Coffee Table Declarations
Thursday, June 10, 2004
Every Thursday this summer we are having pizza lunches at work. Although it wasn't my idea and I had no part in the planning, I am the money-collector/people-signer-upper because of my central location. By midafternoon yesterday only 4 people had signed up much to the chagrin of my supervisor and the event coordinator who came to ask me. So I asked them for names and I started cold calling coworkers. I managed to bring the list to a total of 10 and for the record if someone said they weren't coming, I did not call them a Dumbass. I maintained the utmost professionalism and politeness.
A good deal of people said they were opposed because they are on Atkins and South Beach and various other fad diets where you can only eat meat and eggs or fish and salad or chocolate and cheese or whatever. Is it me or has everyone's workplace become so health conscious?
At noon today the pizza arrived and though I usually take lunch at one, I had asked the person covering phones for me if she wouldn't mind coming at 12. Everyone else (all 9 of them) hurried down to the conference room where the food was set up. My supervisor passed me on her way and said, "Aren't you coming Katie?" but the minutes dragged by and the phone coverage girl never showed. I had the strong urge to sulk and feel sorry for myself for being tied to the damn phones. It was like there was an adult version of me in my head saying, "don't be silly, just call her, she probably got busy and forgot. You're making yourself feel worse" and a child version of myself was in there too, saying, "I want to eat my pizza! Where is she???" in a pouty, petulant tone of voice.
At 12:25 she came rushing down, apologizing profusely and told me she had forgotten and why didn't I call her? Then I joined the pizza lunchers who happily said, "hey, there she is!" and sat with me while I ate even though they were done. At the end one got up and said, "glad you made it" as she patted me on the shoulder. It was all very sweet and friendly and really, nothing to get sulky about after all.
A good deal of people said they were opposed because they are on Atkins and South Beach and various other fad diets where you can only eat meat and eggs or fish and salad or chocolate and cheese or whatever. Is it me or has everyone's workplace become so health conscious?
At noon today the pizza arrived and though I usually take lunch at one, I had asked the person covering phones for me if she wouldn't mind coming at 12. Everyone else (all 9 of them) hurried down to the conference room where the food was set up. My supervisor passed me on her way and said, "Aren't you coming Katie?" but the minutes dragged by and the phone coverage girl never showed. I had the strong urge to sulk and feel sorry for myself for being tied to the damn phones. It was like there was an adult version of me in my head saying, "don't be silly, just call her, she probably got busy and forgot. You're making yourself feel worse" and a child version of myself was in there too, saying, "I want to eat my pizza! Where is she???" in a pouty, petulant tone of voice.
At 12:25 she came rushing down, apologizing profusely and told me she had forgotten and why didn't I call her? Then I joined the pizza lunchers who happily said, "hey, there she is!" and sat with me while I ate even though they were done. At the end one got up and said, "glad you made it" as she patted me on the shoulder. It was all very sweet and friendly and really, nothing to get sulky about after all.
