Dear Amy: My co-workers and I work in an office with 30 people and have a lunchroom that is used every day by the majority of the staff. Our office receives a selection of newspapers that are read by the staff during lunchtime. Two co-workers take sections of the newspaper to the restroom every day, returning them to the lunch table upon re-entering the office. The rest of us find this behavior disgusting and inappropriate.
– Losing Our Lunch
Dear Losing: Like you, I am somewhat grossed out by this.
You should notify your office manager. Do so with the understanding that you realize that this isn’t the biggest professional problem in the world. Your manager could post a notice or send an e-mail saying that all newspapers should remain in the lunchroom. If the practice persists, then the manager should handle it directly with the offenders without bringing you into it.
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Dear Amy: What do you think about a husband who would rather bowl with his buddies on his 25th wedding anniversary than spend it with his wife? That’s right! My husband and I have our 25th anniversary on the same night that his bowling league meets, so instead of getting a substitute and spending a romantic evening together he suggested that I come and watch him bowl. – No Romance in D.C.
Dear No Romance: This sounds like the plot from an old “Honeymooners” episode. As this plot would be played out on ’50s television, Ralph Kramden would eventually realize how his choice made Alice feel; they would kiss and make up and the episode would end with Ralph saying, “Honey, you’re the greatest.” I wonder if you can borrow a page from that old script.
You could start by swallowing your disappointment enough to show up at his bowling night. Give him a card with a copy of a photo from your wedding 25 years ago, and invite him to join you for dinner over the weekend. Your husband doesn’t get it. So you’re going to have to show him what this particular milestone means to you.
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