Oct 30 2007
Please…Do This At Home
I guess I’m just a tad…persnickety.
I like that word. Persnickety.
I like it because it sounds like what it means: “Particularly nit-picky.”
Anyway, I’m back in Seattle. I’m tucked into your standard consultant cubicle: bad office chairs, spare computer parts (a monitor and keyboard) and dusty desktops.
I’m working away on my laptop and hear: snikt-snikt-snikt.
Eeewww.
Someone around me is clipping their nails!
I think that nail clipping is the type of personal hygiene routine best done at home. I mean, come on!
Do you have so little time you can’t clip your nails at home? I guess I should be thankful that it’s FINGERnails and not TOEnails.
Ick.
Then again, it might have been toenails. I was only going by the sound. Toenails don’t sound like snikt-snikt-snikt…they sound more like: snICK-snICK-snICK.
Hearing snikt-snikt-snikt gave me a bit of a bad flashback. I once worked in an office with a guy who I found Highly Annoying. What can I say? I was younger and more intolerant.
This guy was tall and a close-talker. He never noticed that people were always backing away from him trying to maintain a reasonable distance of oh, 30 inches. He seemed to like being within 20 inches of whomever he was speaking with.
You never wanted to show him anything on your computer. That is, unless you liked having him loom over you while resting one hand on your shoulder as he peered at the screen. The guys really hated this habit of his. It was fun to be a spectator, though. We’d see our hapless coworker edging away from Mr. Close Talker or try to shake that hand off a shoulder.
But back to the nail clipping. Sometimes I’d walk pass Mr. C-T and see him holding up his hands for inspection. Then he’d open his drawer and get out his nail clippers. I can see having to get rid of a hangnail now and then but I think this guy clipped his nails at his desk twice a week!
Oh-oh, more bad flashbacks! He also was a smacker and finger licker.
I’d hear him eating his lunch at his desk. Smack-smacks-smack.
You only achieve that kinda volume if you chew with your mouth open. If his meal was finger-lickin’ good I’d hear uuuhhh, finger lickin’. This probably led to nail inspection for more tasty bits which led to more clipping.
Yep, persnickety, that was me.
This reminds me of this other guy I worked with. He had crooked teeth. After lunch I’d hear all these sucking sounds on the other side of the cubicle wall. He would get food stuck between his teeth and then be trying to suck it out while working.
I’d hear all these mini WetVac noises.
Which brings up another thing: PLEASE don’t floss your teeth in public! I’m OK with toothpicks but floss? Eeeee. I don’t want to touch anything in your work area, that’s for sure. Nor do I want to look that closely at your computer screen.
I’ve even seen people floss in restaurants! Hey, having something stuck in my teeth drives ME nuts so I understand the crazy-making factor but really, some itches you just don’t scratch in public, ya know?
I guess I’m still persnickety. I think flossing, nail clipping, shaving, nose picking - all should be done in either the bathroom or in the privacy of your own home.
So…whaddya think? Are you in agreement or do you think that anything goes behind Cubicle Walls?
………………………………………….
I totally know what you’re talking about! I’ve heard some of the same nail-clipping going on behind cubicle walls. And you know what…it’s pretty disturbing to me as well.
On the other hand, sometimes I’m scared that I do things that offend other peoples. It’s hard because I just got some noise-canceling type ear buds so I could very well be doing something unconsciously while I’m at my computer and not even know it! Now I’m going to have to be more self-conscious about it, I suppose.
Derek! Thanks for coming through for me! I figgered you would have noticed this what with our similar fastidiousness of things hygienic!
If you have noise-canceling earbuds what do you think you’re doing? Singing? snapping your fingers? Humming? Sorry I haven’t been by your blog (or many others) I have been busy with work - no time to “socialize” much these days.
If he’s going to clip his nails he really needs to distribute safety glasses to his coworkers first. To paraphrase George Costanza, “Nail clippings can move baby!”
delmer: Hey! You put a new spin on my phrase ‘nail-in-the-eye-FUN!’
