Work Holiday Parties
Do you have them? What are they usually like?
I prefer saying "holiday," but down here in the South, they're not all P.C. like that, so mine was just flat out a Christmas party.
It was last night, and was, in the beginning, strange, and the end, lots of fun. Ooooh, also: Christmas bonuses! Mine was $50, for being in my second year of employment there ($25 last year. Nothing much, really, but it will be helpful towards this gorgeous quilt I want from World Market that Tim refuses to spend budget money on, and I've never been given bonuses at previous jobs, so that's good.)
Last year, when I was new to the agency, it was dinner out at a bar & grill, exchanging presents, then leaving, for I knew no one.
What I was used to in Chicago was a lame lunch at a bad hotel buffet, smuggled-in flasks to doctor the sodas, and then the real party would begin at a bar after the official work party was over. This was the time everyone who was anyone would show up at happy hour. (I suppose this was a result of many people missing the most infamous holiday afterparty of them all, so everyone showed up in subsequent years.)
I made it to that legendary happy hour. In fact, I figured heavily into that year becoming legendary. Tiny neighborhood bar, fitting only about 30 people body-to-body, and I showed them all my recently pierced you-know-whats. (I was not particularly shy about them sober, but yes, the drinks were strong that night.) Also, a friend drunkenly told my work crush about my feelings; I left my glasses in his pocket for some reason, and had to come to work in my prescription sunglasses the next day (looking like the poster child for hangover chic, plus having to face him knowing he knew how much I liked him, and wondering if he'd seen my tits the night before); and I ended the evening at a Hispanic drag show.
Aw, that kind of makes me miss the crazy old days . . .
But, I suppose, in its own way, this year's Christmas party was also fun.
I prefer saying "holiday," but down here in the South, they're not all P.C. like that, so mine was just flat out a Christmas party.
It was last night, and was, in the beginning, strange, and the end, lots of fun. Ooooh, also: Christmas bonuses! Mine was $50, for being in my second year of employment there ($25 last year. Nothing much, really, but it will be helpful towards this gorgeous quilt I want from World Market that Tim refuses to spend budget money on, and I've never been given bonuses at previous jobs, so that's good.)
Last year, when I was new to the agency, it was dinner out at a bar & grill, exchanging presents, then leaving, for I knew no one.
What I was used to in Chicago was a lame lunch at a bad hotel buffet, smuggled-in flasks to doctor the sodas, and then the real party would begin at a bar after the official work party was over. This was the time everyone who was anyone would show up at happy hour. (I suppose this was a result of many people missing the most infamous holiday afterparty of them all, so everyone showed up in subsequent years.)
I made it to that legendary happy hour. In fact, I figured heavily into that year becoming legendary. Tiny neighborhood bar, fitting only about 30 people body-to-body, and I showed them all my recently pierced you-know-whats. (I was not particularly shy about them sober, but yes, the drinks were strong that night.) Also, a friend drunkenly told my work crush about my feelings; I left my glasses in his pocket for some reason, and had to come to work in my prescription sunglasses the next day (looking like the poster child for hangover chic, plus having to face him knowing he knew how much I liked him, and wondering if he'd seen my tits the night before); and I ended the evening at a Hispanic drag show.
Aw, that kind of makes me miss the crazy old days . . .
But, I suppose, in its own way, this year's Christmas party was also fun.
posted by LE at 12:37 PM
4 Comments:
The client Christmas party (for former clients who have been out of shelter for a year or less) was last night, and I HAD to go as a direct-service staff person. I was totally dreading it, because last year, I was new to the agency, and I didn't know anyone, so I just stood around feeling awkward. And I'm really not much of a mingler anyway.
Luckily, it turned out to be fantastically fun! It was so wonderful to see many of my old clients doing so well, and the kids were so excited to see Santa (the husband of one of the staff members).
I worked in the agri-business industry, which should tell all of you plenty about what kind of Christmas parties we had. Oh, yeah, and we live in Emporia. Now, you understand that these two facts did not bother ME in the least, as I did not and do not enjoy parties, and agri-business is actually pretty cool. But as parties go...crikey.
First of all, it was the most deadly combination of blue-collar workers, their sometimes shy, sometimes sleazy wives and companions, ancient retirees, and white-collar business people and THEIR highly uncomfortable wives and husbands. So you had Jason in his dockers and rugby shirt...my boss in a sport jacket...some women in tight jeans and western shirts with high necklines and holes cut out of the chest below...maybe a couple executives from headquarters in shirt and tie...really cute little old women in sequined holiday evening wear...and a great many large, bushy-facial-haired men in their best Wranglers and loud southwestern-patterned shirts.
