Xmas Party, Xinia Part D

So, this weekend was the office Christmas Party. No, there wasn't an opportunity to get wasted and photo copy my ass. Besides, that would be so cliche. Instead, there was bowling, where I learned that while I am not the worst bowler in the office, I'm pretty damn close and A Lot more awkward. I found out that apparently I bowl better with my left hand, and I bowl better when I keep my wrist twisted. It doesn't hurt, but I probably look ridiculous. What would The Dude think?

After bowling, there was a dinner, but there was 1.5 hours between dinner and the bowling, so I ran errands (yay grocery shopping!) before the dinner, ended up being late to dinner, and sitting with people I've hardly spoken two words to since joining the team almost three months ago. Not that I won't complain, but it wasn't so bad. I learned about deep-fried turkey balls, which I had none of since I have about 10 pounds of turkey residing in my freezer. I had a drink while they gave out Xmas gifts. I am sooooo happy because I got a $10 gift card to a grocery store! (No, I'm not kidding. Free groceries are god-damned amazing.)

Derrick, our resident storyteller, received a gift card to the club we happened to be dining at, so he purchased a round of drinks, which was awesome. So, after the dinner, the editorial staff sat around and bullshitted (bullshat?) over a drink, and that was probably the best part of the dinner.

Since that moment, my life has been consumed with Medicare Part D. If you are not over 65, and if you already have insurance, you probably have no idea what Part D is. Well, consider yourself lucky. All I know is I've written the introduction to the government's first venture into prescription drug coverage, and then written a 6-page follow up on how everyone feels about it. It's killing me. It better win a Pulitzer since I spent so much time pouring over information that affects no one I know. Ugh. Seriously, though, once it's out of my hair, it's definitely an article I'm going to be proud of.

While I'm gloating about my writing, I may as well let you know that twice in the last two weeks, someone has come up to me and said how killer one of my articles was. And, for the first time, when I called to confirm quotes, people said they were fine as they were and didn't try to edit my work, like I don't pay attention to what they say. Hooray for me!

Oh God, I'm rambling, but my weekend was tons of fun aside from just the Xmas party. Cindy and I tried to hit up a new bar on Friday, but it was wicked crowded (mostly because it was so small) so we hit up our favorite dive, the Queen City Club. Derrrick and Pete joined us after they got out of work. Derrick was his normal self but he didn't sing, which was too bad. Another ad person was at the bar this time, so Pete and I went to chat with her, but not knowing her name, we didn't say much.

On Saturday, we went to a scary dive bar. The girl behind the bar seemed to have trouble even serving a pitcher. Not only did it take her 10 years (there weren't that many people in the bar), but it also working the tap apparently confused her. Cindy and I guzzled our pitcher, and got the hell out of dodge. We went to our second favorite bar, the Elks Club. Pete and Derrick joined us. Derrick told a couple of hilarious stories, one of which I'm not allowed to repeat, so you'll just have to hope that someday you meet the kid to hear them. And Pete and I discussed the depth of our shallowness. And Cindy felt a cold coming on, which the rest of the office has. So far, Derrick and I are winning for most disease free employee on the editorial staff. I think I can keep my immune system healthier, as long as I stay away from wine...well, I think I can keep my immune system mostly healthy, anyway.