Firm Festivities

Last night was Eric's firm's Christmas party at the St. Regis Hotel. I met him at his office around 6:00pm and we walked over to the party with our friend Jose from there. The party was really nice. Of course, the venue was beautiful, the drinks flowed freely, and the food was yummy. It was also really nice to get to meet some of the people I hear Eric talk about all the time.

Party spot

In front of a fireplace in the banquet room

Eric and the other first-year associate guys: Jose and Jesse

Enjoying ourselves!

Today, it's snowing like crazy! We're supposed to get snow/wintry mix all weekend. I'm holding out hope that we'll have a white Christmas this year. It would be Eric's first ever, and my first in a long time. I figure if we don't get to be in Florida with our families for the holiday, at least we could have some snow!

Snowy afternoon, looking out our living room window

I was hoping the snowy downpour would get Eric out of work early today, so we can get our weekend underway, but no such luck. Actually, he has a pretty fun afternoon in store for him, I think. His firm sort of "adopted" a few kindergarten and first grade classes from a school in the Bronx, and attorneys/staff at the firm each took a child's "letter to Santa" and bought gifts for that child. On Wednesday they wrapped all the gifts, and today a few people from the firm (Eric included) are going to the school to help deliver the gifts.

Eric and I actually took two letters, one from a little kindergarten boy and one from a kindergarten girl. Despite the inescapable crowds at Toys 'R Us in Times Square, we had a blast shopping for them (our only other shopping option really was FAO Schwartz, which would not have been less crowded. Such is life when you have to shop in tourist locations). We bought the little girl some dolls and a whole bunch of kitchen set stuff, like pots and pans and dishes and play food. For the boy, we bought a remote-controlled car and a really awesome huge foam dinosaur. Although this is probably not what you're supposed to do, we couldn't resist playing with the dinosaur with a Achilles a little bit before taking it in to be wrapped. I mean, the thing was bigger than him. How could we NOT see what he thought of it?

Forcing him to be courageous: we put a treat in the dinosaur's mouth. This is a great picture for size comparison.

"Why is this thing hovering over my treat pieces?" Note: the flat ears equal nervousness in this situation.
(Also, please excuse the messy, unmade bed. It was late at night on a weekend. Honest.)

"Is that thing EATING my treats? Why, this won't do. I might have to take action."

"I will brave the jaws of this beast to retrieve my treat!"

Happy weekend everyone!