Moldy Relationships

Some days I swear that I work in a ghetto. Some third world office space that the powers that be totally turn their back on.

Be warned, I am going to jump all over the place this post. I am having one of those days where the boredom is creeping into my brain, slowly taking over all faculties of rational thought. But at least you have been warned.

So my office ghetto.

There are men walking around dressed in head to toe black, armed with massive flashlights. Its really strange but I assure you that they think they have a purpose. Last week, when it rained (did it rain last week? It must have) the roof started leaking for the bajillionth time. So what to do when the roof leaks? Well first you put a pail under it. When thats full you put a bucket in its place, to be replaced with a barrel etc. When the water continues to run down the walls, seeping into the carpet, you rip a large hole into the ceiling so that the water starts to gush forth.

Then there will be a dry day. As a contract employee (these guys must be contract employees, there is no other way to explain what they did) you flood the roof with water to see where the problem is and then you leave for the day.

Consequently, they had to do it again. Meanwhile, its been several days and the wetness is starting to mold. Which is so great for your health. It also smells really bad (as mold is apt to do) so its one big ol' party here! Of course, management doesn't want to deal with it. And basically ignores our entreaties to do something. Anything.

In other news, Veronica has started to read. I know, I know, I didn't know she could read either. But she has a book, with a bookmark and she is reading.

I started thinking about this yesterday (I was bored) and I think she is doing it to impress me. Before we all start shaking our heads at my high opinion of myself, let me lay this out for you.

I read. A lot. Every day. I read 2 or 3 books a week (except right now when I am working on this nearly 1,000 page mammoth Shantaram, which is so excellent and you must read it) and this is a well known fact at work. Its an escape mechanism really. If I have to work here, at least let me escape from it for small portions of time. Anyway. People are always asking me about what books to read (at work and in my personal life)-- personally I think this is another sign from the Universe that I'm meant to work in Publishing, but what do I know?

So, the relationship I have with Veronica is an odd one. On the one hand, she is my supervisor and has moments where she tries to exert her power over me. On the other hand, sometimes it feels like she desperately wants to be my friend and overshares about her relationship at home and gossips about things at work. This is all fine and good, if not a little bit confusing.

Now, you should know that I always wear nail polish. Its an odd thing (because I can't allow my nails to chip, it distresses me and I think about how long until I can redo them) I started doing in highschool and its been so long that my nails actually hurt when I don't wear nail polish. Its like removing 3 layers of skin in a way (gross visual right?). I have kind of a bad habit of OPI nail polish. Can't stop buying them, must have the newest colours, am always searching for new ones. So Veronica never used to wear nail polish. But then she started admiring my nails all the time. And then she started to do her nails. Which is not necessarily attributed to me- I notice a lot more women do their nails now, that never used to.

But she will only use OPI and always needs my approval before she wears any new colour.

And now she is reading.

And she says things to me like: I can' wait to go on my break because I have a book to read.
Or: This book I'm reading? Its so good.

But my favourite has to be: There are a lot of words in here that I don't understand.

Ladies and Gentlemen, my supervisor.