I
woke up early again on Thursday, but I didn’t like it! I got dressed in a suit and tie on Thursday (first time
since Joe and Jerica’s wedding). Why? I have to attend a “Service Award
Luncheon” today to receive my 25 year plaque.
I also left for work
early again. The roads still weren’t great, but I needed gas in the truck (as
you may recall). I got a bit of sticker shock at the gas station. Now, I can
use just regular gas in the truck, so that was nice. But, the Volvo had an 11
gallon gas tank. The truck has a 21 gallon one! So, I put $60.00 worth of gas
in it and it still wasn’t “full.”
So, I left for the luncheon
with a pocket full of Kleenex tissues and a roll of cough drops. I did use the
navigator App on the cell phone again, but I didn’t really need it. I drove
there five years ago and still remembered it.
BTW, the choices for my luncheon Entrée selection were as follows:
- White Wine-Braised Airline Chicken Breast (Quinoa-fresh herb pilaf, grilled squash stack, charred tomato cream sauce)
- Petit Filet of Beef (Fresh herb-potato roasti, grilled asparagus, roasted red pepper, port wine syrup)
- Phyllo-Panko Crusted Michigan Lakes Whitefish (Fresh tossed spinach, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, shaved red onions, lemon-caper vinaigrette)
- Grilled Portobella-Vegetable Stack (Marinated portobella, roasted red pepper, eggplant, squash, polenta, balsamic glaze)
All entrees were
served with bread rolls, mixed greens salad and dessert.
It had been five
years since I went, but it was at the same place and I think I had the
Whitefish last time. So, this time I picked the Petit Filet of Beef.
BTW, this is one of
those restaurants where the portions are small, but fantastic-tasting. So, when
they called it “Petit” I tended to believe them!
As I said, the luncheon
was at the same place as five years ago, The Inn at St. Johns, on Five Mile in
Plymouth. It is a very classy-looking place and we were in the glass-roofed
atrium. I spent some time working the room when I arrived, saying hello to
people I had either worked with or just know, but then I realized I didn’t have
a seat yet. So, I went to a table that was almost deserted except for our
building manager, Paul, and two of his employees. At their urging, I set
down my name plate and my award (both of which were handed to you when you came
in). That’s when I looked at the other nameplates and realized I was sitting at
the table with Jack, the majority owner, Evan, the CEO, Doug, the COO and Bob,
another owner. They were all up and mingling. Damn! No wonder nobody was
sitting there!
Then it was time for
pictures. You were called up by table and stood with the aforementioned
individuals and had a group picture taken. They process them immediately and,
at the end of the luncheon, you go and pick them up.
Next, we took our
seats. Evan went up and gave an inspiring speech on how diversified we have
become and that we had the best year ever in sales in 2013 (both true) and how
much opportunity lay ahead. Then he showed a video they made to prove his
point. Finally, it was time to eat.
Sidebar: I thought it
was weird to get a nameplate and then to set it in front of you (since you
could sit wherever you wanted), but then somebody pointed out they were
different colors. The colors corresponded to the entrée you ordered and
suddenly, I realized it was quite clever.
I found that one of
the nice things about sitting at the head table was that they served us first! And, as I said, the
entrees were small, but exquisite and delicious. Mine certainly was!
Table talk included
the difficulties in driving to work in this weather, the traffic nightmare to
come when they close down I-96, changes in NASCAR racing this year and Jake (they want him back).
Dessert was an
individual bumpy cake, covered in ice-cold chocolate with a smear of strawberry
jam next to it. It, too, was small, but excellent.
Finally, Jack gave
his speech, we all clapped and then it was time to pick up our pictures and
leave.
The rest of the day
was rather anti-climactic. I did ask Vicky to take a picture of me in my suit
for you. I told her this would be the last time she saw me in one until Yanessa’s
wedding or my funereal.
It was snowing
slightly on the way home, but no real problem. I got my title in the mail but
still no license plate.
I was tired to eating
tacos, so I turned all the fixing into a taco salad. Not too much of a difference,
but a little easier to eat.
I watched some of the
Olympic trials but fell asleep, of course. I have got to get my sleep pattern
back to normal!
But, what was nice is
that I woke back up and watched the last Tonight show starring Jay Leno. It was
quite the tear-jerker at the end…
Then I went to bed
for real.
Congratulations!! Great Picture!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I think. The picture's cool (thanks to the photographer, I'm sure). But in today's job market, 25 years with the same company only means nobody else thought enough of you to make you an offer!
ReplyDelete