Holiday Season. Cold Season. Just damn tired,Season.

"Good morning, everyone." says the Boss as we enter into the staff meeting. "We're trying to decide what to do for our holiday party."

(Witness as 25 faces move into a grimace.. and a loud groan escapes several persons..... yet one perky do-gooder will always step up and volunteer themselves and their two best buddies to help plan the holiday party.. with less than a month to do so....)

Why does this ritual take place amongst so many offices at this time of year? Where is the sensibility? Is it an obligatory ritual that corporate America is addicted to? Sigh.

While I don't want to sound like a glorified hormonal Scrooge-ette... it is, in my opinion, only.. the WORST time to celebrate the office team. Let's look at the evidence.

1.Does your company run on a calendar year ? Well, guess what department is scrambling to get stuff done and closed out before 12/25. Heck, what about folks in that department that celebrate Hannukah? They have even less time to prep...

2. We lose three days next week. Face it.. No one really works on the 21st of November. They spend the entire day on the phone with relatives (and don't lie.... you KNOW you do.) trying to figure out.. who is arriving when, who is bringing what, and why you have to fake loving that nasty meatloaf concoction your grandmother insists on bringing. Thursday, Friday.. most folks are off.. Except.. Bless the retail workers of the world.. they must deal with the rest of us.. on Friday.

3. Have kids in the family? Nieces, nephews? guess what? Their school is going to schedule some event -- one night in the middle of the first two weeks of December. Be prepared to lose that evening.

4. Have a partner/spouse? Guess what?! Their company will probably host some shinding too-- during the first two weeks of December. See # 3 above.

5. It's snuffy/sneezy/germy/hacking your lungs out season. If you ride public transportation or have a kid.. good luck staying away from this problem... and if you do.. it's going to catch you anyways.. on the other side of New Years. Mark my words.

6. See #5. You will miss at least two days of work for either yourself, kid or spouse due to illness.

7. Religious functions. See # 3 again. Guaranteed between any kind of chorus practice, play rehearsal and holy days that you will lose an additional 2-5 nights of time to yourself.

All of these lead to ... Just damn (oops..darn) tired Season. Pardon the language.. but wouldn't it be a treat.. to have an event to look forward to.. during the blahs of January or February... not hurried or rushed.. and the entire table conversation will not consist of co-workers telling family nightmare stories. By then, they will have recovered and be more than happy to discuss their standing in the office football pool.

And.. oh yeah, .. they'll be planning the company Super Bowl Party.

So.. as I've already passed through the Cold part of the season. Missed two days for me and one for the kid.. I gleefully look forward to sleeping in on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Knowing.. it will be my one last chance to do so.

What does your office do for the Holiday?
Here's wishing all of our IAAP family.. a safe, sane, and healthy holiday season. Don't forget to enjoy times with friends and family.
- KMK Foley- VP, Capital Chapter