An except of a day

26 April 2009

This past week I nearly got into a fist fight with a co-worker which was beyond comical.  He is in his mid 40’s maybe 50, and he has been out for the last few months after having a rotator cuff surgery.  He was there the first couple of weeks I started working here, and returned a few weeks ago.  Overall he is a decent chap, a bit of a pain but nothing too major.  

This past week he continually tried to be the funny guy with great quips.  He was not aware that this is the service I perform in the shop.  I did not have an issue with his sad attempts until he tried to make me the butt of the joke.  We then start going tit for tat back and forth.  I was just teasing with him since he was not aware of what he was getting starting.  At one point another co-worker overhearing us comes over, and says be careful he has some good come backs.  

We continue on until finally I grow bored with him making the same joke repeatedly which no one found funny the first time, never mind the 12th time.  I start breaking out some new material which culminated with

Me:  “you know why your wife could never be a carpenter? ”
Him: “Why”
Me: “because you have been telling her for years that this I----I is 6 inches”

At this point the 3 guys who were listening in are rolling laughing, and I walk away knowing my job is done.  He comes up getting in my face sincerely angry at which point he actually makes a threat.  I am not a violent man but this is where I draw the line so instead of continuing on my way I had to stop and talk to him.  

I found the whole exchange quite comical, he continually calls me “Lance”  and college boy since I went to school for cabinetmaking.  These in his world are insults which he thinks are original and witty.  I just find them pathetic and sad... the fact that he finds them witty I find downright confusing.