(H)elix1's Journal: Inlaws done, now for the outlaws...

Packing up the car, waiting to do the drive to North Dakota this morning. Looks like there was reasonable weather to boot. Not only am I home, but work finished up without leaving a sword hanging over my head. A clean bowl for the new year!

I enjoy the white elephant gifts more and more as time goes on. Not sure if others play the 'pick one from the pile or swipe an open gift', but had a lot of fun with it this year. The framed SCOX stock certificate was one of the objects of lust and desire with coworkers, the (folding) titanium spork became a hot item as well. The best part was some people did not quite seem to get the idea that *anyone* could snag a gift. I think a couple of them conspired to 'swap' gifts, not realizing we were drawing numbers - as a result some guys ended up with gift certificates to have (somebody's) nails done and a few other gender specific items got tossed into a mixed group. Good fun.

We were putting cash in cards and my Bride realized she spent one of the crisp bills I picked up. (Not a gift card person - if I'm giving something like money, I like the real stuff that can be used anywhere, anytime) I watch her feverishly run around the house, checking my wallet, her purse, then tear through a stack of Christmas cards. I look up and ask what she was doing. She replies, "I'm re-gifting a $20". Struck me as funny, as we had been talking about the etiquette of re-gifting stuff the other night.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!