Holiday Party-Ho-Ho-Ho.

Ok, let me preface things by saying…I love to complain sometimes especially when I haven't had much sleep and have to do something that I REALLY don’t want to do. I can be a Super Crankpot and tend to whine and complain. That said…

It was a Friday night and there’s this party I HAVE to attend when all I really want to is go home put on my flannel jammies, order a pizza and watch some crappy TV. But since this is a work party (a thank-you to all of our freelancers who’ve worked so hard throughout the year) I must attend. So with Cranky Pants on I schlepped my outfit, shoes, and toiletries to work. I moan and groan the entire day knowing that I have to go to this party. I know I’ll probably have fun but I am very sleep-deprived and the thought of drinking (again!) and staying out late (again!) has me not in a very good mood.

After work - and after I have sufficiently primped - I arrive at the club and our marketing director/Super Party Planner Chelsea has outdone herself (again!) with her amazing skills. Should she ever decide to leave her day job she would make one hell of an event planner. The food was amazing. We had the most delicious hour's devours: spanikopita, yummy puffy cheesey thingy's, hummus, babagonoush, shrimp and chicken skewers. Another table overflowed with chips and dips, and a cheese platter with just about every cheese you can imagine.I could go on and on..(getting hungry thinking about it). The bartenders were amazing. They had the drinks flowing! All I had to do was get near the bar and my drink was already poured for me. Service like that can be a good think or a bad thing, for me sometimes bad. I can easily allow myself to be over-served. But since it was a work party I had to contain myself somewhat.

My favorite freelancer Carlos showed up, he always puts a smile on my face. You could have the worse day in the world and you see him and he just makes it all go away. I think he has to be one of the sweetest persons I have ever known. (besides my friend Jamie-lol-personal quip) Anyhow, the freelancers pour in and they too are having the time of their lives, I mean great food, top shelve liquor, amazing music playing. Everyone was in the holiday spirit.

About two hours into the party I find a bunch of my work colleagues and we’re chattin’ and drinkin’ and talkin’ and dancin’ when Chelsea runs up to us and says, “You are NOT going to believe this, but Mark Mann just got taken away by an ambulance.”(Mark is a freelancer of ours) We all respond, “What? What do you mean?) Turns out, Mark allowed himself to be over-served himself and kind-of induced himself into an alcoholic coma. We all stare at each other in disbelief, not grasping what is going on. Now, Mark is not a small man. Actually, he's pretty big and he couldn't have put that many drinks down in two hours to pass out. He must have been drinking prior to the party. Now mind you the club is on 27th Street which has been in the papers lately with underage drinking going on in the clubs as well as drug deals. So with that being said the police are all over the street now and threaten to shut us if what happened to Mark is an indication of what is going on inside. Chelsea does her best to assure them that this is just ONE person and that everyone else is fine. She also explains that it is a company party and that it will be ending in an hour or so. The police agree to let us keep celebrating. We all kind of laugh it off that this guy was taken away in the ambulance but are a bit concerned for him. (we automatically think..hmm drugs?) We all have to wait till Monday to find out what happened.

Happy Monday. We arrive to work like kids in a candy store…dying to hear what happened to Mark. Sasha our talent manager calls him to see if he's ok. His response to her is "Yes yes I’m fine. Thank you for calling. I made it to work today!". She then asks him what happened. He tells her he only had a few drinks and someone must have drugged him! Hmm I find it a bit odd...I would have to say that Mark drugged himself. No one else got "slipped a roofie" as far as we knew. And I don't want to be mean but Mark looks like a caveman. But hey to each his own right? There's a lid for every pot! I mean in this day of age, I never leave my drink on the bar. Tip to all of you. Finish your cocktail, make a bathroom run, come back and order a fresh one. There are too many wacky people out there today.

Prelude to a Holiday Party

The staffing agency I work for decided to throw our freelancers a Holiday party. Yeah PARTY!!! And since we specialize in fashion we decided to gather at one of the hottest night clubs in Manhattan. We mass emailed all the candidates who have worked for us and invited them to the party. And as with all invitations they were required to RSVP. Our marketing manager Chelsea was in charge of managing all the RSVPs and at one point had to close the list as the club could only accommodate so many people. With this great task and with all things Chelsea always handles herself quite well. I’m not sure I would have handled the following exchange as well.

For some odd reason someone forwarded the invite to their friend, someone who has never worked with us and isn’t even in the same field. Nonetheless this person wanted to attend the party so she emailed Chelsea. Chelsea replied, "Your name is not in our database. Perhaps you would like to tell me who your friend is and I can add you to the list.

That was all it took. This person then proceeds to go on a tirade. And these are the emails that were exchanged. I could not have written anything better. I’ve cut and pasted the responses below. (I have changed the names to protect the not-so-innocent.)

Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 3:09 PM
To: Subject: RSVP --
Please RSVP Actress Direcotr (HANNA GILDING for your Christmas PArty on December 8 Thanks
Thank you -- Thank you

12/1/06,
Chelsea Towns wrote:
Unfortunately the list is already closed and we cannot accomodate any additional guests.

Happy holidays!
Chelsea

Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 6:55 PM
To:
Subject:
Re: RSVP
Well that is odd as it only just went out..but its ok I am a guest of someone elses!You obuviously dont know who I am.Happy Googling.You would be lucky to get me there.HAnna Gilding

Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 7:26 PM
To:
Subject:
Re: RSVP
They dont need to contact you the invite was plus one.And I am already spekaing to your company.Not only that laos about hiring one of your staff donw the track..I do hire I own myown company.My gosh..settle down girlwaht an attitude.Wahts your probelm???

On 12/1/06,
Chelsea Towns wrote:
Dear HAnna The individual who actually received the invitation is free to email me. However, since you yourself are not in our database, I cannot accomodate the request. Take care

From: car pe [???@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 7:26 PM
To: Chelsea Towns Subject:
Re: RSVP
They dont need to contact you the invite was plus one.And I am already spekaing to your company.Not only that laos about hiring one of your staff donw the track..I do hire I own myown company.My gosh..settle down girlwaht an attitude.Wahts your probelm???
(* notice how the wording above is mispelled and getting a little screwy-cookoo bean)

From: car pe [mailto:??????1@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 7:48 PM
To: Chelsea Towns
Subject: remind me NOT to hire your freelancers
I find you rude,inappropriate and offensive Chelsea and you obviously are clueless who you are speaking too.My company hires people around the world including New York.I have been here for three weeks and hired five staff already. .Harpe Hiem Films LLC.Remind us not to hire your Desigers...even for Oscars events and London and LA Fashion weeks.I just hired two MOST excellent designers from elsewheee and will continue to do so and also not the rude offensive attidute of the compnay who you are suposed to be representing in best light possible but obously aernt. You blew it.Six of us are NOW not NOT going to your party..inclding one of your other clients.What an arrongant parochial and fucked way to handle possible new clients.Harpe HIem Films LLC-- Thank you