Author Topic: Overheard at Work  (Read 13252659 times)

Vindicated

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17850 on: June 29, 2017, 08:35:16 AM »
CW: Going to the Thai place with us today?
Me: Nah.  Too expensive for me.
CW: Well, I have stopped going to the casino, so I have all of this extra money that needs to be spent on something!
Me: You could invest it.
CW: I have some investments*.

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth.  Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

This CW is also the same one that said I should do financial advising, but when I offered to help him for free, he refused.

solon

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17851 on: June 29, 2017, 09:22:41 AM »
At this very moment I am sitting on a coach in front of a truly horrendous person.

"I need to get my nails done but I need to find someone else to pay for it."
"Now I've got a job again my parents are really chill so I'll just ring up my dad and be like, 'Dad, this guy on the bus made me pay for another ticket even though I said I'd just, like, not printed my other one out.' He'll totally pay me back, like, it's only £25."
"For, like, five weeks I was just chilling out and going to festivals and stuff and my parents were just like 'What are you doing with your life?' And I was totally broke and they literally wouldn't give me any money, but now I've got this job and they're totally chill and I'm like, why couldn't you have been like this when I needed money before, you know?'"
"I've stopped smoking. But I just don't seem to have any more money. It's like I just spend it on more expensive food or something. I don't even know."

Plus the fact that she let this guy who likes her but she rejected move in with her (apparently they are sleeping in the same double bed?! But wearing pyjamas so it's, like, fine) and she said she might just have to start sleeping with him so doesn't move out because she needs a roommate (in what seems like a one bedroom flat?!)

SMH at how the other half lives.

TheGrimSqueaker

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17852 on: June 29, 2017, 10:14:23 AM »
At this very moment I am sitting on a coach in front of a truly horrendous person.

"I need to get my nails done but I need to find someone else to pay for it."
"Now I've got a job again my parents are really chill so I'll just ring up my dad and be like, 'Dad, this guy on the bus made me pay for another ticket even though I said I'd just, like, not printed my other one out.' He'll totally pay me back, like, it's only £25."
"For, like, five weeks I was just chilling out and going to festivals and stuff and my parents were just like 'What are you doing with your life?' And I was totally broke and they literally wouldn't give me any money, but now I've got this job and they're totally chill and I'm like, why couldn't you have been like this when I needed money before, you know?'"
"I've stopped smoking. But I just don't seem to have any more money. It's like I just spend it on more expensive food or something. I don't even know."

Plus the fact that she let this guy who likes her but she rejected move in with her (apparently they are sleeping in the same double bed?! But wearing pyjamas so it's, like, fine) and she said she might just have to start sleeping with him so doesn't move out because she needs a roommate (in what seems like a one bedroom flat?!)

If it wasn't for the ocean I'd swear you'd met my 17-year-old daughter. I've been completely unable to teach her anything resembling a work ethic. She thinks she'll inherit money from my parents, or from me, simply because my parents are very well off and she's the only grandchild.

honeybbq

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17853 on: June 29, 2017, 10:30:24 AM »
One of my colleagues was during the lunch break telling us about her weekend. It was her friend's birthday. The friend had been asking her for a long time to join her in an obstacle race (running 6km with obstacles like climbing a wall and wading through mud and such. She gave the friend for her birthday a night in a hotel for both of them, a party and two tickets for such an obstacle race. Afterwards there was also a lot of party and a lot of alcohol in a country where alcohol is the most expensive in the world. My colleagues was also telling us about all the races she was planning to do. Obviously a lot of her money is going to that sort of events. She is not a big spendypants in general, but obviously prioritizes her spending in this sort of stuff.

I don't like mud runs but I do spend a lot of my 'hobby' money on race fees! I honestly think that is an awesome present from a good friend and an experience they can share. 

I did a girl's race weekend away for my 40th and I will never forget it for the rest of my life, and it was worth every cent. :)  I can totally appreciate her spending though I know it's some people's worst nightmare.

merula

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17854 on: June 29, 2017, 10:31:54 AM »
At this very moment I am sitting on a coach in front of a truly horrendous person.

"I need to get my nails done but I need to find someone else to pay for it."
"Now I've got a job again my parents are really chill so I'll just ring up my dad and be like, 'Dad, this guy on the bus made me pay for another ticket even though I said I'd just, like, not printed my other one out.' He'll totally pay me back, like, it's only £25."
"For, like, five weeks I was just chilling out and going to festivals and stuff and my parents were just like 'What are you doing with your life?' And I was totally broke and they literally wouldn't give me any money, but now I've got this job and they're totally chill and I'm like, why couldn't you have been like this when I needed money before, you know?'"
"I've stopped smoking. But I just don't seem to have any more money. It's like I just spend it on more expensive food or something. I don't even know."

Plus the fact that she let this guy who likes her but she rejected move in with her (apparently they are sleeping in the same double bed?! But wearing pyjamas so it's, like, fine) and she said she might just have to start sleeping with him so doesn't move out because she needs a roommate (in what seems like a one bedroom flat?!)

Did she have a posh-ish yet Yorkshire accent? If so, her name is Charlie but her friends call her Queenie, and she doesn't get the joke.

Gondolin

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17855 on: June 29, 2017, 11:14:42 AM »
Quote
She thinks she'll inherit money from my parents, or from me, simply because my parents are very well off.

