Power Outage

 If you take away the actual work from your office / place of work, it's actually kind of fun.

Any time I have ever been at work where there has been some sort of faultless SNAFU (i.e. the power goes out, phone lines are down, internet's not working...), I get this cozy giddy feeling. Suddenly the weight has been lifted from our collective shoulders. Suddenly it's okay if you don't get that project finished. It's not only okay - it's expected. Who could be expected to accomplish anything - the phone lines are down.

Work suddenly becomes a familiar setting filled with familiar faces (and in some cases a fridge, Keurig and vending machine). It becomes a bit of a sleepover. And if you don't agree: You'll still get your breaks, you'll still get to eat lunch and if luck is on your side in the slightest; you may even get to go home early. Have you ever known words so sweet? My boss telling me to "go home early" is right up there with a romantic partner telling me "I love you". (And about as likely, AM I RIGHT??) And I must hold on to the dream of a no-fault-failure of some kind because COVID has single-handedly killed the dream of a stay-home-from-work-snow day. (Now you get paid the same as you did back in the day when you didn't have to work! With the added fun of shotty internet connection and screaming children!)

I love work when there is an "unfortunate event" like this. Because it's not like life won't eventually return to normal. It's not like anyone is put in harm's way because of it (I have never worked at a place where they save lives). And it's absolutely no one's fault. So nobody can get mad at anyone. We are - at least momentarily - on a very similar / the same wavelength. No man left out. Except the store manager, maybe. But even they may be feigning frustration to better guise their childlike excitement. (Just one more reason to love not being in charge of everything. God bless those of you who do.)

Confession: I bring the same items to work every day in hopes that there will be a day like this. So that if I am not given the option to go home, I am at least able to take full advantage of the time.

In my pack:

1.    laptop & cord (for a long, glorious day of blogging)

2.    current story notebook (should inspiration hit)

3.    phone & cord (for a long, glorious day of educational podcasts)

4.    current book

5.    Sudoku puzzles

6.    snacks (obviously)

I am nearly convinced this is all I would need for such a day. More than I would need, really. Because when it comes down to it, there are nearly no jobs (if any) where you will be hard-pressed to find paper and a writing utensil. I've purchased such things from the supermarket/retail place I've worked at, grabbed scrap paper and a colored pencil at an art studio... I've even grabbed a crappy, brown paper towel and a cheap pen at an old serving gig. There is always something. (Also: if I ever am in a jam without my pack in my current job: I could snag a piece of printer paper and write on it the way I did during "Bring-Your-Daughter-to-Work-Day".)

I will say that out of all of the aforementioned items: the book will get you into the most trouble. People have "gotten caught" with their phones out during a Friday rush - nary a shaken fist. The laptop's intention can be easily camouflaged, depending on what job you've got, so no problem there. But the minute I crack the spine on my latest Shirley Jackson novel; there's hell to pay. 

I have never been so insulted in my life.

I'm kidding. I know it wasn't personal, and I truly wasn't insulted, but I did feel terribly confused. 

Once I had a job where I could get my tasks done and - if it wasn't busy - turn to my blog. It was heaven. I couldn't believe my luck. And then I would read a blog to my boss every now and again and have lovely conversations about the human psyche. It was perfection. My good times there did, eventually, have to come to an end; it was a job that did not necessitate a 40-hour work-week. (And at a certain point I succumbed to the reality of rent.)

There are good times (and struggles) to be had at every job. But regardless of where I am, I think I'll keep crossing my fingers for the occasional power-outage.