picnics suck
picnics suck, at least at work... yesterday was the rescheduled "Spring Fling" -- a combined VP-area party for all the departments under our AVP.
the most annoying things about the party, in no particular order:
- all the various departments each have divisions which are cliquish on their own. put all four together, and you've got hundreds of people who dont or wont speak to each other, even going so far as to IGNORE each other, even if they're friendly usually.
- outdoors. 90-degree weather. mayonnaise.
- the lack of good sense to set up tables in the shade instead of the sun
- for the second year in a row, setting up the karaoke/dj booth outside the offices of the IT staff, preventing any work for 3-4 hours.
- lack of outdoor outlets, so power is run through an open window, negating air conditioning, and increasing the decibels of aforementioned dj/karaoke amplifiers.
- complete and utter disregard for people trying to do their job
- the unwritten expectations that you will enjoy yourself and participate in any games or competitions.
- the phone calls from department heads and above basically insisting that your employees participate in the dessert bake-off
Let me tell you something... the last thing that would help me be a productive employee is watching the goofballs outside who think it's fun to sing karaoke for 3 hours and get paid for it, while I'm inside attempting to concentrate while they're belting out off-key Shania lyrics. Or better yet, some whiny male country tune about "where were you when the towers fell".
Screw you, and screw your karaoke guys. The dj's were the only ones who could sing, and even then, it wasnt good enough music to ignore.