September 1, 2010
Stock Tips and The Latest Gossip
Need to know what to invest in? Wondering who is having an argument with their spouse? Want to hear about the trouble that Little Bobby got into the first week in school? Come visit my office. My desk is pushed up to this window, and this is THE PLACE for all break-time phone conversations to occur. I think most of the people in our building stand here at one time or another. And they talk loudly. Like these people:
Sometimes, I think it’d be fun to yank the blinds up and scare the latte right out of their cups. (Is that wrong? Was I having a bad day when that idea occurred to me?) They have no idea that they starred on a knitting blog today. That makes me feel a little better about the whole situation. These weren’t all on the same day. But after it happened over and over and over again, I decided to take photo evidence. You never know when I might need it. Now I just need to get photos of the other 23 people who make this a habit in our building. Or maybe I’ll stop now.
Anything interesting going on outside of your windows today?
Sheri Icouldmovemydesk,butwhatfunwouldthatbe?
TMTTYRR said,
September 1, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
I doubt there’s much of interest outside our window. Though fire trucks did go by this morning. It’s much more interesting in here, where the packaging operation has moved into the office space from the warehouse, and boxes are piling up throughout the office. I’m beginning to feel a bit like the guy who gets walled up in The Cask of Amontillado.
And no, it would not be wrong to scare the bejeebers out of those people. Though I, personally, would be more inclined to meet them in the hallway on their way back in and ask them in-depth questions about their “private” conversations. **evil grin**
Liz said,
September 1, 2010 @ 4:42 pm
That is too funny. In this day of technology, I think people forget that when they are talking on their phones in public, we can hear! I can just picture what they are talking about! lol I wonder if their wives knit, and they may see them here on the blog..lol again.
southparknitter said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:01 pm
No windows are my regular job and at home the only interesting thing was mail carrier bringing Dream Club and Shakespeare in Lace club packages on same day. That might have created excitement for my neighbors as I stood bra-less in yard and opened both packages. Now when I work at yarn shop anything could happen outside. We’re in downtown area so lots of interesting folks pass by. I’ve even seen Miss Violet and Wilford Crazypants walk by (they stop to visit). Many dog walking folks visit to see if Reece the shop dog is at work. I’ll be working there Friday and will let you know if any excitement happens.
Rebekah said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:04 pm
I work in an office building downtown (St. Louis) its amazing the conversations you here in the elevator. ONe time one of our attorney’s wife was in an elevator in another downtown building and overheard two attorneys from a firm we have a case with discussing her husband’s case. Its really stupid to not pay attention to what you say in a public area.
Lisa in Los Angeles said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
The nicotine junkies congregate just outside my boss’ office, and appear to be completely oblivious that they’re standing right outside someone’s window. Weird.
Beth Aalberts said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:21 pm
You ought to keep your blinds closed but open your window a crack and when they are talking about something on the phone, start talking like you are part of their conversation, I bet you they won’t stand outside your window again after that.
janna said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
Our office manager’s office was on the other side of the window where everyone in our building hung out to use their phones or to smoke. She was always tempted to knock on the window and scare them because for a while, until she figured how to set her blinds just right, the people would come up to the window and try to peer in at her working at her desk. She would look up and there would be eyes practically on the glass. It would scare her to death. Did these people not think she could se them? She solved it by fiddling with the blinds enough to get some light in but not too much view from the outside and decided that anyone she tried to scare would end up not being the people peeping at her.
Mandy said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:35 pm
I’d probably be really snarky about it and put a sign in the window saying “I can hear you and I own a digital recorder”. Of course, I’d never actually record anybody, but it might be enough to gain you some peace and quiet! The only interesting things outside my window today are my bird mobile and some very welcome rain
Marsha said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
Sheri,
My idea is to open your window and play music you enjoy. When the callers hear the music, they should make the connection that you can hear them. Otherwise, post a sign at the entrance that cell phone users might prefer to walk across the parking lot for privacy.
Oblivious sorts will never catch on, tho’.
I work at the local hospital, a small one, and the helicopter pad is only about 200 ft from the window.Two weeks ago the larger helicopter flight for life came across so low that the blade wash blew over a motorcycle across the street, and blew open the automatic entry doors of the hospital.
Tracey said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
too funny! i hope that one of them is or knows a knitter and that they see this post.
Deb said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:55 pm
Oooh, yank up those blinds but first have one of the Loopy Elves around to videotape the reactions outside your window for us!!!
