Cut Throat Pollyanna

It is amazing how time flies and that Christmas is right around the corner. I have not felt this type of excitement since....well I don’t remember. The whole experience this year is really pretty different and cool.

Starting next week, the holiday/goodbye parties begin. Yes, goodbye parties! It is time to celebrate and say a short goodbye to the new “family” I have acquired over the last 6 months and no offense New York but I am a bit emotional about the whole thing. Friends have equated this experience to the freshman year at college when you say goodbye to all of your new friends and return home a slightly different person, more worldly, more mature, with new catch phrases and in my case perhaps a little bit of an accent (its unintentional I swear!). It’s a strange thought to envision all of my new friends boarding planes to Ireland, Australia, London, South Africa, New Zealand….to get back to their “real lives” Yes, real lives…it all seems fake and surreal here in a good and slightly unnerving way.

So as I mentioned the parties start next week and despite our different places of origin some games just seem to work in every culture. Here is an excerpt from a Christmas dinner email I received today:

Gifts should go something like this: Everyone brings a wrapped gift worth SGD15 Upon arrival everyone picks a number out of a hat The highest number (call it 12 for now) unwraps whatever present they like in the pile. #11 can either steal the present that #12 just opened or pick another wrapped present. This goes on until #1 can choose any present in the room or take the last remaining wrapped present.

Brooklyn/Philly New Years Eve crowd… say it together CUT-THROAT POLLYANNA!!!!! I highly doubt this evening’s version will be anything compared to our very spirited games over the last…what is it…8 years!!! So much fun and laughs have resulted from CTP that I would like to highlight some for your enjoyment:

1 . The decorative (empty) M&M tin.
2. Kook’s thong which he proceeded to wear for the rest of the night
3. The stink bomb that was left in my apt (Kelly!)
4. Rita’s porn which Fallone seem to get at the PJ party circa 2001
5. The guy with the gold coins and the vest from Prudential…he wasn’t a gift but he sure was funny! Turkey..didn’t you extend the invite in the copy room?
6. The underwear that Ivy and I almost had a fist fight over
7. Was the "momma's special girl pic taken during CTP?"
9. AND MY ALL TIME FAVORITE…Mr. Potato Head!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He better be at the party this year wearing his tux sans pants!

Can’t wait to ring in 2008. Ok not sad anymore cant wait to see you guys!

XOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO