Holiday Shenanigans

Now seeing as it is break week around RIT and we are less than one week from Christmas, things are pretty low key around here. So, this post is really just for fun. :-)

Today was the annual College of Science White Elephant party! For those of you not familiar with white elephants, everyone brings a wrapped gift - usually something they already have lying around and don't really want anymore. Anyone who brought a gift takes a number and then as your number is called, you can choose either to take someone else's gift that they have already selected and unwrapped, or you can choose an unopened gift and see what's inside. The best number to have is #1, because not only do you start by unwrapping a gift but at the end you can decide either to keep it or trade with any of the ones opened after yours. Other than that, it's best to get a high number so you're one of the last ones to pick. So, when I got 27, I figured I was in pretty good shape.

When it was my turn to go, there were 4 or 5 unwrapped gifts remaining. I decided to employ a method I learned of last year: take the smallest one. That way, if it's no good, at least it doesn't take up much space. Well it turned out to be two ceramic "handcrafted in China" angels - SO not my thing. (Then again, few things at a White Elephant are anyone's thing.) We all had a good laugh at the gift's expense, though in retrospect I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings in case they thought that was a really nice gift they were giving away.

Well I must not have been the only one not enamored with angel tzotchkes, because sure enough no one going after me wanted to cash in on my gift. But after we got through all the numbers, there were still 2 gifts remaining - which doesn't make sense, unless someone brought multiple gifts or someone who brought a gift didn't take a gift. Someone proposed that each of the tables nominate one gift from their table as "ugliest", and whoever was in possession of the two ugliest gifts of all could take the last two gifts. Well, guess who got voted ugliest at their table!

Since I chose a bagged gift for my first one, I went for a boxed gift the second time around. Much laughter and applause ensued as I pulled out....

A COLOR CHANGING FIBER OPTIC PILGRIM TURKEY!!!!!

I'm putting this one in the win column.

PS: I apologize for the poor picture quality on that photo - being an Imaging Scientist and all, I should have known better than to try to use a cell phone camera. But the convenience...