Merna said,
September 1, 2010 @ 5:55 pm
How funny — and how annoying! I must admit my thoughts reading your post, before I got to the end were “why doesn’t she just keep the blind open for a few days?” that should retrain them.
Linda said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:06 pm
I liked the picture with the coffee cup sitting on the sill! That’s more annoying than hearing their conversations, hope they pick up after themselves!
LisaS said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:08 pm
My desk at work is right along the street side windows as well. Our blinds are all lowered to maybe 8 inches from the sill to accommodate those window candles. So it’s like some kind of weird belly/butt viewfinder of all the folks who walk by on the sidewalk! I rarely hear conversations, but often get an eyeful. At least it lightens the day.
turtle said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
lol, too funny> maybe if you just stuck a sign up in the window stating “you may be being filmed at this moment” folks would gather somewhere else. It would be interesting to see peoples reactions to reading that!
Karin said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:21 pm
Don’t you think that people talk louder when they are on their cell phone? It’s as if the other person will hear them better if they shout.
Cheryl said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:24 pm
Sheri that is just too funny. Have you thought about putting a few little Loopies in the window holding microphones or some of the signs suggested in some of the previous responses. I also like the idea of having one of the “elves” videotape their reactions to you yanking up the blinds but some people are so clueless they probably wouldn’t even notice.
Nothing interesting outside my window these days. Many of the summer folk have already gone home and activity on the lake is at an all time low for the summer. But it is nice to have it peaceful for a change. I expect the lake will be hoppin this week-end what with the holiday and all.
Patty L. said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:29 pm
ROFL
Hariamrit said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:42 pm
OMG you have the makings of a reality show.
You can take pictures of everyone who does this and then post them outside on the wall.
But then the fun would end and there is probably one person who wold just freak knowing that you heard “that” conversation. Guess silence is safest and the fun continues.
Susan K. said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:51 pm
I saw the cutest little boy last week and I was dying..he was wearing a little monkey raincoat splashing in the puddles. That was much better than the guy I always see smoking out there having his meetings!
Mindy said,
September 1, 2010 @ 6:59 pm
People walk around my store and have what should be private conversations all the time. I never know what to do and I can’t really do anything but stand there and pretend to be doing something else.
Beverly Shaw said,
September 1, 2010 @ 7:01 pm
I work on the 4th floor of our building, but it’s amazing what people talk about on their cellphone in our 4th floor lobby. I’ve even seen them with the land line on one ear and the cell on the other. I think you’d have to call that an addiction.
We did get a good view out our window when the Firemen came for a photoshoot to publicize the Bachelor Auction!
Mary R said,
September 1, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
Outside my window today I saw a Great Blue Heron in the frog pond!
We see all kinds of wild life outside our back windows. There are deer and coyote who come to drink at the pond. Sometimes a very large, very old snapping turtle comes out from the pond to sun.
Beyond the frog pond is Cape Cod Bay, where today there was a foggy haze for a good part of the day. Some days you can see the whales broaching or spouting and sometimes we see the dolphins leaping out of the water.
We are truly lucky to live in such a beautiful spot.
We are on hurricane Earl watch here. I’m hoping it misses us, but with the predicted rain associated with Earl, there will be a good excuse to stay in and have a sit & knit!
KateinIowa said,
September 1, 2010 @ 7:36 pm
ROFL!
sheri said,
September 1, 2010 @ 7:37 pm
Ha – Merna, I would keep the blinds open, except that lets in too much light and glare behind my computer screen.
And I like everyone’s ideas to keep the window open and play music or talk (so they realize someone is RIGHT THERE), but our windows don’t open.
Kim said,
September 1, 2010 @ 8:30 pm
Just think of it as non-stop entertainment
Now you have blackmail evidence if you ever need it >:D
Linda said,
September 1, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
My office is in the middle of the basement of a parking ramp. There are no windows. After 12 years in this little cave I think I would welcome the view and the noise. And probably spend all day looking out the window and getting absolutely nothing wrong.
Charmaine said,
September 1, 2010 @ 9:48 pm
Think it would be funny to pull the shades up!!! What a hoot
kelly-ann (on ravelry) said,
September 1, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
Thanks Sheri – I really need a laugh today and this did it for me!
Amanda said,
September 1, 2010 @ 10:10 pm
two words. AIR. HORN.
another Michelle said,
September 1, 2010 @ 10:11 pm
I wonder if any of them would notice if you started using the blinds to send out Morse code?
