Still Bored at Work (12080 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 0.57 on 20 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by JP <jean15paul.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2002-08-09 16:52:26 EDT
As I sit in my chair with my head back trying to count all of the holes in the ceiling tiles (not the ones with the grid of holes, rather the ones with the tiny random holes), I realize that I've chosen the most difficult task to complete in my office. It probably would have been easier for me to actually do some work, though a lot less stimulating. "Why have I lost the motivation to work?" I ask myself that as roll my chair back and bump into the empty chair of my office-mate. He's already left for the summer. I must say that I'm ready to go back to school too. Though I will seriously miss the money; this internship pays WELL.
I can't understand why I don't feel like completing the little work that I have left. "One week to go," I keep telling myself. I mean, I've worked on some serious, very meaningful projects this summer, all of which were either canceled or postponed. (Maybe that has something to do with the motivation problem.) Several of these would have saved the company a lot of money. "They didn't get implemented, but that has nothing to do with me. That was management's decision. I still did the work . . . and did it well." That didn't seem to get the motivation back.
Fuck, lost count. I could have done something easier, like counted the tiles instead . . . done, 182. The damn concept of multiplication made that far too easy. That number sounds a lot bigger than it is, especially when you share an office with an intern who has more stuff in his office than in his apartment. He had half a dozen pictures of his fiancée, and she's not even good looking.
I wonder if my boss understands multiplication. Anyway, back to counting holes.
So yeah, I had some good projects. Not like that intern on 11 who makes coffee and comes to your office to tell you jokes all day. She only got the position because she's somebody's niece. Though, I'll bet she'd get hired over me. Damn nepotism.
She is hot though.
I just don't care. I'm ready for the summer to end. I want to sleep late again. My classes don't start until 10:00; work starts at 6:30. Though I haven't been here at 6:30 since . . . I can't remember and I don't want to think that hard. All of this stuff makes me sound like a bad employee, but I've worked harder and completed more tasks that half the people in this building. I'm just tired. And just think, once I graduate I will have to do this (or something like it) for the rest of my life. No wonder I'm always on Ubersite.
.............
Sorry about that, the hot intern just came tell me a joke, something about an engineer, a doctor, and a priest playing golf. Why do jokes always start with such contrived scenarios: a guy's car breaks down near a farm; an engineer, an accountant, a something and a civil-servant want to know whose dog is best; a guy walks into a bar. Well I'm sure that last one happens all the time. Her joke wasn't too bad, I'll probably use it.
Anyway I'm slowly realizing that I don't have a point, but neither do most people in this office, so I don't feel bad. Look time flies when you're typing . . . not so much when you're counting. 367, that's how many holes are in this one tile . . . I think. I'm going to make a wild assumption that this number is average. So 367 x 182 = about 67,000. That's a whole lot of wasted space. And to think, they put those holes in there on purpose. I'm sure that it's much cheaper to make solid tiles, but it gives me something to do. I bet the designer understood that people get bored at work. I was probably bored when he came up with the idea. Anyway, we get to leave an hour early on Fridays and it's 3:30 so I'm out . . . even though I got here an hour late. HA HA HA. Still beating the system.
User Reviews
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-10-15 02:35:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Proof?
read the review below yours, then look at #1 on mine.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-10-15 02:34:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
actually, I read this about three weeks ago.
It was the inspiration for the title to this.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/75574
Submitted by HighFructoseCornSyrup (user info) at 2005-10-15 02:25:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I am the first human to touch this post in over two years.
Submitted by Fleury75 (user info) at 2003-06-13 17:20:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
ahhh
everyonce in a while its nice to know i am not the only person rotting here under the flourescent lights. Sometimes, if I'm really good, they'll turn the lights off for me. Sometimes, if I'm really really good, they'll give me a floating holiday.
After reading this post i decided to count the tiles on the cieling: 1287.
so i guess there are a lot of people around me, i think around 600, but i dont even notice them anymore. I'nm even bored of sleeping. thank god for Uber.
this sucks
Submitted by antluvdog (user info) at 2003-05-16 10:59:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
www.efmovie.com
Submitted by Kit <Kit_owen.at.hotmail.com> at 2003-02-21 11:21:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Tell me about it!
Submitted by sky (user info) at 2003-02-19 13:51:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I have a lot of shit to do today, which is abnormal, since my boss overhires so he has people to socialize with. Basically, I'm sitting here with a pile of sales tax papers on my desk, laughing at the fact that I have to contact a ton of customers who didn't pay sales tax for the last 20 years. How incredibly fun.
My degree got me what job? I was a history major (funny, I know) and if I had tiles to count, I probably would be counting them right now....only wooden planks above me though...pity. I like to look up my family members online, I found out about a hefty parking fine my brother got a few years ago. My exboyfriend from 7th grade lives in either texas or miami, not sure which.
Submitted by SeK (user info) at 2002-12-15 23:39:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well that's life ... Sometimes you're the dog and sometimes you're the hydrant.
