Work Parties

Wow, just a bit of partying this month!

On December 2nd, I drove down to Moses Lake to attend a work party for the managers of the Columbia District. We had a short meeting and then headed to Michael's on the Lake. There we had yummy food and then a gift exchange. Everyone draws numbers and often gives gifts of liquor. I bring something I would like to take home - non alcoholic - and make sure to mark my brown paper bag so I know which gift to "pick" when it is my turn. Yay for me, I "got" a mini parfait dish set : )

On December 6th, I headed downtown to the Steam Plant Grill for the work party for the managers of the Spokane District. See, there is definitely an upside to have two bosses and two territories! Again we had delicious food, a short meeting and a gift exchange. I believe the number of non-alcoholic gifts were exactly 2. My district manager and myself. We kind of know this going in, so tend to bring a gift that we think the other will like. I made a Caramel Cider kit complete with clear glass mug, caramel syrup, cider packets and the recipe for making a mock-Starbucks one. He told me later it was delicious!

On December 8th, yes my birthday, John's new job had their work party. It was held in a banquet room at a hotel and the bosses wife had brought in dinner. Lasagna, veggie-lasagna, salads, bread and cookies/pies. They also had a large chocolate cake on the front table. At the start of the dinner, Wil stood up and announced that they were actually celebrating my birthday, not having a work Christmas party. That was too cool for them to even think about me! (John had been with the company about 5 weeks at this time.) So they sang to me and had me blow out candles and everything. The evening continued with a White Elephant gift exchange. That was really fun! And then Wil and his wife Tambi announced that we were going to have the actual gift opening. As part of the decorations, they had a tree in a corner. Underneath were many packages. They had each employee go over and pick a gift. I think Tambi had a lot of fun at Costco as the gifts were all in the $100 range and were things like the entire Band of Brothers / Pacific DVD gift set or the red professional popcorn machine (like at the movie theater). John picked up the Sonicare double toothbrush set. Wow, what a fun night we had!

On December 9th our Distribution Center had their annual Christmas lunch catered by Clinkerdagger's. I was able to enjoy turkey, roast beef, potatoes, gravy, their famous pea salad and an individual size creme brulee.

And finally, on December 12th my bosses took me out to lunch (Clingerdagger's - my favorite) for my birthday and to celebrate Christmas. They gave me flowers and gift cards to Michael's and Kohl's. Since they had just taken me out to lunch for my 25th anniversary (they took me to Casa de Oro on November 28th), we did choose a date past my birthday to celebrate.