Yes, clippings CAN go every which way which is why I suggest clipping in the privacy of your own home. I really don’t want to be sitting at someone’s desk or work area and finding things like nail clippings.
Safety glasses…funny!
Well I just bought a pack of beef jerky, and I was snacking on it yesterday. But I think that I had put too much into my mouth, and as I was trying to wrestle with it I was wondering if I was making any type of lip smacking or such disgusting sounds. I sure hope not. Now I know that when I snack, I need to at least have one earbud out so that I can be aware!
I have noticed that you were a bit absent from visiting around! I had wondered what had happened. Well the good thing about a blog is that the posts will always be there whenever you/we get around to it. Well, I suppose as long as servers don’t crash and the Internet stays intact. Which at this point seems fairly probable.
Ewww.. I agree with you… personal hygiene should be kept, well, personal. Do it at home or in private. ICK.
Derek: hmm…beef jerky ain’t date food, that is for sure! It’s not purty eating unless it’s the moist kind.
Yeah, I haven’t had time to read and comment on other blogs. It’s all I can do to post on my own blog these days! I did take a couple of SeaTac restroom photos but I can’t post those until I get home AND I don’t think they came out all that well. I didn’t go for optimum embarrassment which makes for better photos.
I’ve been called ‘persnickety’ once. I looked at the person like the just offended me. Good to know I’m in good company.
I know just what you mean though. There is this woman in the office who does that every other week. I know this because she only does it after 4pm every other Thursday. At least she stays on schedule. But it seems she does it when she knows I have a deadline to meet.
You aren’t being picky at all. Some things just need to stay out of the public eye (along with the office). Like microwaving fish in the pantry area. Something you shouldn’t do.
Perhaps all the points you made should be added to the Employee Handbook of each and every job site out there.
Another good one Ms. Q. Couldn’t have said it better.
UT: Microwaving fish..at the office?? UCK! The office microwave - that’s FREAKY! It’s like no one knows about PAPER TOWELS and that they can be used to prevent splatters.
Persnickety? YOU? I wouldn’t have thunk it. Derek had given me every indication of a fellow frequent-user-of-hand-sanitizers but you? I thought clean but not persnickety. Well, now *I* know I’m in good company what with Derek and you on Team Really Clean! hehehe!
That is so weird about that woman doing her personal thang on schedule. I like your suggestion about putting all these “rules” in an employee handbook.
I didn’t even touch on the things I see people doing while driving!! EeEEE! Shaving, putting on eye shadow, rooting around in a nostril…eeewww!
People know full well about paper towels and splatter prevention. It’s just that at the office, they don’t give a crap. It’s someone else’s job to clean that up.
I still remember when one office moved back in with us that we made a big deal about no burning popcorn on the microwave. I dunno if they had a bad rep for doing that at their other office or what.
I suppose I should consider myself lucky with my cube now. I’m in a pod of 8, but only one other is occupied. The one the exact opposite corner from mine. And of the surrounding offices, only one of them is occupied. So, pretty quiet. And my cube-mate works from home one day a week typically, so i get to kill the lights. Now, if only I could get the damned programming on them to stop turning them on in the afternoon.
When we were newlyweds, my husband had this “drive the new people insane” policy. He was, basically, Jim Halpert of “The Office”.
(and yes, I was working as a glorified receptionist, at the time, and wore my hair just like Pam, so I have high hopes for that TV couple)
The day Curt started work, I thought Mike took it waaaaay too far. He went to Curt’s desk, took off his shoe and sock, and clipped his toenails…right…on…Curt’s…desk. Really disgusting.
Two years later, we left the country. MIke’s office threw him a very touching going-away party. It was lovely.
And Curt cried. They had become that close, in just two years.
So, hey, maybe disgusting personal hygiene maintenance activities are just what the office needs.
Not that I’m gonna try it.
I never thought I was either. Who knew? People can somtimes identify your ‘qualities’ better than you can yourself. That is usually when I learn about how I am with particular people.
