Holiday Parties and stuff

[cornerofmadness]

Today didn't go to plan. I got out of here late and barely got back in time to get to the school holiday party where I'm getting recognized for who knows what (I was assuming being there for 15 years). I was shocked walking into the Y (and why did I pay for this month when I won't even be here....) That giving tree thing has really gotten the gifts. You could barely walk in the lobby. Someone got a few lucky kids Nintendo rocker chairs for the game system. My area is poor. Seeing this much charity was really inspiring really.

While I was at Kroger's buying booze for the holidays (You still can't buy it early Sunday when I usually go shopping), I overheard thank god I got here before all the people swamp this place since they closed WalMart. Apparently WalMart is closed for two days for sanitization. Okay then, great timing.

I went to the coffee house trying to finish my story (didn't) and ran into a friend from my writers' group so that was cool.

Made it home/had lunch at 3 pm. geeze.

I got some cards, from Flippy and Cat, ELD and ysilme

The Christmas party was nice. I got to see friends. The appetizers were plentiful (i.e. make a plate enough to count as a dinner) Most of it was good. They gave us all a t-shirt and a reusable grocery bag. the bag reads 145 years of changing tomorrows. I liked that. The shirt has a complicated graphic that means well but is SO cringeworthy. From college to university from Red Men to Red Storm. I was part of getting the Red Men thing removed, backed the students. I'm like WHY would you put that (with a Native American image) on this shirt? It's like omg thanks for the shirt I'll never wear out in public. Yes it's a good thing we made that change but it doesn't need to be on a shirt (and I remember when I first came here and made waves about that mascot only to be told oh that's NOT what it means. Then why is our iconography a Native American?!?)

I was right about why I was invited to the party specifically. It was 15 year pin for me. What made it worthwhile was seeing a retired friend honored, him and his wife (who is now gone). They're renaming a street on campus for him (he did a lot for the school). Unfortunately on the way out of the party he talked to me and L. He has stage four cancer in his lung, liver and bone. This is probably the last time I'll ever see him. Sigh.

Comments

I think...

[dauntless_heart]

...it's worthwhile that YOU were honored! Look at all you've been through!!

Re: I think...

[cornerofmadness]

thanks. It would have meant something if it was actually achievement based (like for the fact I taught from the hospital as did my coworker with pancreatic cancer) vs just sticking with this school for 15 years (and if I had somewhere else to go I would have)

[sperrywink]

Wow, 15 years is an accomplishment!

[cornerofmadness]

thanks

[spikedluv]

What a busy day!!

Yay for so many gifts under that tree and for running into your friend at the coffee house.

WHY does Walmart need to be sanitized?!!! I'm guessing Covid cases. I'd be leery about going back right away.

I'm glad you got to see an old friend at the party, but how sad.

That t-shirt really sounds . . . special. What were they thinking?!! (Maybe the same person who told you that Red Men didn't have anything to do with the Native Americans was behind it? o_O) Congrats on the pin, aka, sticking it out for 15 years when it's been such a shit show.

[cornerofmadness]

As for WalMart apparent it is Covid related and th ey've been doing it country wide all year.

It's very sad about my friend

I get that they were trying to show how far the university has come over the years. But they didn't think it through