I work in a satellite office. We're a little bit like the "red headed step-child" of the company. We're "out west", HQ is "back east". There's this feeling sometimes that they'd just as soon shut us down and centralize the jobs - but some of the groups that work here are fairly crucial to the operation. Even though about 150 people work in my office... most don't actually work here, they tend to work remotely from home, coffee shops, etc. It's actually one of the major perks of why I keep working for this stank hole of a company.

That said, every now and then, the CEO comes for a visit. He's recklessly clueless about what we actually do - but somehow keeps his job. He's a jovial sort of dude who looks and even giggles like uncle Albert from Mary Poppins:

So CEO Albert came to town yesterday. You'd have thought we acquired two new companies. The parking lot was overflowing, the cubes and offices were bustling with energy, the coffee pots never got cold as they were relentlessly refilled. Men were in sports coats, women in share suits and skirts, beards were trimmed, shoes were shined... shoot - I even tucked in my shirt. There was a buzzing Ice Creme Social in the afternoon. It was an absolute madhouse of corporate patriotism.

And today... it is silent. My friend who sits next to me and I have the run of the joint. Other than some construction noise from some new cabinets being installed in the break area, I can't hear a thing... and it's marvelous. The ebb and flow of office population is interesting to say the least.