it's a cubed life after all...

The other night at dinner, a hilarious conversation occurred between myself, the roommate, and another friend about working within the "walls" of a cubicle.  There are just particular things that occur in a cube that you may not even really understand unless you've worked in one yourself... although it may still be pretty entertaining to hear about.  Here are a few favorite (or not-so-favorite) things that come along with a cubed life that we came up with that are beyond ridiculous, embarrasing, and amusing to say the least...

1. The lack of privacy.  Can we just state the obvious that although there is the 'illusion' of privacy... that you indeed have NONE?  Instead you are in one giant room with mini padded walls that make you feel like you have your own space, while you still can hear absolutely every conversation around you.  That doctor's appointment you have on Friday?  You better believe Susie down the row knows about it.  The humiliating phone conversation you just had where you definitely teared up in the middle of it?  Sweet Debbie next to you is now e-mailing you to ask you if you're alright.  Let's just be honest... sometimes it's best to just walk far far away from the cubicle and make your phone calls there.  Your car with the doors locked is always a good option.  It'll definitely save you some dignity (and maybe even some explanations).
2. Speaking through the walls.  We've all done it.  How can you not?  It seems silly to pick up the phone and call the person in the cube next to you when they can hear you just as well talking regularly out loud.  The best though is when you talk to someone in a cube near you and don't know that they're not there.  Enter the awkward no response zone.  Just because they're not there doesn't mean that all the rest of the people around you aren't there.  They're just pretending not to be at this point for your sake.
3. Annoying sounds.  It's pretty much inevitable that you're going to hear this at one point or another when you can hear the entire office happening all around you.  Noisy feedback from an office phone because of someone's cell phone ringing (or vibrating for office ettiquette).. someone deciding to listen to music or maybe even their voicemails on speakerphone outloud.. a random tap-tap here or clicking of sorts.. all great examples.  It's even more unsettling when you realize it's coming from yourself.  You become a little more hyperaware of the noises you make when you realize that absolutely everyone around you can hear you (and may be annoyed by you) so when I started realizing a noise I made after finishing a project or transitioning to something different... you can imagine my surprise.  And when I say surprise, I mean more like I was horrified.  I was definitely less than pleased with myself.  Who wants to be the girl that makes the annoying sound everyday?  No worries.. I'm getting that in check quick, fast, and in a hurry!  Please forgive me, cubemates.
4. Lack of real walls.  So I definitely am not complaining about the fact that I have built-in bulletin boards all around me which is pretty fun, but I did receive a pretty cross for Christmas that I thought would be super cute to hang in my humble abode of a cube.  But alas, no tack is strong or sturdy enough to hold that cross.  Epic cube wall fail. 
5. With no real walls, there is no door.  So you certainly don't bip in and out of your cubicle through your DOORway, but instead we'll call it what it is... an ENTRYway.  And with this entryway, there is no real way to shut people out.  Don't get me wrong... I love people and I LOVE visitors in my cube.  Why in the world do you think that I insist on there never being anything in my visitor chair?  (Well I don't like clutter, but that's besides the point...)  But when your back is to the precious little entryway MOST of the time, it can create an easy way for people to scare the ever living daylights out of you when you don't know that they are dropping by.  But then again, that's usually only when they're TRYING to scare you.  But I guess that's a whole different story though...

So I'm pretty sure that I probably missed a gazillion hysterical things that occur on a daily basis working in a cubed life... but as crazy, hilarious, and distracting as it may be at times, I so enjoy that crazy little invention called a cublicle... and am proud to call it my own!  It also pretty much rocks that I'm surrounded by an awesome group of girls to call my cubemates.  Seriously could not have picked more fun peeps to share fake walls with to talk through everyday!