A: Eeeeexcellent.  Celebratory lunch tomorrow?  This is big.
S: Big?  This is HUUUUUGE!!!

Also, I have a bruise on my knee right where I cross my legs…

S: Office Moment: J passes S in the hall and says, “Hey, sup man” as they pass each other.  I don’t know why, but that just killed me!

S: Evidence of my very productive day.  I think you might appreciate it.

Alsosnipe.blogspot.com 

S: Hahaha!  That’s freaking hilarious!  I wish I had read this last night! 

PS.  I feel like today is going to be one giant party… = Why even be here, because we sure as heck won’t get any work done.

A: I know I tried to send it as soon as I could but you had already locked your screen.  Maybe next time.

Yes I really don’t want to work, especially since I’m so slow right now… since my lunch is an ASID meeting and is billable I’m considering asking J if I can leave at 4 since I’m not technically taking a lunch.  Think he would go for it?  He’s Gen X so they’re all about the family time.

S: Hmm.  Intriguing possibility.  I’m not sure.  What time is your ASID thing?  I know today I’m actually going back to the whole lunch thing.  My parents have decided they are taking themselves to the airport, so I’ll go out to lunch with them and say goodbye then. 

Don’t judge me if my eyes are red when I get back to work.

A: :( I hate goodbyes.  I’m not any good at them.  Glad your parents had good weather most of the time though!  What did you do with them last night?

S: Me neither—especially with my parents.

We went to Kincaid and then ate at Mooses Tooth.  It was a lot of fun.  I’ve been raving about their pizza for three years, so hopefully it was all I made it seem :)

A: We were there last night too!  We got there a little late though – around 9:30.  It was B’s parents 38^th anniversary.

Did your parents get to see any moose?

S: Yes!  They saw moose and bear and eagles and Denali and the Northern Lights.  The tide change, caught halibut, biked the coastal trail, and ate at a million restaurants.  And chilled out a lot.  I would say they had a good trip.  I wish I had been able to do more with them—I feel like all I did was eat with them…  I must have gained 10 lbs this week!

A: Definitely sounds like a successful Alaskan trip!  I can’t tell if you’ve gained any weight which you probably haven’t ;) that’s probably the one nice thing about work clothes though!

I’m really excited for our Denali backpacking trip but I’m anticipating rain which I’m less than thrilled about.

S: That is going to be so fun!  Which day are you leaving again?

A: Sunday after B’s tournament game so probably after 4pm.  We’re assuming they’re going to the championship game since the team B put together is made up of that semi-pro soccer team (that didn’t happen because of funding) so odds are in their favor!

S: That sounds exciting!  I’ll cross my fingers for the game :)

A: I hear you listening to Hanson circa 1997. ;)

S: I was trying to decide if I should be ashamed or not……. And then I decided that everyone needs a few guilty pleasures in life.  Mmm-bop?  Totally one of mine.

A: Bahaha don’t be ashamed.  What girl who grew up at that time doesn’t like Mmm-bop?  No judgment what-so-ever I just thought it was entertaining.

S: You’re missing out on some great convo… the gen-x er and baby boomer are complaining about how people expect them to respond to emails and texts immediately.  Frankly… I live on email and my cell phone is basically an extension of my hand…. So I don’t get the drama.

Also, apparently they take offense at smiley faces… :)

A: Oh man that’s really sad that I missed that. Yes I definitely respond to texts right away and emails too if I’m notified.  And they take offense to smileys?  Who doesn’t love seeing a smiley face in an email?  It lightens the whole mood. :)

S: I know right?  Oh, the generations.

A: What in the world?  CET put a random blue box in my 3D view when I have nothing there in 2D or 3D.

S: Weird!  It looks like a ceiling box.
A: Proof you saw the Auroras :)

S: Hooray for proof!  It is beautiful isn’t it.
A: Yes!  Lucky you!

I’ve been print screening it up lately.  I think it adds to our book.

A: I almost feel like I’m wasting time here.  I barely have anything to work on and my in-laws are finally in.  I’m sure you can relate having your parents in.  Have they kept pretty busy while you’re at work?
S: Yeah.  They’ve done enough to enjoy the trip, but they’ve taken their time.  They say they’re enjoying just taking a break.  I’m considering leaving even earlier today if I can finish my projects in time.  I really want to take them to winner creek, but they think we won’t have time.
A: Sure you’ll have time!  Its light out until almost 11.  And Girdwood isn’t that far away.
S: That’s what I said!  I mean—I know they like to go to bed early, but jeez!
A: He totally took his earphones out to listen to what we were saying and put them back in just now.  I think he really wants to be included in our conversations but its hard with the generational gap sometimes.
S: It’s also probably hard to keep up considering 75% of our conversations happen through email.
A: Yes, that doesn’t help.  I can’t focus today.  Sad face.

Did you find out C’s (I’m sure I’m butchering the spelling of her name) favorite candy bar?

S: Close!  Well, I just took a stab and got her a snickers.  It was pretty entertaining though.  It pretty much went exactly like I was anticipating—which I always like. 

