Burglary at New Office!

The Internet was up and running, everything looked up, and we had reached office at 8:30 on Tuesday morning, looking forward to an energetic D-COM discussion, which was not to be.

A young man who works in another office in the same building was standing at the gate. Mercury looked at him and thought that he looked especially cheery that morning, and she was about to give him a sweet smile, when his countenance suddenly transformed into grim and serious, and he announced that there had been a theft in the building.

So I stayed in the car, while these two rushed into the building. They stopped short when they saw a white-board and a grass-board standing against the wall – they were theirs! This meant that their office too was burgled. They ran up the stairs – their locks were broken, and they had lost their computers, printers, scanner, and everything else that was either important or expensive – thankfully, the file-folder cabinet wasn’t touched, but even the unused stationery was stolen! The thieves even took the sofa cushions, the bone-china used for conferences, and the beautiful pharmacist’s lamp that Mercury had found after a lot of leg-work. Gone were the artistic pen-stands, the three little ceramic pups, and the glass-jar full of candies (along with the candies!)

Even Mercury’s formal shoes (that she used to keep in her office for emergency formal meetings) were flicked! The thieves also took a pen and ink drawing done by Mercury, and of course, when they used the chairs for removing the pictures and the wall-clocks they left their foot-prints on the chairs!

So Mercury and Cameo did a quick assessment and then decided to take me home before they proceeded with other things such a police report. The office assistant kept watch, while we drove back! En route, they told me the entire story. Naturally, my first response was of anger. My canine senses could’ve helped them find the culprits – but then they probably thought that the police was a better bet! I did tell them that those foot prints were mighty important and they could clue us in about who did it.

After dropping me home, they went back and met the other affected party – they too had lost their computers and other gadgets. Together they called up the police. After a while a single police officer sauntered in, looked around, and declared that we should go to the police station and lodge a complaint. When asked whether we should let everything remain untouched so that the police could pick clues, he said that it didn’t matter and that no other person would be visiting! And…believe it or not…when he was shown the footprints on the seat of the chair (that was placed right under the where the clock was,) he said, “Oh, they could belong to anyone – they could be yours too!” He was in the office for a sum total of 2 minutes, he didn’t even check all the rooms, and walked out!

Though I found this behavior of the police rather callous, Mercury and Cameo were expecting this to happen. In our country, police acts on the basis of connections or the power of moolah! (So two days have passed since the formal complaint was lodged, but we’ve not had any one else from the police visit the office building, nor have we heard of any investigation being carried out.)

We are trying to rebuild what we’ve lost – so far we’ve regained only our motivation. The office looks strangely nude. Whenever Mercury tries to focus on her work, she remembers how nice and cozy it used to be! Then she isn’t able to visualize anything else but those sick jokers plundering the office. Cameo keeps telling her that wewould be getting it back into shape again. After all, work has to be done. Right now, we are once again getting up early to complete most of our communication related work before we leave for office!

That’s all. The big lamp that you see near me in the photos, is now gone, and we don’t hope to replace it. Rest of things would probably be bought and replaced in due course of time.

More on this and other things…later!

PS: The “cheeriness” of the cheery young man from the other office that was burgled could probably be explained by the excitement generation potential of the burglary in his otherwise dull life – naturally, the absence of computers resulted in a work-less day for him. Obviously, the owner of the office wasn’t as cheery about the incident.

Aha…we are online!

I was dying to get my paws on this keyboard…aha, the keys feel so good – so different!

The office Internet connection is finally up and working! It’s like an impossible dream come true! Amazing…isn’t it? After those 17 days of darkness, suddenly there’s light!

Wow! Do I get a KFC treat today…please Cameo – please!

Well…

If you are wondering why my blog posts and blog trips haven’t got back to speed – I place the burden of blame squarely on Airtel – our Internet service provider. We made a request for the transfer of our connection 12 days back – but they and their innumerable vendors are completely confused and we haven’t got our connection yet!

I’m using Mercury’s home computer to write this post – and believe it or not, we get up at 3 in the morning to complete all our Internet-related work before we leave for office at 7:45 AM!

Life’s crazy with humans – and dear canine friends, I should tell you that I’ve begun to appreciate the efforts of these two more – ever since I starting working full-time.

More later (when we get our connection.)

Licks n wags,

Oorvi

New Office – About Pictures and Bandages

Ahem!
Finally, I got these two to do some work for us. I should tell you that getting things done is easier when you have a formal position in an organization. As most of you would remember, I’ve been a working dog for a long time (about two years now,) but I worked as a part-time employee. No benefits, no authority…and a whole lot of responsibility. If you ask me, the only thing that’s changed now is that I come to work at 8 and leave at 4 – but now when I demand to see results, I see them!

