party | Piss and Moan

Office lunch

Here’s a question for you. I probably should preface the question first with some background but I’ll just blurt it out first and then do a little backfilling.

Should the office holiday lunch be catered or “potluck-ish”?

OK, the backfill…so, the office has a holiday party (think office Christmas party, but you know, politics….) where we have a white elephant gift exchange and the managers provide (as in pay for) the lunch of pizza, garlic bread, salad, soda, etc. In the past, the activity took place at a pizza place and everyone travelled there to partake during the work day as it was only about 15 minutes from work. Then the world-wide panic happened and this practice was postponed for a couple years.

Keep in mind this shindig (at least the lunch part) is coming out of the managers’ pockets (there are three of them) because office funds can’t be used. We get paid for the time. They have always framed this as a “Thank you, for doing a great job all year” kind of deal.

So, this year they decided it would be held at the office in the conferences rooms (they can be combined into one large room) and they would provide the food. Like, literally, they would provide the food. They each brought part of the makings for a taco bar. So, in essence, the three managers provide all the potluck items. All of us then proceeded to go past the tables, buffet style, and put together out own plates. They also provided several different desserts. Most everything was from Costco and was either pre-made or prepped at their home prior to the gathering.

So, how should we feel?

Should we feel appreciated or should we feel like the managers “cheaped out”?

I understand it took effort and some expense on their part. I do feel appreciated to a degree, and yet I can’t help but feel the gesture was out of obligation rather than true appreciation. Does it have to be catered or lavish to get a true feeling of appreciation? I didn’t think so when it was at the pizza place. I don’t know. I just feel a little put out this year for some reason.

How would you feel?

Host

Posted on September 17, 2020 by backuphill

What do you do? How do you handle the situation?

So, one of the adult children wants to have their children’s (our grandchildren) birthday party at our house. They asked if that could happen at the end of the month.

Sounds simple, right? Sure, go ahead! We love you. We love them. No problem!

But there is history. There is always history.

They have done this once before. Asked if they could use the house and yard for a birthday party and we said that was fine. Very little communication with them between the ask and the event.

Day of the event comes and we find out it is a four hour “open house” where people can just drop in and hang out. 40 people show up (not including family and many of whom we don’t know) at various times during this open house. The kids, on a very limited budget, didn’t plan or budget for said party. They didn’t have enough supplies for said party. They didn’t have enough food for said party. They had no alternative plans for said party if the weather was crappy that day. They didn’t stick around long after the open house was over to clean up.

Guess who picked up all the slack, both in time and expense? I guess you don’t need to guess since you know it was us.

So, what do you do this time when they ask? Just let them do it, no questions asked? Or, do you put limitations on it? Do you set expectations, or do you just go with the flow?

Loaded questions, because you know how I would handle it (at least you should by now). But, the other person in the house doesn’t think it should be handled that way.

What is reasonable, logical, and practical?

Day 5

Posted on April 10, 2020 by backuphill

man sitting and closing eyes on teal bench

Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com

Vacation, Day 5:

The last day of official vacation.

It has been one for the record books. Not so much that it was epic but more like it was about as uneventful and boring as if I was sitting at home on the couch. Oh wait! I was doing that…mostly.

Today’s plans? More of the same. The sun is out but should I be optimistic about sticking around? Come on, do you know me by now or what? LOL Maybe I’ll go for a drive and reacquaint myself with some countryside I have seen in a while. Maybe not.

The only thing that isn’t the same today is that it is my youngest’s birthday. She is 17 today. There was already a Zoom birthday party for her in the middle of last week (queue the cancelled vacation plans this week), so I am not even sure I’ll get to see her today other than virtually. That sucks, but as she is getting older with more responsibilities so I know it will become more common regardless of a lockdown or not. Still, not sure what today holds for that and her.

I am pretty sure I’ll end today with a fire and a beer. Can’t decide if the fire should be in the fire pit or just set the house on fire and enjoy the fireworks from the front lawn.

This was the most uneventful and worst vacation ever.

Father Time

Posted on February 14, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com

Another trip around the sun.

Another drop in the bucket.

One foot farther into the grave.

Picking up speed on the other side of the hill.

It doesn’t matter how you put it, birthdays just aren’t really all that much fun. Maybe it’s just me.

Sure, I get the celebration part and I am not really a fatalist, so it isn’t that big a deal.

