I sit at my desk, looking at numbers, trying to make everything balance when I first hear it…
CRACK.
Click.
CHOMP.
… …
CRACK.
Click.
CHOMP.
What, in the name of sanity, is that?
CRACK.
Click.
CHOMP.
Its coming from over the cubicle wall. It sounds like someone is shelling and eating…sunflower seeds? Pistachios, maybe?
CRACK.
Click.
CHOMP.
… …
CRACK.
Click.
CHOMP.
I roll my eyes and take a breath – this is what iPods are for. I push in my noise-cancelling ear buds, crank up Adele and start Rolling in the Deep.
Crack.
…
…
Crack.
…
…
Seriously?!?! How is it possible that I can still that cracking through my noise-cancelling ear buds!? These things must be defective!
I try to ignore the incessant cracking; and force myself to focus instead on the music in my ears and the numbers on my screen. But it’s no use – the cracking is never-ending.
Now seems like the perfect time for a break.
I grab my purse and head to the mall for a little retail therapy.
I buy a couple of so-cute-I-can-barely-stand-it summer dresses and, feeling much better, head back to the office.
As I slide into my ergonomic desk chair, I wait…
Blessed silence.
I let out a sigh of relief and turn to my computer.
CRACK.
Click.
CHOMP.
Mothertrucker!
I wonder if my boss will let me go home annoyed…
Hahahaha how horrible! I can hear when this guy clips his nails in the office and every little “snip” drives me insane!!
I feel you. The lady on the other side of me eats super loud salad and apples (I swear it’s abnormally crunchy) for lunch everyday. I have to crank up the volume really high. We actually have noise cancelling headphones that work really well. Except sometimes you can’t hear people sneak up behind you.
What the hell was that person DOING? Honestly, I don’t think it would be rude (not even sweet Canadian rude
) to say really politely that you hate to bother them, but you can hear that even over your headphones, and you hate to be a bother, but if they wouldn’t mind….
And then STRANGLE them if they don’t cut it out. Fair warning, right?
I would so have to punch someone. That God I have an office with a door so I can shut it. Although, the guys are super loud where I work and like to yell down the hall at each other instead of walking to each others offices. They especially like to use speakerphone. Grrr…
My feelings on this issue are very clear. It makes me stabby.
I say that as I sit here crunching on the peppers in my salad….
I agree with Heather; ask politely to stop. I do this with people and their annoying pen habit.
If officemate will not cease offending habit, you have liberality for extreme measures, like hand gel accidentally leaking on their toy collection. Or Hello Kitty stickers in odd and publicly-viewed areas throughout their cubicle space.
I was actually cringing along with you as I read it, food related sounds are like nails on a chalkboard. Does that person know that snacking ALL day isn’t good for you? I’m thinking mean thoughts right now and it doesn’t even relate to me. I think I need a drink.
Did you ever find the culprit? You could always record the sound and play it back to them……I’m a fiend with noise, I take ear plugs everywhere. Silence is golden!
Seriously? Yikes…
I have a co-worker who sounds like a kidney or some other major organ is going to come flying out her throat every time she barks, I mean, sneezes. Is this really necessary?
Mental health days should be granted to those of us surrounded by inconsiderates five days a week…I’m just sayin’…
I feel so strongly about this that I make Neal eat his almonds on the back patio.