A: Yay fun!  At one point I did have it spelled right but I never go with my instinct, naturally.  Did you see D again last night?

S: You blue, you.

No, but he did do the cutest thing!  I got home super late at like 1:30, and there was something waiting for me on the doorstep.  He had left me a rose and a note that said, “Just wanted to remind you how wonderful and beautiful you are”.  How cute is that?!

A: Awh!  Can’t beat that!! ;)

S: I know right?

Do you by any chance know of some markerboard that would be nice and small that I could wall mount, or even put on wall channels?

A: Not off the top of my head.  There’s the Visual work tools stuff but that’s probably more complex than what you’re needing.  I think Answer has the marker board skins too but don’t know how it would wall mount…

S: For your I’ll-be-darned collection

C:  No, it would need to be a separate whiteboard.
S:  That’s I what I figured, but I thought you might know some install wizardry that I didn’t.

A: Hahaha!  So did the problem get resolved?
S: Sort of.  I just got a regular wall-mount whiteboard.  It’s not the size I wanted, but I guess it’s not terrible.

A: Saturday, in the park, I think it was the 4^th of July.
S: Does that mean you can hear my music?

A: Not all the time.  I heard that song and Only the Good Die Young. :)
S: Nice.  At least they were good songs :)  I got so used to only listening to Enya, that I forgot I needed to turn down my volume for everything else.

A: Hahaha oh I see that makes more sense!  I did enjoy those songs.  Only the Good Die Young reminds me of my two best friends and I dancing to it in front of our old dance studio late at night.  We’re such dorks, it’s great.  
I really want to leave.  Lucky you taking off soon! Perhaps you could sneak me out in your… purse?

S: … You might fit.  We could certainly try.

A: Think anyone would notice?

The mental image of that is sheer entertainment.

S: I know right?  Hah!  It would be quite the event, that’s for sure.

A: What I picture is me stepping foot first into your green purse.  After the first failed attempt I lay down on the purse and you proceed to pick up your purse, mostly covered by me, and grab the handles on either side of course.  You struggle vigorously to lift the purse with both handles and me in/on it.  Since that kind of worked you hobble to the door with me laying essentially flat like a board, red faced and bullets of sweat running down your face.  Success as we hit the sunlight and I scramble to my car. I peel out and head home into the sunlight while you straggle behind out of breath from the episode I just caused you.

A: How is it possible I have no interest on this month’s credit card purchases for my Alaska Airlines card?  I’m not complaining!
S: Nice!  That is always a good day!
S: 

A: Haha that’s great!  I’m guessing that’s aimed toward Gen Y-ers.
A: It's a snipe!

S: Ah!  It’s like my mascot!
A: My personal favorite snipe:

S: Hah!  Do snipes like chocolate?

A: Oh they love chocolate! :)
S: I think I found it!  ca-caw ca-caw, Rawr!!
A: I like how G went back for seconds of the cinnamon roll.

S: Steelcase makes e-cards?!?  No freaking way!

A: Yes they do!  I was just testing it out :)

S: Excellent notion.  I think we should start sending them to all of our customers.  Nothing says ‘I care’ like an e-card after all :)

A: Woody and Wilcox are talking about stories from Florida – which they call the screwball state.  It seems like there are always the most ridiculous stories coming from that state.
S: I thought you might appreciate this.

A: That’s awesome!  You should print it out and put it in L’s Desk. :)
S: I know right?
A: Oh it’s Tuesday.

S: It definitely shows.

A: My new desktop background.

S: Hah!  Perfect!

A: Any luck on joining ASID yet?

S: No.  I tried to apply.  Basically unless I go back and get a second degree, I can’t be accepted.

A: That’s just not right.  So you were rejected because of your degree title?

S: Exactly—it was actually super frustrating… but not whole-y unexpected.  It’s just bizarre that they make it so difficult to qualify.  There has to be some way around it—but they certainly didn’t offer one.

A: Yeah I bet.  Well boo.  Could one of your professors write some letter or could you show them your academic course contect?

S: I don’t know… basically the letter said, “we’re sorry.  But you do not fulfill the academic requirement to gain membership to ASID.  Sorry.”

Give or take a few paragraphs.

A: Preposterous.

S: No, I assure you it’s quite true :)  But it is rather ridiculous isn’t it?  I guess I decided that I don’t know how long I’m even going to stay in the field anyway… so I don’t know that it’s essential.  But it would be nice to put those little letters after my name :)

A: Haha oh you… 

I’m going dipnetting this weekend. :)

S: Jealous!  Where at?

A: Kenai.  If I catch all 45 of my limit I may consider giving you only one salmon. :P

S: Well then, I’ll cross my fingers you catch 46 :)

A: Haha!  It would be awesome to catch more than one – which is what I caught last year!

So my outlook just freaked out and now my email views do not have the preview.  Sad face. :(  I can never remember right away how to fix it to the way I had it either.

S: But it is a little funny…

Is it bad that it’s painful to not answer his calls?

A: Haha it’s not bad.