BUT, I can tell you another year older and being sick at the same time is kinda beating me up today. I really just wanna sit in a dark room, watch movies or play video games, and not interact with anyone unless I have given prior approval.

No such luck.

People are everywhere. There is too much light. I am coughing up a storm (I am not contagious any longer), and work is much too busy.

Yes, OK, I get it Father Time. You win.

But, I might just take a nap in my car and you can’t stop me…

(Un)Invited

Posted on October 29, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Don’t you hate it when people don’t RSVP? What’s the deal?

In today’s day and age, there really isn’t any reason to not RSVP. There are so many different ways that invitations get set up and sent out that it really couldn’t be any more convenient.

I mean really. It seems everything is done through social media any more so when something is planned using one of the many different options available and all one has to do is hit the button to instantly respond, there really is no excuse.

Look at the invite date and time, look at your calendar, look at the invite again, and then press a button – Yes, Maybe, No.

It’s that freaking simple!

So, when you are planning something and you get little to no response it’s rather infuriating. Perhaps I just won’t invite any of them the next time.

Maybe it’s time for new friends and family…

RSVP means nothing

Posted on March 29, 2019 by backuphill

advertisement businessman hands handwriting

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Yep, I said it.

You used to be able to expect some courtesy out of people when planning something like a party or gathering or whatever. Because, after all, you are planning something you want an RSVP for.

Common courtesy has become something of a lost…concept…these days. In a world where “Hey you do you and I’ll do me” seems to fly but no one is really good at doing anything anymore. Everyone is just half-assing their way through life.

OK, to be fair. not everyone. There are still some responsible adults out there. I don’t want to over generalize, but you know what I mean.

Anyway, if you get a request for an RSVP – DO IT! Otherwise it wouldn’t have been asked for.

Just do it. (stupid Nike…)

“Hi, I’d like to RSVP for ______________”

It’s just the right thing to do.

FFF

Posted on February 22, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

Unlike the camel in the commercials that wanders the office asking what day it is just so he can yell “Hump Day!”, I know what day it is and I am going to yell it too because, dang it, it has been a long short week.

Finally Freaking Friday!

No work on Monday has led to a long-ish feeling week and I am ready for a weekend. So…..

Just leave me alone today.

Please.

Then we all can enjoy a little more Finally Freaking Friday vibes together.

I am a shoe person

Posted on December 18, 2018 by backuphill

Photo by Fancycrave.com on Pexels.com

Ok, the title is (purposely) misleading. No, I am not the kind of guy that collects shoes just because they are cool or because I need one for every occasion. Read on for the explanation.

I was recently invited to a party. It was a gathering of about 40 people (adults and children) getting together to celebrate a special occasion and it was at the host’s home. they have a nice place and the carpet/floors are fairly new.

Usually when you go to their place the first thing you have to do when you get in the door is take off your shoes. This is rather irritating to me, for several reasons. One, I am a shoe person. I don’t like going barefoot and I don’t like just walking around in socks. Two, I am short so my pant legs either drag on the ground or I have to roll them up like a nerd waiting for a flood. Needless to say, it annoys me.

Anyway, I showed up and got to the front door and, sure enough, there were piles of shoes in the entry way. Dang it! Why invite hordes or people over and then make them take their shoes off?

I looked around. Hey, not everyone had their shoes off!

I didn’t remove mine. Because I am a rebel.

What do you think? Is the practice of asking your guests to take their shoes off OK or do you find it annoying too?

Tea party of therapy

Posted on July 18, 2018 by backuphill

Let’s have a tea party!

Not one of those tea parties that you see WordPress that has a bunch of rules and lets you promote your blog. No one really goes out and looks at those blogs. Those parties are nice, but really all anyone is trying to do is get more hits and more likes on their blog. I mean, let’s be honest about it, shall we?

So, let’s do something different. At Piss and Moan, we vent about things that irritate us. We complain about stuff that isn’t right. We bitch about things we wish were different. We fantasize about the way it should be and tell the truth, rather than the way it actually is and lie to ourselves and others.

Anyway, this tea party is for you. Here is your chance to let it all out. Let go of something that you have wanted to get off your chest but don’t have a place to do so. Tell me! I’m safe, but I can’t promise I won’t Piss and Moan about your comment, or lack thereof. (You’ve been warned.)

Rules? Pffst! There are none. No topic is off limits and no limit on topics (if you have more than one, post them all!).

Now, get too it. Let it go. I promise, you’ll feel better in the morning.