This is a conversation held in a different email thread than our beloved %, blasphemous.  We quickly reverted to our original.


A: I’m starting a new thread.

Is it lunch yet?

Do you want to work on the power point this afternoon while our coworker is off and we’ll have minimal interruptions? 

S: Woah.  Heavy. 

I wish it were lunch.  I’m not even hungry—that muffin made me sick.

A: http://www.oneworkplace.com/pdfs/whitepapers/DilbertvilleIsDead.pdf

A: Of course he wouldn’t appreciate the motivational posters.  No sense of humor.
S: I know right?  I was like—that’s the point.  Is there actually anyone who likes them?  I thought they were always there for ironic purposes.

A: So the monitors have been in for almost 24 hours, yet we still are not using them. 

S: I know right?  Should I go pant at them?

A: Perhaps.  Maybe add a little drool in there too.

S: Hmm, I’ll have to brush up on my acting.

A: Is it really necessary to have so many wall papers with half naked girls on them?  Not what I like to look through.

S: Really?  That’s odd.  I love scrolling through them to find the ones with mountains or puppies on them.

A: I think I want to resort back to elementary school days and find the fluffiest puppies and kitties to put as my background and see what people say.

S: I caved.  It’s funnier with sound.  Although for added entertainment I suppose we could do our own commentary.  We got it pretty close even without having heard it.

A: Nice I shall listen to it.

A: Why is my power point slide not showing up when I try to print???
S: My favorite=he stops poor Carolyn as she’s working to gossip and complain about his former realtor, and then follows her around the office.  The best.
A: When was this?  Did I miss it?
S: Oh—did you ever!

A: That’s too bad, I’m sure it was entertaining.

S: Oh, I thought so.  Carolyn probably didn’t.

Also, you missed a dramatic re-telling of "me being excited about the monitors".  A la Gene telling Mary.  Good thing I don’t get offended by things—I just laugh at them.

A: Man, I actually get something to work on and I miss all this?!

S: I know right?  And you thought life was all exciting working on a sample board; just think—you could have been here reading and making a ppt and listening to him.  I bet you’re jealous now.

A: I totally did think it was I was all special that I got to work on the color board.  Boy was I wrong.

S: Boy were you.

Speaking of—do we have the cards that you can wrap fabric around to make it 3-dimensional?

A: Yes we have a bunch of foamcore that can be cut.  I think there’s 1 3x3 precut square left now.

S: Nice.  That’s convenient.  I really want to make a sample board for this project, but I don’t know if I get to  L

A: You should suggest it anyway.  All they can do is say no right?

S: It’s true. 

Yes.  I definitely remember the 60s.  Don’t you?

A: Like it was yesterday.

A: About 6 hours to go..  Where do you want to go to lunch?
S: Hmm… difficult to say.  Something where I can get a smoothie?  They just sound so good right now.
A: Have you been to Middleway?  They have smoothies.  I don’t really know of any other place that does off the top of my head.  Suggestions?
S: I haven’t been to Middleway—but I hear it’s good.  You go there all the time right?
A: I do, its delish.
S: You want to talk about Gen y megamulti-tasking?  SIF-ing, uploading, g-chatting, texting, and emailing (multiple people) at the same time… what.
A: Haha impressive.  I’m rendering photos, emailing, editing documents and listening to music at the moment.
S: Nicely done!  I feel really good about being an accurate representation of my generation… especially when I read things like:

“This generation’s best and

brightest… possess significant strengths

in teamwork, technology skills, social

networking and multitasking. Millennials

were bred for achievement, and most

will work hard if the task is engaging and

promises a tangible payoff.”

Gen Y easily uses two monitors and keyboards, frequently checks with peers for feedback  and collaboration, shifts easily between focused work and other modes, and multi-tasks to unprecedented levels. This intense lifestyle is something they grew up with and now bring to the office

Comfortable working with and among others, Gen Y workers can focus their attention and activity with laser-like precision on a specific task. It’s not uncommon to see them working intently on a laptop or smart phone screen amid a chaotic work environment. They can settle quickly in a lounge chair or a corner of a project room, deploy ear buds, iPod, and a Zen-like focus to shut out distractions and get a job done.

