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The Jump Off!

Hello everyone. I'm just getting in from the party tonight. (Remember the one I told ya about earlier?) Wow! What an incredible turnout! There were some party people up in there. I kept the mix Jazzy and Christmas until after they ate and then honey, they GOT down. The hostess made a few announcements every hour or so giving away $25 gift cards from various vendors. During her last announcement, she gave away $100 bills. I thought that was really nice for the employees. The gifts were given away from a draw of tickets which the employees received at the door upon arrival.

The oblong room was quite elegant with two rows of about 4 or 5 beautiful chandeliers across the ceiling. The lighting was perfectly dim creating perfect ambiance. I've actually done some other events in that same room before. The food OOOOH man, the hotel DID that! It was seasoned well. The menu included turkey, cornbread dressing, and green bean casserole to DIE FOR, candied yams, mashed potatoes, mixed greens salad, rolls, and pecan pie. The beverage was iced tea.

There was a professional photographer who had a really nice setup with props and gear. Of course she and her assistant and I did the network thing. I also participated in some test shots after they'd hooked everything up. They wanted to make sure their lighting was okay. So I got a couple great sample pictures as well. They were nice people.

I even got my dance on a few times. As I think back, when you have a good mixture of folks, black and white and young and old, having a good time as such, it's another one of those add 'em ups. I'm gon' get deep on y'all for a minute, but to look out at that group of people from the platform I was set up on; everything in that building at the time was genuine. People laughing, smiling, socializing and dancing – and what more perfect time than Christmas to share such joy.

I say that to say this, the supervisor of these people came in somewhere around mid-time the event and he HAD ON JEANS. This event was semi-formal attire. He was asked by the hostess to speak but he refused. He walked around a few, talk to a very few and left. This is the perfect example of a trifling leader heading off a squad of 400 plus people.

Overall, it was a wonderful evening. I was told by the head of the committee that they are definitely considering me for other various events, and possibly the Christmas gig next year.

Well that's it my good folks. My eyes are going together. I'm tired and My KNEES are CRYING out to me. Baby, I worked them over on that dance floor! I'll see the doc this week.

Sending Holiday wishes to you and yours…

Gift Cards or Pretty Bows and Wrap

Good Monday morning to everyone. I've got a few errands and will probably start some Christmas shopping. I was in Wal-Mart a few days ago and they now have a line of gift cards from several different vendors. Cool move Wally world! A one-stop shop for everyone on the gift list!

As gift cards become more popular, it's a guaranteed dollar for the companies' distributing them, and well, you can't return those the day after Christmas.

I've thought about giving mostly gift cards this year, as it is definitely more practical. But on the other hand, does it seem impersonal? Does it seem lazy and just doing it for the sake of gift giving time? Plus what about losing the look of gift wrap and the pretty bows and ribbon which looks good under the tree?

Gift cards can also bring the not-so-perfect gift. Last year, I received a gift card from a co-worker from a place I never shop. I passed it on to a friend who I knew always shopped there.

While it's definitely the more convenient thing to do, I want to be sure I'm giving the card the receiver will enjoy. Even with restaurant gift cards, you can't give any one to anybody. You've got to know their eating habits and whether they enjoy eating out, whether they are calorie counters and health nuts and self-conscious about the types of foods they eat. Just 'cause they like to eat doesn't mean they like to eat anywhere.

So with that in mind, this does get a little personal huh? I guess it's all a matter of knowing your peeps. As a receiver, I enjoy gift cards, as long as it is the right one baby!