LOL… rooting around in a nostril? That is something a few people do in the office. They don’t think anyone is watching and then later try to touch you. All the while knowing they never made a trip to the bathroom or pantry to wash their hands. And you know they don’t keep a bottle of sanatizer close by.
Ok I’m up to speed on the nail clipper thing - in fact, I’d like to take it one more step & say at home IN THE BATHROOM! My ex husband used to clip while watching TV in the living room. Ick! I think one can take five minutes away from TV time in order to do that kind of thing…
Not sure I follow the whole fish thing though. I’m not much of cook, so it doesn’t matter to me much one way or the other. But I’m not sure why microwaving fish leftovers for a few seconds would be any different than microwaving dead cow leftovers or bird or pig leftovers…I guess maybe it makes more of a food smell? But still, it’s not like it’s making a dirty sock smell or anything. *shrug shrug*
I agree that personal hygiene should stay at home along with your robe and slippers. As for the fish thing, I made a rule in the office, that if they bring fish to work, they can’t use the microwave to heat it up. They have to go next door to the ESL school and use their microwave.
I do have to admit that I’ve cut my FINGER nails at the office once or twice. It’s a rare occasion only when I can’t stand going through the day working and your finger nails are in the way of typing effectively. Fortunately I have an office so I can close my door to avoid the scowls and dirty looks from ‘Persnickety’ people.
I’m glad to hear you close your door out of courtesy.
Can someone tell me what is up with people walking around bare foot or in their socks while in the office?
Sue: whoops! Sorry I missed your comment! Yes, personal hygiene should be done in the privacy of your own home!
ack: Yeah, you are SO right, most people don’t respect things they don’t own or are not responsible for. So they’ll make a mess in the hotel (OK, I leave towels on the floor and I DON’T do this at home) or let things blow up in the company microwave.
Hmmm…you’re surrounded by empty cubes? I am not sure if that’s a good thing. Maybe it is but maybe it means the company isn’t doing that well?
Christine: Uh….I don’t have a TV and don’t watch one that often so I don’t know the characters you’re referring to. But I’m sure many other people do! I got the idea though. That’s FUNNEE about Mike taking his shoes and socks off and clipping his toenails. That’s whacky! I am not sure how *I’D* take it. It would depend on his demeanor. Totally deadpan or what? It sound goofy so I would either laugh or back away sloooowly.
UT: Sometimes it takes other people to show you who you are. I know that I have my blind spots! Like when someone told me, “You look so calm” and she was referring to how I appeared before midterms and finals. I said, “well…it’s too late to worry, that’s for sure. I’m either ready..or not.”
I’ve also been blind to being overly critical. I had no idea about this either! I thought I was being “helpful” URK! I wasn’t!
Yeah, I’ve seen some serious mining action when it comes to nostrils. EEeeee. That’s why I don’t like to touch handrails and such on public transportation. But…hand sanitizers!
Jill: Whooaa..your ex-husband clipped in the living room while watching TV? I live alone and I don’t do that! OK, so I don’t have a TV but still - I clip in the bathroom!
I dunno about fish as I don’t eat fish but fish DOES have a stronger smell. I haven’t experienced much microwaving of fish so I can’t really complain but I can imagine that it’s bad. Burnt popcorn - now THAT I’ve smelled!
Christian: Sounds like you’ve witness people’s PERSONAL hygiene routines public places! You actually had to make a rule about microwaving fish? Then it MUSt be bad or people are microwaving fish like mad where you are! You mean the ESL school doesn’t care or are they microwaved fish lovers?
I don’t know that people clip their TOEnails at the office (barring Christine’s husband) but it sounds like you don’t clip your fingernails at the office regularly. Which some people seem to do. Sue: whoops! Sorry I missed your comment! Yes, personal hygiene should be done in the privacy of your own home!
ack: Yeah, you are SO right, most people don’t respect things they don’t own or are not responsible for. So they’ll make a mess in the hotel (OK, I leave towels on the floor and I DON’T do this at home) or let things blow up in the company microwave.