Their lives have been packed schedules of school, sports, clubs, and other activities, with a frenetic pace unknown to earlier generations. Technology, mass media, and the Internet have forced this generation to manage an ongoing torrent of information and communication. As a result, speed, change, and uncertainty are normal for Gen Y, and multitasking has become a necessity to cope with relentless information and activity. These workers become restless and bored quickly, and are constantly looking for the next challenge.

Social networking (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) is like breathing for Gen Y. While Boomers have picked up on it and many now feel comfortable sending digital photos to a colleague for feedback, Gen Y has been checking in regularly with peers since high school. They keep a chat line open almost continuously.

I like that a lot better than “seem to be presenting a particular challenge to employers everywhere… a ‘diva’ generation: high maintenance, out for themselves, lacking  in loyalty, thinking only of the short term and their own place in it”

Duh.  We’re loyal if there’s a good reason.

A: Amen sister.

S: And do you love how he keeps bringing up that he doesn’t know what he’s going to do with multiple screens?

A: Ha!  I know right?  I’ll take his.

S: It’s from a 360 article.  Totally research.  And I feel really good about research that makes me feel good :)

http://360.steelcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/360_Issue55.pdf 

Basically my most favorite article ever.
A: I'm really not so fond of Google Chrome with pdf's.
S: Yeah, that's true.  It's harder to do things like save it.

A: What the truck.  This media:scape issue is stupid and annoying and I can’t see to fix it. :*( 

S: Did you try opening a new file and building it there (not copying it in)?

A: I updated the collaborative photos.

When would you like to go to lunch?  The usual, 12:30-45?

S: Sounds good to me.

A: http://organicoasis.com/menu/smoothies

S: That could be good.  Have you ever been here?

http://www.sisscafe.com/sandwiches.html 

A: I haven’t been to organic oasis but I’ve heard its really good from several people and have been wanting to try it.  I’ve had Sis’s catered when I worked at rim.  Do they have a restaurant or is it just to go?

S: They have a café as well as to go.

A: Haha that place is owned by one of my old co-workers husband.  I don’t care where we go.  Where do you prefer?  Let’s leave soon.  I’m hungry!

S: Totally Gen X… the rebels.

A: Haha so true!

A: I think I might die before these photos finish renderings.
S: Well... that would be unfortunate.

S: Next time you get a chance please read this.  It’s Steelcase, so it’s legit.  Some pages are better than others.
http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/documents/cometogether/assets/en-us/zip/i_to_we/Pictography_Book.pdf 

A: Where did you find that?

S: I am so glad he printed out the webpage so I would have the phone number.  Especially after he sent me the link to the page so I would have the phone number.

A: Not redundant at all.
S: Nope. Never is.

S: At least he didn’t print out the email with the link on it.  Nothing better than a hard copy of a weblink.

A: Ha, those are the worst.  Really?  You want me to type out that long website when you could just email it to me?!?

S: Yikes.  I don’t even remember the last time I typed in an http://  Pretty much if someone was to give me a hardcopy link, I’d just Google it.

A: Where would we be without Google?

S: Heresy!  I don’t think I can even contemplate that horrific fate.  It’s like asking where would we be without the internet… in fact it’s exactly like that.  Is it weird that for me the two are synonymous?

A: Not weird at all.  I probably Google things every day.  How ever could you find all the information that is on the internet without a search engine?

I’m hungry.

S: I think the reason the search engines weren’t as good was you had to register your website with them, along with applicable keywords.  And then Google came along and changed the whole ballgame.

Amen to that sister.  We get paid tomorrow!

A: Wo hoo!  Maybe we should go out for lunch tomorrow in celebration for payday again.

