some people are born to add spices to your boring routine
People often say you can't make friends at work.
It's true, only to some extent.
Colleague could easily be friends if you share the same frequency, happen to have similar interest/topic, and most importantly, at the back of your head, you know you have no reason to compete against each other at work; even if there is reason to do so, you'd prefer not to go there.
I'm not one who loves confrontation and competition of any sort - wherever I am.
You may call me passive, noncompetitive or one who lives in my own fairytale. Haha.
Maybe because of that, work politics aren't in my dictionary. I admit there are some not very nice people around but I tend to ignore them altogether. What you don't see, you won't feel they exist.
What prompted this post was the encounters I had with one funny colleague in recent months.
He is one BIG cheerful old man - when I say BIG, I mean HUGE - in his fifties, loves his wife A LOT, always trying to eat healthily, always admiring the stuff I put into my mouth just cos weight-wise he can't afford to eat what I eat, claims to be a chewaholic (he chews half pack of gum a day), and is one hell of a Joker.
8 of us were put together in a 'temporary office' which is made up of a small meeting room to get a couple of bridges designed and issued for construction within 2 months. So much stress and ass-tight deadlines. Due to the confidentiality of the project, people who are not part of the team aren't allowed into the 'office'. 8 stressed and lonely souls in a little confined space. If not because of Mr. Big Guy, it'll be so boring.
#1 - When he first saw me eating Crunchy Nut cereal with warm coffee...
Big: o.O What's that? (kepoh and curious) Crunchy Nut? Where's the milk?
Me: No milk. I eat them with coffee.
Big: What?! (overly-shocked) Coffee-coated crunchy nut? Oh wow. I didn't know we could eat it that way.
Me: Yayaya. It's MY way of eating it.
When he saw two other colleagues eating Weetbix and muesli, he told them to also coat their breakfast with coffee.
#2 - After the Easter long weekend
Big: *stares at me from top to bottom*
Me: What???
Big: You look the same. Amazing.
Me: Why would I look different?
Big: It's Easter. Where are the chocolate effects? Easter eggs?
Me: No chocolate, no egg. Hence, no effect.
Big: *sigh*. Look at me. Hate those eggs.
#3 - When there was strong wind and storm outside the window
Me: Oh man, How could I get my lunch in this weather.
Big: o.O *eyes wide on me*
Me: *ready to roll my eyes at his next sentence*
Big: Hey, don't forget to bring your handbag, with all your other stuff in it, and your laptop bag and laptop, and jacket, and whatever heavy stuff you could find here.
Me: ??? So I could head home for the day?
Big: No. No. So you have some additional weights on, and won't get blown away.
Me: *ROLL eyes*
#4 - When I had Hungry Jacks for lunch
Big: *stares at my food*
Me: ??? Want some? Feel free.
Big: No. No. I can't.
Me: Why not?
Big: I wish I had your metabolism. How could you stay so skinny with those food you eat?
Me: What's with the food I eat? I don't eat that much, you know.
Big: But you have Crunchy Nut everyday!!!
Me: Huh? That's my breakfast!
Big: Ya. I can't even imagine myself eating them. I'll be like... *gesturing an exploded tummy*
#5 - When I wore a dress one fine day
Big: Something's not right.
Me: What's not right?
Big: You're in a dress.
Me: Oh yes I am.
Big: But you're usually a pants-girl.
Me: I just thought I'd be a dress-girl today.
Big: Right. Holding on tight to Summer, isn't it. And with stokings on, just in case Summer isn't that Summery huh?
#6 - The next day after the dress
Big: Oh look! Jeans!
Me: Yeah, it's Friday?
Big: I know. Ronny you missed out. Clarisse wore a dress yesterday. Now she's back to being a pants-girl.
Me: *roll eyes*
#7 - Whenever his phone rings and it's his wife on the line
The customised ringtone for his wife goes: *siren* *siren*....*frantic voice shouting: IT'S THE WIFE!! IT'S THE WIFE!!*
It never fails to make everyone laugh. And whenever he happens to be away from his desk and misses the call, we'd inform him that THE WIFE called.
#8 - His lame joke
Ron: Can you model (means draw using programme) the bridge?
Big: No, I can't.
Ron: Why not? It's easy. I could show you how.
Big: No. Never. Just can't.
Ron: ??? Why not? Just do blablabla......
Big: Well, look at me (his size)...how could I model anything? No want would want me to model for them.
Ron: .......*roll eyes*
It is conversation like this which keeps productivity going and prevents the brain from falling into resting mode - no coffee-fix needed.
One Happy Soul in our life is never one too many. He would be one of the people I'd miss dearly if I leave this company one day.
