The ninjas would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween this 2009!
When your event planner becomes a baby planner, the holiday tends to get a little quiet so I apologize to the ninjas in Houston for the lack of group festivities in 2009. Nonetheless, we wish you all an insane and safe Halloween this year.
See below for massive albums of pictures from our celebrations in years past. Great memories.
We celebrated the 23rd Birthday of our own Vincent Rivera a week ago with dinner at Miyako followed by a night on the town. Below are some of the pictures from that very ninja evening.
Ladies and gentlemen, the DNC Summer Kickoff Vacation is here! Our select group of almost thirty ninjas and slippers will be making our way to the city of Canyon Lake’s Hideout on the Horseshoe this coming Friday afternoon for a relaxing weekend at this premium Texas hill country retreat.
The main activity for the weekend will no doubt be floating the river, which is a Texas tradition that includes endless amounts of beer during two to four hours going with the current on the Guadalupe. Additional activities are rumored to include “Edward 40-Hands” and a river-side grappling challenge versus any Texas State frat boys brave enough to step up to the plate against the ninjas.
Note: If you live in the Austin / San Antonio area and are a friend or family to any of the attendees, you are more than welcome to stop by and have a beer with us. We’re excited to see you! Cheers!
The setting was fairly chic (for Albany at least) – Marriott Hotel by the airport – and the music was pumping. The night started off with a 1 hour open bar (staffed by the slowest bartenders in the world) and hors d’oeurvers . Needless to say, I already knew that this open bar was going to be bullshit so I brought my own giant flask of Jim Beam Black. What can I say, I’m always prepared and I think ahead. The food was edible, but I barely ate anything. I didn’t want to stifle my buzz!
So here are the mild-not-drunk-yet pics:
Aaron Angel Melanie Dax
My boss Dan and his wife Erin
Audio guy Dan and his gf Anna
Fellow crazy AP Chad and his wife
My Project Directors/Leads - Dan, Bryan and Brent
VV All Stars!
How many sofware engineers does it take to tie a windsor knot?
...Zero, it take 1 President of a Video Game Company!
Me and one of my favorite animators and fellow southerner Steve
By this point, my giant flask of Jim Beam Black was finished single-handedly by your’s truly. Uh oh!
Mike - one of my engineers - and his beautiful wife Kate
Now here is where it starts to get a little bit saucier on the dance floor:
Here is our principal software engineer being silly
Christina and Me mid dance (I had passed the point of red at this moment)
Audio gal Holly and her bf Josh
Another one of my engineers - Flip - and his gf Rachel
Audio guy Jason being himself and Oscar trying to teach my frustrated ass how to Salsa dance
One of my favorite Engineers - John - and his beautiful wife Liz
Me vs. Matt - We had a dance off and of course, I won 🙂 He did get lower though, I'll give him that...
VV Wives - Patty and Liz
More VV Wives - Michelle & Patty
...Still trying to out-dance me. tisk tisk.
Bill lives on the dance floor. He's my next Dance Off victim...
The Last Ones on the Floor
Here is where the craziness happened, but of course, the pictures are mild. Katie and I got a hotel room and hosted the after party. Surprise, no cops involved!
Katie's reaction after we told her we would draw on her face if she passed out!
My last memory of the night - Me, Katie, Kerry and Matt sitting around wondering, "when is this party going to get started?!"
Shortly after I took the picture above, my mind went “good night” and my body went “PAAAAARTAAAAAY!!!” My black out begins…….
NOW!
Ok, when did all these people show up?!
When did Bill and Sarah show up?!
Rebecca's Crazy hair!
Me and Nick the animator
Katie and I supplied lots of vodka and whiskey and mixers, Dan supplied the fancy flavored vodka, and Matt brought the gin!
I totally don't remember Jason B being in our room!!!! I don't even remember seeing him at the Holiday Party!
Frank was there too?!
Amazing, he's still standing - confused - but standing!
VV Ladies - Rebecca and Etsuko
Albany's most dangerous gin drinkers: Me, Matt and Dan!
Haha, it looks like Jason is leaning in for a kiss from Gary!
Damn, I didn't know that backrubs were being given out!
I hope you all enjoyed those pictures. I haven’t been able to party hardy since then. Hopefully I’ll have more pictures and posts for you during this holiday season. I miss you all very much and I hope to see you all again soon. I’ve been feeling extra homesick lately.
We had dinner at Kru Pong’s Thai Gourmet prior to meet up at Komodo’s for a few drinks. From there it was off to Shot Bar for many, many shots of Jaegerbombs and then finally Tipsy Clover to close out a night of dancing and drunkery.
Special Thanks to Karen Dezelle for stopping in on her sabbatical from San Fran. Also thanks to Mr. Paparazzi for being the designated driver and picture taker for the night! Good times!
DNC Worldwide 