![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Office Party
Dec. 17th, 2010 09:36 pmIsn't it funny how booze has two totally contradictory sides? One is "in vino veritas" where, under the influence, you blurt out all kinds of shit that you'd never admit when sober. The other is of course, the "beer goggles" effect where after a few drinks, you lose all concept of "veritas" and everything seems so much better than it really is.
I've always been a beer goggles kind of girl, which is why I've often found it agreeable -- actually, necessary -- to tie one on at the office holiday party. Suddenly, all these people seem so funny and interesting and jovial! Sure, we have our workplace differences just like anyone else but...deep down, I love these folks! It's a delight to spend 80% of my waking time with them! What a great crew!
I can't really handle my liquor these days so I decided to go dry for this year's party. I had a small glass of prosecco when I got there but that was it. What a disaster. I mean sure, I didn't wind up vomiting in the bathroom and I won't be sick as death all weekend but what a lousy time I had. Most of the people I liked have left. Only Annie is still there but she actually enjoys shmoozing -- for reasons that I can't fathom because there's absolutely no point to schmoozing where I work. Then she's also one of these people who has to check her Blackberry every ten minutes so...whatever. I love the girl, but that's an annoying fucking habit. Also, trying to participate in shouted conversations across a table gets really exhausting after about 15 minutes when you're not fueled with boozy merriment.
And sober? I hate these folks. They're not funny or interesting or jovial. The "consultant" showed up -- wily old con artist that he is -- and no doubt made sure he got paid to be there. An ex-employee decided to stop in, wearing her hideous fur coat and bragging about the 32-inch plasma TV she got as a "grab bag" gift at her job. I had to listen to the owner's stepson (and so-called "employee") talk about the $800,000 house he just bought with money he never earned -- while there's no sign in sight of our two-year-long, 10% pay cut being reversed. Along with other grotesqueries that would take too much backstory to explain.
By the time desert showed up I was just...eating. Annie was off pointlessly schmoozing. The two overpaid grifters next to me were having some drunken conversation that must have been uproariously funny because they sure were cracking each other up. Across from me the art director was wisely getting shitfaced and starting to babble nonsense to no one in particular. I think maybe she thought she was talking to me. Then I was sitting there waiting for coffee and it wasn't coming out so I just said I was going to the bathroom and I did go to the bathroom and then I got my coat and left because coffee or not, I wasn't going back in there.
Now I remember why I'd always get so drunk at these things. I can't handle these people in a social situation when I'm sober. At least when I'm at the office I can shut my door on them.
I've always been a beer goggles kind of girl, which is why I've often found it agreeable -- actually, necessary -- to tie one on at the office holiday party. Suddenly, all these people seem so funny and interesting and jovial! Sure, we have our workplace differences just like anyone else but...deep down, I love these folks! It's a delight to spend 80% of my waking time with them! What a great crew!
I can't really handle my liquor these days so I decided to go dry for this year's party. I had a small glass of prosecco when I got there but that was it. What a disaster. I mean sure, I didn't wind up vomiting in the bathroom and I won't be sick as death all weekend but what a lousy time I had. Most of the people I liked have left. Only Annie is still there but she actually enjoys shmoozing -- for reasons that I can't fathom because there's absolutely no point to schmoozing where I work. Then she's also one of these people who has to check her Blackberry every ten minutes so...whatever. I love the girl, but that's an annoying fucking habit. Also, trying to participate in shouted conversations across a table gets really exhausting after about 15 minutes when you're not fueled with boozy merriment.
And sober? I hate these folks. They're not funny or interesting or jovial. The "consultant" showed up -- wily old con artist that he is -- and no doubt made sure he got paid to be there. An ex-employee decided to stop in, wearing her hideous fur coat and bragging about the 32-inch plasma TV she got as a "grab bag" gift at her job. I had to listen to the owner's stepson (and so-called "employee") talk about the $800,000 house he just bought with money he never earned -- while there's no sign in sight of our two-year-long, 10% pay cut being reversed. Along with other grotesqueries that would take too much backstory to explain.
By the time desert showed up I was just...eating. Annie was off pointlessly schmoozing. The two overpaid grifters next to me were having some drunken conversation that must have been uproariously funny because they sure were cracking each other up. Across from me the art director was wisely getting shitfaced and starting to babble nonsense to no one in particular. I think maybe she thought she was talking to me. Then I was sitting there waiting for coffee and it wasn't coming out so I just said I was going to the bathroom and I did go to the bathroom and then I got my coat and left because coffee or not, I wasn't going back in there.
Now I remember why I'd always get so drunk at these things. I can't handle these people in a social situation when I'm sober. At least when I'm at the office I can shut my door on them.