We always had a really fun time with the White Elephant gift exchange. There was always something odd and funny and made us all laugh hysterically, even if we couldn't end up with it. We weren't mean spirited about it and there were never any hard feelings. Except for the time I got screwed out of the Teacup of Destiny.
Kaylee: Captain seem a little funny to you at breakfast this morning? Wash: Come on, Kaylee. We all know I'm the funny one.
'Heart Of Gold'
Natter 55: It's the 55th Natter
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
Cashmere - Nov 30, 2007 10:59:52 am PST #4799 of 10001
Now tagless for your comfort.
Liese S. - Nov 30, 2007 11:03:21 am PST #4800 of 10001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
I'm anti-white elephant, but when forced into it end up doing this crazy psychological dance where I try to take away a gift that I think the receivee didn't like but was too polite to say so about. Not, you know, one that I want.
The moral of this is that if you are in a white elephant with me, don't be too opaque about your reaction.
Liese S. - Nov 30, 2007 11:05:14 am PST #4801 of 10001
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."
The best white elephant variant was when my friend called me up at the spur of the moment and invited me to her group's holiday party that evening (in, like, two hours). Therefore I neither brought cookies for the cookie exchange nor ornaments for the ornament exchange, but they had extras, so I ended up with delicious cookies and a completely gorgeous handmade ornament, but for free!
bon bon - Nov 30, 2007 11:07:27 am PST #4802 of 10001
It's five thousand for kissing, ten thousand for snuggling... End of list.
I've never done white elephant, and it sounds like a lot of fun.
SuziQ - Nov 30, 2007 11:07:33 am PST #4803 of 10001
Back tattoos of the mother is that you are absolutely right - Ame
DH's office does the white elephant thing - but the gift of choice seems to be alcohol of one sort or another.
Now that is an exchange I could support.
Trudy Booth - Nov 30, 2007 11:08:10 am PST #4804 of 10001
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
My extended family is enourmous. After my Grandparents passed away we started a tradition where we have a big party every Christmas but not on Christmas. It includes a Yankee Swap and the little kids still get presents of their own. It is SO much fun. We always have a theme (fun and games, go to your histoical society, anything but golf) There is this giant platter with a Rooster on it that has reappeared several times.
Cashmere - Nov 30, 2007 11:08:28 am PST #4805 of 10001
Now tagless for your comfort.
but the gift of choice seems to be alcohol of one sort or another.
Heh. Those were the gifts that were most highly prized at my old job, too.
hippocampus - Nov 30, 2007 11:09:00 am PST #4806 of 10001
not your mom's socks.
Ha! Another whitey coworker is bringing cupcakes. I have to decide if I'm going to do it for real and bring the tourtiere (pork pie), even though we don't have an oven, or come up with something else.
ASPIC.
IJS.
Good one-size-fits-all can't go to the holiday party excuse: I need to hang out with my invisible friends on the internet.
hippocampus - Nov 30, 2007 11:09:40 am PST #4807 of 10001
not your mom's socks.
... and plan for the Apocalypse.
Trudy Booth - Nov 30, 2007 11:10:26 am PST #4808 of 10001
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
Oooh!
The church I grew up in had a cookie swap. Best. Thing. Evah.
On the day we decorated the church (The Greening of Christmas -- could NOT be more fun) you bring two or three dozen of your best cookie and they get sorted into mixed platters that you then take home at the end of the day.
I should throw a cookie swap! Make New Yorkers bake!