OMG finally the contract for the stupid dept holiday party is signed and in. We had a last minute semi-freak out from upper management because of who knows what - afraid people will get drunk and our name will be in the press, afraid everyone will call for car services and head office will get mad, afraid we will ignore the budget limit....

also, got a few more items off the list. not nearly all though.

Co-worker wants to know a nice place to eat near Baltimore's Little Italy (between Hopkins and the Inner Harbour). Not super-pricey. Fiance is vegetarian but not vegan.

Oh there are a ton of options! Is there a style of food they are looking for? Also are they walking or will they have a car?

oh and ita, because you deserve your own post. I am so sorry you have to deal with all this. I am pushed to tears almost everytime mac or I need to deal with anything medical more than a regular Dr. visit. I cannot imagine having to deal with the medical world bs while in excrutiating pain, not at all. My hat is off to you. I wish there was something we could do to help at all.

I had Near East "Mediterranean Curry" couscous with diced cooked chicken boiled in the sauce. I could see doing this a couple times a week, as it makes at least two me-sized portions that can easily be reheated.

Needs salt, though.

It cracks me up when my boss is not in the mood for work. So far this afternoon, we have had extensive discussions of whether we should have a department cookie swap, whether we should just make the several girls involved in an outside cookie swap bring those cookies in, how we feel about the holiday party planning committee, what our representative on the committee should say, what happened at the holiday party planning committee meeting, how people feel about a Yankee Swap, whether it makes a difference if the presents are wrapped, whether it makes a difference if they have prescribed what category of things we should bring, etc., etc.!

And yet it's still not 5pm.

Economic Barometers From the Holiday Party:

No shrimp
Wine but no champagne
Eclairs instead of truffles
Did I mention no shrimp?
Okay, they had salmon

our party: no shrimp (but I do not think it was an option at the venue)
down from 3 hours to 2 just decided today
wine/beer bar only
no desserts
no car service coverage

our party: POTLUCK

We are having potluck for xmas party this year! Office is providing the booze though and we were asked for special requests. I said SPARKLY! $10 a bottle Cava available at the wine store around the corner.

I don't think I've ever been to a Calif. law firm catered event in SF that didn't have shrimp. Or something fancier like sushi or an oyster bar. They went downlist on the menu with almost everything.