X-mas party...aloha...!

(December 16, 2005)

Friday morning was hectic. We woke up late! We were up and about and rushing like maniacs trying to get the kids and ourselves ready for school and work. I was up late on Thursday night so I felt like I didn’t get enough sleep and woke up tired, sore and achy.

And just as I was getting ready, my son complains that his throat hurts and he began to cough. Oh, no…! He already missed a few days because he went with his dad on a mini-vacation and the Christmas vacation is a few days away. I was about to call in sick when my hubby said. “I have to take care of a few things first before I can come home early to be with him so in the meantime, I’ll get Cynthia to take care of him for a couple of hours. You go ahead… today is your last day at work.”

I had to rush because it was already late so I showered and got dressed quickly. Didn’t have time to drink a cup of coffee or anything. By the time I got to the train station, I already had missed my train. And when I finally got the next train, they were experiencing technical difficulties! This was going to be a bad day!

I got to the office and my boss was there. He didn’t say anything to me so I quickly took of my coat and realized that I had forgotten the jacket that went with my outfit! Oh, no…!!!! Now that meant that I couldn’t cover my big butt!! Aaah!!!!

I got busy with my work (and of course everything was urgent!) and had to be completed before we left the office at noon to go to our Christmas party. I was really feeling stressed. I kept thinking to myself, I should have just taken the day off!

Finally it was time to go to our party. This year they had a theme…Hawaiian Luau. When we arrived (freezing, as it was extremely cold!) they greeted us with a Hawaiian lei and a flower to pin on our hair (for the ladies). The set up was really nice and colorful. And the waiters were going around serving wine/beer or Mai Tai and o'deurves. The food was different because they actually served fish and filet mignon together. We got to taste both and it was delicious!

When we finished with our meal, they had a group of children from an elementary school sing different ethnic Christmas songs for us. When the children were done, they also had a band playing music from the islands. It was really great!

Then came the fun part (or more like the most embarrassing moment of my life!)

The employees (who worked 5, 10, 15 and 25 years) were honored and given a gift in appreciation for their loyalty and hard work. The employees for the five-year award were called and they had to come up on stage. Mr. “S” gave a little speech about each one (three things to know about so and so as far as outside activities goes).

OMG! I knew I was getting the 10 years award so that meant I had to get up on stage! ME ON STAGE!!!! In front of all those people! I thought, o.k. calm down, no big deal, there will be a couple of other employees up on stage with me so it won’t be too bad.

When he finished introducing the 5-year group, he continued on and called out my name. I got up and went up on stage. I tried not to focus on anyone and tried like hell to relax and not feel too embarrassed. O.k. He’ll call on others soon, just relax. But of course, this was not the worst part… the person that was honoring me, said since I was the only 10-year employee, he was going to spend a little more time talking about me! OMG! I thought I was going to die!

He proceeded to mention my nickname (which nobody knows except for my family and close friends). I soon felt my face turn red! He said “Gris” which is pronounced “Greece”. I thought, OMG, I’m not happy that I’m up here and feeling exposed but now they know my nickname and they’re probably thinking more like “grease” (yeah, fits the nickname!)

Gris is an avid reader of paperback books (especially V.C. Andrews), which her husband uses to start the fire in the fireplace (p.s. he said I shouldn’t tell her)...(laughter from the audience).

And to boot this whole thing turns into a little game….

If you can pick out who may know a title of one of her books (he pulls out two books by V.C. Andrews), she could win a book and you win a book. So I picked someone I knew who was raising her hand and she answered “Flowers in the Attic”. That’s correct!

Gris loves to sing to Juan Gabriel songs (popular Mexican singer). He asked the audience, “Does anyone know who Juan Gabriel is?” Only three or four people raised their hands (my Hispanic friends). So he pulls out a two pack CD of Juan Gabriel and says to me, “If you can pick out the person who knows one of Juan Gabriel’s songs with the word “money” in the title, he/she will win this CD.” So I picked “Maria” who immediately answered “No Tengo Dinero” (which means “I don’t have money”, one of JG first popular songs in the 70’s). Everyone laughs and she wins the CD.

He mentioned a few things about how I was the epitome of soccer, baseball and softball mom and each summer they can find me helping out in the concession stand and how I love to karaoke and a enjoy a good glass of wine.

“The last and final thing to know about Gris (as the drummer in the back is doing the drum roll…) She and her son are Cubs fans, while her husband and daughter are White Sox fans. Her husband and daughter have taken to calling them Losers, with a capital “L” on the forehead.” (Laughter). He pulls out a Cubs cap and says, “Pick someone who might know this fact about the Cubs”. Everyone was like “Pick Tim! Pick Tim!” So I picked “Tim” and he said, “If you can tell me when was the last time the Cub’s won a championship game…!” Everyone booed… And before “Tim” could answer the question, he throws the Cubs cap at him. Everyone was laughing and booing.

It was finally over! I quickly went for the stairs to get off the stage, and as nervous as I was, I almost missed them! I’m sure I was redder than a tomato!

This year's trip giveaway was to Hawaii. Unfortunatley, I did not win! :(

Oh, and I just couldn’t wait to get home and kill my husband!!!!