Today is my old companies "picnic" and I am still invited. This time it will be at the local horse racetrack. There will probably be drinking and gambling on horses. It takes me back to mt past companies' "after hours" events. I've seen it all in my 7 years in the career world. When I first started out at AT&T there was always a big "Summer Blast" behind the building. At the beginning in the Internet boom AT&T would go all out with it. Every division would set up a booth with a different food product. They even brought in outside vendors like the Hooters Girls to give away their chicken wings. There were raffles, drinking and dancing. Needless to say it was my first company function where I learned a valuable lesson watching others - don't get drunk. My group was just outta college and a lot of them didn't know how to act so they got smashed. Then the "truth" came out of their mouths. One person started telling the manager what they thought of her. Another person tried to get someone else fired. I was told I was "too logical". The next week they all hung their heads in shame from what they have done. The same thing happened at the Christmas parties. One Christmas party we had it in a big hotel here in Dallas where there was about 5 parties happening at the same time. I was in a group that got the idea to crash another party. We walked into the auditorium and it turned out it was for a law firm. We got a table and had food and had their drinks. I think a couple of people actually struck up conversations with the guests. I didn't hear what was said, but I think eventually we had to get out of there. I guess Mr. Smith didn't work there. 4 years later when I was at a smaller company we were taken to a go-cart track and given pizza. We all thought it was lame. So, the president gave our Project Manager a corporate card and said "do what you want" and I will not say what happened next... I can only think of what will happen tonight. I have a feeling this group is holding back a lot of repressed anger. I was already told that if I win a lot and they loose they would get me on the way to the parking lot...

Thought of the Day
Navin R. Johnson: The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity I need! My name in print! That really makes somebody! Things are going to start happening to me now.
- The Jerk