Ok, so this isn't precisely about my writing journey, but it's funny and something my coworkers and friends still refer to frequently, so I thought I would consolidate it here for easy reference.
I am constantly reminded of the best prank ever. Mostly because it was played on me, and I recorded the chain of events on face book. And many of my personal FB friends refuse to let it die. Not to mention that FB keeps popping these memories back up in my feed. As pranks go, it was neither dangerous nor destructive. And also, it was highly hilarious to anyone in close proximity, either in my office, or on FB or both.
It started with a single picture. I had been moved away from my team for a few months, to make space for the new hires. I was doing data analytics while the rest of my team was in purchasing, and it made the most sense for me to move across the department for a brief spell, until the cubes could be rearranged. When I finally moved back, there was a printed picture of Nicholas Cage laying on the cube floor. I was mildly amused by the photo and tacked it on the wall. And no, I am not really a big Cage fan.
A few weeks later, I went to plug my heater in under the desk. (Like most office buildings we seem to keep the temp at subzero) There was a miniature version of this photo taped over the outlet. I laughed and jokingly complained to my neighbors. But then more versions started to appear. They even taped Nick over the picture of my husband. I just kept tacking the pictures to my wall. All in good fun, I decided play too. And I started posting the pictures on Facebook.
I taped the first picture with the word caption ‘Really?!’ to my desk and then left for lunch. I came back to find the additions dangling below. Facebook post #2.
I knew there were a handful of people with the right proximity and mastermind capabilities to pull this off. But I underestimated my opponent. I was driving a rental this day, as my car was in for service. But the pranker knew which car was mine and taped this gem on my rear window. Scared the shit out of me when I went to back out.
A couple days later they hit my car again, still in the rental.
Then it was Queen Nick, staring at me from the glass office window directly across from my desk.
Following a day later was this saucy gem, taped to my monitor. It's worth noting here that I continued tacking these pictures up on my cube wall. I had quite a collection going.
The best, by far, was when they filled my M&M dispenser with Nick Cage. Yes, those are real chocolate delights stamped with Nick’s face.
And then I got a new journal. Hey, I like to take notes, and this was certainly a conversation starter in meetings.
And then my new mouse pad. Even though I use a track ball.
And a note pad with a rather endearing message. That top page is still tacked to my cube wall today, though I have moved departments. I thought about hand writing analysis at this point. Or maybe a web cam? I was sure it was one of four people, or maybe a combination.
They must have been running out of ideas this day, as they only added a bit of embellishment to one of the photos still hanging on my cube wall.
But the next day, I got this lovely coffee mug. It still sits on my desk in the office. And my FB friends were riveted.
Then it was puzzle pieces. A few each day for the next couple weeks.
They got creative where they would leave them. And the puzzle built slowly. Which Nick photo would it be?
A few of my non work friends got into the fray. This was posted to my FB feed by a friend visiting Hollywood.
And anytime someone came across Nick, they felt the need to let me know.
A trail of puzzle pieces into my cube.
But his face is becoming clearer!
Ok. Getting a little desperate now. You used that one before.
DISCOVERY!! My previous manager, and the culprit’s current manager let slip that Leslie’s husband worked for Shutterfly -- where most of the Nick Swag had come from. I probably wouldn’t have noticed the slip if it weren’t for everyone in the meeting going wide eyed in horror. They were all enjoying my pranking too much to let it go. I was too, really.
But how to get even? It had to be in the same non-destructive and non-dangerous way. So, I ordered a bunch of rubber duckies on Amazon. I would have preferred troll dolls, but those guys are expensive. I also ordered some magnets, and a sheet of Nick Cage stickers. And I proceeded to decorate Leslie’s desk.
Leslie had the last laugh on the duck front though. Came in a week later to be greeted by this: (Note, that duck is still deflated in my desk drawer)
More Facebook ribbing ensued.
So, I did the only reasonable thing. I had a friend who is a graphic designer alter a pic of Nick. I laminated it and stuck it in a jar. Then I rearranged the remaining ducks, added one last sticker to her phone for good measure, and considered the matter closed.
All this happened in 2016. Over the last five years I get people posting Nick Cage memes and stories to my timeline, but the joke had mostly passed. Until this past weekend when my sister visited and brought me a belated birthday present. I think I will put it in the guest bed, for when my in-laws come to visit.
It is worth noting that Leslie has been the mastermind of many pranks, not always directed at me. She filled one of our director's office with blow up animals while he was on vacation. I had given her dire warnings that I didn't want my cube decorated on my 40th birthday and if she went to the trouble (they routinely decorated cubes for birthdays), I would just remove it when I got in at 6 AM and no one would see it. So she decorated the three adjacent cubes with giant arrows pointing into mine, and told me with a smirk, that since the decorations were not in my cube, I couldn't remove them.
Leslie left the company a few years back. The office is just not the same without her.
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