or dry up.

So I stopped reading.

But I wont stop fighting.

The Communal Coffee Debacle

Today our story starts with an Overheard in the Office:

One of my coworkers comes up to the coffee station and presses down to fill her cup. The pot sputters and gurgles, signifying its empty status. Said coworker then cries a bit as she walks away.

The community coffee area is something of a staple in most offices I’ve found.  The fact that this coffee pot is actually in the main part of the office, rather than the break room is something I find interesting, though I suppose the fact that we share a break room with more than just our department has something to do with it.  But what really is the deal with coffee, and why can’t our office-addled brains do without it?

For the record I’m more of a tea junky. I have about 10 boxes of tea at home ranging from herbal bagged tea, to a tin of $20 jasmine green tea pearls, not to mention the fact that I’m always on the look out for a new interesting flavor of tea. I think this may warrant a trip to Cost Plus or Trader Joes for some interesting new blends. One of my favorite tools, (which I donated to the last office I worked in, though I’m regretting it now. Most of the tea at my new office is loose leaf, and for all my assorted tea paraphernalia, I don’t own a tea strainer) is the IngenuiTeaTea Maker. I adore this thing. It’s especially great when making loose  leaf tea because of the built in strainer.  (Tea of the moment  is Twining’s Irish Breakfast)

But I digress.

So Bloggites, what is your office ritual surrounding the communal coffee area? Free for all? Bring your own beans? Is there a kitty involved to keep costs down?  

What keeps your office running?

Welcome

Welcome to the Cubical Confessional!

I'll be posting funny snippets overheard in the office as well as the trials and tribulations of being a cubical dweller!

Stay tuned for more.

Today's Daily Overheard Confession:

"How long will it take us to get the sex tape"

  "What?!"

"I said how long will it take to get to Sac State"