2005.12.16

For the second consecutive year, AMD's California Design team held its Christmas party at the Saratoga Mountain Winery, which is less of a winery these days and more of a rentable event location. Unlike last year, there was actually a theme this year: Mardi Gras (in honour of the city of New Orleans which is still being rebuilt after getting slammed during the 2005 hurricane season). What this also meant is that I was able to walk up to the open bar and ask the bartender for a "Katrina" and get served up a hurricane. And so in spite of the open bar, the New Orleans-style food, and the casino, I still have to claim that the highlight of the party was the decorations: every table was adorned with mardi gras beads (no flashing necessary!), and a whole slew of masks were strewn about for us to supposedly wear. For me, after the triple-kamikaze and hurricane on an empty stomach, the masks served as a nice way to cover up the "Asian-glow" that was showing on my face.

Sherylen tells me that I looked like some sort of cartoon character in this mask. At a quick glance, I'm thinking that this could be what I look like if I stick my finger into an electrical outlet.

Four of us with masks and drinks! (from left to right: me, Sherylen, maskless-Doug, Michelle)

Here's proof that Doug actually put a mask on his face at least once. And yes, he put his glasses on over the mask, lest anyone have trouble recognising him.