Party Time

The one thing I look forward to all year long is the annual holiday party which is tomorrow. It's the one reliable time at work where you can see the stress drain from the usual urgent work demeanor and people let their hair down. I'm not talking drunken carousing and asses being captured on the xerox machine; I'm talking about having a drink, nibbling some canapes, talking to your compadres and just chilling in the comfort of good company. It signals that a few days break is nigh and that you can indulge in a breather. These days, that's beyond golden.

As you may have read here, we've responded to these challenging economic times by hosting a pot luck shindig in our office art department. The company is springing for booze and decor but the rest of the festivities are employee-organic. I have the good fortune to work with some very creative and inspired people and before I left work tonight, I gleaned some of the preparations. These crew does not disappoint.

The art department was bedecked in tinsel and decorations (a curious wall decoration had a jaunty Santa Claus holding aloft a menorah). As a centerpiece to the room, one of our staff had donated a eight foot tall inflatable, illuminated snowman (the kind you see on front lawns during season holidays). I thought that was awesome. The tables were embellished prettily and strings of lights draped along the edges of all available surfaces. It wasn't Currier and Ives, but it was sweet and splendid and I copiously thanked the volunteers who had created this.

As an activity, we've devised an internal scavenger hunt and left it to the marketing department to design this. As a committee we came up with vague clues for items (both inanimate objects and people) and in the late evening, the cheesy prizes were wrapped and the items (and people!) were tagged. I have to admit that it's incredibly creative and it should provide ideal pre-party fun.

Aren't you feeling the milk of human kindness now? Yeah, it should be all kittens and rainbows and glitter. But it ain't, people.

Despite all the preparations and the warm fuzzies, the party could be a disaster. There's a horrendous winter snow storm poised to blast our area tomorrow. I mean, how fucking inconvenient is that? Many inches of snow are predicted to hit the tri-state area. Seeing the weather soothsayers' dire predictions, I prevailed upon Norma and we agreed that the staff should come in for the party only if they wanted to. The celebrations were moved up two hours so the staff that came in could leave earlier if the weather was inclement. During the course of the day, I heard from six people who felt their commutes would be too difficult if the weather was adverse--the rest of the crew wanted to soldier on.

It was then that the aforementioned preparation of decorations, scavenger hunt clue tagging and the like rolled out. Even if it was a reduced group, it would be a most joyous group. But what was I forgetting? Oy. The booze.

I called The Man in Plaid. He was out on vacation but had volunteered to buy the booze at cut-rate cost at a local discount center. We spoke while he strolled the aisles of Costco. I talked him through the wine choices; we debated the beer. In the end, mission accomplished. When I told him I was worried that the weather would prevent his coming into the office bringing our holiday cheer, he answered, "Unless 24 inches of snow drops, I'm coming in." Good man.

So who knows what the next day will bring? I won't risk the weather nor a few drinks in my belly to attempt to navigate the roads. I'll be taking Metro North Railroad tomorrow morning. The Queen Bee is bringing in her famous lowfat egg nog copiously spiked with Haitian rum. And some smart ass in circulation has been playing Bing Crosby all week. The spirit is definitely intact.

God bless us everyone, indeed.