If you’re following us on Facebook you know we’ve added a few people to our team this year. Since this is their first Wallrich holiday season, I’ve put together a quick guide to surviving December here at Wallrich HQ.
Embrace stretchy pants.
Our break table is a magical place. Set anything on it and it’ll be gone by EOD (that’s End of Day, which could be 5:00pm or midnight, depending on the day). In December we put this to the ultimate holiday test. Did you decide to bake this weekend? Set it on the table. Have a holiday party and now have leftovers for days? Set it on the table. Need to get rid of something? Table. It doesn’t even need to be food in December: coupons, festive boxes, pencil erasers, anything goes—and will go. Don’t worry, you can wear your non-elastic pants again soon; we’ll all start working out again in January.
Prepare to listen to some really “great” music.
The old standards are wonderful, but what are the holidays without “Christmas in Hollis” by Run D.M.C.? Other winners on loop over here include “Holiday in Cambodia” by the Dead Kennedys, “Coldest Winter” by Kanye, and who could forget “Snow” by the Chemical Brothers. (Fear not: we’ve got Wham! and Bing Crosby on the holiday list, too. We’re not monsters.)
Be politically correct.
Just kidding. You’ve all met Steve, right?
Carry cash.
During the year our cash is generally spent on those obligatory $1 band/chorus/sports team/please-keep-our-school-solvent fundraising chocolate bars in the kitchen. But this time of the year we require larger bills. Office gifts, holiday donations, even the occasional beer run all reach deep into our wallets. Everything for a good cause, though, be it clients, the Mustard Seed School or BevMo.
Don’t confuse the trees.
There are two trees in the office, both decked in festive framboise and silver, but they have some distinct differences in personality. One was decorated by organizers, one by artists. I’ll let you marvel over the differences yourselves, but let me share some firsthand experience: don’t try to organize or clarify the look of the little holiday tree. Its keepers are feisty.
Welcome to the family.
Throughout the year you will hit every high and low. You will hate each other, love each other, hide in corners to avoid people, throw things, cheer for hard-earned wins and laugh deliriously as your machines crash after an all-nighter. (Not actually funny.) But at the end of December, you’ll feel the love. There’ll be warm fuzzies flying around all over the place—and not just because the studio is closed for the week between Christmas and New Year’s. When it comes right down to it, this is family. Mom and Dad may bicker, but at the end of the day, we’re all in it together and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?
Merry Christmas, newbs. And to all a good night.