Sounds like my step sister. She's convinced of this despite both her parent and my parent informing all the children of their intention to "go out broke".

mtn

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17856 on: June 29, 2017, 11:27:07 AM »

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth. Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

No, that's not bad... That is horrendous. I have about that much in retirement, and I've never made that much and am only 28.


shelivesthedream

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17857 on: June 29, 2017, 11:49:16 AM »
At this very moment I am sitting on a coach in front of a truly horrendous person.

"I need to get my nails done but I need to find someone else to pay for it."
"Now I've got a job again my parents are really chill so I'll just ring up my dad and be like, 'Dad, this guy on the bus made me pay for another ticket even though I said I'd just, like, not printed my other one out.' He'll totally pay me back, like, it's only £25."
"For, like, five weeks I was just chilling out and going to festivals and stuff and my parents were just like 'What are you doing with your life?' And I was totally broke and they literally wouldn't give me any money, but now I've got this job and they're totally chill and I'm like, why couldn't you have been like this when I needed money before, you know?'"
"I've stopped smoking. But I just don't seem to have any more money. It's like I just spend it on more expensive food or something. I don't even know."

Plus the fact that she let this guy who likes her but she rejected move in with her (apparently they are sleeping in the same double bed?! But wearing pyjamas so it's, like, fine) and she said she might just have to start sleeping with him so doesn't move out because she needs a roommate (in what seems like a one bedroom flat?!)

Found this one hilarious SLTD!
Well, hilarious isn't my first pick. She'll end up leading the guy on unless she says exactly why she's sleeping with him... If the roles were reversed everyone would shame the guy but because it's a girl it's okay?

Really?? I feel like everyone would shame the girl but if it were a guy they'd be congratulating him for getting some while also getting a cheap rent.

There was further horrendosity about the girl and this guy (Dan). She thinks she might be about to start dating someone else and was bemoaning the fact that Dan would be really awkward about it. No shit, you told him you weren't interested then suggested he move in and sleep in your bed? And you might start sleeping with him? Of course he's going to be funny about it. You couldn't be giving more conflicting signals if you were plugged in to both sides of a malfunctioning Morse machine.

And THEN she had the gall to say, and I quote, "I just don't want Dan to come to this party because I know he'll fancy my friend Rosie and I'm just not having that."

I really genuinely try in life not to be Judgey McJudgeypants and to think the best of people but I got two hours of this girl's monologue to her poor friend/colleague (I think the latter - they were on their way to a teaching conference) and not one thing she said made me the slightest bit sympathetic.

"It's just, like, I've been getting up at like twelve so it's like my whole day is switched round so even though I've only been up for like two hours it's like my body thinks I'm asleep. I know we're a bit late but when we get there I really need to get like another coffee and a sandwich or something." And there's me thinking "NO, COLLEAGUE. Do not be late because this stupid person wants to trail round looking for a nice cafe. ASSERT YOURSELF. Say you will go straight to the conference and meet her there."

"Why would you even get a salad from Subway, you know? If you don't want the bread, why don't you just, like, go somewhere nice? I literally don't get it."

mustachepungoeshere

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17858 on: June 29, 2017, 06:08:58 PM »
A colleague of mine is being hassled by someone she worked with at her previous job.

He has been made redundant at 55 after 25 years with the company, and received a payout of more than $250,000.

A lot of people expected him to retire, but apparently he can't afford to as he's been living beyond his means for years, including renting a house in an expensive part of Sydney for $1500 a week.

Now he's making a pest of himself with former colleagues, trying to scare up work.

doublethinkmoney

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17859 on: June 29, 2017, 06:19:43 PM »
A colleague of mine is being hassled by someone she worked with at her previous job.

He has been made redundant at 55 after 25 years with the company, and received a payout of more than $250,000.

A lot of people expected him to retire, but apparently he can't afford to as he's been living beyond his means for years, including renting a house in an expensive part of Sydney for $1500 a week.

Now he's making a pest of himself with former colleagues, trying to scare up work.
I would take that payout while skipping out the door!


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Goldielocks

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17860 on: June 29, 2017, 11:23:56 PM »
At this very moment I am sitting on a coach in front of a truly horrendous person.

"I need to get my nails done but I need to find someone else to pay for it."
"Now I've got a job again my parents are really chill so I'll just ring up my dad and be like, 'Dad, this guy on the bus made me pay for another ticket even though I said I'd just, like, not printed my other one out.' He'll totally pay me back, like, it's only £25."
"For, like, five weeks I was just chilling out and going to festivals and stuff and my parents were just like 'What are you doing with your life?' And I was totally broke and they literally wouldn't give me any money, but now I've got this job and they're totally chill and I'm like, why couldn't you have been like this when I needed money before, you know?'"
"I've stopped smoking. But I just don't seem to have any more money. It's like I just spend it on more expensive food or something. I don't even know."

Plus the fact that she let this guy who likes her but she rejected move in with her (apparently they are sleeping in the same double bed?! But wearing pyjamas so it's, like, fine) and she said she might just have to start sleeping with him so doesn't move out because she needs a roommate (in what seems like a one bedroom flat?!)

If it wasn't for the ocean I'd swear you'd met my 17-year-old daughter. I've been completely unable to teach her anything resembling a work ethic. She thinks she'll inherit money from my parents, or from me, simply because my parents are very well off and she's the only grandchild.

