Yankee Swap/White Elephant

Tomorrow is my office’s Christmas social gathering.

I won’t call it a “party” because there is no alcohol 😉.

Still, we’re going to have breakfast catered to us, so I refuse to complain. Free food is free food.

We’re also hanging our annual White Elephant gift exchange, or as Michael Scott likes to call it:

“Yaaaaankee Swap!”

Just in case you haven’t heard of this practice before, each employee brings in a wrapped gift. When an employee picks a present he/she can choose to keep that present or pick another one.

I don’t have the money to purchase a NEW gift this year (I live in Cary, where a 2-bedroom apartment is at least 1k per month, and that’s the low end of the spectrum) so I’m going to have to go through my stuff to pick out something unique to contribute.

What’s the worst that can happen? Oh no, no one picked my gift so I get to keep it 🤷‍♂️?

Here are some of the ideas I’ve come up with so far:

1. More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

I actually have two copies of this legendary collection, so maybe one of the other technicians has children or grandchildren who they would love to have sleep in their bed with them after a good scare.

2. The Notebook DVD

Just kidding, it belongs to my wife. She would not be happy if I gave that away. I could chance it and hope no one decides to pick it, but you know the expression, “happy wife, happy life.”

Some things are not meant to be gambled on.

3. “I ❤️ Gay Porn” car magnet

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve grown accustomed to having this magnet on the fridge, but who knows? Maybe it would be more appreciated by one of my fellow employees. Appreciative enough to stick it on his/her car, maybe?

4. Dutch Butter Cookie Tin

This is no ordinary tin, either. It’s a five-pound tin of Royal Dansk Dutch Butter cookies, and not your grandmother’s sewing supplies!

Then again, my wife and I LOVE those damn cookies, so I’m leaning towards a solid “nah.”

I guess I had better make up my mind soon, because it’s less than 24 hours until the Christmas social gathering.

If any of y’all would like to contribute to my buy-a-new-gift fund, though, just hit me up!