The Bet

Last Friday afternoon, I made a bet with a coworker friend, Stephen, that he wouldn't be able to "rick roll" me five times in a week. If you're sitting there wondering what the heck I'm talking about, click here. The bet was to begin Monday, and he had to get all five rick rolls in by 5:00 Friday.

When Monday rolled (no pun intended) around, I will admit I wasn't even thinking about Friday's conversation. So, when I came in to work and checked my Facebook, I totally did not expect this note to contain a rick roll. Alas, it did. Strike one.

"Okay," I thought, "game on." Minutes later, I received an e-mail from my boss, Corey. Attached was a link -- supposedly to a work-related document -- but, you guessed it: Rick roll number two.

I was determined not to let it happen a third time. I refused to click on any link or open questionable e-mails. I was feeling pretty good, and smiled my way out of the office for a minute to run some test forms to the folks that operate the Scantron machine. When I came back, a customer was waiting to be helped, so I opened my web browser to pull up the iCARE page, and BOOM: rick roll number three. I couldn't react as dramatically as I wanted to, thanks to the customer, but nevertheless Stephen was feeling pretty good about himself.

Fast forward to Tuesday afternoon. I had gone out for a short while with my BFF, and came back to a video game playing husband on the couch. As we chatted, I sat down next to him and opened up my laptop. I opened my "favorite links" and clicked on Facebook, and... yeah. Rick roll number four. As it turns out, my own HUSBAND had betrayed me to help Stephen out with the bet. Not cool. I was seriously determined NOT to let #5 happen.

Wednesday was great - not a single rick roll, not to say Stephen didn't try a few times. I outsmarted him ALL day and was extremely proud of myself.

Fast forward to Friday afternoon. Stephen had been busy all day at work and had not even made one attempt, but still I kept my guard up. I had to run a company errand, and flitted out without logging out of my computer - big mistake. When I came back, a good friend was here, visiting from grad school. I gave him a big hug and he, Stephen and I talked for a few minutes. I absentmindedly opened my work e-mail account as we were chatting and saw a message from Corey's boss, Elizabeth. Attached to the e-mail was a link to a photobucket account full of work pictures. You can tell where I'm going with this, I'm sure. RICK ROLL # 5. From a BOSS. This time, I was not so demure in my response. I almost knocked my chair over when I jumped up, and I think I may have even screamed - good thing there were no customers this time. :) I pushed Stephen into the wall and then just about collapsed because I was laughing so hard.

It was over; he had won and I had lost. Just a couple more hours and I would have made it... ouch! I bought Stephen a Coke from the office vending machine, as per the terms, and presented it to him on one knee as if he were a knight, and the Coke, a sword. Our entire department came in one at a time at intermittent periods throughout the afternoon to laugh about what had happened. All in all, I don't care that I lost. This week is one of the best I've had in a while!

Gosh, I love this job.

Love and Lattés,
Katie

PS - If you want to see a video clip of my reaction, as taken by another coworker, click here.