For reasons Celeste cannot understand, she has again agreed to organize the holiday luncheon. As always, the firm will supply the turkey and dressing. The employees are expected to bring the side dishes. Celeste has painstakingly crafted the perfect email to get everyone in the holiday spirit. She takes a deep breath and hits the send button. Then she waits. And she waits…

12 Days Until the Luncheon
From: Celeste
To: Group

Dear All:

As I mentioned in my previous email, our holiday luncheon is coming up fast. Please stop by to sign up for your dish or shoot me an email. Thank yous. –Celeste

Maggie: I’ll bring coleslaw.

Celeste: Technically that is a salad. We need sides, like mashed potatoes, corn, stuff like that.

Maggie: But I don’t make stuff like that.

Celeste: Perhaps you could buy it from a restaurant.

Maggie: You can’t buy food for a potluck.

Celeste: We don’t need salad.

Maggie: Coleslaw.

Celeste: Whatever.

Maggie: Did you know you typed “thank yous”? Don’t even try to recall your message. It’s too late.

7 Days Until the Luncheon
From: Celeste
To: Group

Dear All:

While I was away from my desk, several of you signed up on the side dish sheet. While cow ball stew, chicken lip rolls, and vegan casserole with beef tips are all quite amusing, we really need people to sign up with legitimate dishes.

Jeremy: Cow ball stew. LOL. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

Maggie: You know what goes good with chicken lip rolls?

Jeremy: What?

Maggie: Coleslaw.

Celeste: This is not funny.

Maggie: Did you know you spelled “legitimate” wrong?

Celeste: No I didn’t.

Maggie: Made you look.

2 Day Until the Luncheon
From: Celeste
To: Group

Dear All:

Since no one has signed up to bring a side dish, I will be accepting cash donations until the end of the day. I will purchase the food and have it delivered.

Maggie: You can’t buy food for a potluck.

Matthew: Isn’t the point of a potluck for everyone to bring a little bit of home into the office? Celeste you are really losing sight of what is important.

Celeste: Matthew, what can I put you down for?

Matthew: Cow ball stew.

Luncheon Day
From: Jeremy
To: Group

Dear All:

Has anyone seen Celeste today?

Matthew: She called in sick.

Jeremy: There’s nothing but turkey and dressing in the conference room. There’s no mashed potatoes, corn, or stuff like that.

Carole: That’s disappointing.

Jeremy: I can’t eat dressing without corn. That’s just how I roll.

Carole: This was not very well organized.

Jeremy: Thanks a lot Celeste.

Maggie: I brought coleslaw.