Off Topic - Work Annoyances Thread #2

GenL · 07-18-2008, 08:34 AM

Okay- this will sound totally weird, but I don't know what else to do so I thought I would come here for help.

Okay- I work in an office setting. For over 2 years I had an office all to myself. It was beyond awesome. The best thing about it is that I have high times of work and low times. The low times can last months and months. During low times I would literally play computer games all day long, surf the web, sometimes even read. No one checks my computer usage so I never got into trouble. When someone would come in with questions, etc, I would just minimize it and resume playing when they leave.

Well- two weeks ago I got a roommate. She was in a different office but her commute was almost an hour each way. Our boss was actually nice and let her come here because of the price of gas. Awesome for her- sucky for me.

We are about a foot away from each other. I am still in a low point in my work load (we do completely different things) and I don't know what to do! One lucky thing is that I have an overhead shelf on my desk and I did position it so she can't see me or my computer. But I am having trouble pretending to work for 8 hours every day when someone is sitting so close! I do have work to do everyday, but it only takes up a few hours right now. When it gets to be my busy time I will be so busy that I will feel like crying- no lunch no breaks no nothing- so don't think I have it totally easy. But, I don't want her to know I am doing nothing right now. Anyone have any suggestions? I think it will be the lack of typing that will kind of clue her in that I am not doing much of anything but I don't want to just sit here and type like this all day: ljkjdioufdj dfkdfuaoid dkfjdod just to make it sound like I am typing.

Thanks- and don't cry too much for me. I know I am lucky and I am not complaining about that at all. I just want to make it seem like I am working. It is really hard to do work when there is literally nothing to do.

**Lemurian** · 07-18-2008, 08:58 AM

That sounds like a really frustrating situation. I'm a really private person, too, so I know I would have a hard time with my space being invaded like that.

Seems like you're doing the right stuff, and the only other thing to do is to find ways to keep calm until you become accustomed to the new situation.

..........BTW, we already have a thread here for "Work Annoyances" but since it's almost at 300 posts, I'm just gonna close it and re-title this thread so that it will be our new Work Annoyances thread.

GenL · 07-18-2008, 09:49 AM

Thanks- I didn't see the Work Annoyance thread- so that works!

Yeah- on top of all that I do prefer to by totally by myself. I like the peace and quiet. Now I have to deal with her phone, people coming in to see her, her typing and clicking. It's annoying. Good thing I actually like her as a person!

**Lemurian** · 07-18-2008, 02:01 PM

Maybe you could post more on

so you would at least appear to be doing stuff.

**Astra** · 07-20-2008, 05:15 PM

Good suggestion!

or this may be a sucky suggestion, but it came to mind, so I'll mention it anyway; ask for more responsibility. They might see it as someone ready for promotion (which equals more money/prestige/perks) and your day would definitely pass by faster... which to me would be better than having to pretend to work....

**Lemurian** · 07-22-2008, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astra (View Post)

Good suggestion!

or this may be a sucky suggestion, but it came to mind, so I'll mention it anyway; ask for more responsibility. They might see it as someone ready for promotion (which equals more money/prestige/perks) and your day would definitely pass by faster... which to me would be better than having to pretend to work....

That's an even better suggestion. If you ask for more work and you do the work well, you could get promoted.

**Talkative One** · 07-22-2008, 06:40 AM

I agree with both Lem and Astra

Either suggestion is great. I'm in a call center and pretty much to keep me sane during the day, is posting all day on FF

aprilmay · 07-22-2008, 12:36 PM

what you gonna do.. life sucks then you die.

**Lemurian** · 07-22-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aprilmay (View Post)

what you gonna do.. life sucks then you die.

Let's stay on topic here.

There is always something good to be discovered in life. And even annoying jobs can have a positive point since that's how we get paid!

**Quarterley** · 07-22-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astra (View Post)

Good suggestion!

or this may be a sucky suggestion, but it came to mind, so I'll mention it anyway; ask for more responsibility. They might see it as someone ready for promotion (which equals more money/prestige/perks) and your day would definitely pass by faster... which to me would be better than having to pretend to work....

That's true. Even without promotions or a raise, sometimes people just want to mix it up a little and try out tasks that demand more creativity rather than doing the same old thing repeatedly day in and day out.

**Lemurian** · 07-23-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quarterley (View Post)

That's true. Even without promotions or a raise, sometimes people just want to mix it up a little and try out tasks that demand more creativity rather than doing the same old thing repeatedly day in and day out.

That's true. And it reminds me of something that my stepdad used to say: A change of work is as good as a vacation. It can be really refreshing to do something a little different.

GenL · 07-28-2008, 07:23 AM

So sorry I haven't responded to your posts!! I was on vacation and I just came back today.

Well, while asking for more responsibility to prove I am ready for a promotion is a good idea and may work in other situations I work for the state and there is no promotion possibilities. Also- my job is getting ready to turn into the busy season (so yeah for that!) so I don't want to ask for more because shortly I'll be really, really busy. I was just looking for suggestions for the down times.

I like the posting on FF more. That solves the typing problem (I was afraid she would notice my lack of typing if I were reading something). So- thanks!!

Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

**Lemurian** · 07-28-2008, 08:48 AM

I hope that you had a great vacation!

....and I had a bit of an annoyance today. I was at my pet-sitting gig this morning, and I was doing some extra tasks that the pet-owner has for me to do. As I was bringing the trash bin to the back yard (this morning was trash pick up), a wasp flew into my face and stung me!

The wasp only missed my eye by about an inch. Now my face is swollen and I've got a headache.

I expect to be bitten and scratched occassionally by the pets that I sit for...but I was really not anticipating being attacked by a wasp. I didn't even see the stupid insect until it flew into my hair and stung me.

GenL · 07-28-2008, 10:04 AM

Oh- that sucks!! Good thing you aren't allergic! Sounds like you are more than a pet-sitter if you have to bring out trash. I hope the owner pays you hazard pay!!

I ordered a silent mouse and it came today. It is a little strange because it is from Japan so the shape of the mouse is different and it takes a little getting used to because not only do you not hear the click you don't feel the click. But, it's pretty cool because I can click away playing a game or something and she won't even know!!

**Lemurian** · 07-28-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenL (View Post)

Oh- that sucks!! Good thing you aren't allergic! Sounds like you are more than a pet-sitter if you have to bring out trash. I hope the owner pays you hazard pay!!

I ordered a silent mouse and it came today. It is a little strange because it is from Japan so the shape of the mouse is different and it takes a little getting used to because not only do you not hear the click you don't feel the click. But, it's pretty cool because I can click away playing a game or something and she won't even know!!

Thanks.

I put ice on the sting right away and I laid on the sofa for about half an hour. Funny thing is that the cats I was sitting for were very distressed and they knew something was wrong before I even got back into the house.

The pet owner is quite demanding and I do some extra stuff that I shouldn't really have to do (like watering the garden) but I want to be kept on so I don't dare saying anything to upset her.

That silent mouse sounds totally

Great way to fool your workmate!

Maybe you could take some classes online or write something to pass the time, too.