On Many Subjects

At work, the IT guys have blocked the shopping sites on the Internet. I can understand blocking the porn sites and even somewhat understand blocking game sites, but shopping???? I mean really!

They did this last year from about this time until after New Years because, of course, people are going to spend all day, every day shopping instead of working. (Not) I guess it is okay to surf as long as you don't buy anything.

But, you may ask, how did I discover this if I was shopping instead of working? I DO get a lunch break and yes, I do surf the shopping sites -- Clothes, shoes, hats, gloves, toys for grandchildren.

I am not the only one suffering from this lack...

Scarecrow: What the hell? They have blocked Amazon.
Me: That is so you can't spend the money you are earning from this company.
Dorothy: I'm going to email Oz and find out about this.
Me: NO! You email OZ and then he will know we are shopping instead of working.
Soop: He already knows if the shopping sites have been blocked.
Dorothy: I'm going to tell him that I was looking for his Christmas present during my lunch break and then, I couldn't get it.
Me: You get Oz a Christmas present?
Dorothy: Well, no, but I am going to tell him I was going to, but now I can't.
Me: I have a bad feeling about this.
Scarecrow: I think shopping online when I get home is a better solution.
Soop: Or don't shop at all.
Me: That is my plan. No one gets anything for Christmas.

Ten minutes pass

Dorothy: Oz says he doesn't celebrate Christmas because he's Jewish, so he doesn't care if I get him a present or not.
Me: I can't believe you emailed him.
Dorothy: He loves me. Oh, wait! I just got another email. He wants to know what I was going to buy him.
Me: What are yolu going to tell him?
Dorothy: A car. I am going to tell him I was going to buy him a car.
Soop: He won't believe it. He knows how much he pays you.
Dorothy: Good point. OK. I am going to tell him I was going to buy him a gift certificate... to Amazon. So he could buy me a book for my Kindle.
Me: That's a Christmas present? Kind of a one-sided present, if you ask me.

Ten minutes pass

Dorothy: Oz said, "Don't worry about the gift certificate. I'll take cash. And I won't use it to buy you a present, because I don't buy presents for employees."
Me: He doesn't sound happy.
Dorothy: Then I replied: "You can start a lilac file cabinet fund with the cash." He wrote back, "Not likely."
Me: I am a little bit worried because Oz doesn't have anything to do other than emailing Dorothy.
Dorothy: Oh, he's in a board meeting and is very bored. He appreciates the distraction, I'm sure.
Soop: It must be very lonely at the top.