I attended our Christmas party (sorry if I offended anyone with the use of the word Christmas;) last night and it turned out to be entertaining as always. I have always had a rule for myself that I never drank (beyond a cocktail) with people I work with. ( I drink very little anymore so the rule isn’t much of an issue for me now) The people I work with do not observe this rule:)
We started the evening being greeted by a drunk executive who completely leered and stared at my wife whom he has met before, then sat at a table that included a couple where the wife was so drunk she had to excuse herself and I am sure who threw up. She tried to eat her chicken with her spoon until her husband had to redirect her efforts! As if this was not enough we were visited after dinner by the same Exec (and his wife) who proceeded to pay my wife very uncomfortable compliments and then suggested we all hit the dance floor.
Thankfully we we could call on our long workouts as a reason to be tired and need to get to bed. Now I have to deal with these people at work…I can’t wait to get the post party debrief tomorrow.
I know I am not the only one who has had to live through this, what is your story?
“We started the evening being greeted by a drunk Executive who completely leered and stared at my wife whom he has me before,”
“my wife whom he has me before” …?? … zounds a bit sus!
“then sat at a table that included a couple where the wife was so drunk she had to excuse herself and I am sure who threw up. She tried to eat her chicken with her spoon until her husband had to redirect her efforts!”
zounds humorous
“As if this was not enough we were visited after dinner by the same Exec (and his wife) who proceeded to pay my wife very uncomfortable compliments and then suggested we all hit the dance floor.”
Swingers eh?
All in all it sounds like good entertainment. I don’t touch any alcohol at all and would love have been at your office Christmas parties. Perhaps get some entertainment from the wife who eats chicken with a spoon.
My wife had the pleasure of being cornered by one of my coworkers who described in great detail the lengths that him and his wife went to to get pregnant. He was slurring ALL his words, and worse yet - he has HORRIBLE body odour.
“so, it turnsh out thaaaat the doctors jusht laughshh at us when we tell him we were having shex three timesh a day!!!”
First, I do not apologize for using the word Christmas because that is what the holiday is called.
Second, I no longer attend Christmas parties after more than a few embarrassing situations. The worst is the drunk co-worker who feels a need to hug everyone because she hasn’t seen us in over 2 hours, since we left work earlier in the day.
I often thought that if everyone was as nice in the office as they are when they are drunk, it would be a far better place to work.
I agree about it being a Christmas party, the apology was really just a sarcastic comment.
Yeah, I don’t like to attend them really. I guess it is a self imposed duty really because we never look forward to it, especially since we don’t really drink and that seems to be the primary purpose at ours. I know some companies have them during the week to tone them down but ours on Saturdays so it is full on.
**I agree about it being a Christmas party, the apology was really just a sarcastic comment. **
I know, mine was almost meant in jest. Remember, sarcasm is in pink:)
Yeah, I don’t like to attend them really. I guess it is a self imposed duty really because we never look forward to it, especially since we don’t really drink and that seems to be the primary purpose at ours. I know some companies have them during the week to tone them down but ours on Saturdays so it is full on.
What I find irritating is that I am considered anti-social because I don’t want to attend staff functions when really, all I want is to spend time away from the office, away from the office and particularly the people in my office. I choose my friends and spouse but my co-workers are chosen for me.
I am not a drinker either and it really is no fun when you don’t drink and others do, thinks are just not as funny. I also hate it because others feel a need to get me to drink. I don’t try to force others not to drink but for some reason, those who do are always trying to get others to join in. That of course just increases my resolve and I end up resenting them for not respecting my choices.
What I find irritating is that I am considered anti-social because I don’t want to attend staff functions when really, all I want is to spend time away from the office, away from the office and particularly the people in my office. I choose my friends and spouse but my co-workers are chosen for me
Totally agree! My wife has been lucky enough to make some great friends at work and we do socialize with them still even though she no longer works with them, but I have nothing in common with my co workers. I keep waiting for them to hire a devoted endurance athlete but probably win the lottery before that
My wife’s company used to throw the best Christmas partys ever. A weekend in Napa, 5 course dinner at a nice restaurant, all the grog you could pour down your neck, port and cigars, usually followed by a few bottles of champagne in a hot tub back at the hotel. Some of us would even go for a bike ride the next morning. She’s lucky and works with a good bunch of people.
