I awoke in the Valley this morning, having driven up there on Friday afternoon. I came back to the city shortly after lunch. I came back early because, after all, we were both invited to the Frank Magazine Christmas party!
We left the house around 6:20 and arrived at the Harbourfront Marriott around 7, which helps keep my near-perfect record for arriving on time, intact.
I met the other reporters. I met Joan, who writes the headlines for most of the articles in Frank, including my column. I got to talk to Frank Cameron for a while. Met his wife. Met Cliff Boutilier, a reporter and writer whom I have admired and respected for a long time (he was nice enough to tell me that he sometimes fact checks his work by checking some of my blog posts, and to provide some writing advice for me). That's Cliff posing with me in the following picture. Sorry for the quality. The smartphone was acting up.
The food was excellent. We both decided to have the Caesar salad to start. The main course was fish and chips, although the bacon cheeseburger looked really good. And I got the ginger parfait, while Patricia had the chocolate mousse. We traded off a couple of times.
I might as well admit that this is the first paid-for Christmas party I had been to in more than 20 years, going back to my days in the private sector. As a civil servant, if there is a Christmas party, or a "holiday" party, or much of anything that is outside of work, we are expected to contribute to the cost of the thing out of our own pockets. More than a few civil servants who are light in the cash department, do not go to such parties. So to be invited to a party where the food and beverages were comped all night, was a treat. One I could grow accustomed to.
We had a great time. I got to jabber with some interesting people. And now I get to go to bed and work on my next column on Sunday. My deadline is in but 3 days.
In a month or so, when I get it all figured out, remind me to tell you about my visit to a tax accountant on December 12th. It was very interesting.
See you tomorrow.
Bevboy
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