So, on day 1 (Tuesday) when I asked them to take some pictures, they did – and I am posting them here for you. (View the New Office pictures here.) Now tell me, what do you think of the scene from my window? I should also tell you that on Sundays (which is a working day for us,) in the ground you see in the pictures, people play Cricket (four different teams share the ground,) and on other days, it belongs to eight energetic dogs. You can see their representative in one of the pictures.

The Dog-COM project work has begun in earnest (which means that we are spending about 8 human hours and 8 doggy hours on it.) The pictures were taken on Day 1 – On day 3, which is today, those green boards no longer look green – they look colored with all Dog-COM stuff tacked to them!

The table that you see me perched upon, was meant for someone else (you know who,) but when I saw it, I drooled over it and told them that it was mine. This miser fought with me and we had to negotiate. Now it’s two-third mine and one-third hers (as you can see.) I’ve also taken the sofa near the window (I don’t think you can see it in any of the pictures here,) which once again, was for someone to “relax.” My humble contention was – you don’t relax at office, you work! Right?

Some of you must’ve noticed the bandage on my front left leg and may’ve thought that Oorvi is trying to shirk work, she’s a malingerer, and so on. I assure you that it isn’t so. I wouldn’t let a few small chew-wounds stop me from doing my job – I am not that kind of a dog. In fact, those chew-wounds energize me and I’ve been trying really hard to maintain the status quo. Whenever they’d give me an opportunity – in the nights and also when I was left alone – I chew it and try to drill holes into my paw…just experimenting, I tell you.

They tried to prevent me from doing what was dogfully mine to do. They took me to that human who periodically jabs those needles into me – and they bought that contraption called the Elizabeth collar for me – but I didn’t allow any of that to dampen my enthusiasm. I chewed on and on – I am no shirker, I tell you. But now, they bandage my foreleg every morning, and watch me like the two hawks they are!

The holes that I had drilled in my leg are now closing…all that hard work…gone down the drain. I think this whole work-at-the-office thing was a ploy to keep me from chewing my leg. Could it be that I were taken for a ride (literally as well as figuratively)?

I’ll be going to office today!

Bow Wow!

The office has finally become inhabitable. I’ll be going there today. Hope to get some pictures too:)

Licks n wags,

Oorvi

Shifting office – today and tomorrow.

We’d be shifting the office today. The furniture would go tomorrow – but the files/stationary/cartons and other smaller items go today.  I am tele-supervising the move from my corner on the sofa at home. The underlings are busy packing and moving the stuff – when everything has been moved to the new office, and when the furniture is organized, I’ll go and inspect the place. They need my approval before it is finalized as the Headquarters for the Dog-COM project!

Will keep you updated – luv, licks, n wags —-Oorvi.

New Office Update and…Mercury Secularly Swindled!

We haven’t shifted yet. The electrical work will end this evening – then we have to get the walls painted…and then we shift…next we organize…phew!

I’ll post pictures of the office and the window (and of the the park outside the window) after we shift (around 15th of October.)

In the meantime, let me tell you the story of how Mercury was fooled by two men holding a sheet. They were chanting something about going on a holy trip and asking the passerbys to put something into the sheet – this joker fell for their trick, because she’s got a childhood bond with the place they were speaking of (Ajmer) – and then they swindled her of “some” (Well! That’s her post-swindle dissonance reduction technique – never tell the exact amount – because it would make you look a fool squared!)  money and left her with a square piece of metal. After she got over her shock of being swindled, she decided to put that square metal piece into a glass bottle and label it  – “Beware of Swindlers!” An expensive lesson – if you ask me.

Such swindlers give their  religions a bad name by swindling people in the name of  religion! Mercury being a truly secular person, didn’t think of those two “prospective swindlers” being from a different religion than from the one that she was born in, and turned secularly magnanimous – naturally she was secularly swindled! Hah!

This brings me to my observation that swindling is a religion in itself. You find swindlers all over the world, and do you know their mantra – it’s “Swindling sees no bar – community, country, or religion!”

I’ll ask her to tell you the story of  “How Mercury got soft, got magnanimous, and got swindled,”  when I return…

Quick Update – New Office

Stopping by for a quick update on the progress of the new office…

The new office is beginning to get its shape. It’s got a hall, a studio, a reception, a pantry, and an office area (Everything is small though.) These two spend half their time in the old office and half in the new one – supervising the partitioning and the interior work. They come back with their clothes, faces, nostrils, and even their minds full of sawdust – looking a bit like the Naga Sadhus with clothes on!

We expect to shift by October 1st. The best feature of the new office is the studio window that overlooks the park through the office area. It’s a huge window (4 ft by 2 ft – is huge considering the other dimensions) but Mercury says that it’s the size of your brain that counts more than the size of your office, and that the view from the window adds to her expanse of her mind. If that sounds convoluted to you, you are lucky not be living with Mercury…she’s crazy – and her mind is riddled with so many tunnels that it is worse than a beehive!

