Here鈥檚 something you might not know about 精东影业 employees: We once turned our newsroom into a gas station.
Don鈥檛 get too excited 鈥� it was a one-time thing. If you visit our newsroom, you won鈥檛 be able to refill your tank or grab a bag of Flamin鈥� Hot Cheetos.
No, 鈥淚deaSheetz鈥� 鈥� coined by me, 精东影业鈥檚 resident pun enthusiast 鈥� was the setting for a company-wide 鈥榟appy hour鈥� event. In addition to classic gas station snacks like Pringles and Combos, we had a hot dog roller, borrowed from a staff member whose son was in Boy Scouts. Those kids are resourceful.
We host several happy hours in the newsroom each year. Earlier this week, we tried to beat the winter blues by throwing a tropical happy hour, complete with a smooth-yacht-rock playlist, a blow-up palm tree drink cooler and a Hawaiian pizza.
The happy hours allow employees from different departments to get to know each other, play games, enjoy some snacks and a beverage. They're more than that for me. They helped me form close friendships, offered the perfect distraction just when I needed it and gave me some skills that will help me plan one of the most important days of my life.
I鈥檓 on the happy hour planning committee, where we choose themes for the parties, get the food, put up decorations and curate the playlists.
We've had seasonal parties for holidays like Valentine鈥檚 Day and Halloween, and creative ventures like the 鈥淩oad Trip鈥� happy hour, where the 鈥淚deaSheetz鈥� gas station took over our workspace.
This week's tropical party was the second we've done. The first was in January 2023, and I was newly single. Anyone who鈥檚 been through heartbreak knows the first month or so can feel especially isolated and lonely. I was desperate for a distraction, something I could pour my energy into to feel better.
Happy hour planning helped provide that for me. Shopping for colorful, tropical d茅cor and making the party vision come to life brought me a lot of joy. Simple as it may sound, this gave me something to do outside of work and helped take my mind off the sadness I was feeling.
Planning the happy hours also has helped me become closer with some of my colleagues. Occasionally, we鈥檇 stick around after the event to do karaoke in the newsroom. I had a blast singing showtunes with Pat Miller, design and production manager, who happens to perform on theater stages around Northeast Ohio. And for my favorite 鈥�90s country jams, there's no better duet partner than Jean-Marie Papoi, a digital producer on the arts team.
Beyond a great hang, the planning committee has brought me another benefit now that I鈥檓 on the other side of my heartbreak.
In June 2023, I had a 鈥渕eet-cute.鈥� In the romantic comedy world, that means a charming first encounter that leads to a relationship. While at a Walk the Moon concert at Progressive Field 鈥� literally on the grounds where the Cleveland Guardians play 鈥� I met a guy named Kevin. We hit it off and started dating later that summer.
Last July, we got engaged. He is my best friend, soul mate and truly a perfect match for me. I still can鈥檛 believe we met under such unique, rom-com circumstances.
Since our engagement, Kevin and I have been planning the biggest happy hour yet: our wedding, which is set for September.
Luckily, this is right in my wheelhouse. My prior experience getting estimates from caterers, scouring Pinterest for decoration ideas and putting together perfect playlists for 精东影业 happy hours has prepared me well for all the work it takes to organize our big day.
We aren鈥檛 planning to have palm tree coolers or gas station food for our reception guests, though.
Maybe I should check to see if the Boy Scout's hot dog roller is still in good working order. That could be an epic post-dance floor snack.
"The Cut" is featured in 精东影业's weekly newsletter, The Frequency Week in Review. To get The Frequency Week in Review, The Daily Frequency or any of our newsletters, sign up on鈥�精东影业's newsletter subscription page.