Hmmm…you’re surrounded by empty cubes? I am not sure if that’s a good thing. Maybe it is but maybe it means the company isn’t doing that well?
Christine: Uh….I don’t have a TV and don’t watch one that often so I don’t know the characters you’re referring to. But I’m sure many other people do! I got the idea though. That’s FUNNEE about Mike taking his shoes and socks off and clipping his toenails. That’s whacky! I am not sure how *I’D* take it. It would depend on his demeanor. Totally deadpan or what? It sound goofy so I would either laugh or back away sloooowly.
UT: Sometimes it takes other people to show you who you are. I know that I have my blind spots! Like when someone told me, “You look so calm” and she was referring to how I appeared before midterms and finals. I said, “well…it’s too late to worry, that’s for sure. I’m either ready..or not.”
I’ve also been blind to being overly critical. I had no idea about this either! I thought I was being “helpful” URK! I wasn’t!
Yeah, I’ve seen some serious mining action when it comes to nostrils. EEeeee. That’s why I don’t like to touch handrails and such on public transportation. But…hand sanitizers!
Jill: Whooaa..your ex-husband clipped in the living room while watching TV? I live alone and I don’t do that! OK, so I don’t have a TV but still - I clip in the bathroom!
I dunno about fish as I don’t eat fish but fish DOES have a stronger smell. I haven’t experienced much microwaving of fish so I can’t really complain but I can imagine that it’s bad. Burnt popcorn - now THAT I’ve smelled!
Christian: Sounds like you’ve witness people’s PERSONAL hygience routines public places! You actually had to make a rule about microwaving fish? Then it MUSt be bad or people are microwaving fish like mad where you are! You mean the ESL school doesn’t care or are they microwaved fish lovers?
I don’t know that people clip their TOEnails at the office (barring Christine’s husband) but it sounds like you don’t clip your fingernails at the office regularly. Which some people seem to do.
UT Part II: I’ve known a few people who did the barefoot or socks in the office thing. One woman I knew just didn’t seem to like shoes. Personally, I would not want my bare feet on the office floor. UGH. It’s actually hard on the feet, or my feet! I like some slippers. I dunno why some people like to go without shoes in the office. Some may be making a statement some may just find it more comfortable?
Sounds like you all have had close encounters of the Personal Hygiene Kind!
I don’t have an office to go barefoot in & I don’t take my shoes off in the classroom (the kids aren’t allowed so I don’t), but I was barefoot at the radio station earlier this week…guess I was grossing people out…whoops.
Suppose I should have kept that little layer of plastic flip flop between my foot & the floor! I always have to take off my shoes to dance. Last time a friend (Laurie) and I were in this really scummy club & she kept telling me I was going to get syphilis just from going barefoot in there. My feet *were* pretty black. But it comes right off in the shower.
I do all those things in front of my computer, but since my office is at home, I don’t think it bothers anyone.
My favorite is when people seem to think they are invisible when in their car and pick their nose while at a stop light. I started collecting pictures of people doing this, but stopped when we moved because I stopped driving as much. Now THERE’s an idea for a blog.
Jill: uh…yeah, you should wear some type of slipper - especially in a hospital! I know someone who was in the hospital and she was told to wear those paper booties when walking around. She didn’t and ended up getting some type of bacterial infection! Granted this was at a hospital. I hadn’t heard about getting syphilis while walking barefoot. I did read a blog where this guy got some nasty bacterial infection at his health club on his back! I think he had some type of open wound (a pimple) and the bacteria entered there.
I try not to be too cautious about germs/bacteria - it’s just too much to worry about but I do try to use some common sense. OK, I do use hand sanitizers and and try not to touch my eyes and hold open the bathroom doors with the paper towel but…
the frogster: hey, you’re at home and unless finding nail clippings in your keyboard bothers others, clip away!
You actually took photos of people picking their nose at stoplights?? hahahaha! I HAVE seen people “mining for nuggets” in their nostrils while driving. ICk. I have also seen people do this in public areas but usually they are children or the elderly (who also have no problem with firing their afterburners without embarrassment) or people from other countries.
