My dearest blogging friends. I apologize in not posting in quite some time. I, however, have been out sick & things are now beginning to pickup at work again. Please accept my deepest apologies, I have missed you all very much!

Anywho, what you all have been waiting for - the Christmas Party. It seems like so long ago already! Gee whiz. Well, I bring my seventeen year old brother with me since Rhino told me at the last minute that he couldn’t find me a date. The first people I see when we walk in - Azon & her husband. Super. Of course, she comes running up to me giving me compliments on my cute little jacket - if she tells me that she got one just like me, I will throw myself into the Wisconsin River. I’m not even kidding.

Since the firm I work for thinks they are special or something, we have our own area in the “Park Lane”. Sounds fancy, huh? There are a couple of tables set up & a bar where we don’t have to use our drink tickets. Hells frickin’ yea! I start boozing it up as soon as I get up there. There are a couple of tables set up & one is completely full, the other is full of the older folks & then one with a couple of cool people & Azon & High Waters. Well, I decide to take a seat next to Azon’s husband, who is actually a pretty cool guy & I enjoy talking with. Finally, Rhino & his wife, Jill, arrive. Jill is my hangout buddy during these shindigs as her husband is too busy acting like a complete & total moron. It was a nice time, I think that I put down four or five Amaretto & Pepsis while up in the “Park Lane”. Excellent! I didn’t have to drive.

We decide to head downstairs where the band is playing & we end up gathering in the lobby area just chit-chatty. During this time a couple of interesting things take place:

    1. Rhino starts in on his whole “Mandie, if something happened to Jill, you would be in trouble” while we are standing with Jill. At one point, he decides it’s necessary to put his arm around me! Hello!! I squirm out of it.

    2. Another attorney from a different firm comes to talk with our little group that has gathered. Well, he then puts his arm around me & begins telling me that I’m the most beautiful gal in Wisconsin. Whatever! Oh yea, his wife is standing behind us as he is doing this. What the Hell?! Do I look like a mistress or something?! I don’t understand.

    3. Our group grows more with the addition of StickBoss, Bobby K. & Bobby K.’s wife. Last year at the party, Rhino had lifted StickBoss above his head…for what reason, I have no idea. Guess what - he did it again. I actually got a picture of it! Ha, ha!

    4. After picking up StickBoss, Rhino then approaches Bobby K. & says “You know, Bob, if you were a woman, I would hit on you.” I’m just thinking “Bob, he isn’t lying…”.

We are now in the room where the band is playing & a couple of bars are set up. A couple of folks have gotten comfortable in front of the bar - Rhino, Dr. StickBoss (StickBoss’ husband), Azon & Azon’s husband. I am going back & forth, I was even out on the dance floor a couple of times. Oh, LG, Ronda was out on the dance floor & she can really move. I’m not even kidding you.

During this time of the party, Rhino has gotten to the point of being a little wobbly…okay, REALLY wobbly. He comes up to me in front of his wife & StickBoss & asks me - “If something happened to Jill, would you marry me? Nothing sexual, just for Kate. Would you marry me to help with Kate?” I just told him that I would take Kate & that is it. Why would anyone say that?!

I go up to the bar getting my last drink of the evening & standing next to Azon’s husband & Azon is on his other side just chatting away about something. Well, I ask her husband what she was talking about - & this is the best! - he looks at me & says “I don’t know. I tend to tune her out a whole lot.”. I frickin’ died! That was hilarious.

As you know, Rhino is VERY wobbly. Well, while I’m up at the bar getting my last drink, he thinks it’s necessary to stick his hand in the ice at the bar! Who would think that’s okay! The bartender then decides to cut him off (good idea!). I report back to Jill - I’m such a tattletale, huh? But I didn’t know if she wanted to take him home or not. Well, she is already feeling pretty good & kept telling me “I’m a mom…when you meet Mr. Right & have a baby, you too will become a lightweight just like me. I’m a mom.” First of all, Rhino is your Mr. Right?! Sweetheart, no. *shakes head in disgust* Secondly, it’s time for both of you to go home & go to bed. They, however, do not. They go out to the bars afterwards.

It was a very crazy eve. I feel like I have forgotten things…what have I forgotten? Don’t know. Well, I hope that you have enjoyed the blog. Again, I’m sorry for taking so long to get it out here.

“Don't touch it! It could get infected, Jesus! He could get anything - Tetanus, rabies, scabies, emphysema!”