I am waiting for the S-Day…especially since I’ve been told about the window. Do you think she’d give me the table she plans to put next to the window?

Salary Negotiations & Employment Contract

Mr. Wall and the Huskies raised an important question. In fact, I wouldn’t have bothered with a contract at all had Mr. Wall not reminded me of it. But after reading his comment, I decided to talk to these two.

(Note: Before you read this post, I recommend that you read the comments section of my previous post.)

Here’s what happened.

At about 3 in the afternoon, these two (you know who) returned to disturb my afternoon siesta. By the time I had shook off the after-effects of a rudely interrupted nap, these two had got into the house, changed, made some tea, and brought out their notebooks. Now is the time, I told myself and jumped up the couch to sit between the two. In the process managed to rattle the cups but Cameo’s responses are almost as sharp as a dog’s (didn’t I mention a-dog-in-a-human’s-clothes bit in an earlier post?) and so the tea didn’t spill.

I decided not to beat my tail about the teacups and pounced straight upon the issue that had been bothering me. “So you’ve decided that I’d be accompanying you to work,” I asked, drawing myself back, to address both of them together.
I saw them exchange a quick glance, which, I am sure I wasn’t meant to see. And then Cameo broke a couple of biscuits into my bowl and said, “Of course. You’ll be coming to office with us October on.”
Now was the time to put across those critical, possibly deal-breaking questions. I curled my tail, squared my shoulders, and cleared my throat. “I’ve some questions, and I’d appreciate if we could discuss them before I say yes.”
They were not expecting me to question their decision, I could see that clearly. Mercury took my paw in her hand and said, “You can ask anything. We’d like you to be comfortable. In fact, we are thinking of buying a comfortable dog-basket for you – something that’ll make you comfortable while you cogitate.”
Cogitate! Now what does that mean? I stashed away the term to ask my smart canine friends – but I wasn’t to be stopped by sweet nothings. I needed something concrete to base my decisions upon.
“Thanks for that. My questions however, are different. For one, I’d like to know about the nap-breaks, and two, I’d like to discuss the remuneration.” I know, I was parroting your questions, but those questions are very logical – in fact, I went around in circles trying to kick myself in the butt for not thinking of them myself.
Cameo answered my question.
“As many nap-breaks as you like. As long as you are willing to pose for Mercury’s dog-drawings, and inspire us with one new Pro-dog-tive thought a day.”
“And the remuneration?”
“Well. Treats – three times a day, and twice the number of kisses and bellyrubs you get now.”
“What about some invigorating walks in that park outside?” I remembered Kess’s recommendation.
“No problems. One walk a day.”
It wasn’t easy to control my enthusiasm – especially for the treats and the bellyrubs – but I didn’t let go of my sophistication. I picked up the last biscuit from the bowl and chewed it slowly. A calm negotiator is a good negotiator – and the negotiations had by no means come to an end. I had to speak about the contract. After what must’ve seemed to be an era to them, I stood up and stretched. They were eagerly awaiting my response.
“Okay, I accept. Draw up a contract. I’d like to see the draft by evening, and if everything is fine, we’ll sign it tomorrow.”
“A contract? You mean a proper agreement on stamp paper, signed by both parties and a couple of witnesses?”
“Right,” I said with the air of someone who signs about five contracts a day.
Once again, they looked at each other, and then Cameo answered.
“Yes, Ma’am. It shall be done. And should we also mention the performance bonus of a KFC bucket every quarter?”
So, that’s that. We’ve finalized the terms and conditions of our contract. I am looking forward to being a working dog!

Wait a minute…what about some new collars? And probably a couple of designer dresses…and a new bowl…

Jake and Just Harry present a case for the stress-buster dogs who go to office with their human friends through this link.

Mr. Wall and the Huskies raised an important question. In fact, I wouldn’t have bothered with a contract at all had Mr. Wall not reminded me of it. But after reading his comment, I decided to talk to these two.

Here’s what happened.

At about 3 in the afternoon, these two (you know who) returned to disturb my afternoon siesta. By the time I had shook off the after-effects of a rudely interrupted nap, these two had got into the house, changed, made some tea, and brought out their notebooks. Now is the time, I told myself and jumped up the couch to sit between the two. In the process managed to rattle the cups but Cameo’s responses are almost as sharp as a dog’s (didn’t I mention a-dog-in-a-human’s-clothes bit in an earlier post?) and so the tea didn’t spill.

I decided not to beat my tail about the teacups and pounced straight upon the issue that had been bothering me. “So you’ve decided that I’d be accompanying you to work,” I asked, drawing myself back, to address both of them together.

