#57 and #58 lunch

Obviously, I left my last job, so it became more difficult to have lunch with those people! But since I have been at my new job, I have had lunch with all the members of my team and three other people in the "front office." I have also had a group lunch with four other people outside the department. I have done a better job of lunching with coworkers in the last five months than I did in the previous two and a half years!

Part of the goal of this project was to "get out there more." I feel like I have succeeded here.

#58 Eating More Lunch

So today, Mr Graphics showed me a photo of his kitchen--and it looked exactly like mine. Well okay, we painted the same color, and I have black and white floor tile and he has black and white counter tile. It's like we were separated at birth. Anyway, we're going to lunch on Friday. I'll be 2/3 of the way there. I have to say the two lunches I have had with people outside my department have been the easy ones--people I work with regularly and get along with and can see myself being friends with. I have no idea how I am getting a third...the president will invite me to lunch? Or...does the time I went with my boss to Marathon with an assistant dean to talk about the publication we do for his college count? I totally forgot about that.

Here's a question about the intraoffice lunches (#57), do I have to go out with them? Can we sit around the lunchroom together? I mean, so long as we're eating and talking, does that count? You never know what little nuances there are to these list items until you start doing them. At any rate, if it's the latter--the lunchroom conversation counts--then I have to add NS, JH, and HB (they're thick as thieves and move as a unit) and KB. That KB lunch was funny. JH (a different one) said that KB wanted to raise goats and marry a farmer, and I turned her on to Farmer's Only. She thinks I may be responsible for her future happiness. Well, good, she deserves it.

(And that means I am down to 14 with one person leaving at the end of next month...I should try to do more to have lunch with her before she goes.)

#57 Eating Lunch

I forgot that when I went to Newport I actually fulfilled a second goal--I had lunch with two of my coworkers with whom I had not eaten before. One--the senior vp--I wasn't sure how I was going to get lunch with him. Much easier than I thought it was going to be...The other one, well, I wasn't sure how I was going to get through a lunch with her. But I did.

Just what does a billionaire serve for lunch? They eat just like the hoi polloi: wings, cheeseburgers, hot dogs (she had a hot dog), potato chips, a pickle dish, salads, cottage cheese (?). Dove bars and store bought cookies for dessert. Went all out, she did.

The countdown continues, 18 left: BC, BE, CM, DM, HB, JH, JR, KW, KB, LM, MG, MK, NS, PH, PM, SS, SS, TM.

#57 Have lunch with coworkers

Some days the only progress on this list I seem to make is that I eat. Today I had lunch with six coworkers. We got a "free" lunch for listening to an investment sales pitch. I am so not the sales pitch kind of girl. I tried really hard, but I had to make a comment.

Some of these people I've already had lunch with and some are so new they're not on the list. (I'm sticking with the original list because the number of people who are being added as we head into a campaign is phenomenal. I'll put them on the next 101 things list.) I'm taking MG and LA off the list because we ate together today. Going over the list, I see I should take NL off the list--we've had squid salad together at the Burmese place in Chinatown, not sure when or if I reported on it. LN was also there. You know, I've had lunch with her more since she left than I ever did while she was here.

I'm taking DG and KM off because I can't even find them on the current phone list, and I can't remember who they are!

I have twenty-one to go. I think I started with 41 or so. BC, BE, CM, DM, HB, FR, JH, JR, KW, KB, LA, LM, MG, MK, NS, PH, PM, PN, SS, SS, TM.

Lunch with somebody new

Two of my coworkers sat a table over from me today so it was pretty necessary to have lunch with them. I had lunch with one of the young girls I never would have had lunch with normally. She seems sweet even if she has a penchant for musicals [nose wrinkle]. Oh, I'm such a snob.

So here's where we stand: BC, BE, CM, DM, DG, HB, FR, JH, JR, KM, KW, KB, LA, LN, LM, MG, MK, MG, NL, NS, PH, PM, PN, SS, SS, TM. People keep leaving so the attrition isn't entirely due to my "efforts"--and really, what efforts have I made? I keep getting dragged into these things...

#57 Holiday Comfort Lunch

On Wednesday, the boss took the team for Christmas lunch, and included our AA, NB, with whom I've never lunched. We went to Jones where the others guilted me into getting a sandwich. I had the tuna melt which was very good and talked the others into campfire craving for dessert. No one was dissatisfied; that dessert rocked.

#57 Part Six, Wherein, More Eatin'

I have just returned from lunch at Rangoon (Burmese) with LW, MM, LN, and NL. That's only two new people, but still it was fun. I had the North Burmese Noodles. It was supposed to be spicy, but it wasn't. I think I just don't like it there. 2 more down, 29 more to go...

#57 Have lunch with each co-worker, Parts 3, 4 & 5

After my new boss started, she took the team to lunch, that's me and MM. While we were feasting at Cosi, JH plopped herself down and asked if it was okay to join us. I like her; she hates the decorating job in the bathroom too. And she's willing to say it, unlike the other girly-girls.

And did I mention that I went out with CP for salad? Well, there you go...three more down.

Today, I'm having lunch with my boss's boss. I wonder if I have to go for salad again...

The list shrinketh: BC, BE, CD, CM,DM, DG, PM, EG, FR, HB, JH, JR, KM, KW, KB, LA, LN, LM, MG, MK, MG, MG, NB, NL, NS, PH, PN, SS, SS, TM, TA. (Moved on: SS and DC, so no lunch with them.)

#57 Have Lunch With Coworkers, Part 2

When I first started this woman who was also new invited me to have lunch with her. Last week, I finally reminded her. (I've been here for 9 months.) We went to El Azteca. It was okay. I lived in Los Angeles for 15 years and I don't expect to get the kind of Mexican food here that I could get there. It was completely adequate.

My coworker's boyfriend had been admitted to the hospital for an irregular heartbeat, and in the middle of lunch he called to say he was being admitted for surgery. So she was a little distracted. But we've done the thing. 38 to go...

#57 Have Lunch With Co-Workers

Yesterday, I was eating lunch at the local salad place when two of my coworkers invited me to join them. (I never said I had to instigate these lunches.) We had a lot of fun talking about living in New York which we all have done at various stages, our job offers out of college, and the town I live in, which happens to be the hometown of the new girl. I had to run to get to my 1:30 meeting, but it was worth it.

Two down (LW and LW), 39 to go (BC, BE, CD, CN, CP, DM, DC, DG, PM, EG, FR, JM, JH, JF, JH, JR, HB, KM, KW, KB, LA, LN, LM, MG, MK, MM, MG, NB, NL, NS, PH, PN, SS, SS, SS, TM, TA). (Just because I love a list.)