In which The Gay Recluse becomes increasingly obsessed with birds.

For a while after college, we worked watering plants in corporate office buildings in downtown Manhattan.

We worked in law firms, investment banks and other companies who generally could be said to rule the world.

It was poisonous work to the extent that we were not really considered a person; it wasn’t as bad as the cleaning staff, but we were definitely lower on the totem pole than the shoe-shine guy.

People were universally awful to us; they ordered us around and screamed at us as if — just because we made a lot less $$$ than they did and took care of the plants — we were inferior to them.

Of all the companies we worked at, the insurance companies were the worst.

The offices were beyond ostentatious; there were endless hallways of executive vice-presidents, all of whom made major $$$ and whose offices — besides containing the finest of ming trees — contained countless precious artifacts. It was seriously like being in a wing of the Louvre.

Of course all these rich assholes had their own executive cafeteria, too.

That’s why I’m so relieved that we’re bailing out AIG.

I would hate to think of any of these men (and they were all men) losing their jobs.

They’re used to a certain standard of living!

Which must be maintained at any cost.