Category: Work

The Problem of the Office Kitchen

On By marieclapperIn WorkLeave a comment

I have a nickname at my office, a nickname I gave myself: The Kitchen Bitch. Somebody has to be it, and I figured it might as well be me and it might as well be called just what it is. Who wants to see somebody else’s dirty bowl soaking in a sink?! It’s bad enough at home, but in an office? Yuck! 

So when a cup is left on the counter or an empty coffee pot remains on the burner, I send a friendly reminder. As the mother of six, I’ve had plenty of practice at friendly reminding. Giving multiple friendly reminders to the same offender doesn’t bother me one bit. In fact, I think it adds credibility to my title.

Joel, a team member, framed and posted this photo in the office kitchen with the caption, “The look you get when you leave a dirty dish in the sink.”

Joel has seen that look before. He said my look would deter anyone from leaving a mess in our office kitchen. That’s especially amusing, because Joel is a repeat offender. Bless his heart!

The Sound of Silly

On By marieclapperIn Aging, Friends, WorkLeave a comment

I had my hearing checked this week. I already knew I was having problems with hearing in my left ear. First, because when I put that ear down on my pillow, I can’t hear a thing. (Sometimes that’s a blessing. Think: snoring husband.) Second, because during a similar test a dozen years ago I was told that I’d lost most of the hearing in the mid-range of that ear.

People seem more kind to adults with vision problems than those with hearing problems. They eventually get annoyed at having to repeat everything once or twice. I don’t want to be any more annoying than I already am, so I know I’m headed for some sort of hearing device.

Plus — I don’t want to miss a thing! I want to hear it all — especially every word spoken by my grandchildren, the most darling, smart, lovable children on the planet today! 

When I got the test results from the audiologist, I figured I should let my teammates know right away. I texted Adela: “I just found out I have only 84% hearing in my left ear. The good news is the tester gave me a list of the 12 sounds I can’t hear, so starting right now, please stop using words with any of those sounds in them. Thank you. Tell Christi to do the same.”

Adela wrote back, “Please send the list of the 12 sounds so we can create a unique way to communicate, and you won’t know what we’re talking about.”