Back to the self-indulgent salt mine

Advertising agencies tend to irritate me the minute I walk in the door. The decor tries to hard to impress, and to tell visitors of the wonders of the agency's mission, talent, and other abilities. No matter which agency you're visiting, you'll always see lots of wide open spaces and overpriced minimalist furniture. The chairs are just to look at; if you sit down, you might get stuck.

More than a decade after I left my last ad agency job, I'm back in another agency. Thankfully it's just a contract job. I can fit in if I have to. But the same atmosphere that drew me in when I was in my early 20s doesn't have much to offer me these days. I'm not sure why. Perhaps I'm simply too cynical for it all.