The ghosts of Christmas Parties past
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 7:06PM I went to Party Guy's company Christmas party with him. Almost everyone he worked with was older than him, which is to say, WAY older than me.
I wore a top straight out of 1993, because, well, it was 1993. The bottom half of it was sheer fabric. I could get away with it because I had the flat stomach of a 19 year old, and because I also had the mistaken impression that it was less see-thru than it was. I got inappropriately hammered - did I mention I was 19? Later Party Guy informed me, rather acerbically, that during a rousing turn of "Shout!" (Lift your hands up!) on the dance floor, I had been flashing everyone my black lacy bra.
Well. No wonder I was so popular at that party.
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During the years I worked in restaurants, we never had Christmas parties at Christmas. Because everyone ELSE was having their Christmas parties and we were too busy. So we had them in February. They were almost always 'themed'. One year we did air bands. Four of us choreographed a dance routine to ABBA. I wore my Leggy Blonde costume.
We didn't win for the routine, but I won for the skintight red dress with the slit up to my hipbone.
What? I said it was my Leggy Blonde costume.
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While dating Pilot Boy I attended a few of his Christmas parties. For one of them he worked for a company that had its main offices in another city, and we flew there for the party, which was in the banquet hall of a hotel.
He expressed regret for choosing to sit where we did. He thought the drunken antics of the other people at the table would reflect badly on him. I thought they were the most fun people there. He made us move anyway.
I latched on to the most interesting person at our new table, who looked a little frightened when I proclaimed us to be BFFs and dug up a pen to write my phone number on her hand.
Later, joking around, he piggy-backed me up to our hotel room. The key card wasn't working so, unthinking, he bent down to inspect it, slamming my head into the door frame and knocking me unconscious for a few seconds.
He put me in bed to sleep and went back to the party. In the morning I had to lay on the floor of the plane as we drove home, I was so ill from the combined hangover and concussion.
Pretty sure I hadn't flashed anyone my bra though.
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Years ago, at the company I am with now, we organized a video scavenger hunt, broke out into teams, and drew straws to see which poor souls had designated driver duty. Then we roamed the city filming our 'items' and stopping at every bar we saw for shooters. We gathered at the boss' house for more drinks and watched all the hunts. The boss' wife kicked us all out in annoyance at 4 or 5am.
This year, the same company took us for dinner on a Thursday night at a local pub, and gave us a $50 gift card each lest we get out of hand on the company dime. I was home by 9:30.
Aannndd...I'm okay with that. Man, I'm old.
I'm a headcase, storyteller
Reader Comments (26)
I want to party with you!!
Ahh, A drunk date who knocks herself out right before we have sex! That is my kind of woman! lol!
Sounds like some parties I have attended. Maybe I did and we met each other but were too drunk to remember!! LOL!!!
Hugs
SueAnn
wish i had your exciting nightlife. my office party? yeah, it included a laundry folding race, the most creative dog vomit contest, and how many times does your kid hit you on the head while you are sleeping in order to wake you up contest. take care.
I remember those days well. Now, I'm reduced to luncheons because 9pm is still too late.
Oh my god that's funny!
Sounds slightly similar to my past and present...crazy parties and crazy antics.
Went to an Ugly Sweater Xmas party this year. Apparently it got way out of hand with a girl's date sleeping with a guy at the party.
I missed it all because I was home at 9:30. Old and a mom....no longer party girl!
hey, flashing your black bra is not so bad. at least you were wearing a bra!
Not old--mature. Oh that doesn't really sound any better. Well take heart in the fact that we all get old eventually--the kids do it to us.
LOL! Home by 9:30p?! That is a late night for me!!
~WM
Flying out for a Christmas party seems big time to me. Although it didn't seem to work out so well for you. I think it is lucky that I haven't had any company Christmas parties. I need to keep my party guy persona to myself.
i was really hoping for pictures but your descriptions are very vivid. i'm with about getting home early these days.
the party I went to this year was fun!
We have a potluck lunch. Oh how I miss the days of the big accounting firm with the open bar.... Ahhh.
And all those stories are reminders why my business doesn't have a Christmas party that goes beyond 6:30 PM anymore.
You sound like you were once quite the party girl! ;)
It's funny how companies are changing their Christmas Party modes because of historical party animal events - even hubby's work changed their party to 'Employees Only' and had a lunch in the middle of the day... *yawn*
:)
Did you seriously get a concussion and have to ride the plane lying down? I don't want to laugh but I can't help it. Sputter-sputter.
From a person who's always a designated driver, it's almost always a lot worse than the drunk memory recalls. :-)
We don't get invited to too many Christmas parties anymore. Oddly enough, I'm alright with that.
There's so many jokes to make there I'm not sure where to start...
Whoa. Whoa, great stories! My only regret would be the concussion.
And this year's party sounds pretty perfect, so I think I am old too.
Man I'm old too. Sounds much more fun than my Christmas party!!!
I love that he knocked you out. I mean, I don't love that it happened to you because I like you and all...but what a great visual and laugh!
My company Christmas party this year? Well, I didn't get one because I'm in a satellite office. I did get the emails from everyone saying how much fun they had though. Everyone's a winner.
Oh man, I miss drunken company parties.. haven't had any in the last five or so years. I remember one where my asshole ex got drunk and started shit with me in front of all of my new coworkers, that was fun. Another (six years before that one) where he got drunk and locked me out of our hotel room because he thought I was trying to sleep with one of our coworkers. Good times. Maybe I don't miss them.
Long time lurker, thought I would say hello! I really dont post much but thanks for the good times I have here. Love this place..