Friday, June 21, 2002. Entry #168

DI got some news today that is both good news and bad news.

I'm getting my own office.

I guess my chronic throat clearing isn't clearing up quickly enough (I'm not entirely certain this medication is helping. My acid reflux has gone away, but I'm still clearing my throat all day, and I think it's making my breath smell foul.), so they've decided to make things easier all around by putting me somewhere I won't bother anyone.

The good part of all this is that, well, I get my own office. I don't have to share desk space with anyone, there'll be no one looking over my shoulder, and I can stretch out without worrying about knocking my water bottle over into someone else's keyboard.

While Nick is being very careful in letting everyone know that this is not any kind of promotion (while also being very careful to assure me that this is no kind of punishment), and that I am no higher up on the totem pole, there is still an automatic illusion of authority that goes with having my own office. It's a status thing.

The downside is that I will be further alienated from the rest of the staff. Whatever complaints I may have about our work area, I still love being part of the bullpen. There are no walls dividing us, and the room is always filled with warm noise. If you need to ask a question, you can just turn your chair and ask them. My new office is on one side of the bullpen, with an open door and window, but there is still that degree of separation.

So the difficulties I've found in making friends here will be compounded by the new arrangement. (Of course, the corollary is that when people start to forget the throat clearing, they will be more open to having me around. Ironic.)

Ah well. As a couple readers have reminded me, the key to office relationships is putting myself out there, and I will simply have to do more of that in the future.

Lisa's zoo training is nearly complete, and she's been having the time of her life.

Last Sunday, she was lucky enough to be part of the crew giving the elephants their daily bath. Seems these pampered pachyderms get a daily scrub-down by willing volunteers, and then get to loll-around in a room-sized bathtub getting fed peanuts by the handful.

One of her fellow trainees had a digital camera, so here's a shot of my sweetie scrubbing away.

One Year Ago Today: I was still on hiatus, but in 1633, 1633 Galileo Galilei is forced by the Inquisition to "abjure, curse, and detest" his Copernican heliocentric views.

Mom Rating: 4 out of 5. Mom thinks the best part of your office is being able to close the door.

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Take me home, big fella