Office Aesthetics

10:10 - Arrive at the office 40 minutes late and I am greeted in the elevator by The Laughing Accountant, obviously laughing, he says "HE HE HEY! You! Look at you, you missed it! There was a fire drill this morning and you missed it, we're all coming up from it now! Guess it pays to get in late. HAH!" He then nudges me and laughs even more. He means nothing. He's a kind person, the "Mayor of the Office" of you will. He sets up the office sports pools and collects money when someone gets married or has a baby. He even looks like a Buddha, with a shiny, shaved head and unfaltering grin.

How can he be so happy working in this shithole?

Our offices have the aesthetics of a DMV or worse. A clinic for the poor. The cubes were purchased second hand and are scratched and stained. Some try and make their cubes cheery by adding photographs, knick knacks, mirrors and lamps. My favorites are those who sell products via network marketing and leave catalogues on the edge of their cubes. I've flipped through many an Avon catalogue that way. The ancient, stained carpet is forest green and the walls are papered with something that looks like rice paper, but again is stained and frayed throughout. Perhaps it was purchased in New Jersey at a discount an d someone's cousin installed it.

Shall I mention the toilets?

There is a lock on the door, with a pass code. Just in case someone would be inclined to steal the industrial black toilet seat from the toilet bowl. Three sinks, three toilets and a mirror...and fluorescent lights of the worst caliber. These are the lights that make a 19 year old look 30 and a thirty year old...well, according to the 4th floor toilet, I'm ready for retirement.

The cliche of florescent lighting in an office is ancient, the worst of all of the offenses: in a windowless office, with no plants, artwork, or any nod to modern aesthetics, one would hope for a tiny bit of light, real light, to make this place less of a shithole. But alas, it is too much for one to hope for.

This brings me back to my original question...what makes The Laughing Accountant keep laughing?

What lucky stars does he thank for this job? I suppose we are paid well, and treated fairly, which is why we all stay, but I don't, no I can't laugh about it.