Oh, and I’ve seen many elderly Asians digging out earwax with a pinky if they have nothing better to do.
Oh well…39 years & no siphilus yet! Actually, I’m pretty sure Laurie was joking though.
Hospitals are horrible for getting germs I think. I definitely wouldn’t go barefoot there. And I never go barefoot in public restrooms. Anywhere else I consider fair game though… :-0
Haha this post (and the resulting comments) are pretty hilarious. It’s the sum of our encounters of the gross dimension.
One thing that I think is pretty gross that I do is that I will sometimes sneeze at work (not sure why, maybe allergic to something here?). BUT I definitely have a handy bottle of hand sanitizer here. As well as in car for those after gas station needs. And I like wiping down everything (desk, keyboard, phone, etc) every now and again.
I hope that nobody does anything gross on my desk like clip their toenails! Jim from the Office (which you probably don’t know about since you don’t watch TV) makes me laugh because he is of the more blunt, sarcastic, and sometimes obnoxious variety, but I don’t know how I could handle a real life one in the office.
Derek: “after gas station needs??” what the heck is that?
I admit that I don’t think those gas pumps are all that clean but I don’t clean my hands right after. I wait until I get home or wherever!
Sneezing isn’t necessarily gross unless you’re not using tissue or have really wet sneezes. I mean, it’s not like you can usually prevent a sneeze! Unlike nail clipping….
I think when it comes to the difference between toe and finger nails, it’s just psychological - toenails may actually be cleaner! But they LOOK a whole lot grosser. Hmm..I take that back, I HAVE seen TEVA-wearing folks with some pretty thick, yellow and somewhat grimy nails.
ANYway, for most people toenails may actually be cleaner what with being all safe in the shoes…
I don’t meet many obnoxious folks in general but I’d hope I could take them in stride if I met one!
Haha sorry, sometimes I’ll say or write something and forget to include enough to conclude what I mean. I simply meant that after pumping gas, I feel pretty dirty because I just touched that handle that’s been touched countless times without being cleaned.
When I think of gross toenails, I do think of those ones that have black gunk beneath the nail and are old and yellowing. And that just seems disgusting!
I myself must admit that I have to pay attention to keeping my toes clean because I like to wear sandals a lot. Are you a sandal person or a shoe person?
Ever since reading all of these bad public behaviors, I find myself having powerful thoughts of doing just these repulsive actions. Will anyone catch me? That’s for the theorists to decide (and how much my nose itches)
I think you are correctly persnickety. In home - fire away, in public, manners are still worth something… aren’t they?
How are your nostrils today MsQ? Speedy wants to know. (sorry)
Well……
I had this terrible boss at my last job who would clip his nails and watch the Country Music channel on TV while singing along to the songs. The worst boss I ever had, hands down. A manipulative sadist as well.
This guy has issues. Hope he does not get too close.
Oh…one last thing….
I’M BACK BABY!!!!!
Derek: I thought you meant something along the lines of so many people having touched the gas pump but you may have meant, I dunno, using the restroom or who knows, grabbing some type of snack (scary!)
We share a similar vision of gross toenails!
I am a shoe person as I tend to stub my toes AND I don’t have purty toes. I have runner’s toes and runner’s feet which means I have callouses and really banged up toenails. They aren’t yellow or grimy though. They just aren’t all delicate looking. But I DO have very small feet. Kinda goes with the four-foot-ten-and-three-quarter-inches thing.
Speedy! I dunno if anyone would catch you if you performed some repulsive action and then sped away. But in general you do have some whacky behaviour in golf carts and truck cabs. Of course, whacky is not the same as repulsive.
My nostrils? They be fine. It’s not cold season as yet.
Ricardo: Eeewww on the toenails! What is UP with clipping TOEnails at work? ICK. Issues. That’s fer sure.
But whoooo-hoo on your being back! I gotta git on over to UNLOADED!!