LOL,  I honestly thought it was you writing at first, and that the punchline was that it is your daughter (or her friend) across from you ... until the pound notes started to pop in, and I registered shelivesthedream's name instead of yours...!
« Last Edit: June 29, 2017, 11:27:39 PM by Goldielocks »

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17861 on: June 30, 2017, 01:54:46 AM »

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth. Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

No, that's not bad... That is horrendous. I have about that much in retirement, and I've never made that much and am only 28.

Maybe at 28 you haven't faced what this guy has. You sit there in judgement but for all you know he's supporting elderly parents, or a disabled sibling, or has even had monumental medical bills himself. What you see is just a hear-say snap shot of someone's life, and life is complicated, my young friend. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know a dozen people in my city that have lost everything, who WERE insured and WERE saving hard, because the city was destroyed by a quake. I know a man who lost his house, his restaurant and his son in the space of 3 minutes. Sure, there are a lot of stupid people making stupid decisions around but I don't think you can claim superiority based on how much someone supposedly has in their retirement account!

shelivesthedream

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17862 on: June 30, 2017, 02:48:17 AM »
At this very moment I am sitting on a coach in front of a truly horrendous person.

"I need to get my nails done but I need to find someone else to pay for it."
"Now I've got a job again my parents are really chill so I'll just ring up my dad and be like, 'Dad, this guy on the bus made me pay for another ticket even though I said I'd just, like, not printed my other one out.' He'll totally pay me back, like, it's only £25."
"For, like, five weeks I was just chilling out and going to festivals and stuff and my parents were just like 'What are you doing with your life?' And I was totally broke and they literally wouldn't give me any money, but now I've got this job and they're totally chill and I'm like, why couldn't you have been like this when I needed money before, you know?'"
"I've stopped smoking. But I just don't seem to have any more money. It's like I just spend it on more expensive food or something. I don't even know."

Plus the fact that she let this guy who likes her but she rejected move in with her (apparently they are sleeping in the same double bed?! But wearing pyjamas so it's, like, fine) and she said she might just have to start sleeping with him so doesn't move out because she needs a roommate (in what seems like a one bedroom flat?!)

If it wasn't for the ocean I'd swear you'd met my 17-year-old daughter. I've been completely unable to teach her anything resembling a work ethic. She thinks she'll inherit money from my parents, or from me, simply because my parents are very well off and she's the only grandchild.

LOL,  I honestly thought it was you writing at first, and that the punchline was that it is your daughter (or her friend) across from you ... until the pound notes started to pop in, and I registered shelivesthedream's name instead of yours...!

I regard it as a curious but significant honour for my posts to be compared to TGS :)

mtn

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17863 on: June 30, 2017, 06:25:07 AM »

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth. Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

No, that's not bad... That is horrendous. I have about that much in retirement, and I've never made that much and am only 28.

Maybe at 28 you haven't faced what this guy has. You sit there in judgement but for all you know he's supporting elderly parents, or a disabled sibling, or has even had monumental medical bills himself. What you see is just a hear-say snap shot of someone's life, and life is complicated, my young friend. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know a dozen people in my city that have lost everything, who WERE insured and WERE saving hard, because the city was destroyed by a quake. I know a man who lost his house, his restaurant and his son in the space of 3 minutes. Sure, there are a lot of stupid people making stupid decisions around but I don't think you can claim superiority based on how much someone supposedly has in their retirement account!

Based on the fact that this is a thread more or less specifically for that, why can't I? Besides, the rest of the post was this (emphasis mine):

CW: Going to the Thai place with us today?
Me: Nah.  Too expensive for me.
CW: Well, I have stopped going to the casino, so I have all of this extra money that needs to be spent on something!

Me: You could invest it.
CW: I have some investments*.

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth.  Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

This CW is also the same one that said I should do financial advising, but when I offered to help him for free, he refused.

cavewoman

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17864 on: June 30, 2017, 07:45:04 AM »
I know this isn't original by any means, but...

The other day we were at lunch and the topic of cable came up.  I said something about "good thing cable isn't really necessary anymore" (or probably it sounded judgier.. I'm working on that). And a work friend said "It is for us!"

Same work friend complains about money all the time.  They rent a house from her sister, and have such an inefficient a/c unit that they pay outrageous bills to keep the house at like 80-85!! (and I prioritize a/c here - last week it was over 110 for 5 days in a row)  I would hate hate hate paying 400-500 to still be hot and miserable.

She also isn't that great about bringing her lunch, or will bring a weeks worth of supplies for sandwiches or salads and then decide to go out on a whim. 

And joins the crew who does afternoon Starbucks runs pretty often.

And this one got me - her cat recently had to go to the vet because of a blocked urinary tract (something like that, I'm not sure on the details) and she was talking about the pricing - first they brought out the 2,000 bill with overnight stays and surgery, then the 1,000 bill which would solve the problem for good but they'd have to do the monitoring post op themselves, then the 400 bill which was a temporary solution and poor kitty will probably have reoccurring problems :(

I know that what people are willing to pay for their pets is a very personal thing, but it's just sad for poor kitty.  And with the a/c, I feel like getting their sister to put in a new a/c unit is the best option, but barring that, if they bought a new unit themselves they'd probably earn back their money in one summer of savings!  And with the cable thing, I'm proud that I successfully held my tongue and didn't say that if they cut cable (they have netflix, hulu, prime and a kodi stick) they could at least be able to afford the vet, or the a/c, or a million other things (not all at once, obviously) with the 200 they would not be spending each month.

jinga nation

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17865 on: June 30, 2017, 08:27:14 AM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

merula

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17866 on: June 30, 2017, 08:30:51 AM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but some of the best people I know I met through work. There are different boundaries when we're actively working together, but I would've missed out on some great friendships if I had rejected all of the people I spend 40+ hours a week with.

rockstache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17867 on: June 30, 2017, 08:31:54 AM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

+1 times about a million

mtn

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17868 on: June 30, 2017, 10:11:47 AM »
  And with the a/c, I feel like getting their sister to put in a new a/c unit is the best option, but barring that, if they bought a new unit themselves they'd probably earn back their money in one summer of savings!

