A description of my workplace

I work for the Financial Management Service of the United States Treasury.

My alarm goes off at 8 AM each morning. I wake up, and check my email. After that, I usually enjoy a bowl of frosted miniwheats and grapenuts, and then take a shower. When I'm done, I try to get dressed immediately, but I usually end up browsing the web for a while.

I wear heavy duck-cloth pants and long-sleeved collared shirts to work each day, no matter how hot it is outside. This is because in the office, it is always cold. I usually bring a jacket, but today I neglected to do so. Some days, I even bring a hat.

After I'm dressed, I make my lunch. Most days, that means 2 slices of frozen wheat bread, 1.5 tablespoons of peanut butter, and a bottle of water. I throw it into a bag leftover from buying my groceries at Target.

After double checking that I have my phone and keys, I dash out the door to my car. I drive a mile to the shopping mall around the corner, and park my car in front of the Target. I don't like parking here, and I'm afraid of being towed, but I lack an acceptable alternative. I've gotten used to do it, and I think carrying my lunch in a Target bag makes me look at least a little like I've actually been inside the place I park each day.

I cross the street and enter my office, where I am greeted by our security staff. I don't know the names of any of the security personnel but I am always cordial as I allow them to scan both my person and my belongings for potential security breeches and armament. I often speak with a particular woman who operates the scanners for a few moments at this point. We discuss literature and upcoming plans for the weekend. After I remember that I am late for work, I excuse myself and hurry to the elevator.

After reaching my floor, I hurry to my cubicle. I am often 10 or 15 minutes late to work, and I feel guilty, so I try to avoid seeing anyone I know on the way. I know they wouldn't scold me for being late, but I am silly and make almost a game of it. The hardest part is avoiding my boss, because his office is right next to my cubicle. He's a very nice man, very social. He has seen me come in late and has never once complained. He's opened stated that he likes my work and my approach to situations. He's working to extend my formal contract so I can work here for even longer.

I sit down at my workstation (the machine I'm on at the moment), where I once again check my email. This time, however, I check my work email too. There is almost never anything important for me to read, so I open up Fark, Slashdot, and a few webcomics to read. I can see how having a nice list of them can really give the officezombie something to look forward to each day of the week. I'm going to have to get in the habit of reading a few more, as most of the ones I've seen have been pretty entertaining.

My cubicle is large, but very grey. It has a few small decorations left over from its previous occupant, namely a small owl thermometer, and 2 small magnetic butterflies, whose wings are actually pieces of petrified wood.
In my drawers I keep a stack of books and DVDs. I try to read a few chapters of a book while I eat my lunch each day, and I watch shows or movies during downtime between my assigned projects.

I have downtime because unlike many of the other employees, I make it a point to be efficient with my tasks. I begin immediately, work diligently, and finish early. I wish I could do that in the classroom, especially on tests. After I have confirmed the completion of my current task, I wait for the next one. Sometimes, several hours pass before the next assignment is delegated to me. If too much time goes by, I start looking for things to do around the office. I watch my coworkers handle tasks I have not yet been assigned. I assist others with their tasks when possible, and I look for things I can just handle myself (printers out of paper, low ink cartridges, misplaced chairs,etc.)

Around noon, I try to find a safe stopping point and eat my lunch. On Wednesdays, I walk across the street to Quiznos to get a salad. It is my special treat to myself, to thank myself for making it to the middle of the week.

I am told to take an hour for my lunch, so if I have nothing else to do, I sit and read for the rest of the hour. I write any quick personal emails I want at this point. I try to write to my girlfriend at least three times a week, though I know this doesn’t always happen. She doesn’t usually respond but that’s okay. I mostly hope that my words will brighten her day or entertain her a little. If I don’t feel like reading a book at the moment, I’ll check my Fark and Slashdot again, or throw on a film. Lately, I’ve been watching the BBC’s “Planet Earth” which has been most educational. The cinematography is fantastic.

After my lunch hour is over, I wander around the office, in search of more tasks to be assigned. Occasionally I find one, but I regularly find myself back at my cube, empty-handed.

When possible, I’ll go down and shadow my other boss / co-worker, Eric. Eric is a really interesting person. He’s twice my age, but we get along really well because we have similar philosophies and interests. He is a hardware engineer.

We’ll talk about old pencil and paper RPGs, firearms, our opinions on current events, minor office politics, and our plans for the future. He has many stories about his children. He sounds like a fantastic father. I admire him.

When 4:30 PM rolls around, if I have nothing more to do, I leave for the day. Technically, I am supposed to stay until 5:30, but most of the staff leaves at 4:30, and since they assign my tasks, I cannot find more work without them. I wait until I’m sure they’ve left and then disappear.

All in all, I enjoy my job. I’d like to find some more responsibility within the office, some task that I can be regularly assigned, especially one I can master or at least complete with finesse. The work comes naturally to me, and the pay is good, so that’s all I really need.