Link up with Stasha at The good life for Monday Listicles. It's a different topic every week - follow along or create your own!
I'm rebellious again. This week's topic is 10 Things About Your Hometown. But we just got done with a whirlwind week of Christmas celebrations, so that's on my mind. Our week ended with an overnight stay at a resort for Hubs' company party. I know this post is wordy, and I'm sorry. But dancing video to Neil Diamond makes it all worth it, right?
10 Notes to myself on learning the ropes with Hubs' new company.
1. When the dude Hubs shares an office with invites you both to his office party, be sure to ask Hubs BEFORE you are walking out the door about what to wear. Then you will find out ahead of time that they all previously discussed, and agreed to wear jeans, even though you looked fine in your skirt, tights and boots.
2. When the regional party invite goes out, followed by an email saying the attire is "dressy-casual (jeans ok)" - do NOT believe one word of it. It's bullsh*t. All the women in the know will show up in cocktail dresses, including the two responsible for the email saying "dressy-casual (jeans ok)". The poor woman at your table who took them at their word and wore jeans and a nice shirt will want to eat under the table. And you will want to stab Hubs with your fork for telling you to wear the long top, leggings and boots only because he likes your cleavage in it. Wear the freaking cocktail dress you drug all that way with you. DON'T listen to him!
3. Remember that you and Hubs are just a tiny bit older than the majority of the others. (I'm only 44!!) These people work hard and they play hard. They party like they are young, probably because most of them are. Don't even try to keep up. Don't over drink, go to bed earlier than them and congratulate yourself in the morning. (Which is exactly what I did, btw.)
4. These are sales people. They are competitive. Seriously competitive. When they play Christmas games, dividing the tables into teams, they go for the jugular. There will be verbal jabs, disguised as jokes. And when the winning table is finally determined, they will get a barely audible, mumbled congrats from the rest of the room.
5. When you play the White Elephant Gift exchange game, do not be nice because you are a newcomers. Get in there and steal a good gift. Like I said, these people know how to compete. And if you don't want to go home with cheap golf balls, you better go send Hubs in for the steal. Just don't try to steal the Shake Weight. That girl wanted it bad, and she was prepared to cat fight in her too short cocktail dress to keep it. (Side note: make sure to save the golf balls for next year's party. Surely it's okay to recycle a White Elephant gift, right?)
6. Remember, again, some of these people are very young. They have not yet made that mental connection that tells them that too much alcohol = embarrassing moments = feeling like crap the next morning. They still see those as separate, unrelated events. It can be quite entertaining to watch, however.
7. Find a way to make sure that the guy who went from kinda drunk, to sh*t faced idiot, in 0.0023 seconds, doesn't sit down next to you at the bar after the party. And when he asks what you do for a living, find a way to brush him off. Keep your answer simple and change the subject. Telling him you do muscular therapy for sports injuries will result in him pulling up his sleeve, demanding a demonstration, not being able to form a coherent sentence in return and mumbling angrily while unable to keep his eyes open. It won't be pretty. And dear God, don't tell him you are a massage therapist. Who knows what he might ask for.
8. Remember, they play hard. And they love to dance (just like you!) and will dance to anything (just like you!). Case in point:
I know you can't see anything. That's probably for the best.
It's a listening experience, I suppose.
It's a listening experience, I suppose.
Just listen to the poor quality sound, and shadowed images.
You'll get all the idea you'll need.
Macarena
You have to wait until about 14 seconds in... wait for it.
See? Anything.
9. Know that this company treats its people well. Really well. The resort will be beautiful. The food will be delicious. The room will have an unbelievable view. And a fireplace. And a mini kitchen. And they are paying for everything but the booze. Because like I said, these people can drink, and booze is expensive. They can't spend all their profits.
Tweet
Great room, or lobby of the resort.
Fireplace in our room. (Sorry, cell phone pic)
Fireplace in another, smaller room off the great room.
Amazing, incredible view.
And I love the panoramic pics this new camera takes!
10. The annual award ceremonies are in April. And they are taking everyone back to the same resort. You will have a chance to redeem yourself with the dress. AND get to stay at that awesome resort again!
Hubs has only been with this company for a month, so we are still figuring things out. This last weekend was a great group of people and we had a blast. I look forward to many more fun adventures, being appropriately dressed, with continued sobriety, and very appreciative.
Note: I forgot the battery charger for my camera at home, and I was on the last flashing bar the whole time, otherwise I would have taken a whole lot more pictures!
***Ally
***Ally
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10 comments:
Wow, there's quite a learning curve with this new bunch! Love that you're looking forward to being appropriately dressed.
That guy at the bar..why are there always those guys everywhere?
I couldn't see the vids though. They were too dark. :(
Sounds like it's all going to be good. Very very good!
Also - showing up in a skirt and tights/heels when most are dressed casually is better than the converse - showing up in jeans when they're all decked out! (-:
I think you had more fun sitting in the dark and trying to watch people dance to "Sweet Caroline" than I've had in years. Sadly.
Seriously, thanks for taking us with you for your fun weekend. I'm sure you were gorgeous in whatever you wore and so was hubs. That resort looks freaking amazing!
Have a super week, Ally.
I am sure you looked amazing! Young man that cleaned my carpets on Saturday was so young and already a business owner. We really are not old Ally but this corporate world is starting to make us look old :)
I was in sales, and I didn't have a competative bone in my body that's why now I can say I was in sales, I just couldn't hack it.
I'm still shaking my head in amazement. Perhaps it's because I've only worked or government agencies so the thought of wanting to get together outside of work, much less having someone else pay for it, is waaay out of my sphere of comprehension. Sounds like you had a wonderful time and this Spring you will totally show up all of the young lovelies in your hottie cocktail dress!
Better to be overdressed then under, right?
Darn those white elephants! Next time, throw an elbow!
Sweet Caroline is the best party song ever. I wonder if Neil Diamond expected this to happen?
I was at a party once where classic rock had been playing all night. A couple started messing around with the music and put that song on. Everyone rolled their eyes and kept talking until the line "reaching out, touching me, touching you Sweet Caroline *bababa*" - the entire room erupted in singing at the same time. It was HILARIOUS! Poor Neil - he had no idea.
Sounds like a great time. I sometimes wish my husband's work would do something for Christmas. Then I would atleast get to put a face with all the names I hear about!
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