Or at least buy a couple of window units for bedroom/family room--thats what we did in a pinch. Worked shockingly well.

jinga nation

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17869 on: June 30, 2017, 10:26:35 AM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but some of the best people I know I met through work. There are different boundaries when we're actively working together, but I would've missed out on some great friendships if I had rejected all of the people I spend 40+ hours a week with.
No offense taken.
I have very good co-workers, technically fantastic, but peel back that layer to reveal the non-work person and I'll bipedal skedaddle.

mm1970

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17870 on: June 30, 2017, 11:55:45 AM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but some of the best people I know I met through work. There are different boundaries when we're actively working together, but I would've missed out on some great friendships if I had rejected all of the people I spend 40+ hours a week with.
+1

I spend so many hours at work, I really want to like my coworkers. 

As far as hanging out with them outside of work
- did that a ton while in the Navy, many were in my wedding
- still go on regular walks with someone I worked with in the late 1990s and then again in 2012-2014
- still run with and hang out with one of my besties from the job in between

Seriously, my best friends these days are either parents of my kids' friends or former coworkers.

Proud Foot

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17871 on: June 30, 2017, 12:53:54 PM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

For the most part I agree, however my "work friends" are the ones who I actually enjoy working with, interact with more often, and would go out for lunch with if asked. Everyone else is a co-worker. So far none of my work friends have become friends after we were no longer co-workers.

Sydneystache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17872 on: June 30, 2017, 04:42:49 PM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but some of the best people I know I met through work. There are different boundaries when we're actively working together, but I would've missed out on some great friendships if I had rejected all of the people I spend 40+ hours a week with.
No offense taken.
I have very good co-workers, technically fantastic, but peel back that layer to reveal the non-work person and I'll bipedal skedaddle.

My experience too. Work friends become work enemies if issues of resources and politics are involved. Let's keep it professional. Once I or they leave the organisation, happy to be besties because they want your friendship outside of your boss/status/rank.

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17873 on: June 30, 2017, 07:11:07 PM »

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth. Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

No, that's not bad... That is horrendous. I have about that much in retirement, and I've never made that much and am only 28.

Maybe at 28 you haven't faced what this guy has. You sit there in judgement but for all you know he's supporting elderly parents, or a disabled sibling, or has even had monumental medical bills himself. What you see is just a hear-say snap shot of someone's life, and life is complicated, my young friend. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know a dozen people in my city that have lost everything, who WERE insured and WERE saving hard, because the city was destroyed by a quake. I know a man who lost his house, his restaurant and his son in the space of 3 minutes. Sure, there are a lot of stupid people making stupid decisions around but I don't think you can claim superiority based on how much someone supposedly has in their retirement account!

Based on the fact that this is a thread more or less specifically for that, why can't I? Besides, the rest of the post was this (emphasis mine):

CW: Going to the Thai place with us today?
Me: Nah.  Too expensive for me.
CW: Well, I have stopped going to the casino, so I have all of this extra money that needs to be spent on something!

Me: You could invest it.
CW: I have some investments*.

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth.  Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

This CW is also the same one that said I should do financial advising, but when I offered to help him for free, he refused.

I sincerely hope that you, and the rest of the people on this thread, have no cause to regret your smug attitudes. In my experience, 28 is a particularly smug age. It's an age that many people manage to arrive at, thinking they have this whole adult life thing down, but with very little real experience of the huge shifts that life can throw at you with no warning. You're at peak smug. It's downhill from here, and I hope for you sake that this happens by simply witnessing life at it's worst and not by experiencing it yourself.


Feivel2000

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17874 on: June 30, 2017, 07:20:24 PM »

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth. Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

No, that's not bad... That is horrendous. I have about that much in retirement, and I've never made that much and am only 28.

Maybe at 28 you haven't faced what this guy has. You sit there in judgement but for all you know he's supporting elderly parents, or a disabled sibling, or has even had monumental medical bills himself. What you see is just a hear-say snap shot of someone's life, and life is complicated, my young friend. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know a dozen people in my city that have lost everything, who WERE insured and WERE saving hard, because the city was destroyed by a quake. I know a man who lost his house, his restaurant and his son in the space of 3 minutes. Sure, there are a lot of stupid people making stupid decisions around but I don't think you can claim superiority based on how much someone supposedly has in their retirement account!

Based on the fact that this is a thread more or less specifically for that, why can't I? Besides, the rest of the post was this (emphasis mine):

CW: Going to the Thai place with us today?
Me: Nah.  Too expensive for me.
CW: Well, I have stopped going to the casino, so I have all of this extra money that needs to be spent on something!

Me: You could invest it.
CW: I have some investments*.

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth.  Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

This CW is also the same one that said I should do financial advising, but when I offered to help him for free, he refused.

I sincerely hope that you, and the rest of the people on this thread, have no cause to regret your smug attitudes. In my experience, 28 is a particularly smug age. It's an age that many people manage to arrive at, thinking they have this whole adult life thing down, but with very little real experience of the huge shifts that life can throw at you with no warning. You're at peak smug. It's downhill from here, and I hope for you sake that this happens by simply witnessing life at it's worst and not by experiencing it yourself.
You are pretty much ignoring the facepunch worthy part:

Quote
CW: Going to the Thai place with us today?
Me: Nah.  Too expensive for me.
CW: Well, I have stopped going to the casino, so I have all of this extra money that needs to be spent on something!

AnnaGrowsAMustache

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17875 on: June 30, 2017, 07:32:11 PM »

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth. Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

No, that's not bad... That is horrendous. I have about that much in retirement, and I've never made that much and am only 28.

Maybe at 28 you haven't faced what this guy has. You sit there in judgement but for all you know he's supporting elderly parents, or a disabled sibling, or has even had monumental medical bills himself. What you see is just a hear-say snap shot of someone's life, and life is complicated, my young friend. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know a dozen people in my city that have lost everything, who WERE insured and WERE saving hard, because the city was destroyed by a quake. I know a man who lost his house, his restaurant and his son in the space of 3 minutes. Sure, there are a lot of stupid people making stupid decisions around but I don't think you can claim superiority based on how much someone supposedly has in their retirement account!

Based on the fact that this is a thread more or less specifically for that, why can't I? Besides, the rest of the post was this (emphasis mine):

CW: Going to the Thai place with us today?
Me: Nah.  Too expensive for me.
CW: Well, I have stopped going to the casino, so I have all of this extra money that needs to be spent on something!

Me: You could invest it.
CW: I have some investments*.

*He mentioned about a year ago that he has $80k in his retirement.  Could be $100k+ by now with growth.  Not bad, better than me, but he's in his late 50's, and has been at this company for 26 years.

This CW is also the same one that said I should do financial advising, but when I offered to help him for free, he refused.

I sincerely hope that you, and the rest of the people on this thread, have no cause to regret your smug attitudes. In my experience, 28 is a particularly smug age. It's an age that many people manage to arrive at, thinking they have this whole adult life thing down, but with very little real experience of the huge shifts that life can throw at you with no warning. You're at peak smug. It's downhill from here, and I hope for you sake that this happens by simply witnessing life at it's worst and not by experiencing it yourself.
You are pretty much ignoring the facepunch worthy part:

Quote
CW: Going to the Thai place with us today?
Me: Nah.  Too expensive for me.
CW: Well, I have stopped going to the casino, so I have all of this extra money that needs to be spent on something!

I saw it. I'm commenting on overall attitude, not a particular conversation. That's why I originally mentioned that people are making stupid decisions, but judging on retirement account balance is a bit rich. So to speak.

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17876 on: June 30, 2017, 09:26:28 PM »
Shelivesthedream, what situation stuck you in a room with that horrid woman?

If it wasn't for the ocean I'd swear you'd met my 17-year-old daughter. I've been completely unable to teach her anything resembling a work ethic. She thinks she'll inherit money from my parents, or from me, simply because my parents are very well off and she's the only grandchild.

This being the case, I would assume that you would leave everything to charity and try to convince your parents to do the same.  Perhaps the Dave Thomas Foundation?

coolistdude

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17877 on: June 30, 2017, 10:08:15 PM »
This isn't so much overheard at work, but seen. I have an intern that I am grateful for (hard working nice guy). What I've observed is that some of the lowest paid employees drive the newest cars. I talked about cars with my intern, which is always a bit awkward since I am the only person at work with 1 car in the family, and it is in the bottom 1/3 in cost (if you count the security guard and a few others). He explained that he bought an almost new Nissan Altima (currently 3 years old). I don't feel jealous, it just puzzles me. Maybe his personal business has made him wealthy and he only interns for fun, I don't know. It just does not make sense for him, a guy without kids or spouse (has girlfriend) to open up the wallet so much.

Then there is my friend with a fancy Nissan almost undriveable due to being super low (he uses it for drifting), who also owns a huge, raised brand new (well, maybe 1 year old now) full size pick up truck. This fella is a single parent. I'm not sure if he still owns the fancy motorcycle. What cracks me up about the truck is that our parking lot is pretty lame and hard to park large vehicles. He makes good money but I think what comes in, also goes out.

Then there is our security guard. This guy has probably a '95 Honda Accord, and an early 90s Pathfinder. It sounds like that one of the vehicles belongs to his wife, and it just depends who has it. All day this guy sees above average cars come in and out of the parking lot, since that is his job. I can only imagine when he talks to his wife he says "man, these people sure know to blow money."

Cars are definitely a status where I live.

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17878 on: July 01, 2017, 12:38:01 AM »
Shelivesthedream, what situation stuck you in a room with that horrid woman?

If it wasn't for the ocean I'd swear you'd met my 17-year-old daughter. I've been completely unable to teach her anything resembling a work ethic. She thinks she'll inherit money from my parents, or from me, simply because my parents are very well off and she's the only grandchild.

This being the case, I would assume that you would leave everything to charity and try to convince your parents to do the same.  Perhaps the Dave Thomas Foundation?

