I just got back from Christmas dinner with a couple of friends from work and while I enjoy their company, it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I mentioned that one of the other co-workers bailed me out a bit on money (my husband had overdrawn the account) for cat litter and dog food. Neither one knew who I was talking about, and I described her as being cute and one of them said "I'll beg to differ" and the other said "How about dumpy? Oh wait, that wasn't nice." I didn't say anything, and then later one of them said some speculative thing about another co-worker. I just didn't say anything. They went out to smoke (smoking is quite popular here, and provides a clique in itself) and I jokingly said "Don't talk about us while you're out there!" And they said "We wouldn't do that!". But I wonder. I have that same old high school paranoia and alienation again. These are two people in the epicenter of a large clique (we work at a major retail chain) who refer to themselves as a pod instead. I've actually heard them discuss inviting others into this pod. I'm not in it, I occasionally hang out with them but I'm not quite cool enough for this pod thing of theirs. Nor do I want to. I just am confused about how to handle comments like these. They completely exclude other people at all their parties and they quit inviting me quite some time ago. I go to drag shows with them and things, but I invited a totally different group to my house for new year's eve. I prefer not to talk about other people when we hang out unless its nice, or completely true. I am also middle-management, so I don't want to alienate people. I really like them as individuals, but together they are more like a gang. Do I need to drop away from them? Or just kind of branch out like I have been trying to do?