Submitted by funkgfunkydo (user info) at 2002-11-09 18:19:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Not to burst everyone's bubble, but I work for a defense industry government contractor doing aerospace engineering. There are 136 tiles in my area, plus 12 are actually plexiglass tiles, with 14 places where there are fluorescent lights instead of tiles, and three tiles are half sized, due to vents for the air conditioning. Each of the regular tiles is 18" by 4'. There are approximately 15,552 holes per tile. Actually, when it comes to aerospace, you find out that what you might think of as cutting edge is actually 50 yr old technology. In aerospace, we're not allowed to have things break, because it wastes too much money. So, we only use "proven" parts and designs. I'm not sure what my job is other than "systems engineer" (I'm actually a physics major), but I know I always get it done way before anyone here in the company is expecting it; leaving me plenty of internet surfing and tile counting time.
Submitted by PeopleAreStrange (user info) at 2002-10-26 20:18:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
The only reason I enjoy going to work is because of the people I like there. On our email system is a hidden movieboard that many years ago was open to all staff but over time the direct link has been taken away so only the people who know about it post there or tell people about it they can trust.
So we don't get loads of new members but we are able to spend quite a lot of time on it and in many ways it is better than a place like ubersite because as well as shooting the breeze talking about all kinds of shit (including the odd film review) you get to go down the pub with them after work and get pissed.
Imagine all the regulars on here meeting and getting tanked up together?!! Well it creates some fun evenings what with all the different personalities and types of people involved.
My job could be a lot more interesting but I'm working on ways to improve it.
Submitted by jmm7054 (user info) at 2002-09-21 17:59:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Boredom is definately a growing trend in all major industries. I work for a major computer company and do about as much as the rest of you. On an average I sleep more than I work, and I get paid damn good money for it.
Submitted by _JP (user info) at 2002-08-13 14:49:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
It's not that I think it would be better from a bordom standpoint. I just think that I would like the work more. I'm in mechanical engineering, but the oil companies contract out all their engineering work to engineering firms, so you end up doing project management. I would like the technical side of engineering more. I also want to be able to use my creativity to solve unique problems. The only industries that really encounter unique problems is Automotive, Areospace/Areonautical, and Defense.
Submitted by JohnnyRotten <mdelli0.at.engr.uky.edu> at 2002-08-13 09:24:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Dude, you think that working at some big gov't agency is any different than what you're doing right now? Let me tell you - I interned with a VERY LARGE, VERY POPULAR government agency, and the other interns and I had bets on who could take the longest nap while sitting on the shitter (my pal holds the record at almost 2 hours). The whole reason that your story cracked me up was because I could relate. Sorry to crush your dreams, dude, but even the guys who land the "sweet, cutting-edge engineering internship" usually end up counting the holes in the ceiling. And by the way, I have friends who work at a major oil company - and they do the same thing (hell, it's probably the same one).
Submitted by yidele (user info) at 2002-08-12 13:36:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Those who can - do.
Those who can't - teach ( unfortunately )
Submitted by poodz (user info) at 2002-08-12 07:41:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
work is a shitter isnt it?
Submitted by _JP (user info) at 2002-08-12 00:23:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yea, I want to get a job that I like. Right now I'm interning with ---------- . . . wait I can't say that. It's one of the Super-Major oil companies, but I don't want to do the work that I've been doing for the rest of my life. I think that I would rather work in the Automotive industry or the Aeronautical/Areospace industries because they do more ground-breaking engineering. The government, specifically defense department, does too, but I'm not sure that I could work for the government in good conscience. Anyway, I want to find an internship more in line with my interest, but the company I'm with now has this great program including good pay, benefits, and full scholarship. I'm gonna try to get my next summer with them in their research department because I think that I would like that more. Eventually I think that I would like to teach at a university, though.
Submitted by yidele (user info) at 2002-08-11 15:56:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I actually like working for *******. Working for a telecom OEM has some definite advantages. We're paid well, get to travel around & partake in interesting projects, play with newest technology & generally have fun in our respective chosen fields of endevour ( those of us who are doing something at all related to the original direction of studies, that is). Granted, some work can be tedious - customers & over eager marketing folk can be a pain in the ass, but all in all I perefer doing what I do now to sitting in a cubicle surrounded by frustrated & angry office drones. Of course, if I were to choose this or any other job, I'd choose a v. well paid research job with grant money galore - but then I'd have to be talented & hardworking or failing that - lucky.
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2002-08-11 04:27:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Man... that shit is exactly why I'm busting my ass so hard to get out of the corporate rat race...
I'm on my way to a six figure salary, but do I give two shits? No...
About 5 years from now I'll have my PhD... then I can spend the rest of my life teaching... ah, now that's the stuff. A chance to make the difference in a few people's lives (not everyone, I'm not that naive... some years I won't have a single decent student)... and SUMMERS OFF. That's right... summers off.
Here's how I look at it. The day has 24 hours... the average person sleeps 8 hours a night... that leaves 16. Work will probably eat 8 of those hours... that leaves 8. Now you've got your commute, if it's average, you now have 7 hours left. Kids soccer games, bill paying, laundry, etc... you've probably got less than 4 hours a day to do what you want.
That's right, during the week you will spend twice as much time working as doing what you want.
You better fucking love your job.
If you don't, you're selling your life out.
Submitted by Zanz38 (user info) at 2002-08-10 07:09:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Glad i'm not the only person dreading 40 years of office life, with all it's politics. romances, temper tantrums. this is what life is all about for the 21st centry!! (fuck my spelling)
Submitted by Daydreamer <cplegrand.at.mail.com> at 2002-08-09 23:50:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
thank you so much! your boredom has alleviated mine for the amount of time it took to read this post.