Christmas Party report & other news

So I originally only agreed to go to my firm's Christmas party last Friday because I felt obligated to as "the new girl" (you know, networking and all that good stuff). I just felt it wouldn't be so enjoyable because DBF is in NY and couldn't be there, and I am usually pretty shy and don't really enjoy social situations like that, especially when I don't know anyone. I figured I'd be home by 8:30 at the latest (the party started at 6:30).

A few of us went down to McCormick's for a few beers after work, and then we headed over to the party. It was at the Rainier Club, which is super fancy (like live jazz and waiters in tuxes carrying around trays of caviar and wine fancy). I actually had a really good time meeting new people and talking more to people that I've seen around the office but not really had a chance to talk to. Dinner was at 7:30, and I was apparently the entertainment of the table because I'm such a picky eater - I had my first shrimp (eww) and my first salmon (ok) and steak in brown sugar glaze (yumm). The office manager brought her son as her "date" and he ended up being 23 and fun to hang out with. It was nice having someone close to my own age to talk to.

We also got Christmas bonuses and spiffy BLG water bottles. Around 10:30 everyone left the Rainier Club and about 10 of us headed over to Sip, the new wine bar on 5th Avenue. It was a pretty sweet bar, lots of little lounge areas with comfy couches and chairs and $14 glasses of wine - luckily it was their late happy hour so my bank account wasn't too upset by this new development. I got a ride home from Jennifer (the office manager) and ended up getting home around 1 AM. It was super fun for someone who planned on leaving at 8!
I wore this dress to the party:

People seemed to like it, and I love getting dressed up!

In other news:

- I'm not sure how I failed to mention this before (or maybe I just don't remember mentioning it), but Locker is back for 2010!!! Thank you Jake! Dawgs are going to be good next year!

- B-ball Dawgs bounced back from that loss to Georgetown last weekend with a nice game at Portland on Saturday... hopefully they can keep it up against Texas A&M tomorrow!

-I am going to try skiing (sometime hopefully soon) in hopes that it will not be as... crash-inspiring for me as snowboarding was!

- Hoping to get back on track with the running and gym-going this week - it's hard because I'm still adjusting to working the 8-5 schedule so I'm super tired by the time I get home, but it should be easier this week because DBF is home in NY for the holidays. I am going to the Tavern to hang out with best friend on Wednesday, so I might try running before work in the AM if I can manage that... we'll see!

- Also had fun making peanut butter cookies with kisses in them and peppermint bark with mint and white chocolate with my marathoning buddy last night. We also watched Wizard of Oz and Ratatouille (sp???) and decided that we want to get chinchillas when we "grow up" (he's 27 and I'm 22, thus the quotes).