Who Stole My Red Stapler?

It's been hard to read lately without running into resolutions and goals for the new year. Some of them are incredibly inspiring, like Pamela's 12 ways to feel more free in '07. But it's Friday and, I'll admit, it's been a long four days back at work. So to kick off the weekend right I just had to share this "uplifting" plan to have more fun at work this year. You heard that right, more fun.

The Squidoo lens of the day featured office pranks. Kab has put together a nice compilation of ideas and examples of ways to keep your coworkers on their toes. I've only worked in a few offices with the right temperament for jokes like these. And although I'm in an office of only two these days, it's fun to think back on some of the pranks played in previous environments. We used to call them "team building exercises" if memory serves me correctly. (At least that's what we told the managers.)

Here are just a few ideas from the Squidoo lens to lighten the load at your office:

• Switch the nameplates from all desks and doors.
• Each day move a co-workers desk an inch.
• Move everything off someone's desk and into the office fridge.
• Replace photos of friends and family with that of say Scott Baio, Eugene Levy, Drew Carey, William Shatner, or The New Kids on the Block. Also set their screen saver to a slideshow of these photos.
• Drop a rubber duckie into the watercooler when you are changing the bottle.
• Remove the ink from every one of their pens.
• Open a container of lice powder, and leave it in the bathroom. Say nothing to anyone. Panic will slowly rise.
• Install the clapper on something (anything)

Those are subtle. If you're looking for drama, I like the Chia keyboard above or the classic foil wrapped / popcorn filled cube routine. Done well these are true showstoppers. Either way, you're bound to shake things up a bit. Go on, have a little fun this year.