S: I would feel really good about that.

A: I added the 6x6 standard and rethink furniture to the images folder.
S: Awesome, thanks!

S: The renderings look awesome!  Way to go!

A: Thanks, I’m sick of looking at them and don’t necessarily agree but I’m glad you like them! :)

S: I thought about starting a new one—but I feel really good about making this one last as long as possible.
Did you know William Shatner is 80 years old?!  What the crazy…  He looks maybe 65 in those priceline commercials. (Speaking of, what a come down from the star of one of televisions biggest cult favorites ever)

A: Yes I like seeing how long we can make this thread. 

Haha that’s crazy about W. Shatner.  It’s always interesting to see where people are after the peaks of their careers.

Do you want to get together sometime today and tomorrow to start the power point collaborative efforts?  I will work on finishing rendering the photos today.

S: Yes!  I’m working on the ppt—just let me know.

A: Could you save these down? Please :)

S: But of course!  What’s the project#?

A: It is 20117022.02

S: You’re good to go!

A: Thank you!  Sorry I forgot one more!

A: Figures..

S: In a sort of cruelly-ironic sort of way.
S: This afternoon wants to go home.
A: Agreed.  I’ve been sniffing peppermint oil to keep awake.  I know I’m strange. :)
S: Hey, whatever works.  I was chewing gum for a while—but it got past the point that I like chewing it.
A: Oh yeah I have gum too.  That should keep me occupied.  Glad its 3:30.

A: Sometimes I hear more than I want to.
S: Maybe we can train ourselves to be deaf…
A: Or selective hearing.
S: … I thought that was the same thing?
A: Today is my favorite workday.
S: Right now is my second favorite time on our favorite workday.
A: Oh it's a fabulous time.
A: Interesting.. Halo 3 (from the video game) came on my Pandora.
S: Intriguing… what station are you using?
A: Vitamin String Quartet.  I love them.  It usually has piano, quartets and symphonies playing remakes of today’s music – no words.
S: Sweet.  Apparently also video games.  Is the song any good?
A: Yes it pretty much sounds like a soundtrack to a movie.  Oh yeah and they play move scores occasionally too.
S: That sounds cool.  I love film scores.  I had a station once upon a time that was all scores, musicals, and Broadway.  And glee.  It was pretty sweet.
A: Oo I love Glee and all of those.  That would be a good station.
S: I thought so.  I think I typed in Glee as the artist.
Did you know we started this thread a week ago?
A: That's crazy! I didn't even realize.  We're creeping closer to that time..

A: So are we around 6% of the day left?

S: Excellent deduction!

A: I’m sure we’ll be hearing about him being J’s “go to guy”…
S: Maybe we could just write his acceptance speech for him… save time.
A: Sounds good!
S: Well, since it is now a fully sanctioned activity, I’ll put it on the to-do list.
A: Along with the Power Point..
S: I think it’s a slightly higher priority.  Let’s put it before the GAC (awareness council) for a vote… oh wait.  That’s us.
A: Well perfect

A: Apparently my CET went to the dark side…

S: Geez… I hate it when Darth Vader is in charge of my color schemes.
A: Yes and don’t dare turn off the lights.

A: Haha.  Count the carpet interest and penguin walk.  I’ve had about 2 -3 additional interruptions today.
S: TOtally counts.   I’ve had another 2 today also!  He is on a roll!

S: He’s learning?
A: Learning -ish..
S: I’m cautiously optimistic.
A: That’s all we can be at this time.
S: I only had five pictures, and yet it feels the need to render 105… really now?

A: You know, I never understood that either…  it’s not cool by any means.

S: Did he just do a high heel impression?

