Last year, I gave my boss an extra Chicago picture book that I had and liked, but didn't really need to keep. It was a bargain book from when I worked at Waldenbooks, so it only cost me a few bucks to begin with, but she didn't know that!

This year, I'll be getting her some more bargain books, this time from my current bookstore employer, B&N. I don't usually spend more than $10-15 tops on her, and she usually gives me a $25 B&N or PetSmart gift card and something from Swedish Bakery in Andersonville (we're both part-Swedish, so it's a nice gesture to our shared ancestry).

How many people are expected to contribute? How many of these are the instigators?

there's a total of 15 of us if i include the warehouse guys, who also have to contribute. that's $300 per boss! instigators are three or four of them. two are the worst culprits.

I find it REALLY hard to believe that you are the only person who is shocked by this at your office.

i'm not. the co-worker i mentioned earlier is pissed off too. it's worse for her because she has three small children. at least i only have to take care of me.

First world problems, I know, but I'm so unmotivated.

word. i have no idea what to buy for people this year. i had most of my gifts figured out by this time last year.

ION i'm really beginning to suspect this place is hell because it's as hot as hell in here today. you shouldn't sweat sitting still. in the winter...

Thanks Nutty. I feared that.

I wouldn't feel so bad about it...given how much I love the location, the neighborhood, my 20x20 living room with gorgeous southern exposure and having my office in my home...it's just that he's such a clueless jerk with zero communication skills and a brain that is probably, actually impaired. After the lead paint burning incident, he huffed, "I've been burning paint my whole life..." Explains a lot, I suppose.

I had such hope when he went through Landmark and actually seemed somewhat self aware a couple of years ago. Tragically didn't last.

Worse though, is my anger with myself. After each of the dangerously stupid acts, I ought to have called the city inspectors on him straight away. But I didn't. My weakness, to be sure...which just fuels my anger with him.

::futile seething::

I find it REALLY hard to believe that you are the only person who is shocked by this at your office.

i'm not. the co-worker i mentioned earlier is pissed off too. it's worse for her because she has three small children. at least i only have to take care of me.

Goodness, I'd think it's time for the two of you to band together in rebellion. Because the mandatory gift-for-boss, and particularly the monetary amount (about which you had no input), is bullshit.

Seriously, what can they do to you if you just refuse to chip in?

Goodness, I'd think it's time for the two of you to band together in rebellion. Because the mandatory gift-for-boss, and particularly the monetary amount (about which you had no input), is bullshit.

Seriously, what can they do to you if you just refuse to chip in?

Steph speaks for me. Honestly. (except I don't think not having kids makes one any more obligated or wealthy...says the woman still seething after being told...good lord, 17 years ago...that a coworker deserved a lower interest rate on the same car because 'he had a family to support')

How much worse, or insensitive can coworkers be if you don't participate in such idiocy?

It just frosts my hide when people are pushed into these assumed 'have too's. Joke 'em!

tiggy, I don't know if you want anymore unsolicited advice...I'm sorry that your boss is so clue-adverse/conflict-adverse that he has no idea that this causes conflict. It also sounds like it's not worth the effort to lean on him to get him to do something about it.

Given that, I hope whatever you do is something you can tolerate one way or another.

Joke 'em!

If they can't take a....? (I say that often, and no one ever gets it.)

tiggy, I don't know if you want anymore unsolicited advice...

Ooops. I apologize for my call to arms, then, if you weren't wanting advice.

(Although I often come across as a huge dick, I don't mean to be. Well, okay -- maybe 10% of the time I do mean to be. But this wasn't one of them.)

If they can't take a....? (I say that often, and no one ever gets it.)

Ooops. I apologize for my call to arms, then, if you weren't wanting advice.

(Although I often come across as a huge dick, I don't mean to be. Well, okay -- maybe 10% of the time I do mean to be. But this wasn't one of them.)

Did you see my Bitches post Steph? Now, if you say you are left handed and an Aries, Ima haveta start believing in the whole separated by birth...and a decade at least...theory.

No, Steph! I wasn't chiding (please forgive). I was just thinking about how aggravating of an experience it sounds like for tiggy and how the solution seems so easy to me (and us) but we don't have to work with those people for the rest of the year.