Last Saturday night we attended Kyle’s annual company summertime party. In the past it’s always been a day at the local waterpark, but this year they decided to get crazy with the cheez whiz and rented a catered party zone at Aces ballpark. On the downside, it was a night game, thus swiftly eliminating the “family” element for us, but on the upside, it was a very lovely evening out for the parents while Andrew and his grandma Tresh enjoyed each other’s company back at home.

The party zone!

My husband and I work for very, very different companies. Mine has 20 employees; his has hundreds. Mine is a private small business; his is a government entity that reports to the public. My boss is the owner; his boss has 20 more bosses. I like a great many of my coworkers; he… well, he could take or leave most of them. So we were the unintentional party poopers, as I don’t think he spoke to more than two people from his work throughout the evening – not counting the drunk guy who was high-fiving people after the game and screaming “YES!!!! GOT HIM LOOKING, BABY!!” after the last strikeout (where, incidentally, the batter was out swinging rather than looking). It wasn’t that he meant to avoid anybody, but we picked an out-of-the-way table with a much better view of the field, and consequently spent our evening like we do at most of his company parties: chatting with each other and enjoying the free food.

Oh, did I mention the free food? Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, potato salad, cookies, peanuts, popcorn, soda, water, juice, and beer. Perfect fare for a summer evening at the yard. A baseball game is always all right with us. Now if only the Cubs or the White Sox could make it into the postseason… I would LOVE to see a major league game while I’m in Chicago in October.

Typically his company has a more “formal” adults-only event at Christmas, although last year’s party was canceled on account of the bad economy (and, I imagine, the 40 or so layoffs that had JUST happened – not a very party-like atmosphere for sure). That one is a little more fun entertaining because people really tend to let loose and take full advantage of the open bar and the wine on the tables and the holiday attire that doesn’t actually have to conceal your cleavage. There is just so much opportunity to network and be the talk of the office for the next week/year.

What’s your best company party story?