Friday, April 07, 2006

honestly, what are the odds?

We had a work event last night- an associate appreciation night at a nearby restaurant, complete with appetizers, unlimited free drinks, and a very funny comedian. I was fairly surprised that the firm would hire a comedian to do a show, considering that there were only about 50 guests in our private room at the restaurant. It made for a very personal show, with the comedian making fun of my work colleagues and picking people out of the crowd to poke fun.

This was a totally different atmosphere for a comedian than I'd ever seen. I knew everyone around me, making it all the more funny when he made a joke about them. It was quite easy to crack jokes when everyone's profession was things like "tax attorney" or "patent attorney" or "private equity attorney." I thought I might pee my pants when he asked one partner what he did, and when he moved onto the next partner he said "I do his leftovers." I knew what he meant, but the comedian's reaction was to point out how dirty our law firm apparently was.

I've been trying to cut out what little alcohol I do consume, for obvious reasons, but at the same time, I'd prefer not to raise any questions at firm functions. With the free flowing drinks, everyone had loosened up and the tables were peppered with martinis and mixed drinks. For that reason, I had Josh go to the bar for me, and order a Coke with grenadine- otherwise known as a Roy Rogers. Basically, a Shirley Temple, but with Coke. I figured that the Coke would disguise the absence of alcohol and no one would be the wiser.

Meanwhile, the comedian was circling the room, cracking jokes, asking where people went to school, etc. At one point he came around to us, asked Josh whether he was a lawyer and then congratulated him on marrying one instead. He asked my name while I was laughing, and then moved on. A few minutes later, though, he came back around to me, and did you guess yet? Asked what I was drinking.

I could. not. believe. it. What are the odds? Before I could answer, Josh piped in with "Roy Rogers!!!" and the room exploded with laughter. At this point, I started laughing too hard to answer when he asked me sarcastically what was IN a Roy Rogers. With tears streaming, I covered my face with my hands while the laughter increased. Finally, I managed to squeak out that it was a Coke with grenadine, and frankly, I've never heard my colleagues laugh as hard or as long before.

For the rest of last night and most of this morning, my emails have been peppered with references to "good old Roy" and those I work with have told me that I'll never live it down. People don't make fun of you unless they like you, right? Sigh.

18 comments:

Pink Cupcake said...

LOL! That's too funny, HL. Sounds like a great evening... :)

Honey Bunny said...

that's pretty funny stuff! i've never had a roy rodgers, but it sounds yum!

Anonymous said...

My signature move when I want to blend but not drink is to get a highball glass of club soda with a lime and stirrer -- looks like my usual gin & tonic, just sans the gin . . .

Yankee, Transferred said...

Much better to have them make fun of you for NOT getting drunk, than the opposite.

Joke said...

Apple juice w. ice looks like whisk(e)y on the rocks.

Cran-Grape looks like red wine.

-J.

Dawn said...

I love Roy Rogers - and you could have always said it was a Rob Roy which is a verrrrry potent drink indeed.

Phantom Scribbler said...

I'm laughing with you, I swear!

Liz Miller said...

Laughing quietly 'cause Mr. Spock is sleeping.

I've gotta try me a Roy Rogers.

nancy said...

Hilarious, I am laughing, laughing, laughing...with you and maybe (at you)? It sounds like such a great evening. Laughter is kool.

Suzanne said...

Too funny! And I wouldn't even have know what was in a Roy Rogers...

ccw said...

LOL! Roy you are so funny.

Much better to have laughter over being sober than because you did something inappropriate while drunk.

Anonymous said...

You are a SMART lawyer.

(Takes one to know one??)!

Notes from the Trenches said...

Oh that is SOOOO funny.

When I go out to things like that I'll get cranberry juice with seltzer and a little lime slice. You know to be classy ;-)

Anonymous said...

Yes--what are the odds?! That's too funny!

P.S. As for the "for obvious reasons" part--I'm wishing you all the best!

Anonymous said...

Very funny. There is a restaurant here that is much like going to a 1960's movie set in China town. Girls get a Shirley Temple from the bar, little boys get a Roy Rogers. We love it. :-)

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, they like you or they would be leaving it alone. :-) I sometimes think comedians have a super-sensitive eye and ear for whatever will be the most embarrassing to a person.

purple_kangaroo said...

OK, I'll show my absolute stupidity . . . what is grenadine?

Anonymous said...

mmm! I am cutting out drinking myself and Roy Rogers are my fave! I make them at home all the time. Get them with a slice of lemon and marachino(sp?) cherries...yummy.