Ben is nicknamed “Egg Boy” by the IT department for a few reasons. Firstly, Ben has a bit of an egg-shaped head, earning him the nickname Egg Head or just Egg for short. Secondly, Ben is known for bringing boiled eggs to work every day for a mid-morning snack. You can always tell when it’s close to 10 AM because the smell of Ben’s hardboiled eggs wafts through the office. Finally, there was an incident last year during the office Easter egg hunt where Ben became a bit too competitive. He dove into the bushes to grab an egg, falling hard and ending up with twigs in his hair and dirt all over his clothes. Ever since then he’s been known as Egg Boy.
Ben’s Egg-Shaped Head
Ben has naturally round, oval shaped head that is slightly larger in proportion to his body than average. Some might describe it as a Charlie Brown-esque head. While Ben’s head shape is perfectly normal, it does lend itself easily to the nickname Egg Head. When Ben first started at the company, the IT guys would jokingly call him Egg Head when he came by to get help with his computer issues. The nickname soon morphed into just Egg or Egg Boy.
Good Natured Teasing
It’s important to note that the IT guys don’t mean anything offensive by calling Ben “Egg Boy.” It’s simply some good natured teasing among colleagues. Ben takes the nickname in stride and will even sometimes make self-deprecating jokes about the shape of his head. It’s all part of the social bonding that happens between coworkers. The nickname may seem a bit silly to outsiders, but it’s part of the unique office culture and rapport between teams.
Ben’s Daily Hardboiled Egg Snack
In addition to his egg-like cranium, Ben also fuels the Egg Boy moniker by bringing hardboiled eggs for a morning snack each day. Like clockwork, around 10 AM Ben can be seen peeling a hardboiled egg at his desk. The faint smell of boiled egg then permeates around the office. After eating two or three eggs as a protein-filled snack, Ben disposes of the shells in the office kitchen. The IT guys began noticing the daily egg routine and started calling Ben “Egg Boy” when they could smell the eggs.
Healthy Snack
Ben started bringing hardboiled eggs to work as a convenient mid-morning protein snack. He adopted a healthier diet and lifestyle last year and began meal prepping things like hardboiled eggs to have handy during the workday. While the smell of eggs emanating from his desk led to some good-humored jokes, Ben’s colleagues are impressed with his commitment to health and wellness. The protein from the eggs gives Ben lasting energy to be productive through the late morning and early afternoon. While the scent of boiled eggs took some getting used to for others working near Ben, he’s not breaking any rules by enjoying this healthy snack at his desk.
Egg Preparation
To prepare his work snacks, Ben boils a dozen eggs at the beginning of each week. This enables him to have 2-3 hardboiled eggs each workday for his mid-morning protein boost. Ben boils the eggs for 10-12 minutes to get the right consistency with the yolk fully cooked through. He then immediately transfers them to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, Ben stores the boiled eggs still in their shells in a covered container in the refrigerator. In the morning he grabs two or three eggs to bring to work. The eggs keep well unpeeled for up to one week stored this way.
The Easter Egg Hunt Incident
The final story that cemented Ben’s Egg Boy nickname happened at last year’s office Easter egg hunt. Each year the company hosts an Easter egg hunt for employees’ children. Hundreds of candy-filled eggs are scattered around the office and outdoor areas for the kids to find. Last year, Ben got a little too enthusiastic and competitive during the hunt.
Playing to Win
When the Easter egg hunt began, Ben sprinted across the lawn ahead of all the children and dove headfirst into a bush where he had spotted a brightly colored egg. He ended up fully submerged in the bush to retrieve the egg. When Ben emerged triumphantly clutching the egg, he was covered in leaves, twigs, and dirt from head to toe. The kids stared in shocked silence while the adults tried to hold back laughter. Ben’s wife was mortified. From then on, the IT guys had a new story to reinforce Ben’s Egg Boy nickname.
A Good Sport
While Ben showed poor judgement in diving into the bushes, he took the ribbing about the incident from his co-workers in stride. Always a good sport, Ben was able to laugh at himself and how silly he looked covered in debris clutching that plastic egg. The IT guys requested that HR ban Ben from competing in future egg hunts to give the children a fair chance. There are now rules written on the Easter egg hunt flyers that adults are not allowed to dive into bushes or otherwise roughhouse to find eggs.
Other Egg-Related Ben Facts
In addition to his oval head shape, daily egg snack, and over-competitive nature at office Easter egg hunts, here are a few other fun facts related to Ben and eggs:
Favorite Breakfast
Ben’s favorite breakfast is eggs any style. He likes to cook up eggs over easy, scrambled, poached, or as an omelet. If he goes out to brunch, he almost always orders an egg dish like eggs benedict. Ben just really enjoys eggs for any meal of the day.
Homemade Mayonnaise
Ben enjoys making his own homemade mayonnaise using raw eggs. He says it’s faster, healthier, and tastier than storebought mayo. Ben’s cubicle neighbor jokes about adding a note to the office map that you may encounter raw egg smell if navigating near Ben’s desk around lunchtime when he’s making his mayo.
Deviled Eggs
For company potlucks, office birthday parties, or other work events involving food, Ben’s contribution is usually deviled eggs. He has won praise for his unique flavored deviled egg recipes incorporating ingredients like bacon, blue cheese, salsa, or curry. The IT department in particular looks forward to “Egg Boy’s” latest deviled egg creations.
Huevos Rancheros
When the office orders breakfast tacos, burritos, or other Mexican food, Ben always requests huevos rancheros. The egg-centered breakfast dish served on corn tortillas is one of his favorites. Some good natured, light teasing typically ensues when Egg Boy has to explain what exactly huevos rancheros is to colleagues unfamiliar with the dish.
Birdwatching
As a hobby outside of work, Ben enjoys birdwatching. He keeps detailed logs of sightings and can identify birds by their eggs. Ben sometimes regales the IT guys with facts about egg size ratios compared to the size of the mother bird across different species. His egg knowledge extends beyond just those in the chicken coop!
How Ben Feels About the Nickname
When asked how he feels about being called Egg Boy by his IT coworkers, Ben says he does not mind the nickname at all. He knows it is meant as an innocuous joke referencing his head shape, love of eggs, and Easter egg hunt mishap. Ben says the nickname actually helps him feel like one of the guys and part of the office camaraderie, especially with the IT team. Compared to some less flattering nicknames he endured in childhood, Ben considers Egg Boy a term of endearment from his work friends.
Nickname Could Be Worse
Ben points out that the Egg Boy moniker could certainly be much worse. There are some pretty unflattering nicknames out there. He’s just happy his head shape resembles something as inoffensive as an egg. Ben also notes that at least eggs are a healthy, protein-rich food. There are more objectionable foods his nickname could be based on. Overall, he does not mind one bit being known around the office as Egg Boy.
Good for Morale
In addition to not finding the nickname personally bothersome, Ben thinks Egg Boy and other workplace nicknames can boost morale. Assigning each other funny, unique nicknames helps employees bond and shows that their colleagues have taken notice of them. Ben believes that the sense of camaraderie and in-jokes that develop from nicknames can make work more fun and enjoyable. From his perspective, Egg Boy reflects the friendly rapport he has built with the IT department.
Conclusion
In summary, Ben earned the nickname Egg Boy from his IT coworkers due to his oval head shape, daily habit of eating hardboiled eggs, and overzealous behavior at last year’s Easter egg hunt. While the nickname was given in jest, Ben takes it as a sign of acceptance and bonding with his colleagues, especially those in IT. Being known around the office as Egg Boy doesn’t bother Ben due to his affable nature and ability to laugh at himself. In many ways, the nickname has strengthened workplace relationships and morale. Egg Boy is now part of the company lore surrounding Ben, much to his amusement. Just be sure to watch your step if another Easter egg hunt takes place on company grounds this year!