
Okay, before someone comes after me saying I am sexist - I am not. I have been carefully studying women's behavior in the breakroom kitchen for several weeks before posting this. I wanted to gather all of the information I could before breaking the news. Remember, you heard the report here first.
ATTENTION: Women where I work - I don't know what Mavis Beacon has taught you, but the microwave interface is not the place to show off your words-per-minute typing speed. You need to touch 6 buttons MAXIMUM before stepping away for a bit. Then the most important part - which clearly many of you have forgotten - is to stand back and wait. Yes, your Lean Cuisine Bacon Pizza and the tupperware full of last night's disappointment will *SHOCK* actually cook if you leave it in there. Far too many of you put the item in the microwave for under 30 seconds, only to open the microwave, stir said item for a second, then microwave again for 30 more seconds, and repeat. I called your respective doctors - you don't need a mammogram, you need to stop hanging those in front of the microwave while you watch the food dry out.
Here is a quick operating guide:
POWER LEVEL - this should always be set at 10. If you'd like to use a lower power level, I will allow you to rest your foodstuffs above the microwave while I am using it, harnessing the excess heat.
DEFROST - this option, while tempting, is terribly confusing. Also you probably shouldn't be bringing in food that you need to defrost. That would be like salting your meat before bringing it to work. We are not pilgrims. Your food should not be stored for the amount of time that requires a defrost or a slow thaw.
TIME COOK - safe bet. Depress this button, followed by a time in minutes & seconds, then the START button, and you should be in the clear. Stand back, listen for beep.
Moving forward with your behavior modification, it is absolutely crucial that you don't over-correct just to spite me. That is, please do not adopt the habit of leaving your food in the microwave without EVER checking on it. We already have the d-bag that gives his oatmeal a quick heat in the morning and returns to pick it up from the 'wave on his way out at night.
Once you make this crucial step forward in our office relationship, maybe then I will send you that file you have been asking for.
Maybe.FUN MICROWAVE FACT: In the year 2007, most microwaves will actually rotate the food for you - rendering your "churn and turn" intervention obsolete.