Weirdest thing just happened – out of 907 songs on shuffle 2 versions of the same song came on back to back.

Also found just it in outlook – its under the view tab,  labeled “Reading Pane” which should be more appropriately titled “Reading Pain”.

S: Hah!  You’re funny.  Or at least a little bit pun-ny.

A: Wasn’t he the one who lived through that time of no emails and cell phones for years before we came along and all the technology improved?

S: Pretty sure…. Also have you noticed how he always tells people he’s ‘using email so much more than the phone now’?  I love it.

A: Haha yes!  Welcome to the Y Factor G. :)

S: :) We do what we can.

A: Are you ready to Harry Party it up?

S: Hah!  I wish.  I’m not going to see it opening night for two reasons:

1. I will be missing out on enough sleep that weekend as it is.

2. D and I are going to wait and watch it together.

I kind of still want to go… but I would feel worse if I didn’t already know how it ended :)  Are you going?

A: I see.  I figured being so close to your big conference weekend it would be hard to make it.  And waiting to see it with D is even more a reason to not go!

I have not seen Part 1 yet.  Do I want to find out what happens in a movie or the book?  I still want to read the book series again.  

A: Hah why get a smart phone if you don’t use the data package??

S: Well, I didn’t want to be the one to say it.

S: Yeah.  We call those yearbooks now.
A: Hahaha.  What do you say to that?
S: Annuals?  I seriously don’t think I’ve ever heard them called that before in real life.
A: That would explain my confusion as to what he was referring to.  I thought he meant dues for a club or something.
S: Nice.  He would.

A: Blah, I’ve run out of things to do already.
S: :) I’m sorry
A: With no lunch break which makes the day that much longer. Boo hoo.
S: Yikes.  That is really not fun… at least you have a 4:00 to look forward to!

Can I ask what the gossip was going on as I came back from eating a snack?

A: We were talking about you.

Haha jk we were talking about lunch breaks and how we all like to take later ones but just that we need to coordinate with each other day to day and figure out who will go when. 

Was your snack delicious? 

S: I knew it J

Nah, that’s what I figured.  I guess as long as only one person has to be here it shouldn’t be too hard.

It was delicious!  I ate part of my lunch—Santa’s little helper. Yum.

A: Did you hear about the kid napping?

S: No!!  Tell me all about it!

A: He woke up.

:)

My favorite joke.

S: Hah!  That’s hilarious!

A: I had to lighten the mood of this dull afternoon.  Got any good jokes yourself?

S: Frankly?  No.  I have always been the worst at telling jokes.  But I find things entertaining, like, “compared to what?!?”

A: I’ve never been good at telling jokes myself.  But the kid napping one is so easy to remember and it makes me laugh everytime.  I also enjoy “Marcel The Shell With Shoes On” type humor.  It’s that kind of dry, not so obvious humor.

S: Keep using it, it’s a good one J

Probably my favorite funny book of all time is called, “1066 and all that; a memorable history of England”.  I would probably classify it under that kind of dry, not so obvious humor.

A: I’ll have to check that out.  I like British humor.

S: I recommend it to people who enjoy British humor, and who know a lot about England.  The more history you know, the funnier it is.  Because the book is kind of full of lies.

A: I wish I had G’s PTO hours…

S: Holy what the!  Yes.  Either his or D’s.  Think they would share?  Can you imagine having all that time stored up?  I am all about vacations.  It would never happen.

A: I wish they would.  I can’t imagine having all that time stored up either.  I live for vacations and the chance to travel.

S: Seriously!  I work hard so I can play, not for the work itself.

A: Must be a generational trait.  Me too, work is well… work.

S: Oh the generations.  How they continue to wreak havoc in our daily lives.

A: Should I dye my hair dark one day just to get a reaction out of G?

S: I know right?  I love how his brain works.  –A is blonde.  This actress is blonde.  This actress dyed her hair.  Has A dyed her hair?

Seriously?  What the random!

A: Haha love it.  I the thought process is spot on ol’ chap.

S: Wow.  We are really bored.

A: Reallllly board. I have .5 billable hours. 

Random question. Do you know any good business card sites that would have deer and bears?  My Mom is making their mountain cabin a B&B.
S: Yuck.  That is the worst.  That’s how my last week was :(
Have you tried just Googling it?

A: Shall we work on the power point today before the presentation today?  I have to take my car in at 12 so unfortunately I have to take an early lunch.   Perhaps after the meeting we can collaborate and figure out what we’re going to present?
S: That sounds great—I’m thinking maybe if we have the time, to re-write your part a little bit so it sounds like you’re saying it, and not saying it how I would say it.  I think it will have a much better flow.
A: Yes that would be good!  I’ll work on finishing up the renderings if my computer allows it.
A: I’m not a fan of how our co-worker likes to point out whoever’s supposed be on Hub duty like a lunch room regulator.
S: I know right?  Also, I love it when he tells us the same thing over and over.  Exactly the same way every time.
A: Perhaps it’s a generational thing we missed somewhere.
S: That would explain it.

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: 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! :)