View From the Bushes

Every year at this time, we have my work Christmas party. Traditionally, a gift exchange is a big part of the proceedings. In the past everyone has drawn numbers and then selected gifts in that order, with everyone higher up the line getting a chance to swipe one of the presents which had already been selected (as long as the gift had not already changed hands twice) or select one of the unopened gifts. Like democracy, it was the absolute worst way to distribute gifts save all others.

This year there were once again numbers, but they were attached to the presents and to candy canes. The entire IT department then stood in a circle while a story was read containing multiple instances of the word 'left' and 'right.' Which of course meant that every time the word was said you passed the candy cane to the right or to the left. So now free will is completely removed from the equation and there's no chance if you get stuck with a lousy gift. Which is precisely what happened to me again this year.

My boss walked off with five pocket knives, someone else got a CD-Burner and a stack of CD's, and yet another person got enough Pyrex cooking ware to start his own restaurant. I got some chocolates, 10 of them to be exact. Gourmet chocolates are not bad, but there is already such an excess of candy and chocolate this time of the year that I'm really not interested in more. In any case, I'm sure there are emaciated refugees in some 3rd world country who, among their many problems, are glad that they don't have this one... Yes, I'm whining...

Carpe Diem Quam Minimum Credula Postero
Ross