silent45: Throwing the Boot, Throwing the Kate, Throwing Back a Tall One (or Ten).

Boy have I got the office barbecue story to tell, but first things first:

Congratulations to Evan for getting into the 1st year Intellectual Properties course! This course is very exclusive and will enable him to take the path to becoming an IP lawyer! I’m so proud of him—he’s the smartest blond guy ever! (tee hee)

Now, company picnic:

The picnic was held at the Blackrock Rugby Club and we all bussed out to it on a big coach bus. As we arrived, we walked around the back and everyone was saying “I bet they’ll make us play rugby. I just know it.”
….that is, until we got to the inflated obstacle course on the other side of the pitch. Behind the bar…er, I mean clubhouse.

Note the butt. LOL.

When we realized what we would be heading into, people made a mad dash for the bar. Guys just shuttled drinks to the girls. I had 3 pints in me before anyone even began to explain what was going on with the obstacle course.

But eventually we were broken into teams. My team consisted of two guys who were 6’5” and 6’8” (he’s Eoin, one of my bosses). Me and Declan hovered around 5’5”. So when we were charged with creating a team name and flag, there was really only one name for me to suggest:

The Longs and the Shorts. Note backwards Irish colors on the flag. Guess who that could have been? And guess who got called out for it for the rest of the night?

Just to give you a little perspective on how tall Eoin is, here he is next to Grainne, our teeny tiny CFO:

LOL. Anyway, we went outside and played a few games. You’d think the company picnic games would be something like touch football, sack races, the egg in the spoon races, and um, teeball or something. Yeah, well I’m in Ireland, so we had jousting, croquet, the obstacle course, and “throw the boot”.

What’s “throw the boot” you ask?

That's throw the boot. Not exactly an intellectual's game. And yet, note my tongue stuck out in captive pensivity.

So we get to the obstacle course, the last competition, and it’s my turn. Teammate Eoin tells me he’ll sub in for me if I get in any trouble in there. The whistle blows, I dive in, and before I can get over the first hurdle, the grips rip out and I’m in a pile on the floor, unable to scramble over the inflatable mountain. I scream for Eoin, who in a flash is in the bounce house and grabbing me by the legs and throwing me over the hill…

…Unfortunately, I didn’t sail as far as we had hoped, and instead came crashing down, bringing both of us to our knees. The entire company roared and I dove out, mumbling “eff this!” and leaving poor Eoin to finish for me.

Me screaming for Eoin.

Are you surprised that later on, when they announced the winner of “most embarassing moment”, your good friend Kate was first place? I turned about eight shades of red and went to collect my prize. BUT CHECK OUT MY PRIZE!

It’s a €300 phone! I’m so excited—this phone does EVERYTHING. It is definitely top of the line. Pays to work for a mobile company, huh?

The rest of the night was a blast, and needless to say, there was some drinking done. While I was one, maybe two sheets to the wind, I left with my dignity (minus a litlte goofy euro dancing), which is more than can be said for plenty of others. Here are some pics, including some of me with Fiona and Lotta (so you can finally see them).

Have a great Monday!!

Bunch of work folks. Fiona is in pink, Lotta is [drunk] in blue. (rugby field in background)