from one party to another

Saturday was my husband's annual work party. It never ceases to amaze me--they turn this beautiful office space into an even more beautiful event space. Exposed brick, wood beams, and white lights everywhere. A catered in meal, wine, kegs, rows of alcohol. And after the speech, after the dishes are cleared away--games, trivia, karaoke.

Last year, strangers came up to me, insisting that I was so lucky to have him, and please don't get another job somewhere else because they didn't want to lose them.

This year, it was one particular colleague of my husband's who suddenly resembled an orangutan, his whole body dedicated to foosball, leaping around, shrieking out. At one point, everyone else was frozen, the ball held in place by another player, and this drunken colleague kept going, his men jittering about.

Cabs are paid for by the company, and most get rooms across the way. I am the designated driver for the night; I don't know if I could be comfortable stumbling around, his office only feet away, but it is entertaining to watch, each year, the company's finest loosening their ties, boxing on the Wii, singing out of tune, each with their annual repertoire, including one rendition of "Ice, Ice Baby," where the screen's prompts aren't even needed. This year, back up dancers.


Tonight, New Year's Eve at our house. Kelly is downstairs, looking up recipes--chicken valentino, asparagus, roasted potatoes, pear tartlets. We are cooking a fancy dinner with good friends (Lane, Angie, and Chad are due in a little while), having some wine, champagne, and sparkling cider for my pregnant best friend, and ringing in 2008 quietly, subdued, but content.

How will you celebrate yours?

Happy New Year, y'all! xox


PS: Don't mind me; just had to share: