office christmas celebrations ...

I’m sitting amidst the frenzy of co-workers getting ready for the department’s Christmas party lunch spectacular.

Yes, I know I’ve regaled you with posts about the company Christmas party. That was the big shindig at a hotel.

But we go above and beyond that.

You see, pretty much every department also has its OWN Christmas party during a workday lunch time. It’s an excuse to feast on food yet again, and for each department to try to one-up the others. Production had theirs last week. They had a steamboat (giant roast beef) on top of a ton of other food — red rice, mashed potatoes, turkey, a variety of chicken dishes, salads of several varieties, etc.

Today, newsroom combines with Administration and Accounting (two small departments). We have ham and turkey, plus a local spareribs dish that has to be tasted to be believed — basically stewed for hours and hours with a bunch of savory ingredients until the meat is falling off the bone. Salads galore, some pasta, tons of desserts (I contributed two pies from a restaurant that makes great pies — a coconut cream and a chocolate mousse pie. Yum!). We also have chocolate fountain, courtesy of one of the assistant editors. Crazy, copious amounts of food.

And Advertising’s fete should be pretty amazing too.

Yep, no shunning Christmas in this office or on this island. I guess a big reason is that the island is about 80 to 85 percent Roman Catholic, and about 99 percent Christian.

So not only will we have these Christmas party feasts, but the departments are competing with each other in a Christmas decorating contest that will be judged Friday. There are Christmas decorations galore all over the place.

Any way … it’s almost time for chow. I will try to post pics later, when I get home.