Kathryn said,
September 1, 2010 @ 10:12 pm
Maybe put up one of those business signs that says the premises is monitored 24 hours by a surveillance cam?
another Michelle said,
September 1, 2010 @ 10:14 pm
Or here’s another thought…tap on the window and ask who ever leaves a coffee cup on the sill to bring you a pumpkin spice latte the next time he/she goes for coffee!
Monica Jines said,
September 1, 2010 @ 11:10 pm
It amazes me how people think they have a bubble of invisibility about them Loving the comments.
Ginger said,
September 1, 2010 @ 11:25 pm
I guess I am missing out on all the fun. We have no windows at work and no cell phone use. If it was me I would pull the blinds and scared the bejezus out of them. The conversations must make good entertaiment though:-)
ruth said,
September 1, 2010 @ 11:28 pm
Way back when the library still had a phone booth, we would hear every conversation in it. People just talked louder in a phone booth, and half the library would find out what they were up to. It could be very funny sometimes.
Jocelyn said,
September 1, 2010 @ 11:39 pm
That’s an interesting post – it may be annoying and they could be blocking your light sometimes, but it’s a nice distraction right? My desk sits in front of this great big picture window that runs the length of the facade of our office. I’m on the second floor.
It looks out to a major intersection in our area and I have lost count of the number of traffic accidents, funny people and pets crossing the road, birds taking baths in the public sprinkler system and just life in general that I have witnessed in the 3 years that we have been here.
It has certainly never ceased to amaze me and provides me with a nice distraction from the very mundane work at the office. Unless of course I’m on Ravelry or TLE admiring projects and yarns
Kathy Sue said,
September 2, 2010 @ 12:32 am
I have a fence between me and the rest of the world, so I walked out and opened the gate. Boys on skateboards in the middle of the street at1PM. Hey–didn’t school start today???
Wendy said,
September 2, 2010 @ 5:35 am
What hijinks lurk outside Sheri’s window at TLE? Only Loopy knows for sure!
Mary Beth said,
September 2, 2010 @ 7:44 am
Hilarious!
Christy S. said,
September 2, 2010 @ 8:24 am
I love it! I am literally laughing out loud with my office door open! That made my morning. So glad you shared it with us!
Bonnie H. said,
September 2, 2010 @ 8:45 am
I cannot count the times when I’ve been in the grocery store or the bookstore and heard other people’s cell phone conversations. I’ve heard things I wish I hadn’t!
Bonnie H. said,
September 2, 2010 @ 8:47 am
Oh, and the view out my office window from the 4th floor is the Home Depot parking lot. But there’s lots of sky to see here on the South Plains of Texas, and we’ve been having gorgeous clouds lately…
Sooze said,
September 2, 2010 @ 8:58 am
Too funny, but the question is “Can they hear you?” when you are on the phone tracking down our yarn ???
Helen said,
September 2, 2010 @ 9:16 am
This is so funny!
So did little Bobby do? LOL!
WendyT said,
September 2, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Too funny! That would drive me crazy after awhile – - how distracting!
Seanna Lea said,
September 2, 2010 @ 9:39 am
I don’t have windows, and even if I did I work in a high rise building.
At home, we have a bird feeder near-ish to one of the windows, so if you are standing at the right angle you can see a congregation of different birds all squabbling over the seed. It is a lot of fun to watch!
im just lori said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:03 am
Since I telecommute, I get to watch the comings and goings in my neighborhood. Right now there’s a mommy who seems to always be walking, baby strapped to her front, walking her dogs. As in, every other hour, she’s out there. Oh, and I know when the school bus has arrived.
Once it gets colder I’ll put up my wee birdfeeder (it sticks to the window itself) and amuse my kitty coworkers more.
As for your visitors, if they get annoying, would it be too mean to post a sign letting them know that you can hear them–and in general what the conversations are about?
Kim B. said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:04 am
Give them a reality check…yank up those blinds!
claire said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:06 am
Outside our window we have the red-shouldered hawk parents still trying to get their “child” from this year to hunt for himself independently. It involves a lot of screeching. We also have the neighbor’s chickens, pea-hen and rescued fledgling raven-with-a-hurt-wing “talking” amonst themselves. Occasionally there’s a rumpus when another neighbor’s bad cat, Foo Foo, shows up thinking he might get lucky and have “chicken on the hoof.”
