The Office Holiday Party

When it comes to the "office holiday party", there is about as much variance in how to put on one of these shindigs as there are towns in NJ that I have never heard of (i.e. a lot). Having never had a "real" job--meaning that even though I've been out of school for 5 years, as a physician-in-training, most people (family included) ask me "how is school?"--I can't say that I've attended any great holiday parties...that is until just recently!

When I was growing up, I remember going shopping with my mother for sparkly evening gowns or the like that she would wear to my Pop's company holiday party. The event was always held in the ballroom in a posh hotel in downtown Denver. There were, I imagined, amazing hors d'oevres, plenty of wine & spirits, dancing, and prom-like photographs for all the employees and their spouses/partners/significant others.


Suffice it to say that I was very disappointed when I went to my first "office" holiday party ("office" being in quotations because it's a stretch to call the department of psychiatry an "office"). To name just a few reasons why it was a disappointment: It was on a weekday, during the work day, and the attire was "come as your are" (i.e. in your white coat with your patient notes hanging out of your pockets), the food was mediocre, there was no alcohol (for obvious reasons, but still...), and there was no dancing.

Coming to my new job, now in a child & adolescent psychiatry department, I didn't expect much of a difference. I have been pleasantly surprised. Not only are there multiple parties to attend (one of the perks of working at multiple hospital sites), but all the parties have taken place after work hours, had GREAT food, plenty of wine & spirits, and great company. Still no dancing, but beggers can't be choosers. Here are some photos of the 1st party of the season:





Left: A group of happy kiddie shrinks plus 2 hubbies (mine is on the far left).







Right: A co-worker & his adorable son.






My family-friendly office holiday party was followed, the next evening, by my hubby's ultra swanky office holiday party. This event, thrown in not just 1 but 2 ballrooms in a posh hotel in the NJ suburbs, was exactly what I have imagined when the topic of the office holiday party has come up. The food was amazing (at least 5 types of food stations with different national cuisines), there was free-flowing wine, beer, & spirits, and more kinds of desserts than I have ever imagined (the cannolis were amazing, as was the white chocolate fondue fountain). To satisfy anyone's musical preference, they had a live jazz quartet in one ballroom and a DJ spinning dance tunes in the other ballroom. Everyone was dressed to the nines, including 2 men wearing kilts. Check out some of the photos below:




Left: From left, a kilt-wearing guest, a co-worker, my hubby, & I.

Right: A co-worker, after several drinks, doing a dare. (This photo has been removed at the request of my hubby, but imagine a well-dressed man licking an ice sculpture)

It's not even Christmas, and I've already had this much fun! Can't wait for the next party!