And so the streak ends...

OK.  Before I delve into the topic de jour, let me just comment on my last post.  Y'all are not helping me here.  I was sorta hoping someone would raise the bar of sanity and talk me out of this.  But, Noooo, you guys are all sorts of supportive.  Gee, Thanks.  Now I going to have to sign up and run it again.  I just want you to know that, somewhere around mile 10, when my knees are grumbling, I am going to be blaming thinking of you guys...


Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.  Attended a company party yesterday.  Ever since the new CEO came in, he has changed course on the company direction and gotten us back on track.  Over the last four years, we've completely eliminated the large debt and brought the company back into the black and a really strong projections going forward.  One of the things this guy has done is to recharge the company spirit.  I've like him from the day he walked in the door.  He's a very self effacing guy who is approachable and willing to joke with everyone.  Not what I'm used to seeing from a CEO.  180 degrees opposite from our last guy.  Dan has built up a solid rep and re-energized the company spirit.  They have held many company functions and events to promote the success of the company and extol the troops.  Last year, he rented out a local venue called The Main Event.  It is one of those indoor all-in-one entertainment places where you can bowl, shoot pool, do rock climbing, laser tag, glow golf, or just get lost in the arcade games.  He set up the party just for the company employees to celebrate our success for last year.  This year is the company's 25th anniversary and they wanted to have another party but this time they included the families as well.  So we rented out a local place that serves as gathering place for corporate picnics, parties, gatherings.  It used to be a working ranch that has a huge covered barn/pavilion, putt putt golf, softball fields, pool horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, basketball courts, and a trackless train ride.  It was kinda warm, but it was a great turn out.  Lots of food, drinks, games and entertainment for the whole family.           

I've gone to every single company party/event since I joined 10+ years ago and I have never one any of the door prizes or give-a-ways.  I was even boasting to my new buyer that I had yet to win anything at these shindigs, so if she won anything (only been here 3 months) I would be perturbed (not really).  Well, I guess lady luck finally took pity on me and I won one of the two grand prizes - a pair of round trip airline tickets to anywhere in the continental US (except Alaska or Hawaii).  Boo-Yah!  The running company joke is, several years back, when Dan had just arrived, we had another company gathering and he awarded a pair of round trip tickets to a woman working in our Clinical department.  These were primo tickets for anywhere in the US (including Hawaii and Alaska).  When asked where she wanted to go, she stated she wanted to go to Alabama (has family there).  Everyone was expecting Hawaii.  Eventually she did use the tickets to go to Hawaii, but she is still asked every year about where she would go again.  When I was asked where I was going, I indicated that I would like to go to Vegas, but I had to consult a higher authority (aka my bride).  She has expressed a desire to visit Charleston.  We may be headed to the east coast  later this year.