Words are everything

Impertinent at work

impertinent | im-PER-tuh-nunt | adjective 1 : not pertinent : irrelevant 2 *a : not restrained within due or proper bounds especially of propriety or good taste b : given to or characterized by insolent rudeness

This past Friday we planted our tomato plants in the field. We started at 7:30am so that it wouldn't be too hot by the time we finished. Lisa brought us bagels and vegetable schmear (from Noah's) and orange juice. The actual planting wasn't that bad, but it was tiring and there was a lot of lifting. We finished around 10 and then worked on my project until 11:30. We got everything done! To reward ourselves, Lisa drove us to Jamba Juice in her brand new CRV. We used our coupons for a free sixteen ounce all-fruit smoothie. I got the strawberry one and it was delicious.

Afterward, Lisa dropped us off (Jessica and me) and as we walked into the building to get our lunches, that same woman (the secretary that peruses our lunches) noticed our drinks and said, "You guys went to Jamba Juice and you didn't get me one??"

Excuse me? Were we supposed to think of her? We had just worked all morning out in the field and we were sweaty, tired, and hungry. We tried to be nice and said that we hurried out there, plus we were using our coupons. But she wouldn't let the subject drop! It was very impertinent. She kept talking about how rude we had been not to even ask, how refreshing our drinks looked, how she would have given us money, etc. The ridiculous thing is that she has her own car and gets off work at 2pm. She could drive herself to Jamba Juice!

She is increasingly getting on my nerves about how petty and childish she's being. A month ago Lisa had grown up tomato plants for people in the building, per our boss's instructions. This secretary had sent out an email saying they were available in the lobby. I went and asked her if she could send out another email asking people to thank Lisa for growing them. She got all huffy and said I should have told her before she sent out the other email. Well, it's not my fault she didn't think of it then. Plus, how hard of a request is it?

So, she sends out another email. And what does it say? "Please "THANK" Lisa for growing these tomato plants." Were those quotation marks around thanks necessary? Obviously now we know she wasn't being sincere and that she didnt really want to thank Lisa. It's like we're 5 again. Ridiculous.

posted by Sharona @ 10:34 AM