Giant Frogs, Drunken Rows

Man, I had this crazy dream about giant frogs last night. I dreamt that I bought them when they were tiny, and in like a day they got giant, like 4 feet across. I had to go on a safari to Italy (I don't know, shut up) with a French guy named Johan to set them free.

Also, I had kangaroos.

These dreams, I'm hoping, are indicative of excitement and overjoy at hearing news about my visa! A lot of good news came out yesterday: I can make it to Amber and Kevin's wedding, Evan is finally excited about law school and his bday is Saturday, KM is feeling a little better (I hope!), and my backordered London guidebook came in at Eason's...with a 25% off sticker on it.

And let me tell you about my favorite guide books.

For weekend trips, you can't beat Eyewitness Top 10 guides. The principle behind them is the top 10 of everything in the city: Top 10 sites to see, museums, day trips, restaurants, parks and gardens, shopping districts...you name it.
What's nice about Top 10's for weekend trips is that it gives you bite-sized tastes of the city. It directs you to what's most sought out (like the Louvre, or the Tower of London), and the other categories are so varied that anyone could find something to entertain them. The jacket has a fold-out map on one side and the local public transport map (like the Metro or the Tube) on the other. It's written by Canadians so some words are spelled funny (colour--HAHA!), but that's just a little treat for your spelling senses.

It's compact enough for a purse and there are editions for tons of major cities around the world. Plus, it never tops $10, which is all you should be willing to spend for a weekend guide anyway.

But enough of that. I should be generating ad revenue for that much talk-up!

Stop it. I have to tell you about the company Barbee tonight.

The phrase "company barbecue" might conjure up images in your mind of business casual gents making mild-mannered conversation on the patio of some clubhouse. Conversely, you might imagine a family event involving sack races and father-son tee ball tourneys at some municipal ballpark.
I suggest you rewire your assumptions for what I am about to describe.
This is an Irish company barbecue. Quite frankly, I don't even know if there will be a grill there...unless it's filled with ice and used as a cooler. This will be a sloppy, drunken free-for-all, lasting until all hours of the night. Girls have packed overnight bags. There's a mandatory bus ride to the event, so that no one even considers driving. Ladies and gentleman: These people are going to drink this company into bankruptcy tonight. The booze is free until 12. TWELVE! Do you understand? The last time I went to a company party my boss (aka: the DIRECTOR) saddled up to me at the bar (around which there was a THRONG) and said "Kerry, you're doing it all wrong. You have to order three if you want to get anything out of it." I laughed...but he didn't.

Think that's funny? Well this is the scene of our last company party:

Not so funny anymore, is it?

Company parties here last until the next day. Last Friday a few people went out after work to celebrate someones going away, and the party lasted until 8 in the morning. Once we went out on a Thursday and more than a few people came in in the same clothes on Friday. Irish parties are a force to be reckoned with. I am planning on trying to keep it professional, but the executive team already has lined up what shots we're doing! I will be swept along in a sea of mayhem and havoc of the highest order.

...But don't get me wrong, it's going to be a blast. ;)