Tremendous Blondette

We all have alter egos. Last Thursday I called mine Cupcake. Here’s the backstory.

Every quarter my company hosts an outing for the employees. It’s a nice way to get everyone out, moving, thinking, interacting, and destressed for an afternoon. One department takes the hosting and planning reigns. This quarter, for the first time ever, my department (yep, I have one) was given the hosting honor. Past outings have been to the Royals Home Opener, Powerplay KC, a KC Amazing Race (note to self: never wear cowboy boots on the day of an outing again), and a KC area scavenger hunt.

I am now completely convinced of 2 things:  my department can make some cash on the side by opening a costume shop and we totally have the Halloween costume competition in the bag. Planning was fun and the ladies in my department totally took the initiative to get everything done, leaving me to “supervise.”

Thus on Thursday, June 25th, we presented “Company X’s* Got Talent.” The ladies headed over to our venue early, leaving me to corral the troops. After two all pages on the intercom, I headed to the main conference room where I proceeded to stand on the conference room table and give direction. Once everyone was informed of the plan and numbered off, I lead them like little ducklings to the scene of our talent show. Let me just say, I was impressed with the creativity that came out of my fellow coworkers.

We rewarded them with an afternoon of beverages and appetizers at the Marquee downtown. Oh yeah, and the winners got tickets to AMC.

My role in the event was that of hostess, whereby I dubbed myself Cupcake. I was the unifying voice (ha!) My job was to be loud and funny.

Here’s where this gets to be something I’d actually write about on my personal blog. I’m not an extrovert. I’m a performer. They are not the same thing. I still need down time, chill time, me time. I process everything at a highly internal level. I am more likely to turn inward and analyze and process than to express and seek outside contact. I still love being with just one or two people at a time. But, I got up in front of 40 people and stood on a table. I got up in front of 40 people and cracked jokes. I got up in front of 40 people and handed out awards. I worked the tables. Sober.

And the week before, I was at a conference for 4 days where all I did was talk to people. Me.

Of course, I left the outing around 5:30 (this is also when Michael Jackson died) and fell asleep by 7:30pm. Thus proving that it takes a lot of energy for me to be so outgoing and engaging.

Anyway, I’m proud of myself and I’m not ashamed to say it. Where I am now, who I am now sort of blows my mind some days. I never thought I’d be here. And that gives me hope for all of the dreams that are yet unaccomplished.

Your Hostess, Cupcake with the judges.

*you don’t need to know where I work