balance

It’s funny, because, typically, at these start-up companies, most of the employees are male. In my last company maybe 20% were women and at this one, I’d say it’s about the same. Which is good when you’re running to the loo, but bad when you need some advice. Today, a gentleman invited me out to dinner and I was uncertain whether to go to or not. I quietly said something to my coworker in the next cube, and all of a sudden I hear three heads peer out from different cubicles asking me questions. I really don’t think I can describe it well, but just to see them perk up all at once and ask a billion questions… I was laughing so hard. Funny how boys will bring the women together, eh? The five of us who were in the same area bonded for a bit and then returned to our individual desks. The consesus was that I should go.

reading

On Friday, I think I was the only Marketing person in the office, so I kept to myself and tried to stay focused as much as possible. I was really tired at one point, poured myself a cup of coffee and work right up! I never drink coffee, so when I actually do have a cup, it’s really effective.

Anyway, this weekend has been extremely boring, even with the nightly adventures. Living at home is NOT glamorous. I spent entirely too much time in front of the television, wasting away. I really, really, miss reading, and this, coupled with my boredom, (and after having request no fewer than 15 books at the library) provided me with the perfect solution:

READ MY WHOLE BUSINESS LAW TEXTBOOK THIS SUMMER

this isn’t actually what the book looks like, but it’s the closest thing I could find
Reasons to do so:
1. I love reading
2. I miss reading
3. I am so bored it’s painful
4. I’m going to have to read it at some point anyway
5. I think business law is interesting
6. During lunch, at work, when I’m supposed to be taking at break, I have nothing to do but surf the internet. That’s pretty much the last thing I want to be doing after staring at a computer for the previous three hours…

I don’t know how long reading the textbook will last, but I do want to read interesting, intelligent, enjoyable books this summer. Suggestions are very appreciated!

coffee

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you say “intern responsibilities”? COFFEE! Today two gentlemen had a meeting with my boss, but when they arrived she was nowhere to be found. One of the Executives let them in, and sought me out to “handle them”. I escorted them to a conference room. And then it happened: I asked if I could get them anything, water, coffee, tea, whatever. One asked for a glass of water and the other asked for coffee. I laughed at the irony of me getting coffee. Obviously, the intern makes coffee. But that has NEVER been one of my responsibilities, much like Jake Conley, who’s position “is not running errands and getting coffee”.

In fact, when I started at my old job, my boss had to actually show me how to brew a pot. One day, one of the employees asked me to make him a cup, and I quickly ran over to get it for him. When I returned, he had a huge grin on his face, and I realized that he was just joking.

The point is that I spend the majority of my time doing cool and interesting, or at the very least, advanced things, but it really brings me back to “being an intern” when I get coffee for someone.

All this talk of coffee, and I think I’ve just found a perfect “Joke of the Week” for next week:

A college senior was hired as an intern, and his first task was to go out and fetch coffee for the office staffers.

Eager to do well on his first day, he grabbed a large thermos and hurried to a nearby coffee shop. He held up the thermos and the coffee shop worker quickly came over to take the order.

The intern asked, “Is this big enough to hold six cups of coffee?”

The coffee shop worker looked at the thermos, hesitated a few seconds, then finally replied, “Yeah, it looks like about six cups to me.”

“Oh good!” the intern sighed in relief. “Then give me two regular coffees, two black, and two decaf.”