Stephanie K from MI said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:07 am
I would say tape a sign to the outside of the window that shows the address of your blog post saying…..beware…..you are famous! or….do I talk by YOUR desk?!
Out our window are a lot of children trying to suck every last moment out of summer. Michigan law requires schools to start after Labor day…..so kids have that almost sad look of wishing it wouldn’t end.
Melissa (Meliabella) said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:45 am
You need a tastefully decorated sign that says “We can HEAR YOU!”
Brenda said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:53 am
The office I work in is a huge cube farm, and we have absolutely NO privacy anywhere. I guess I can empathize with the people outside your window—if I want to call a doctor’s office or make some other private call, I have to sneak out to my car with my cell or find some other place to hide outdoors. It may be annoying to you, but having been on the other side of it, I can’t tell you how wearing it gets to have someone watching and listening to every thing you do or word you say all day long. And whatever information people even think they glean by eavesdropping on your *private* phone calls is of course spread far and wide by the office gossips, who are going to keep that gossip mill churning whether they know what they are talking about or not.
Diane said,
September 2, 2010 @ 12:52 pm
I would either do what you wanted to with the blinds OR make a nice sign(not that they would all notice) saying “Attention All Cell Phone Users: Can You Please Speak Just A Little Louder – We Have Missed Only 10% of Your Phone Conversation Details)
OR – you can – before you raise the blinds – get a Halloween mask and scare the bejeebers out of them. Would be funny on America’a Funniest Home Videos – then you could make some $$$ out of it – as for me – I am at a corner desk with (boo hiss) no windows. Can you get one of those no cell phone zone signs that hospitals post?
Robin said,
September 2, 2010 @ 12:53 pm
Leave the desk there. It is probably better and General Hospital or All My Children.
Laura said,
September 2, 2010 @ 1:14 pm
I don’t have a window
Just my little cubicle.
Have you thought about putting a pair of googly eyes in your blinds? Just, disembodied eyes? I wonder how long it would take for someone to notice? And, would they jump out of their skin when they do?
You could add entertainment to your day to temper the annoyance this causes.
Kay said,
September 2, 2010 @ 1:15 pm
The only thing outside my window is apple trees, finches, chickadees, scrub jays, etc. Can you guess that this is into my backyard? I’m so glad I’m retired!
Loretta Barrett said,
September 2, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
Oh my. That is to funny ! I think you should wait until Holloween. Dress up & yank the blinds up with a loud “BOOOOOOOOO!” Of course you will offer a nice handfull of trick or treat candy becouse you got to trick they can have a treat. Just a thought?
Kate/Massachusetts said,
September 2, 2010 @ 1:51 pm
lol! Someone should send them all the link to your blog! Maybe you should post a sign that says ” I can hear you now”!
Sue said,
September 2, 2010 @ 2:15 pm
Randomly:
* I LOVE the airhorn idea – is it wrong that that made me laugh really hard?
* Didn’t I read somwhere that places like the symphony and tony restaurants are purchasing cell phone jammers so that folks can neither make nor receive phone calls within a certain radius? It would probably be a deductible expese for you
* I’m on the 19th floor, so mostly I only hear sirens and the sounds of the regular demonstrations that occur in the SF Financial District. The demonstrations drive me nuts – not because people are demonstrating but because from 19 floors away I can NEVER figure out what they’re demonstrating about. It’s just a lot of angry background noise that has me gritting my teeth after awhile.
* On the other hand, I commute on a bus about an hour each way and I’m regularly STUNNED by the conversations people will have on a cell phone on an otherwise quiet bus. Think people making airline reservations and giving out their credit card information. Slowly – so you can write it all down. Think half hour conversations about the caller’s sex life. (Or don’t – it’s a little ooky). I find myself wanting to get up, tap on the caller’s shoulder and say “Seriously? You’re just not that interesting!”
Ruth said,
September 2, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
Maybe you need to post a small sign in your window that says something to the effect of “All phone conversations held in this area will be taped and submitted to the FBI for further analysis.”
Jennie said,
September 2, 2010 @ 3:16 pm
Sheri, I think you should post a sign in your window that says “Phone Booth”
Maybe even a slot to put your quarter in to make a call.
Susan said,
September 2, 2010 @ 4:43 pm
* Get one of those fake video security cameras with the red light that looks like it’s recording, and have it peek through your blinds at their eye level (in plain sight).