A two hour coach journey to another city. I was travelling alone and the two of them sat right behind me and she instantly started her two hour monologue about how hard her life was. Her poor friend/colleague hardly got a word in edgeways. Still, apart from having to pick my jaw off the floor multiple times it made the time pass...!

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17879 on: July 01, 2017, 12:50:23 AM »
The other day, I saw my previous co-worker drive by my house in one of our old work trucks. I called him up on the phone to bitch about our old jobs.

I asked him, "You ever get that settlement you were talking about so often while I was still working there?" He says, "Oh hell yea. I ended up getting $8,500 man!" This was an car accident in which he claimed injury, though admittedly lied.

He then continues, "Of course, I had to pay my mother-in-law the $4200 she loaned me to fix my car, and then I paid off a little other debt, but I did get my motorcycle man! I rode it to work today!"

He bought a 15yr old motorcycle with 50k miles on it for $2200. He can't work on anything mechanical himself.

He's 47yrs old.

Playing with Fire UK

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17880 on: July 01, 2017, 02:04:04 AM »
I saw it. I'm commenting on overall attitude, not a particular conversation. That's why I originally mentioned that people are making stupid decisions, but judging on retirement account balance is a bit rich. So to speak.

AnnaGrowsAMustache, your views are commendable. You are right that in this thread we don't know everything about our colleagues and we see snippets of their lives and we comment on them. But this is what we do on this thread, we are mean, we are bitchy, and we extrapolate people's intentions from the pieces of behaviour that we see. And then, after venting our frustrations here, we go to work and are polite and courteous to them.

If this is bothering you as much as your post suggests then this board might not be the place for you. 

kelvin

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17881 on: July 01, 2017, 06:43:58 AM »
The other day, I saw my previous co-worker drive by my house in one of our old work trucks. I called him up on the phone to bitch about our old jobs.

I asked him, "You ever get that settlement you were talking about so often while I was still working there?" He says, "Oh hell yea. I ended up getting $8,500 man!" This was an car accident in which he claimed injury, though admittedly lied.

He then continues, "Of course, I had to pay my mother-in-law the $4200 she loaned me to fix my car, and then I paid off a little other debt, but I did get my motorcycle man! I rode it to work today!"

He bought a 15yr old motorcycle with 50k miles on it for $2200. He can't work on anything mechanical himself.

He's 47yrs old.

If he would take the time to learn something mechanical, this could be a good option. The only reason I haven't done it myself is because Canada = snow. Some of those older model motorcycles will drive forever - it's road accidents that kill them, not anything mechanical. They're cheaper to own + maintain than a Honda. 

cavewoman

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17882 on: July 01, 2017, 07:57:34 AM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

I get what you're saying mate, but just not sure why you called it out?  Work friend designates the difference between someone I will eat lunch with, take a walk on break with, etc, vs someone I will only really speak to about work and mild pleasantries in the hallways.  Maybe I'm the one getting caught up in semantics, WRT work friends, but YMMV, IMHO :)

Also, this work friend had to take kitty back to the vet yesterday :( At least it was the regular vet and not the ER vet and hopefully kitty makes a full recovery. We spoke about this after she came back from going out to lunch with other co-workers (when I miss 3 hours of work I will not take a lunch to save annual leave) and had 2 (!!) Starbucks drinks on her desk.

Typing that out, I get why people may question a work friendship with someone with such different values, but how a person spends their money is only one facet of their personality.  I'm only here to share the cringy parts with you all, it's not like I spend a lot of work time talking about money/judging their decisions.  That's what this thread is for!

scottish

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17883 on: July 01, 2017, 08:46:43 AM »
Then there is my friend with a fancy Nissan almost undriveable due to being super low (he uses it for drifting), who also owns a huge, raised brand new (well, maybe 1 year old now) full size pick up truck.

Drifting?   This is where you drive around and try to break the wheels loose?   Preferably at high speeds?

coolistdude

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17884 on: July 01, 2017, 09:14:15 AM »
Then there is my friend with a fancy Nissan almost undriveable due to being super low (he uses it for drifting), who also owns a huge, raised brand new (well, maybe 1 year old now) full size pick up truck.

Drifting?   This is where you drive around and try to break the wheels loose?   Preferably at high speeds?

Yeah. Where you lose traction during a turn but maintain control of the turn. It is so low that it will bottom out over speed bumps. He can't even leave the parking lot without taking up both the entrance and the exit, since he will bottom out otherwise..

SimpleCycle

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17885 on: July 03, 2017, 01:21:10 PM »
My wife started a new job fairly recently, and her coworkers do Starbucks trips twice daily.  Not only is there free office coffee, but they have one of those machines that makes fancy coffee drinks.

Abe

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17886 on: July 03, 2017, 03:07:24 PM »
We have a Starbucks in our hospital. It must be one of the busiest in the city, even though the hospital is littered with free coffee machines, and has multiple other cafeterias that sell way cheaper coffee. Also, everyone waiting in line complains about how much Starbucks costs. My mind!

paddedhat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17887 on: July 03, 2017, 06:43:32 PM »
The wife and I call our local Starbucks, "the intelligence test", because during peak coffee demand times, you have to be an idiot to waste 10-15 minutes at their drive-thru. If you are familiar with PA. NJ. or MY. it's particularly stunning, since there is a freakin' WAWA within sight of this mess.  This store is a recycled commercial property at the intersection of the busiest four lane surface street in the region, and a side street that is impossible to access during peak drive time, no traffic light, no lane dividers or turning lane, and massive traffic counts. If anybody ahead of you has a left turn signal on, you might want to grab your knitting, as you will have time to whip up a hat or maybe a sock, before it's your turn. The lot is often too full to access, and there is typically an entire loop of cars circling the building, waiting in the drive-thru line. If you actually park and walk in the store, you're double boned, since you will have to split the drive thru line to back out, and it's typically jammed too tight for that to happen. Once you score your burned, overpriced cup, you are at least five minutes of slow crawling away from rejoining the flow of traffic. If this place was my only option, I would simply quit drinking coffee. It's like Tim Horton's for stupid people.