I saw them exchange a quick glance, which, I am sure I wasn’t meant to see. And then Cameo broke a couple of biscuits into my bowl and said, “Of course. You’ll be coming to office with us October on.”

Now was the time to put across those critical, possibly deal-breaking questions. I curled my tail, squared my shoulders, and cleared my throat. “I’ve some questions, and I’d appreciate if we could discuss them before I say yes.”

They were not expecting me to question their decision, I could see that clearly. Mercury took my paw in her hand and said, “You can ask anything. We’d like you to be comfortable. In fact, we are thinking of buying a comfortable dog-basket for you – something that’ll make you comfortable while you cogitate.”

Cogitate, now what does that mean? I stashed away the term to ask you help me figure out its meaning – but I wasn’t to be stopped by sweet nothings. I needed something concrete to base my decisions upon.

“Thanks for that. My questions however, are different. For one, I’d like to know about the nap-breaks, and two, I’d like to discuss the remuneration.” I know, I was parroting your questions, but those questions are very logical – in fact, I went around in circles trying to kick myself in the butt for not thinking of them myself.

Cameo answered my question.

“As many nap-breaks as you like. As long as you are willing to pose for Mercury’s dog-drawings, and inspire us with one new Pro-dog-tive thought a day.”

“And the remuneration?”

“Well. Treats – three times a day, and twice the number of kisses and bellyrubs you get now.”

“What about some invigorating walks in that park outside?” I remembered Kess’s recommendation.

“No problems. One walk a day.”

It wasn’t easy to control my enthusiasm – especially for the treats and the bellyrubs part – but I didn’t let go of my sophistication. I picked up the last biscuit in the bowl and chewed it slowly. A calm negotiator is a good negotiator – and the negotiations had by no means come to an end. I had to speak about the contract. After what must’ve seemed to be an era to them, I stood up and stretched. They were eagerly awaiting my response.

“Okay, I accept. Draw up a contract. I’d like to see the draft by evening, and if everything is fine, we’ll sign it tomorrow.”

“A contract? You mean a proper agreement on stamp paper, signed by both parties and a couple of witnesses?”

“Right,” I said with the air of someone who must’ve signed a hundred contracts by now.

Once again, they looked at each other, and then Cameo answered.

“Yes, Ma’am. It shall be done. And should we also mention the performance bonus of a KFC bucket every quarter?”

So, that’s that. We’ve finalized the terms and conditions of our contract. I am looking forward to being a working dog!

Wait a minute…what about some new collars? And probably a couple of designer dresses…and a new bowl…

Jake and Just Harry present a case for the stress-buster dogs who go to office with their human friends through the link.

Some Good News…at last!

News from Oorviland – Cameo and Mercury are shifting their office to a different place. The place is more compact and less expensive – but their travel time would go up.

Actually, I’ve been hearing about this cost-pruning plan of theirs for about two months – they’d think of moving out, then they’d go around hunting for a good place, and then come back and drink cups after cups of tea to drown their disappointment. Sometimes Cameo would feel low and Mercury would try to perk up his spirits by telling him stories and jokes, at other times, Mercury would feel sad and Cameo would ruffle her hair and tell her that everything would be fine. I sat in my chair, and watched it all – wondering whether we’d ever be back to our normal routine again.

If you are thinking that this was the result of some slack on my part, I would like to correct that notion. I did all that a dog can do, and more. There were times when I did more than just lick their faces and jump into their laps – I even shared my choon-choon with them! Unfortunately, they had problems that I couldn’t help them with – to survive these times, they had to cut down their costs! With their office in one of the most prime locations around, they were paying through their nose (a look at the size of Mercury’s nose would confirm how high the rent was.)

But it seems, there were certain obvious advantages of staying put. They would now have to get the office interiors done again, while leaving the old (and beautiful) office behind. It would also mean a change in address – it isn’t easy on the clients. But then after about five rollbacks, they finally went ahead and got a nice place at about half the rent. The new office overlooks a huge park and in located in a relatively less crowded locality.

The good news from my end is that these two are smiling again. I am sure they’ll survive this recession. I always say, when the supply of chicken is less, don’t waste your energy frolicking – conserve it. In business, it’s good to cut costs while thinking of new measures to boost your finances – right?

About the new measures – well, the new office will have a studio for the DogCOM project – a space that Mercury and I would share. You got it right. I have been asked to attend office regularly. I will continue to function as the marketing guru, but with the additional responsibility of being the “Icon of Inspiration” of I2 for the DogCOM project!

September will be a busy month for us – they’d be busy with constructing the office interiors in the new location, packing/shifting; and I will have to get into shape – I spend most of my day sleeping…Now sleeping at work isn’t good – is it? I also have to pack my ball, my choon-choon, and my other chewies!