* Put a sign next to the camera that says ‘the video of your phone call will be posted on Youtube this evening.’
* NYC Alt 1: Put cones outside the window and some broken pieces of stone on the sidewalk and a sign that says ‘beware of falling concrete.’
* NYC Alt 2: A pile of (fake!) doggy doo outside where they like to stand.
* NYC Alt 3: If your window opens, aim your music speaker out the window. Keep a special playlist handy (I find Black Sabbath, Metallica, Marilyn Manson or Rob Zombie work well for
these occasions, but barking dog recordings can also do just fine!).
* And finally: A chalk outline of someone holding a cell phone (some shattered electronics on the ground would add a nice touch) on the sidewalk outside the window, and fake bullethole on your window….
(Yes, I’m hormonal, and enjoying all these possibilities!)
: )
Jeanne B. said,
September 2, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
Do it. Scare the bejeezus out of them. It would serve them right!
Nothing going on outside my window today. I should be thankful. The past couple of days my lovely, pristine, politely-dressed neighborhood has been witness to the Bare-Belly Man. He must be a visitor, because nobody in this neighborhood goes outside unless they are dressed properly for public consumption. Not even to get the mail. Nope. We’re fully dressed even if we’re just stepping out to grab the paper from the stoop.
So when I looked up from my computer to see this visage, this wondrous creature of advancing age and already-advanced beer gut, strolling by with a button-down shirt left completely unbuttoned, with his enormous hairy belly bouncing along for all to see, well… I was speechless.
And then he strolled by the next day. Wearing the same shirt. The same way.
Thankfully, that trend appears to be over.
Chi said,
September 2, 2010 @ 10:23 pm
LOL – I would consider it cheap entertainment if it’s interesting, juicy conversation but if it’s like most public cell phone conversations I’ve been tortured into overhearing, I’d be tempted to line that window with one of those bug zapper thingies. You know, the kind that electrocutes. Decorate it to make it look inviting to lean on then, ZAP!
Brenda said,
September 3, 2010 @ 8:40 am
Put a sign on your window that says “We can hear you know!”
Kathy Deutsch said,
September 3, 2010 @ 10:31 am
I hope some day to have the guts to just start talking back at the callers, in response to what they are saying into the phones (loudly)
“Oh, I know, she can be such a jerk sometimes! You should totally not invite her to the party.”
Outside my window? One impatient hummingbird!
Brigette said,
September 3, 2010 @ 1:19 pm
I don’t know if it’s interesting or scary. A trash truck with trash inside caught on fire outside our windows and the police, fire trucks, ambulances are all sitting outside. EVERYONE is FINE! It smells like burning dirt, paper, and paper glue on and off since about 11:30 our time. They had to empty all the trash onto the road to get the fire out… it was pretty big considering. The road outside my window is closed and will remain that way until about 4 pm. Again everyone is fine.
Maria said,
September 3, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
Outside my office used to be the place where the smoking employees of the next door restaurant took their breaks. Besides causing me to wonder if many of them were brain damaged (I could tell you stories!–though I’ve known a number of people with serious brain injuries who actually behaved better and more sensibly, not to mention the employees had no excuse for their behavior) I also resolved never, ever to eat in that restaurant after witnessing their behavior. Yes, it was that bad.
Lisa said,
September 4, 2010 @ 8:29 am
I absolutely love it!
Faith said,
September 4, 2010 @ 9:30 am
Sheri, I think this is one of your most hysterical blog entries! Thanks for the laugh.
Jo Anne Moniz said,
September 6, 2010 @ 12:50 pm
From my office window….hmmm…I work upstairs in my home…and while checking email, I glanced outside my window as saw marathon runners running down the street making the turn that will return them back to the finish line (they have 11 more miles to go!!). What an awesome sight! Kudo’s to all those that dedicate their time to running….and completely 26 miles in one day!
What do I hear from my window….only the traffic from the highway…which isn’t very loud anyway…and the sirens from the fire trucks as the station is about 100 yards away!
I don’t have a “naughty” conversations….nor smokers (cough cough…)…I just have sunny blue skies with the tradewinds in Hawaii!!!
Sheri at The Loopy Ewe » More Loiterers Needed said,
September 17, 2010 @ 9:56 am
[...] a couple of weeks ago when I shared what usually goes on outside of my office window? People talking on their phones. A lot. And here I was, thinking that it was a bit annoying and [...]