Fomerly known as something

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17888 on: July 03, 2017, 07:02:22 PM »
Hey, hey, hey, back off the Timmies.

Marty

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17889 on: July 03, 2017, 07:42:39 PM »
..there is a freakin' WAWA within sight of this mess.

Mmmmmm...Wawa hoagies...Thanks for reminding me that it's Hoagiefest right now!

PMG

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17890 on: July 03, 2017, 08:20:56 PM »
About Starbucks,  I was in a large airport waiting for a flight when a woman came racing in yelling that she needed a coffee. She stood right next to a comparable chain (I can't remember what brand it was now) literally shouting that she needed a Starbucks until a security guard came and gave her directions. No way to know what that was really about but it blew my mind. To be that desperate but pass up the coffee next to you for Starbucks.

It reminded me of former coworkers and classmates who knew the Starbucks menu by heart but didn't know how to order a drink anywhere else and I wonder if some people think these things are only available at Starbucks? 

I might understand it if it tasted good, or the service was amazing or if it had a nice atmosphere.

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17891 on: July 03, 2017, 09:58:47 PM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but some of the best people I know I met through work. There are different boundaries when we're actively working together, but I would've missed out on some great friendships if I had rejected all of the people I spend 40+ hours a week with.
No offense taken.
I have very good co-workers, technically fantastic, but peel back that layer to reveal the non-work person and I'll bipedal skedaddle.

Count me in this camp.  I'm in an industry, accounting, that isn't really Mustachian-friendly.  My boss has talked about how he feels like he doesn't see any of his paycheck, that it all goes to car payments, rent, insurance, etc, and he probably makes at least $150k.  I'm in a HCOL area, but still it's pretty ridiculous.  The Mustachian lifestyle was brought up once, but everyone seemed to agree that living on $40k (!) annually would be way too difficult/limiting.

Also, in general, I think it's really hard to develop friendships with coworkers because you have to be so cautious about controversial topics, which seem to be everything these days (or maybe it was always this way?).  There is a mainstream view for everything and to go against that invites judgment and ridicule.  For example, people at my company constantly make anti-Trump statements/jokes.  I'm not a fan of Trump, but it just gets really annoying.

And then of course the sharing of your personal life.  In my company these conversations seem to be subtle (and occasionally not subtle at all) competitions to brag about who has the best house/spouse/car/etc.  I'm a young single person who doesn't go out to bars every weekend, so some people wonder what is wrong with me. 

If I happen to hit it off with a coworker and we have similar interests, then absolutely I would puruse a friendship outside of work.  But in general I don't look to become friends with coworkers.  Just because we're in the same office for 40+ hours a week doesn't mean we have to be friends.

paddedhat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17892 on: July 04, 2017, 05:47:14 AM »
Hey, hey, hey, back off the Timmies.

Oh, quite the opposite, my good friend. There is a rational reason to wait in line for Timmies. Wasting fifteen minutes of your morning commute blocking the Starbucks parking lot, not so much. Intelligence test, pay $4 for a cup of burnt and bitter, waste a quarter hour of your life=fail.

paddedhat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17893 on: July 04, 2017, 06:03:27 AM »
..there is a freakin' WAWA within sight of this mess.

Mmmmmm...Wawa hoagies...Thanks for reminding me that it's Hoagiefest right now!

One of the great parts of being FIREd is leaving the northeast and hiding in Florida in the winter. A few years ago it got even  better, WAWA decided to branch out to central FL. It was all good until I was in the land of Palm trees and left a shiny new WAWA with a Philly pretzel. It was awful, fetted dreck. Philly my ass. I later asked about the tasteless mulch that that had been erroneously placed in the WAWA Philly pretzel wrapper, that I purchased?  Turns out they "bake" then in Tampa. Apparently the contracted the work to a tire recycling facility or something, since it sure as hell wasn't made in a bakery.  Apparently the sacred tastiness of PA. does not travel well, as on several occasions I have also had a Yuengling, brewed in Florida, that would of made a warm, skunky Busch lite taste good.

Prairie Stash

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17894 on: July 04, 2017, 10:40:31 AM »
Hey, hey, hey, back off the Timmies.

Oh, quite the opposite, my good friend. There is a rational reason to wait in line for Timmies. Wasting fifteen minutes of your morning commute blocking the Starbucks parking lot, not so much. Intelligence test, pay $4 for a cup of burnt and bitter, waste a quarter hour of your life=fail.
In Canada a Starbucks Venti (20 oz, largest size available) coffee is $2.17, Tim Horton large (20 oz)is $1.99, the X-Large is 24 oz, $2.19. You can tell which people don't actually pat attention to prices when they say Starbucks costs $4 for a coffee. If you're going to mock people, at least get it right.

