1) Speaking of my new job.
This week we are gearing up for a big deal conference that takes place in our town. It's a national thing, so we have people in the cyber security industry coming in and everyone is doing last minute things to get ready. It's...a lot.
One of the things the new company I work for does is host a big party for some of the attendees after the first night, and somehow I got wrangled in to help plan it. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't know anything about planning a party. I didn't get invited to them, I don't usually host them, and I've certainly never helped plan anything bigger than a baby shower before! This is a big deal, a corporate event with about a thousand moving parts and I've already been told that no matter how smoothly it goes, we will get complaints. So, you know, no pressure.
The marketing manager had to go out of the country while this was in the beginning stages of being planned, so I was given a lot of tasks to take care of that required spending a lot of money and making decisions that I didn't feel qualified to make, but I did them. I picked a theme, a caterer, a menu (thank goodness the location was already taken care of.) I named specialty cocktails, ordered favors, made decorations and designed invitations and posters. It's been a big project and occasionally I just lie face down on the floor and have mini freak outs that something big will go wrong and I'll get blamed. I'm very grateful that the marketing manager came back, booked a band, and took care of some of the more dirty details (she is much better at getting people to do stuff they don't want to do) and one of the marketing specialists took care of the social media and gave me direction about who to talk to and graphics guidance. It's been a learning experience, to say the least.
So keep your fingers crossed that in a couple of days, when I'm in my LBD dress and converse high tops trying to babysit a bunch of drunk computer geeks, I don't run screaming from our party and drive off into the sunset.
2) I miss my friend. Very much. I kind of thought that, at least by this time, I wouldn't still feel quite so many things. Alas...
It's kind of like pulling a muscle, in a weird way. You know how you do that, and if you sit or lie down the muscle might not hurt at all, but when you get up again or move a certain way you definitely remember that you hurt yourself? It's like that.
I kind of feel like an asshole for feeling the way I do, honestly. I know no one else involved probably thinks of me or any of this stuff at all anymore. I caused a problem, so my feelings don't really matter. I know this. I wish my feelings knew this.
Anyway, I miss my friend. Still. A lot. It's stupid. I'm stupid. Ugh.
3) *Spongebob Squarepants Narrator Voice* A few days later...
Ok, so the first entry was written a few days ago, but I got so busy I had to pause my blog until I had a spare moment to finish. I know you guys are thrilled.
The party happened last night and from all accounts was a huge success! I ordered too much food, we might have paid a bit much for the open bar, but all the industry geeks (and guests) seemed to have a great time. The local band that the marketing director hired was genuinely amazing, although too loud according to our CEO, but otherwise everything went smoothly.
It was a Bourbon Street/Mardi Gras themed event, so I spent most of the evening standing by the door giving out beads and greeting people. Because I'm not in the industry myself, I kind of hid in the corner with a few of my coworkers to observe and run interference if necessary. Thankfully, no interference was needed! Mostly I just enjoyed the music, was charming to our guests, and stayed out of the way.
One guy came by and asked me what our company did, and because I haven't worked there long, and because I'm not actively involved with the cyber security that we do, I looked a bit like an idiot. However, I have been in that situation before so I told him I was a receptionist who had only been there a couple of months (implying that as time goes on I could not only fully explain the complexities of cyber security, but hack his whole personal computer) and pushed him off on someone else to explain. This same guy asked if I was a Booth Babe. I was assured that was a compliment. Ok, then!
As the night wound down, some of us finally just took advantage of the band and did some crazy dancing, which was fun. Every part of my body hurts from that this morning, though, so I think that is a sign I had a good time. Heehee!
All in all, I think it went well and people seemed to be impressed with what I was able to pull together for a party planning amateur, so I'm calling it a win.
4) One thing I did miss about going to an event was being able to have a cocktail. We had a special hurricane (the Cybersecurity Cyclone) made for the party that everyone said was delicious. I would have liked to try it, but I couldn't, of course.
Although I've been to scotch tastings - where I don't actually take more than a literal taste, and have had tiny sips of Steve's drinks to see what they taste like, I can't really drink for another three months and some change. I joke a lot about wanting alcohol, but honestly, I'm not sure I miss drinking all that much. Mostly before I liked to try odd cocktails and specially drinks to see what they were like. I like to taste things, especially things I've never had before! I'm not one to order wine with dinner, or sit down with a glass of alcohol of any kind to watch TV, so most of my drinking has been social. The floopy, fuzzy feeling was fun, of course, and it helped in social situations where I needed to be a bit less anxious, but other than that I kind of like being the "sober sister." If someone needs a ride, or needs someone to watch their stuff, or if someone needs to have a clear head to make decisions, I'm glad to do that. Unfortunately, being the sober one makes me worried for people who aren't. I worry they aren't going to call an Uber if they need one, and I'm super aware of how many drinks people have throughout the night. I don't want to be a buzzkill, or the drink police, but it's amazing how aware you are about what other people are doing when you aren't buzzed. I will make sure people get water and I'll ask if they need a ride. I dunno, I just want people to be safe. That's my SADD and BACCHUS background shining through I guess. Maybe I'll keep the no drinking going? Who knows?
BUT! I did find out that I have chaotic, drunk-girl energy, even when sober, especially when I'm dancing or otherwise having a good time! Maybe I don't need alcohol, just a reason to be stupid and have fun!
We'll see...check back with me in three months and change. :)
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