Second, there was plenty of alcohol. That fact, along with the general Christmas spirit, usually made everyone feel much more friendly toward each other than normal (a phenomenon I'm sure you all are aware of). The normal rift that existed in such sharp detail between office personnel and "plant" workers (the ones who had to wear steel-toed boots every day and got paid by the hour instead of a yearly salary) seemed much less of an issue at these parties.
The cool thing about this was, there were three of us "office girls" who were sort of the white-collar underlings. Not the boss of anybody, and not in positions of authority, in other words. So there were never any real problems between us and "the guys" from outside, and we got on with them famously anyway. So at the Christmas party it was even better because everybody felt more comfortable talking to each other on an equal level because one of us wasn't behind a desk with a phone jabbed into her ear. Even the bosses fit in ok on Christmas party night, though. I never personally found out the heights to which this unity could be taken, however, as I refuse to get drunk now. A handful of times (like, maybe 6) in the last eight years or so was more than enough and now -- for me, at least -- it's not an option. You wouldn't believe how uncool people think we are because of this. Actually, maybe you would because you agree! Regardless, I have decided to remain uncool.
So one time we had the party at Bruff's and everyone got a lovely steak dinner and we had that upstairs banquet room reserved and it was pretty cool. (This was before the old Bruff's burnt to the ground.) The other two parties I attended were at -- get ready -- the American Legion. I'm not kidding. And then after every party, a bunch of people (like Ellie's parties) go out to some agreed-upon venue and continue the festivities.
We never got bonuses but we got gift certificates every year and I always picked that fancy restaurant out in Cottonwood Falls that is at the old Grand Hotel. A large percentage of our employees, on the other hand, always chose Walmart or Sears.
That's about the size of it. Oh yeah...the one other cute thing was that we always had all the retirees and their spouses introduced and recognized with applause and I thought that was pretty adorable.
I'm completely riding on Topher's coat tails this year, as usual. His company holiday party is this Friday, and I CAN'T WAIT! It is always fully catered by nice restaurant, open bar, and I think they'll have a DJ this year, too. And we get to dress up -- something I enjoy for the heck of it. People are too casual these days for me -- like, when I went back for my 10-year reunion, I had planned this whole outfit with a skirt, cool shoes -- and then realized, oh wait, everyone will be wearing jeans and I'll just look dumb. Like in high school when you wore a skirt and people would ask, Why are you dressed up? So I'm just eager to go all out and have fun.
I feel bad for your past party situations, LeAnn, because I enjoy the people Topher works with -- probably b/c they are like him! They are the same demographic, so to speak. Yes, there's drinking at these parties -- something I do enjoy in moderation -- but no one gets sloppy or stupid. And there's the cool wives/gfs of his co-workers (seriously, most are straight men who work at Volition, go figure), so I look forward to seeing them. In fact, we introduced a friend of mine in the dept to one of his friends at work -- and they have now been dating for nearly 10 months! So I enjoy the community that forms through his work.
As for me, we never have holiday parties as an English department b/c everyone's grading and writing like mad! Sometimes, we've hosted a little party -- lots of food, mulled wine, etc. -- and mingled Topher's work friends and my grad friends. That's always fun, and I really love hosting and entertaining, like Ellie has mentioned she likes doing, too. We may still host one in a few weeks if I feel up to it in the midst of shopping, baking, grading, basic pre-holiday, end of semester craziness.
I just wish all of us could have our own holiday party together! That would be the best one.
Oooh, I forgot about Tim's party! There's a stage manager who hosts
legendary holiday parties. I was sick last year, so I didn't attend,
and I heard so many good things about it. Supposedly he and his
partner live in an amazing house here, and are the consummate hosts.
Top-shelf liquor, fancy appetizers, the works. I love love LOVE any excuse to get all dolled up--since I have so few.
Honestly, I live in a world (ok, not Montgomery, exactly, but the
theatre, and social life, world) where alcohol is everpresent at all
social gatherings, and, really, it makes things more enjoyable--particularly when hanging out with all the theatre folks. I don't mind. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, my body can't take excess anymore, so I'm a big fan of the two-beer buzz.
I was also planning a big holiday party at our house (the default central gathering point, as our abode is homey and everyone loves the kitters), but it has been reduced to a gathering tonight, with a few different Christmas cookies I cranked out yesterday, and two dips. Of course, I am working until 6:30 tonight, so I'll stumble home exhausted in full swing of the party. I hate that Monday is the "weekend" for theatres.
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