The seminar started late. Or ran late. Or both. It was supposed to start at 4p. I got there at 350p after rewarding myself with a $4 mocha frappaccino from evil coffee conglomerate. It was so good. I rarely ever allow myself to spend $4 on brown water, but if I was going to make myself sit in a three hour seminar and then be social after, I was rewarding myself in advance. Because I’m worth it.

The seminar was quite good. It was broken into three segments with three speakers. I learned quite a bit as the token student in attendance. I’m sure it was old hat to the other fifty or sixty attendees who have been in the field for ages. I was shocked that I didn’t find myself nearly nodding off at all. A testament to good presentations and good $4 coffee.

Bosslady found me after (I saw all my co-workers when I arrived, but opted to sit in the back of the room rather than weed through the throng to sit near them) and urged me to go to the cocktail party. You should have seen the parade of vehicles going from the hotel to the vendor’s office a block away. It was almost like a funeral procession. Bosslady waited for me to park and we entered together. Since it was Bosslady, she bee-lined for the open bar. Let me tell you, I ordered a vodka and cranberry, and the girl poured me a glass of Three Olives Vodka and then added a splash of cranberry juice and a lime wedge. My vodka was slightly pink in color, and I knew I would never be able to drink it AND go home any time soon with my empty tummy. So, I navigated across the showroom to the food line. I consumed unhealthy amounts of bacon-wrapped-scallops, egg rolls, fresh mozzarella (I heart fresh mozzarella), the mystery meat things in puff pastry, and deep fried chicken in a spicy mustard sauce. Oh, and one skewer that had melon balls wrapped in prosciutto. I washed those yummy treats down with the aforementioned pink vodka and only two cream puffs (although I could have eaten twenty quite easily).

Out of character for myself, rather than seeking out people I knew (like my three co-workers, or PC), I parked myself at a table (they were the tables you stand at that are high) with two guys I did not know. I introduced myself and forced myself to be social. Yay me! Clearly the vodka was working! PC then came over and put her own much redder vodka and cranberry down and said she’d be right back with some food. So, see, someone I know sought me out, but I forced myself to be outside my comfort zone. Kids, I have to confess, it was very much the influence of good food and good vodka, but I had a really great time. And then, then… they had apparently hired a magician who came over and took over our table. He was so good! We were very entertained! Who knew a magician could be so entertaining… to adults?

I only stayed about an hour. It took me that long to nurse my practically straight vodka beverage (read: for the ice to melt enough to water down my vodka as I am unable to drink straight vodka). But I had a really, really good time. Good food, good vodka, great entertainment, and good conversation even. As the new kid in the organization, they forced me to be the center of conversation, which was uncomfortable for me and I blushed profusely — or it might have been the vodka — the entire time (it was a bit warm in there with all those bodies). And, best of all, I am no longer dreading having to go spend ten hours with them tomorrow. I might even survive!

Pity about having to be in Altamonte so darn early in the morning, though. On a Saturday no less.

wRitErsbLock