Party Time

'Tis the Holiday season which can only mean one thing - parties! so far I have been to 3 parties (and my own birthday happy hour) and it is only the 11th!

I went to a Hanukkah party last weekend and ate latkes (potato pancakes) and donuts. I didn't know donuts were traditional Hanukkah fare, but I also don't balk at tradition. We played Dreidl with gelt - you know the chocolate coins that dad always put in our stockings? who knew he was being multi-cultural. I didn't win, but I didn't lose either. Then we played Apples to Apples which is a fun group game and I am surprised my family has never played it at a gathering before.

Yesterday was the big office holiday party at our director's house. It was the first time we had had a family friendly party and it was really surprising to realize all my coworkers' wives and children were in fact real people and not just people they talk about. It reminded me of when I met Margot and was so shocked at what she actually looked like, because in all my imaginings of her, I hadn't been able to think of her face and it hadn't dawned on me that she would have distinct features. Suddenly the nameless spouses were in front of me and I no longer had to imagine what they might look like.

Tonight I had a cookie exchange at my office-mate's house (if you didn't know, I share an office with one other person, for whatever reason my office is the only one big enough to fit two people, and therefore I am the only one that has to share. It isn't a problem because I really like the girl who shares it with me - oh which reminds me, Margie, my office mate is named Linda and she is the Northern AZ rep and visits Mingus once or twice a semester). Anyway I went to the party and there were a couple other coworkers and a bunch of people I didn't know. I had made key lime bars (from a box) and boiled cookies. the key lime bars came out fine, but something went wrong with the boiled cookies and they were sticky and chewy - did I buy the wrong oats or just not cook the sugar long enough? I brought both but on the way to the party the plate with the boiled cookies slid on top of the key lime bars. when I parked I found the key lime bars ruined and stuck to the bottom of the boiled cookies plate. I swapped out the plates and had to go in with just the boiled cookies. It was a bummer, but luckily there were so many types of cookies mine just went unnoticed for the most part. one lady made a beeline for them though and thanked me for making them because she loves that type of cookie and hadn't had one in forever.

Oddly, we have an office-wide cookie exchange on Monday so I may try to make the boiled cookies again. if they don't come out right the second time I will know it is the oats. I bought 1-minute quaker oats, but I fear they are the problem, even though my last canister was also quick oats.

I have a potluck to go to on Tuesday because one of my coworkers is also graduating this week and her parents are coming into town and want to meet everyone. I think I am going to make Grace's cheesy bread...hopefully mom remembers the temperature it has to cook at, or will have the house unpacked enough to find the recipe, Thanks mom!

The following Monday is our office white elephant exchange, hopefully in my packing will unearth something worth "regifting."

The best thing about all these parties is that I have become friendly with enough of my coworkers' boyfriends that I think I will have a nice little posse to help me move on Saturday! I have also put a few items on craigslist and have gotten a couple interested people in my old desk and sofa bed - no better time to make some cash than Christmas!

I will keep you posted after the move, and hopefully will hear about a new job in the next couple of weeks. I ended up having two interviews (both in our school of business) and one of them has called me for a second interview next week - not the one Dad and Margie helped me prep for, but a different one that is a little closer to what I do now. My interview is on my graduation day, thank goodness I already took the day off!