I just got home from work and the work holiday party. My feet hurt terribly because I wore heels today and I haven’t worn heels for a full day in many many months. I’ve had them on since 8 a.m. - so for 14 hours. That’s a fun kind of sore.

My fuzzy turquoise slippers are making them feel cozy and nice, though.

All my anxiety about work passed. Lunch was fine and I was OK with the whole SHEGP reveal. It seems that the recipient of my gift really liked at least HALF of his items, so that was good. After lunch, we all basically did NOTHING until it was time to leave for the restaurant/party. A bunch of us left together and went over to Cipriani. It’s really gorgeous inside. Good use of dim/atmospheric lighting. Art deco style decor.

I had a cosmopolitan (probably the best one I’ve ever had) and tried to drink a gin and tonic (probably the worst I’ve ever had.) They were made by two different bartenders, so I learned a lesson - if the one bartender made you a kick-ass drink, continue to go to THAT bartender. What made the gin and tonic so bad? Um… it didn’t taste like one - it tasted bitter… more like quinine or gin alone than the sweeter combo that the right proportions of gin and tonic provide.

There was also lots of tasty food - some spinach canneloni that were delicious, wonderful filet mignon and potatoes gratin, and lovely petit fours that they were beginning to pass out when I decided I had to go in order to catch my train. There was a live band and a dance floor and the musical selection was rather eclectic. They went from performing a medley of Abba’s “Dancing Queen”, Earth Wind & Fire’s “September” and several other songs of that era, then moved back to some Christmas music and 40s standards, THEN did “Another Night” by Real McCoy, THEN Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love” and THEN, the coup de grace, “Yeah” by Usher and Lil’ Jon, complete with Ludacris’ rap (which I Googled… I don’t have it memorized):

Watch out!
My outfit’s ridiculous, in the club lookin’ so conspicuous.
And Rowl! These women all on the prowl,
if you hold the head steady I’m a milk the cow.
Forget about the game, I’m a spit the truth,
I won’t stop till I get ‘em in they birthday suits.
So gimmie the rhythm and it’ll be off with their clothes,
then bend over to the front and touch your toes.
I left the Jag and I took the Rolls,
if they aint cutting then I put em on foot patrol.
How you like me now,
when my pinky’s valued over three hundred thousand,
Let’s drank you the one to please,
Ludacris fill cups like double D’s.
Me and Ursh once more and we leave ‘em dead,
we want a lady in the street but a freak in the bed to say

And yes, it also included the “take that and rewind it back, Lil’ Jon got the beat to make ya booty go [clap]“, but the singer went, “UGH” instead of clapping.

YES. This was a corporate holiday party. No, I don’t think anyone in attendance over the age of 35 had any idea what the lyrics actually were or cared to listen and discern them. “Milk the cow?” “Freak in the bed?” Not exactly work appropriate in any way, shape or form, so it was terribly funny and my work friend Melinda and I sat there cracking up. Singing along, true, but cracking up.

Then I left and realized just how much my feet hurt as I was walking down Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street and then down the stairs to the PATH train. I took off my shoes in the NJ Transit train once I got to Hoboken, but didn’t think it would be appropriate to massage them in public aboard a train. I had pantyhose on, so I wasn’t barefoot. Still… I wanted to maintain a sense of public propriety.

Have I mentioned that I can’t wait until I get these wisdom teeth yanked? Perhaps the pain they’re causing is “heightened” in some psychosomatic sense after having seen the X-rays and hearing that they are impacted and that I have a legitimate reason to feel this pain. They didn’t hurt as much before… freakin’ mind over matter nonsense.

On the train this morning and the train home, I was reading one of my book purchases from yesterday - “Inkspell” by Cornelia Funke. It’s the sequel to “Inkheart.” Her other titles - “Dragon Rider” and “The Thief Lord” are some of my recommended childrens’ reads for grown-ups on the books page. This book is no exception. HIGHLY recommended after only 7 chapters. I was telling a girl at work about it and she actually seemed genuinely interested.

Tomorrow morning I am going into NYC again to meet up with my boss so we can go meet with the gentleman who is recording and producing an audio project for us. It’s pretty cool. I get to do cool things. I love this job. Yay!

Foot soak. Epsom salts. Sleep.