Rickshaw Please

Hi Everyone,

If you are wondering why there is a picture of Ann above on a rickshaw, let me explain.  Last week was both Apple and Moneygram's Christmas parties.  This is a huge event in England in which companies invest a lot of time and money.  It is a night built on the anticipation of the entire year and something that employees probably consider in their contract negotiations.  As we had been told, it is also a night that people just get pissed.  To add an extra layer of awkwardness, spouses are not typically invited, so you can just envision bad things, especially from a HR perspective!!!  Anyway, Apple's party was last Thursday night.  It was a Black and White theme and we had rented out a bar and had a DJ spinning.  It was a lot of fun, and luckily, I behaved myself quite admirably.  If you know me at work, you know that I am a pretty conservative person.  I had been out a few times with a couple of co-workers who have seen my less conservative side, but no kidding, I may have been the surprise of the night when the tequila shots started flowing and "The Worm" hit the dance floor.  Kevin 1, Apple 0.

The real inspiration for this post, however, comes from Sr. Rickshaw herself.  Moneygram's party was actually on Friday night.  They had a Black Tie event with a sit down dinner and a DJ as well.  If you are waiting to hear a "Wedding Ann-Esque" type story, I am sadly going to disappoint, but please do not stop reading.  Being the Sr. Director of HR, Ann really had to behave herself.  If her employees only knew!!!  Anyway, Ann had a great time with everyone, sticking just to white wine all night, and decided to take her leave around 11:30, allowing for whatever shenanigans might take place to not happen under the watchful eyes of the HR leader.  Ann's antics for the night began after her departure.  It is actually surprisingly difficult to find a taxi on a weekend night in Central London.  On top of that, after a few glasses of wine, Ann has a tendency to become a bit navigationally challenged.  In order to briefly and properly capture all of the oscar worthy drama that follows through Ann's own words, I am reverting to the script of a Playwright:

Act 1 - Dressed to kill in her white evening gown, heals, and hauling her Vera Bradley duffel bag, Ann wanders aimlessly through the streets of Central London hoping to hail a taxi or at least pass a Tube Station.

Act 2 - Upon failing to find either a taxi or a tube stop after walking an unknown distance, Ann decides to hop on a bus and hopes to pass a tube station.

Act 3 - Ann is brought back to an awakened state after the kind lady behind her on the bus taps her on the shoulder to tell her to be careful because her bag is open.
*Note* - Wine aside, Ann in a moving vehicle after dark, Goodnight!!!

Act 4 - Once again fully alert, Ann disembarks from the bus to walk back to the tube station that she passed the block before.  

Act 5 - As it is now 12:30am, the London Underground is closed.  Ann ponders her next move.

Act 6 - After a short walk and luckily finding herself in the busy throws of London's shopping district near Oxford Circus and Regent Street, Ann unsuccessfully tries her hand at a taxi one more time.

Act 7 - Spotting a common mode of transportation for short jaunts in London's shopping area, Ann enlists the services of a Rickshaw to try for the final push home.

Act 8 - Ann sits behind aforementioned rickshaw driver as he furiously pedals his way from Central London to Kensington High Street, probably setting the record for highest rickshaw fare.

Act 9 - Finale - 2 hours after her departure, Ann arrives home!!!

Ann 0, Rickshaw 1

We are excited for our trip to Nuremberg this weekend to see the renowned German Christmas Markets.  Joe arrives a week from tomorrow to spend 3 weeks with us over his break!!!  We can't wait to see him.  We have some awesome plans for x-mas and a great trip to Switzerland and France planned over New Years weekend.  Finally, Jane has still not gone into labor, but we are just waiting on the news from Fondy.  Let's just hope that stubborn baby decides to grace us with his/her presence before Christmas.  We wish that we could be there for the arrival.

Love
Kevin and Captain Rickshaw