Noise-Cancelling Headphones

[blueerica]

I like my co-workers, I really do, but as a 'non-manager' I'm stuck out in the cubes in between two people who are on the phone a lot. Now, I understand that their jobs require them to be on the phone, but one person in particular tends to go on speakerphone, have bizarre ringphones, and laughy-laughy jokes, then call her kids, ajfkdlsa; fjkasdl;

But, I do like her a lot, and don't really have the heart to tell her to STFU, especially since most of her talking/noise is work-related... I'm just stuck sitting between the wrong people, and there's no where else to really move myself. I can't get work done, particularly when I need to concentrate. It's at the point that my iPod isn't working either. Music helps, but too loud (to block it out), and I'm distracted by that.

So, I've been thinking about noise-cancelling headphones. Or earbuds. Anyone have experience with these and/or have any recommendations? I realize that some amount of the conversation, etc., won't be 'cancelled,' but something's gotta be better than nothing.

I just can't take it any more.