Short in the tooth

As anyone who’s done it will tell you, working in close proximity to others has its advantages and disadvantages.

For example, my desk is—for now—in an office with three other people. I consider myself lucky I have an office at all, since there’s a remodel coming that’ll convert most of the agency to an open office space floorplan. Did they read any of the articles and studies saying open office plans do exactly the opposite of what they’re intended to do? Do they care it makes people less productive and discourages collaboration? Don’t they realize it may be cheaper than individual offices in the short run, but the cost of replacing personnel as people leave due to lack of human interaction and difficulty concentrating on their work actually make it more expensive? Did they ask me if they should do it? The answer to all of the above is no. No they did not.

Don’t get me started.

Where was I? Oh, right. So my office isn’t really big enough for four people, but everyone likes each other and we work well together. Bonus for me: it means I always have an audience to try out new material. So win-win.

Anyway, our office is situated next to some desks in the hallway right outside it that have become a social gathering place for people in my group to hang out and talk about a variety of things. Some really annoying, some extremely entertaining.

Case in point: today someone was talking about their tiny lower teeth. I filed it under entertaining.

As I read this over, it occurs to me it's probably going to be one of those “you had to be there” posts. But it was hilarious. Not so much the fact this person had a lower row of teeth that would have self-esteem issues around a box of tiny Chiclets, but the fact the conversation just went on and on. And on.

Smiles. Retainers. Teasing as a child. Trouble chewing. It had everything. Plus while he was yapping on, and on, about his Shetland teeth, I was providing running commentary to my audience...er...officemates who couldn't help but also overhear the conversation.

This is the point where I usually try to wrap things up with a snappy little line. I was thinking something about biting satire. Finishing the post by the skin of my teeth. Fighting tooth and nail. Sinking my teeth into the post. But somehow none of them seemed quite right.

I might have to chew on it for awhile longer.