S: Am I remembering right that there is a place somewhere that lists suggested edge/paint for certain laminate surfaces?
A: Not that I can recall.  I usually just look at the laminate samples and the edge trim samples in my finish binder.  Although Turnstone has those sample sheets with color themes… That’s the closest I would know to something like that.  Sorry I’m not much help!
S: No worries—I just could have sworn that I used something like that once—where it had suggested edges for the laminate.  I don’t know.  I will persevere!
A: I mean it would make sense to have something like that.  I just don’t know that I’ve encountered it here. :)
S: After all, why would we have things that make sense?
A: I don’t know.  It’s like why would we get double monitors?
S: I know… by all accounts it makes too much sense.  I swear it was a stall tactic “we’ll just pacify them by saying we’ll order them, and then blame the IT girl when they don’t come”
A: Indeed.  Not cool.
S: Can we talk about how much I dislike having to work within existing color schemes?  It makes it really difficult to do anything clean.
A: Agreed.  Especially when it’s ugly.

S: Yes.  Especially then.

A: My orange is extremely sour.  It’s almost agonizing to eat but I’m painfully hungry.

S: Yikes!  I have ritz crackers?  And a granola bar?

A: Thank you for the offer.  I’m going to take a lunch in 30 minutes so I think I’ll be okay.

S: Right on.  Hooray for almost being half way through the day!

A: Yes, hooray for that! 

On another note I thought yesterday was Tuesday. :(

S: Funny you mention that—because I totally thought today was Wednesday until you said that.

A: I can’t decide what today feels like.  I’m really looking forward to 5pm on Friday though.

S: Question time!  Do you remember which spec guide a pencil drawer would be in?  ‘Cause I was admittedly totally expecting Universal—but I had no luck.  And thoughts?

A: Storage and freestanding?  Answer, Kick.. I think at I’ve seen a PD in at least one of those!

S: Yeah, because I totally checked Storage and freestanding… maybe I’m just blind or something.

A: No, they like to put things like that in places that that are hard to find.  Again with the making sense.

S: Totally.  I think every company needs to hire someone whose sole purpose is to make sure things make sense.  All things.

A: Yes, but who has time for that?  Clearly not Steelcase spec guide makers.

S: CLEARly.  I think we should write an anonymous strongly worded letter.  And then apply for the job :)

A: ….waiting for photos to render…...

S: SOOOooo fun.

And so it begins...

A: Okay so I feel really off my game but I’m going to guess anyway.  We have around 12% of the workday left?
S: Yikes—I wish.  More like 25%!  We haven’t even hit the celebrated 3:30 yet.
A: Boo, I knew I felt off today.  It’s the lack of sleep from watching the northern lights…

S: That’s actually a perfectly acceptable excuse for inaccurate calculations.  I wish I would of thought of the good ol’ aurora in college.  Get extensions on all my deadlines… nice.

A: Yeah, I agree, it would have helped for that senior project.  I think we could also blame the earthquake in Japan.  Kind of a catastrophic failure.

S: Agreed.  Catastrophic failure is basically the best reason for anything not happening.  Totally self-explanatory.

A: Count it.

S: 12.5—WHAT WHAT!

A: Nice.  We’re almost there!

Casually place that paper on my desk that our coworker randomly handed to you earlier.

S: Consider it done.  *STEALTH MODE*

A: Now I’m busting at the seams not to laugh out loud.  So random! 

S: I know right?  Now I feel a little less bad for totally losing it in the car.

A: I can’t look at it without giggling inside. 50 minutes till 2 days of freedom!

S: 45!
S: Did you know Starbucks has been around for 40 yrs?!  I have honestly never even thought about it.
A: What?  That’s crazy.  I did not know that.  Who knew 40 years ago that it would become what it is today!
S: They just had an ad on Pandora for their anniversary-whatever.

A: Aw man, I was totally trying to look extremely into something when I saw G looking over and I just closed out of a drawing and didn’t save it. :*(  Why???????

S: Rats—that’s way lame… but I have good news: 6 minutes!

A: Luckily it was just the background pictures that didn’t get saved.

TGIF!

S: Human Interest piece on The Navy chair.  Rise and Fall—in three parts.