Office Holiday Parties

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

We had the first of our two yearly parties last night. (This one was for the member organizations and was held in our offices; next one is the staff party, a lunch.) Last year's members' holiday party created quite a buzz, so we had a good crowd last night and when I left at 12:30, there were still a few hangers-on eating at a local joint.

There's pluses and minuses to holiday parties. This year's benefits and their trade-offs:

Good: A party in your organization's offices forces you to clean your desk and work area.
Bad: Someday I'll have to go through those boxes I stashed under my desk and see what it was that I shoved in them yesterday afternoon.
Ugly: Getting stuffed mushroom out of the carpet by the conference room.

Good: When your boss has had a few, you get to hear stories that give you a better clue to his character and what he thinks.
Bad: Some of the stories are really boring, or you've heard them before, and you have to listen anyaway.

Good: When your coworkers have had a few, you get to find out what they really think of you.
Bad: When your coworkers have had a few, you get to find out what they really think of you.

Good: When executives of your member agencies have had a few, you get to slyly pump them for information.
Bad: When you have had a few, the executives of your member agencies try to slyly pump you for information on other agencies.
Excellent: When representatives from local government have had a few, everyone slyly pumps them for information which we all share when they've left.

Good: Leftover party food in the office fridge.
Bad: ... well, there is no "bad" for this situation.

So other than the stuffed mushroom in the carpet (which isn't really my problem to solve anyway), and some underhanded comments disguised as jokes uttered by a drunken, bitterly angry colleague, it was a good party.

[magenta321]

Sounds too tame! Where's the scandal?

We usually have something "juicy" for conversation. This year was no different.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Oh, there were some "juicy" things being discussed. Nothing that would interest anyone here though. No naked-butt photocopying, no trysts in the supply closet. Mostly political parrying and a few rounds of "is X gay or straight".

[drmomentum[$]]

It's not a good idea to drink and play serious poker, but I can tell you that learning to play poker while nursing a drink is good practice for office parties.

[lynnzop[$]]

Good point, JP.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Showing up the next day bright-eyed and bushy-tailed is another must. Right now it's me and a coworker who left very early last night - everyone else is AWOL. Including (especially) The Boss.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Two more coworkers in, and we registered our first casualty - the receptionist who was going to be late is not coming in at all. Which I could have predicted at 9pm last night.

[magenta321]

Holiday party on a Wednesday seems cruel. How are you supposed to enjoy yourself?

No wonder why nothing too scandalous happened!

[phoenixx]

Hmmm. Honey and I are self employed. We should have an office party for two here at home!

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Huh... I posted a reply earlier that apparently didn't stick. Anyway, we've got Albany staff and guests who come from upstate. So we schedule a work meeting for Thursday morning to give everyone a legitimate reason to come to NYC and have the party the night before. The staff party's on a Thursday, so the out-of-town staff can go home after the party and not have to travel late on a Friday instead.

[magenta321]

phoenixx said

Hmmm. Honey and I are self employed. We should have an office party for two here at home!

We want pictures.

[emeleel]

Um, no, I think we DON'T want pictures!