Sunday, May 20, 2007

It's not a good idea to watch Office Space when you are unhappy at work.


So here I am doing some freelance writing. Comedy Central has been droning in the background for some time now. But now that Office Space has popped on, well, my writing has slowed down because I abso-f-ing-lutely love this movie. I've seen it so many times. In fact, the movie and my love of the new TV show the office inspired a cover story idea I pitched to The Weekender which turned out to be a really cool issue.


At any rate, there is something very different about Office Space tonight. I feel just like Gibbons. Trapped.

I want to stop showing up.

I want to stop paying my bills.

I don't want to do anything-- unless it's fun or creative-- anymore.


To quote Gibbons, "It's a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my ass off and Initech ships a few extra units, I don't see another dime; so where's the motivation? And here's something else, Bob: I have eight different bosses right now.

If you replace a few words and products in that there classic quote, you've got part of my situation.

Of course the World Wide Web is not the place to openly reveal my concerns with my current job. But, let's just say I am thinking about going in a different direction. I love my job, I love the girls at work, but I do not like corporate America anymore. I think I am worth more. I think I can do more.


I am going to go for my MA in Creative Writing at Wilkes, and I am hoping that in the next year or so I will finally get published. And then the road to really doing what I want will start. It's just so hard sometimes when you have a dream, but you have to go through the humdrum of a normal working life so that you can survive. I mean, singers get American Idol. What do wanna-be-writers get? There is no quick shot to fame as a writer-- and it's not even fame I am looking for. I just want to have that one idea that can get me a book deal, that will lead to future deals. It would be cool to write from home and live off advances and royalties and be able to live, travel and volunteer and do all the things I don't have time to do.


Okay-- I came on here to write some funny things about Office Space and now I am getting all philosophical... Argh! I should go.... ; )


Before I sign off Blogger, here are some more of my favorite quotes, courtesy IMDB.


Porter: Looks like you've been missing a lot of work lately.

Gibbons: wouldn't say I've been *missing* it, Bob.

--

Milton: "And I said, I don't care if they lay me off either, because I told, I told Bill that if they move my desk one more time, then, then I'm, I'm quitting, I'm going to quit. And, and I told Don too, because they've moved my desk four times already this year, and I used to be over by the window, and I could see the squirrels, and they were merry, but then, they switched from the Swingline to the Boston stapler, but I kept my Swingline stapler because it didn't bind up as much, and I kept the staples for the Swingline stapler and it's not okay because if they take my stapler then I'll set the building on fire..."

--

Milton: "I was told that I could listen to the radio at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven, I told Bill that if Sandra is going to listen to her headphones while she's filing then I should be able to listen to the radio while I'm collating so I don't see why I should have to turn down the radio because I enjoy listening at a reasonable volume from nine to eleven."

3 comments:

Mary Kirkland said...

Hey Donna, Love your blog!

Anonymous said...

It is definitely a struggle to maintain that creative energy while facing the soul crushing monotony of day to day employment. I wish we could all be like Hemmingway, sipping wine in Paris, writing down whatever happens to crawl through our minds. I'm also of the opinion that the fires of artistry burn brighter in the face of adversity. Keep writing. The joy is in the process.
Your blog is excellent!

Query-A-Day said...

Thanks, man! That is awesome. I'm NOT alone, which makes me feel happy!