I have totally been working in the wrong private sectors, dudes. Though I am currently wrapped up in a blanket with my name and the company logo on it, which I got a couple years ago for Christmas. This year I got a card from one manager. In years past, I think I may have gotten some candy? And usually there was a Yankee Swap type exchange.

I got a $10 gift card to a lunch place across the street, and my boss just gave me a little package of madeleines. To be fair, he doesn't make that much, and he's got over a dozen people reporting to him, so it's not like I expect much.

For my first couple of years at my company (when there were about 10 of us) I got a sweet xmas time bonus. Now it's all a formalized annual process. I still feel very lucky to have the potential to get a bonus but it doesn't feel as much like a present.

Also, someone left an $85 bottle of wine on my desk.

My boss just dropped off some champagne for me. "Here is your champagne for re-gifting," she joked.

But I just got my Christmas present from my brother, and it's Quarriors! So, awesome.

I've been in the private sector for a while and not having wine like that dropped on me.

Can you trade it in for four $20 bottles? I can tell terrible wine from good wine, but the different between good wine and really, really good wine is lost on me. In whiskey, I can tell.

This is me, but OTOH I can buy the 4 cheaper bottles myself. I'm highly unlikely to buy the pricier stuff, so yay for someone else doing it. (Though real life, $20 bottles are special occasion themselves. Day-to-day wine is more in the $9-14 range. Assuming it's not in a box.)

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My house is a lot more x-massy than it was this morning. I am trying to hold off on ripping things open for a few days but I may not make it. Even Darby has a package!

My package is going to be late, sadly. I have a couple more NOLA goodies that I want to procure that I think are worth the wait. Curse my ambition in trying to not be a slacker.

send two packages. really. who doesn't like getting mail...twice.

My stuff is almost ready, I'm going to send out a card, but the package will be after Xmas.

Mom and Dad have been sending my presents and we're going to skype for Xmas. I opened one box from Mom b/c I needed it to send presents and she sent my stocking! Filled with stuff!

And this reminds me I need to get a stocking and stuff it for Will.

I have been going around scamming the Godiva chocolates from the offshore consulting company off of everyone and handing them out like I'm Santa Claus. I have one more guy to get them from.

So far, only the data centre vendor has given me anything. Chocolate covered cherries, though. Should be good.