Cheddarblog

The Swiss_Mouse has a friend who is a former co-worker.

The Swiss_Mouse met this woman when they both worked for the same horrible company.  The Swiss_Mouse’s friend hated the company so much that she lasted 6 months before quitting.  The Swiss_Mouse lasted 15 months. (Someday the Swiss_Mouse will reveal more of that story)

For years, even though this was a horrible experience for the Swiss_Mouse’s friend, she maintained that “work wasn’t that bad”.  She actually had a job that if she didn’t “enjoy”, she at least felt comfortable.  Now the Swiss_Mouse has complained to his friend for years about everything: idiot managerial decisions, asinine co-workers, horrible work policies, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, You name it.  With each complaint, she politely answered “I feel your pain” but would respond with something along the lines of “I don’t have to fight that here.”

However over the last couple of years, she has started to “see the light”.  The Swiss_Mouse’s email correspondence from her has taken on a new tone. 

She has become numbed.

She has started emerging from her darkness and now sees her managers in a new light (it’s not rose colored).  Her work conditions have altered and now everyday is a rush to quitting time.

She has become numbed.

The Swiss_Mouse has told her that we (Swiss_Mouse+Co-workers) have used the term “numbing” ever since we read it in Dilbert.  Now we watch for signs in our “newest” co-workers.  It’s very funny to watch.  Some are blatant, walking in the door in the a.m. and saying  “I hate this place”, for others it begins with head shakes after meetings.

Pass the apathy cream.

Make it to 5 o’clock.

Pray to patron saint of the lottery.