Grateful for Midday Soda Runs

I'm Back! I almost posted a really negative and depressing post the other day but I thought better of it so you're welcome. Back to focusing on the good in life.

So I admit it I need caffeine to get through most days and as the weekend approaches I need it more and more as work is weighing on me. There is no vending machine in my building. There is a cafeteria but as it is owned by the church it is strictly caffeine free. There is however two options for my caffeine fix. One I have been utilizing since my first days at work and one that was just introduced to me this last month by a newbie.

For the first: we work with a company on the fourth floor (we are on the sixth). They have a very large and fully stocked break room (ours is a closet in comparison). The canned sodas were 35 cents a can and bottled water was 20 cents. A steal! I know. They have the best variety so everyone is happy. The price has since gone up to 50 cents a can, not sure about the water, but still far cheaper than a vending machine and the money goes towards their sub-for-santa every year. So they don't mind that we come and contribute for soda. Did I mention that they also have a variety of candy (though I know where their free stock is that they use for meetings) but I don't partake of that stuff anymore. My new cubicle neighbor loves his caffeine as well and I was super excited to show him my treasure. The only downside is that he shared it with the other three new guys and they like to go down together. Chris would usually just pick one up for me if I gave him money and vice versa but the guys use it as a small walking break. They sometimes forget to include me so I have voiced my complaint and Chris tries to remember me. Most times I'll hear the guys talking about going and I wait for my invitation and if it doesn't come I just invite myself along. I think it's kind of funny that a pack of us hit the fourth floor for soda. It must look really funny to the people that work there.

The second option: Chris and other new guy Mikko (he's Finnish) like to go to Maverick down the street when they don't have change for the fourth floor and fill up their refillable cups. I would never have thought of walking all they way there but its really nice, but I probably would not make the walk by myself. We kind of pass by unsavory characters. My first venture out with them we pass by a bus stop crowded with people and a fight broke out and the guys were bumping into people all over and even knocked down this old man that works as a missionary with us who is extremely frail. He was okay but kind of scary.

These soda runs have really helped me bond with these new guys which I really need because I can't seem to give up my lunch hour to eat with them instead of scouring the internet or watching shows online. Chris and I talk a lot during the day. I really like working with him. He lets me whine to him and he vents to me about all our frustrations. That's usually what we do on our walking breaks/soda runs. We bitch about work and our boss. So it's somewhat therapeutic, physically active and we get our much needed caffeine.