Thursday, December 18, 2008

white elephant

or yankee swap as they call it on the office...

i love  white elephant.  i think its fun.  but i wish all people got in to the spirit and really brought fun or funny or good gifts.  people shouldn't participate if they're going to cop out. 

we had ours at the office today, and i brought those pads you stick on your feet that are supposed to wick the toxins out of your body while you sleep.  amazing things.  of course they don't really do anything, but who's not intrigued by the idea?  

the problem is not everyone really puts any thought or effort in to their gift? what's so fun about opening up a starbucks gift package?  oooh, a coffee cup and some coffee.  3 other people brought that exact same thing.  

anyway, first i had a trio pack of zagat guides, which were stolen from me.  then i had a big bottle of sake, which was stolen from me.  so i've ended up with some "document organizer" that holds your passport, and is on a lanyard! 

i wanted to steal what i brought (really, i'm intrigued by these things and made a special trip to CVS this morning to get them- i want to try them myself) but the person who opened it then left the party and took it upstairs with her, so no one could steal it.  i don't think that should have been allowed. 

the funny part is that my office has a set of wine glasses that have been in the white elephant exchange for 6 years running now.  they're these 80s wine glasses; one blue, one yellow, one green, one pink, etc. and the rule is that if you get them, you have to regift them the next year.  so no one (who's been there a year or longer)  will ever open any of the bigger gifts, because they know they run the risk of getting the wine glasses.  this year, poor L, one of the girls on my team picked up this little gift bag, and started to walk away from the pile to open it, only to realize there was a long ribbon attached to it leading to the box with the wine glasses.  really, it was brilliant packaging.  anyway, i say poor L because this is the second time she's ended up with them.  she's going back to school in a year, so if she's not still working with us at least part-time next christmas, we'll have to invite her to the party just to get the wine glasses back.  or i'll make her give them to me just so we still have them for the party.

anyway, the problem with my document organizer is that its so bad its not even funny to regift.  i'd feel bad taking it to another white elephant party and giving it.  i have one to go to saturday night, and i'm still debating what to get.  its with people who have a much better sense of humor about white elephant.  i'm thinking of going to goodwill and seeing if you can buy old trophies.  leslie has a great one she stole from cha cha a few months ago, for hernando alvarez- 1988 3rd place bowler*.  i want something similar.  

anyway, i have a feeling i'll come home with something much better from that party.  that party if someone were giving a document organizer, it would be a menudo one they found at the salvation army.  (oh my god, i wonder if you can buy old trapper keepers. an old unicorn trapper keeper would be good too.  the limit is $10, so i'm sure i can find something good for $10.)

*title completely made up, i don't feel like opening my door to go look at it because that would let the space heated air out.

3 comments:

hokgardner said...

I've been wanting to try those feet toxin remover things, too. But I'm too embarassed to buy them. What if one of my neighbors spotted me?

And mom really wants one of those passport thingys for her trips with Jean.

Runner Dude said...

Knittergran already has a passport organizer

Unknown said...

1)I want to see how much dirt those foot things would pull off my feet too! The best part of the commercial is when it claims to remove cellulite. hehe

2) What if you combine the document organizer with other cheap life "necessities"? A crappy pen light, dull pocket knife, toothpicks and duct tape, for instance.