The company I work for has traditionally thrown a company wide Christmas party on Christmas eve.  We would work a half day and then the few thousand of us all pile into one building and listen to a live band while eating catered food and trying to not step on each other.

This year, for the first time in forever, we’re not playing that game.  Instead we are getting Christmas eve off.  As nice as the company party was, I prefer it this way.  We host a party at home on Christmas eve, so this will give me more time at home to get ready for it.

The result of the cancellation of the company wide party is an increase in smaller work group parties.  We’ve always been a part of a yankee swap.  A few years ago our large group was split into two smaller groups, but we still all get together for the yankee theft.  That’s still going to happen this year.  There is also a lunch get together for all of the groups under my direct manager.  We started that two years ago and it’s one of those interesting things where a big group of programmers try to be social.  Just get us talking about Star Wars or Back to the Future and we’re fine.

This year though there is an added wrinkle.  A third Christmas party has been added.  This one includes everyone under two different directors.  Over 150 people.  That’s a lot of people getting stuffed into a conference room.  Craziness!

But here is the real catch.  This large group Christmas lunch gathering actually conflicts with the yankee swap lunch gathering.  I don’t know what to think?  I have never been this popular in my entire life!  Two parties happening at the same time that actually invited me!  It’s like, woah!  Or maybe more like Woah Ho Ho!  (see what I did there?  how’s that for a disgustingly bad holiday pun?)