Not bad is it? - for a retreat out here in Chester County in a converted barn that has a theater, acres to walk in, deer, and a couple of break out rooms.

Food's not so bad either! Excuse me - cuisine!

::: for more info on Yellow Springs as a site for your conference or retreat

"So did I mention that we did last year's Christmas party right here in the office? Just us and the snow outside the window - no driving into town, no dressing up for the execs from out of town.

Budgets were slashed, what else is new?

The boss suggested that we do a party at the office and put it under "marketing", where we were under budget for the year.

We put together a $3000 budget and went for it. Jacqui at Commissary Cuisine was able to give us lots of decoration and great food: we did it as an open house.

We bought the wine and beer and saved so much money that we could invite all the spouses. Even my Jim came, and you know him!

Jacqui and the chef worked out a Thai station for us that was knockout. Can you believe that we crushed in 130 folks in the conference rooms and hallways?

Some spouses even brought the kids and we set them to snowballs in the courtyard.

What a relief the whole deal was. "

:::read a second holiday story

"So - we're here doing a company picnic down by the Brandywine in Chester County. Almost everyone's still on the river - a two hour trip and they're dribbling into this picnic/ BBQ site that we've got set up on the brook-side.

This young lad here is about to test the local corn - we picked it up from Northbrook orchards just this morning.

He just came in with his mom and dad. They're more interested in the beer than the corn - at least for now"

"I've just gone on-line and orderd 30 box lunches for this meeting for tomorrow.

Done.

Confirmed."

"I've got a holiday exec dinner party at my boss's home that he wanted me to do for him - I just gave it to Ken at Commissary Cuisine and he handled all the bits and pieces, tables, chairs, crystal, butlers.

My boss wanted to do a little bit of show off and it looks like he's going to get it. This is the damask cloth that we chose - that was enough for me.

I'll be there and it looks like Ken will be holding my hand as we go throught it.