One of my co-workers did infused vodka for everyone this year, using stuff he grows in his garden. We each got to pick two (small bottles) and I got a basil and tomato and a berry one. YUM!

I want to make ginger infused vodka, have a party with a ginger themed drink, then give out little bottles as take home gifts. Of course, knowing my drunk-assed friends, I'd have to have someone guard the table so no one will scoop them up!

He did a ginger and something else one. Also a kumquat and cranberry and a red pepper and something else one. They are really pretty and I can't wait to make a bloody Mary with the basil/tomato one!

I JUST GOT A 16G iTOUCH!

SO PRETTY!

I got a good sized year end bonus from my boss today. Best gift ever!

I gave him 6-months of hard working! mostly.

I'm worried that someone is stealing my mail. The last few days I've gotten, like, one piece of mail each day! And no freaking xmas cards at all!!! I caught someone stealing mail on the street a couple of years ago but I hadn't heard it's been a problem lately and I haven't seen the lady around who I caught the last time. This is making me verrry uneasy and i'm not sure what to do because I can't prove anything is missing.

Drew, I hope the ranting isn't pinging you, because you obviously don't have the straight hierarchical corporate relationship with your people, and more power to you.

It does ping me a little to be honest. I've had lots of bad bosses and I take it pretty seriously to try to be a good boss as often as I can. I know that these things aren't directed at me, but I also know that all bosses are not evil, even if many of them are, so it's the absolute nature of some of the declarations that can ping me. I do agree that in a corporate structure some weird peer pressure to take up a collection is inappropriate, but I just don't agree that it goes as far as never buy your boss a gift.

I want to make ginger infused vodka, have a party with a ginger themed drink, then give out little bottles as take home gifts.

Wouldn't you need an actual Ginger at a party like that?

I've done cranberry, coffee and hot pepper vodkas and/or liqueurs this year. I used peppers from my garden, and the pepper vodka is not for the faint of heart.

I have no objection to giving a boss a gift. I object to feeling like I have to give a gift.

I have no objection to giving a boss a gift. I object to feeling like I have to give a gift.

Yes, this. If my boss was someone I liked enough to buy a gift for anyway, him/her being my boss wouldn't stop me, and price wouldn't be any more a consideration than if I were buying a gift for any other friend.

But in a corporate heirarchy, being pressured to buy an expensive holiday gift for someone who by definition makes more money than you is just flat-out rude. (I think I'd feel better about a birthday gift because at least then you're not asking people to chip in when they're already almost certainly strapped for cash. But then, in my office, most birthday collections are a couple of bucks for a card and a cake.)

(Oh, and hi. I'm back from Cincinnati and feeling very sad and nostalgic. As my uncle said at the funeral, it's not that often 91 years is considered way too short a time. But it was.)

I'm glad you made it back, Jess, but sorry about sad -- I hope it's at least the kind of sad that mixes more and more with the fond memories over time.