Waiting in either drive thru is a fail.

dmac680chi

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17895 on: July 04, 2017, 10:49:16 AM »
...
And a work friend said ...

Two words that should not be next to each other, IMHO.

Co-workers are co-workers, and friends are friends, and the never the twain shall meet.

You're entitled to your opinion, of course, but some of the best people I know I met through work. There are different boundaries when we're actively working together, but I would've missed out on some great friendships if I had rejected all of the people I spend 40+ hours a week with.
No offense taken.
I have very good co-workers, technically fantastic, but peel back that layer to reveal the non-work person and I'll bipedal skedaddle.

Count me in this camp.  I'm in an industry, accounting, that isn't really Mustachian-friendly.  My boss has talked about how he feels like he doesn't see any of his paycheck, that it all goes to car payments, rent, insurance, etc, and he probably makes at least $150k.  I'm in a HCOL area, but still it's pretty ridiculous.  The Mustachian lifestyle was brought up once, but everyone seemed to agree that living on $40k (!) annually would be way too difficult/limiting.

Also, in general, I think it's really hard to develop friendships with coworkers because you have to be so cautious about controversial topics, which seem to be everything these days (or maybe it was always this way?).  There is a mainstream view for everything and to go against that invites judgment and ridicule.  For example, people at my company constantly make anti-Trump statements/jokes.  I'm not a fan of Trump, but it just gets really annoying.

And then of course the sharing of your personal life.  In my company these conversations seem to be subtle (and occasionally not subtle at all) competitions to brag about who has the best house/spouse/car/etc.  I'm a young single person who doesn't go out to bars every weekend, so some people wonder what is wrong with me. 

If I happen to hit it off with a coworker and we have similar interests, then absolutely I would puruse a friendship outside of work.  But in general I don't look to become friends with coworkers.  Just because we're in the same office for 40+ hours a week doesn't mean we have to be friends.

I dislike Trump too but have a friend who every time I talk to him he mentions Trump. I've gotten to the point where I can't talk politics with him as its rather annoying. I think people tend to just accept everything they hear. Not saying Trump is right but at the same Tim I'd rather not get in drawn out conversations about his impeachment or not. I have family that voted for Trump, I still like them despite our opinions being different.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

paddedhat

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17896 on: July 04, 2017, 07:42:17 PM »
Hey, hey, hey, back off the Timmies.

Oh, quite the opposite, my good friend. There is a rational reason to wait in line for Timmies. Wasting fifteen minutes of your morning commute blocking the Starbucks parking lot, not so much. Intelligence test, pay $4 for a cup of burnt and bitter, waste a quarter hour of your life=fail.
In Canada a Starbucks Venti (20 oz, largest size available) coffee is $2.17, Tim Horton large (20 oz)is $1.99, the X-Large is 24 oz, $2.19. You can tell which people don't actually pat attention to prices when they say Starbucks costs $4 for a coffee. If you're going to mock people, at least get it right.

Waiting in either drive thru is a fail.

Seriously, what rock do you live under? I have stood in lines at coffee shops, Starbucks included, and the majority of folks end up requesting far more than a black cup of basic brewed coffee, Their trendy selections are quite a step up from a plain old coffee, and believe it or not, this silliness runs four bucks (USD) on up. So, I have it right, and I'll mock away, thank you very much.

coconutindex

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17897 on: July 05, 2017, 12:46:21 AM »
One of my colleagues was during the lunch break telling us about her weekend. It was her friend's birthday. The friend had been asking her for a long time to join her in an obstacle race (running 6km with obstacles like climbing a wall and wading through mud and such. She gave the friend for her birthday a night in a hotel for both of them, a party and two tickets for such an obstacle race. Afterwards there was also a lot of party and a lot of alcohol in a country where alcohol is the most expensive in the world. My colleagues was also telling us about all the races she was planning to do. Obviously a lot of her money is going to that sort of events. She is not a big spendypants in general, but obviously prioritizes her spending in this sort of stuff.

I think this must be a typical Norwegian way to spend your money. My coworkers seem to be forever hopping on planes to travel to competitions or even just to spend a week cycling or whatnot somewhere warm. At least they're in great physical shape! But definitely an expensive way to break a sweat. I even read somewhere about a woman paying a rather obscene amount (13 500 euros) for the privilege of running a marathon on the North Pole!

icbatbh

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17898 on: July 05, 2017, 04:27:04 AM »
Not overheard as such, more of an observation.

Over the last month or so in the UK we've had a couple of "heatwaves" with temperatures sometimes reaching around 32°C (89°F). I arrived at work this morning to discover that a colleague had left a portable air conditioning unit on all night so that it wasn't too warm in the office when he walked in. On a number of occasions over the last few weeks he has been sitting at his desk with his fan on full blast while wearing his outdoor coat.

This same colleague is the first to get out the electric convector heaters as soon as the weather turns slightly colder at the beginning of Autumn.

Apart from being a huge waste of energy and money, I think this also demonstrates the fact that there is a growing weather wussy culture in the UK, presumably due to the fact that the media are always seriously dramatising the weather here.

Linea_Norway

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Re: Overheard at Work
« Reply #17899 on: July 05, 2017, 04:35:28 AM »
Today at the lunch break I was telling about my summer vacation to come. I had to answer the same person several times that "yes, I will be sleeping in a tent". Obviously this is not completely normal behaviour for a person of my age (44) with no children.