Every year my office holds a suite decorating contest around the holidays. A few years back, Horace and I kicked it up about 40 notches when we built a glowing fireplace. It was magnificent. There were lights behind the red tissue paper creating an almost real sense of warmth, and I drew bricks on the cardboard just how I'd learned in my set design class in college. (I knew that theater degree would come in handy!) We sat in front of it with blankets and wine all morning on the day of the holiday party, and I remember being very happy.
In the years since then, competition has been fierce. Dickens Christmas, Candyland, The Grinch, White Trash Christmas, all intense decorating themes with impressive outcomes. But now that I'm older and busier, there's no time for decorating. I am swamped, and so is everyone in my suite. Not to imply that other people aren't busy, but I've been working more than a few 12 hour days, and I can't seem to muster the energy to cut out cardboard or draw pretty scenery.
So we put up a few holiday-themed toys we each had around the house - some singing penguins that shake their tails, a Santa statue, and a small, rubber Bart Simpson figurine. He's wearing a Redskins Santa hat and mooning passers-by. Yes, it's a sweet suite.
Did I mention that there are awards for the best decorated suite in the office? Well there are. Those who truly win the best decorating award get small gift cards of some kind, and pretty much everyone else receives good hearted ridicule. Here is the text from our award, taped outside the suite:
ATTENDANCE AWARD: BYOD (Bring Your Own Decorations)
Congratulations! The penguin tail was cute, so that was something... Maybe you should have taken sick leave today. But thanks for showing up!
I'm so proud.
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