Just Another Herd Creature

Day Four and I still hate my new job in my mini-cube in its dirty taupe depressive décor. My immediate co-workers are all around me and I can hear everything they talk about and mostly they talk about food and diets. K (a male) sits next to me and I’ve just heard a 10 minute conversation between him and Co and Ch (both females) about the calories in bananas and how many you can eat before it equals some granola bar. And did you know it is okay to eat 2000 calories a day if you eat most of them in the morning because you will burn them off. Sheesh. And let me add, none of these people are fat. I’m sure there doctors are after a few of them to lose 20 lbs, but that’s about it.

Yesterday we took Co out for a birthday lunch. I didn’t really want to go, but I’m trying to fit in, so I went. At least ½ the meal conversation was about the food and whether someone is “being good” or not. We ordered 2 desserts to split between the 6 of us, but K immediately informed us he was going to be good and not eat one bite – and he didn’t.

The first day I was here, K made a comment about how loose his short sleeves were getting on his biceps because he hadn’t been working out – he was loosing his “guns.” Without thinking I said, “You know what you can do about that – put your shirt in the dryer on high and you’ll again have tight sleeves.” He laughed, but I don’t think he appreciated the humor. I’m definitely feeling toned down here. I don’t even like to talk on the phone because everyone can hear you and I know they are listening, because sometimes they comment on something I’ve said. 

I hate it here.

Plus Guy’s attendant S is quitting for health reasons. Her last day is tomorrow. The doctors haven’t been able to get her out of pain and stabilize her. She thinks she has cancer and they just haven’t found it yet. In the last few months she has lost about 80 lbs and she’s still losing. Her niece, D is going to take over for now. D worked for about 3 weeks last month when S was too sick.   I’m so worried about S. I don’t think she’s getting the best health care. Because of some weird hours change in IHSS rules, S has lost her health insurance until Jan. 09. I cried last night when she called to tell me. She’d already told stonebender, so it wasn’t a complete shock to me. I always knew some day, she’d quit, I just never thought it would be because of her health.