On Being Vegetarian in a Meat Loving Office

If the sales guys in my office reach quota for the month, we are all treated to lunch. Lunch comes in the form of gourmet sandwiches. They are said to be incredible. I wouldn't know because I am a vegetarian and the sandwiches are available in only three varieties: chicken, beef, or veal. I once asked if the restaurant had a veggie sandwich but alas I was told "no". Accompanied with this verbal response was a very strange facial expression that could only be deciphered as "...and you are demented for asking".

I used to give my sandwich to one of the particularly piggy sales guys who was not satisfied with just one free lunch. Now I give my sandwiches to my boyfriend for his lunch. He is not a vegetarian at all. He eats whatever I make for him for dinner and lunch, of course,and he usually enjoys it but when we eat out, he goes straight for the burgers. I am not complaining about that either. It is my personal choice to be a vegetarian, and while I believe that in a perfect world, no animals would die for human consumption, I can't force other people to think and feel the way I do about everything. Hell, I am proud of myself for curbing his habit of leaving cupboard doors open and uncovered food in th fridge. I can't imagine taking on the challenge of getting him to stop eating meat!

I understand that my employer is being very nice to offer all of his employees a free lunch. And I do believe that it serves to motivate everyone to reach quota. I don't even mind that they do not order me a veggie sandwich. I could do with out the dirty look, though. I try not to pass judgement on their eating choices and habits, I would appreciate the same courtesy.

It's The Little Things That Drive You Insane

I arrive at work incredibly early, usually an hour to an hour and a half early every day. Of course, I leave at 4:30 twice a week for night class and I leave at 5pm on the dot the other three days. Lots of people stay late at work and they get tonnes of credit and nods of approval where as I get looks of disdain and consternation when I leave at 4:30 for a night course that, once completed, is going to save them from outsourcing at least one of our very important tasks at $50-$75 an hour.

They also put a new very strict web blocker in place. I am at work right now and I am really surprised that I got on here because I denied access to all of the work related sites that I tried to access this morning. Oh the irony.

Anyway, I suppose I shouldn't complain...especially because they are most likely reading everything I am writing.

New Guy at Work

The company that I work for has a sister company that is in the same location as us. we work together on a lot of stuff but our areas of expertise are slightly different. The sister company is a lot smaller with their 6 or so employees compared to our 50 + employees.

Anyway, our sister company had a few new hires last week. Both are goofy looking guys who seem to keep to themselves. At the end of the week early in the AM, though, one of the new guys introduced himself. Here is how the conversation went.

Him: Hello, we haven't met yet. I am (insert generic name here).

Me: Nice to meet you. How have you been enjoying it here so far?

Him: It's great but kind of confusing. I am not sure who belongs to what company.

Me: No worries, you will get used to it.

Him: So what do you do?

Me: I am one half of the marketing department. I am mostly in charge of the online stuff.

Him: Oh so you do the marketing stuff for us?

Me: No, I mostly do it for the other....

(this is where he cut me off)

Him: Oh Fuck, I don't want to talk to you, then.

And he stomped out of my office!

And that was how my Friday began. It pretty much followed that vein for the rest of the day.