Then her district was taken over by a new manager. Nice guy but his religious beliefs frown upon the consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
Last year it was sugar cookies spiced apple cider at his house followed by a 10 minute Christmas play put on by his kids and dog. Not quite the same.
What I find irritating is that I am considered anti-social because I don’t want to attend staff functions when really, all I want is to spend time away from the office, away from the office and particularly the people in my office. I choose my friends and spouse but my co-workers are chosen for me.
I am not a drinker either and it really is no fun when you don’t drink and others do, thinks are just not as funny. I also hate it because others feel a need to get me to drink. I don’t try to force others not to drink but for some reason, those who do are always trying to get others to join in. That of course just increases my resolve and I end up resenting them for not respecting my choices.
Well put, and I am exactly the same way as you. College was a pain at times because of everything you said in your second paragraph.
Also, to make matters more uncomfortable at my firm, we have our christmas party in our office. We have a lot of people - 300+ or so - so the space would be a costly issue, but there’s absolutely no hope at becoming remotely comfortable at the party because it’s spread out over the 5 floors we occupy in this building.
Sounds like her new manager has the right idea in keeping with the spirit of Christmas.
Who or what is the keeper of the “spirit of Christmas”? and can you describe it for me?
There are two components to the Christmas Party concept…Christmas + Party. Sugar cookies and a dog dressed up as a reindeer in the bosses living room just isn’t in keeping with the party spirit.
In any event, her colleagues voted with their feet this year and only two people showed up for the Adventures of Rudolph and Dora the Explorer in Greenland. I guess they felt that if they wanted to see a kids play and eat cookies they could spend that time at home with their own kids.
Who or what is the keeper of the “spirit of Christmas”? and can you describe it for me?
No I can’t describe it to you. However, it’s clear that you want as much as you can get when it comes to receiving something for free and get all miffed when you’re not given what you expect. Instead of concentrating on the thought you’d rather focus on the amount. That isn’t in the Christmas spirit.
In any event, her colleagues voted with their feet this year and only two people showed up for the Adventures of Rudolph and Dora the Explorer in Greenland. I guess they felt that if they wanted to see a kids play and eat cookies they could spend that time at home with their own kids.
Sounds like her coworkers who voted with their feet are as greedy as you.
I’m very fortunate. I work with the greatest group of people and our Christmas party (and any other party we have) is always a lot of fun. WHile most of us imbibe it’s nothing to excess (usually). This year’s party was no exception.
Who or what is the keeper of the “spirit of Christmas”? and can you describe it for me?
No I can’t describe it to you. However, it’s clear that you want as much as you can get when it comes to receiving something for free and get all miffed when you’re not given what you expect. Instead of concentrating on the thought you’d rather focus on the amount. That isn’t in the Christmas spirit.
In any event, her colleagues voted with their feet this year and only two people showed up for the Adventures of Rudolph and Dora the Explorer in Greenland. I guess they felt that if they wanted to see a kids play and eat cookies they could spend that time at home with their own kids.
Sounds like her coworkers who voted with their feet are as greedy as you.
“Sounds like her coworkers who voted with their feet are as greedy as you.”
Yeah, those greedy bastards. Imagine them wanting to have fun with their friends and co-workers instead of being forced to put up with a boring display of the boss’s idea of family fun. Pure selfishness.
Or, maybe they just didn’t have fun and decided not to participate in something that isn’t fun. Seems that part of the Christmas spirit is fun.
Sorry my friend…You had it coming to you. Complaining about a thoughtful gesture by a coworker. So what if it wasn’t “fun”. The polite thing to have done is been grateful for the act.
