BlogHer - And now we can talk about it: The holiday party edition - Comments

I don't think you were wrong

Zandria — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:49:12 -0600

I don't think you were wrong at all for being "overly cautious." What might have seemed fun at the time would probably have looked completely different in the light of sobriety. :)

Keep Up With Me

I agree with you

julesschroom — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 01:32:11 -0600

I agree with you wholeheartedly on staying sober at any office function. What blew me away, is the people who didn't heed that advice at my office Xmas party the weekend before last. Ironically enough, the drunkest and most scenic person at the party was our HR person. She was tipsy even before dinner was served, was "dirty dancing" with other employees once the music started and even won one of the prizes raffled off. In fact, most of the prizes were won by management people. Now I know why that is the first company Xmas party I have attended in the past decade, and why that will certainly be the last. Yuck!

Mentor's suggestions

Mata H — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 22:28:16 -0600

I was in corporate life for over 20 years. Before my first corporate Christmas party, my mentor took me aside and 'gave me the rules' for such events -- they are all aimed at career preservation.

1. Stay sober. VERY sober.
2. Stay celibate. VERY celibate.
3. Make sure your boss sees you there, and knows that you showed up as part of his team.
4. If you are in management, and there are raffle tickets given out for gifts, give yours to a secretary or clerk with whom you work.
5. Stay until your boss and your boss's boss leave. Feel free to get your coat when they have left the parking lot.

I am amazed I lasted over 20 yrs in corporations, but that is another tale. I always did heed these bits of advice, however.

~~ Mata H. also blogs relentlessly at Time's Fool

And now we can talk about it: The holiday party edition

HeatherB — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 15:53:13 -0600

Now that itâ€™s all over, itâ€™s safe and acceptable to speak of it all. To look back in hindsight and hopefully laugh and revisit the gossip that inevitably comes out of the standard and annual, office Holiday party.

Thereâ€™s always trepidation and whining but the possibilities of what may come from a night out of the office and with an open bar are truly endless. And while I probably seem like quite the partier there is nothing that terrifies me more than being completely rocked and puking at my office Holiday party, nay any party or event that involves drinking and being in the presence of those that control my health insurance. Of course Iâ€™m all for open bars, who isnâ€™t, but thereâ€™s a fine line between enjoying libations and sharing laughs over Joe in accounting and throwing up crabcakes on your bossâ€™ shoes. Itâ€™s a line that I would really just not like to cross.

What amazes me though is the number of people in this little age bracket oâ€™ mine, who so eagerly cross that line. Not only does it ensure a gnarly hangover in the morning but the embarrassmentâ€¦oh, the embarrassmentâ€¦that instills in me a fear like no other. People often throw out the â€œoh youâ€™re youngâ€ excuse, but at some point that becomes â€œoh, you should think about updating your resume after your slurring of Jay Zâ€™s â€˜Big Pimpinâ€™ during karaokeâ€.

Iâ€™m possibly being overly cautious and on some sort of high horse for sobriety, but thereâ€™s something about watching someone puke all over a bar minutes after the head honcho departs, that keeps me up on high, and grateful that my three glasses of wine wonâ€™t end up on the restaurant floor.

_________

BlogHer CE, Heather B also blogs (and whines) at No Pasa Nada