Wife's Christmas Party or C's Game?

[blake]

I thought this was a no brainer, but my family is giving me so much heat for not going to the wife's Christmas party.  It is on the same night as the only C's game in OKC (where I live).  Am I out of line for refusing to budge?

[bdm860]

Have you already bought tickets to the game?

What does your wife do and how many office parties/work events does she bring you to each year?

[Eja117]

You need to open negotiations

[blake]

Yes, I have tickets.  She is an optometrist.  She works for an opthamologist.  2 other optometrists work there along with 10 or so employees.  I have been to a lake trip, a halloween party, and a pool party so far this year.  This is her first year to work at the place.

[Roy Hobbs]

How long have you been married?  How often does she attend events with your co-workers?  When was the party scheduled?

[yall hate]

be there for your wife.  you dont want her to be embarresed when her coworkers ask where you are and she has to explain that you chose a basketball game over her

[Fafnir]

I think it all depends on how far in advance you knew about the party, did you ever say you'd attend, and how big of a social event is this.

[blake]

She did offer to take me to see them play the Mavs, but the seats would probably be pretty lame.  I have a friend who works for the Thunder that will probably be able to get me upgraded to the first few rows.

This is our first year of marriage. 

I have had the C's game on the calendar since the schedules came out.  She told me about the holiday party last week or the week before.

I rarely go to my company parties.

[Fafnir]

She did offer to take me to see them play the Mavs, but the seats would probably be pretty lame.  I have a friend who works for the Thunder that will probably be able to get me upgraded to the first few rows.

This is our first year of marriage. 

I have had the C's game on the calendar since the schedules came out.  She told me about the holiday party last week or the week before.

I rarely go to my company parties.

You go to the game then!

Then again I'm not married and I'm currently a bit terrified that my GF dropped a hint about getting engaged! 

[blake]

I never said that I would attend the xmas party.  I did say that I would come as soon as the game was over though.

It is their office's largest get together.  They are going downtown to take a boat ride on the canal, then going to dinner, and then going to an upscale bowling alley.  In my estimation I will be missing out on the boat ride and dinner, but would be able to show up for some of the bowling portion.

[Chris]

I never said that I would attend the xmas party.  I did say that I would come as soon as the game was over though.

It is their office's largest get together.  They are going downtown to take a boat ride on the canal, then going to dinner, and then going to an upscale bowling alley.  In my estimation I will be missing out on the boat ride and dinner, but would be able to show up for some of the bowling portion.

OK, I have no real advice here, because I think it all depends on how understanding your wife is in general.  But this just cracked me up.  Do they have like a dress code at the bowling alley?  I am picturing a bunch of guys in tux's and women in ball gowns (and high heals), sipping champagne as they are bowling.  And it honestly made my day.

[moiso]

If you knew about the game first, go to the game.  If you have time to make it to any part of the party and still make the game, you can do that.

[bdm860]

Is there any chance you are considered a "trophy" husband?

[nickagneta]

Been married 23 years, just last week. So my advice is this:

This is her first Christmas party at this job, you've only been married a year and this is this year's biggest get together for her job? If that's the case you HAVE to bite the bullet, sell the tickets or give them away and attend with the wife with a smile on your face the entire time.

It would look bad for the wife to have her new husband ditching the office Christmas party to attend a basketball game. Real bad. And, she won't live it down at the office.

Long happy marriages are all about love, sacrifice and compromise. In this case, sorry guy, but her good standing at work and upkeeping of a good working atmosphere appearance that she is in a good and happy marriage with a wonderful guy willing to give up basketball tickets to see his favorite team to go to a work party with her is more important than your seeing this game.

What I would do is tell her you'll attend but she'll have to make it up to you by going on a weekend trip to either Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, Indianapolis or Chicago and go watch the Celtics with you there while making it into a romantic weekend vacation.

[Roy Hobbs]

Morally, logically, and everything else, you should be able to go to the game.

However, in reality, if you pick the Celtics over her (and that's exactly how she will see it), it's going to cause major issues.  I think the best strategy at this point is to give up the Celts game, but negotiate the best deal for yourself.  A Mavs game is just the beginning.

What I want to know is why in the heck are they having a Christmas party on December 4?  Isn't that a little early?