This year at work, an ambitious assistant decided to organize a Secret Santa. The joke was clearly on her. I doubt she will ever organize anything office related again. In fact, I am surprised if she is still talking to some people. Nothing in offices ever goes smoothly and Secret Santa was no exception. In no particular order:
1. It was SECRET Santa. However, some people immediately told other people who they had. When the group only totals 14 participants, it becomes rather easy to guess your Santa.
2. The dollar limit was low during the weekdays ($2 - $3 per day) to keep costs down and then a $15 gift at the reveal lunch (you know, because it was a secret and all). Seems like a perfectly well thought out approach to please all budgets. Didn't quite work out that way. Some people went over, some people went under. Not even sure how that is possible, but it is.
3. This resulted in a wide array of presents. Wide arrays do not make everyone happy. In fact they make some people downright bitter.
4. Bitter people are not happy.
5. Secret Santa is supposed to be full of happiness, or at least fun.
6. A second Secret Santa made an appearance to try to bring happiness to those without.
7. This created drama about whether the original Secret Santas would be offended.
8. So a third Secret Santa (I kid you not) made an appearance to level the playing field.
9. This all happened in the span of four days.
10. There was to be a big game to guess your Santa at the luncheon.
11. Almost everyone cheated.
12. Yet, only one person got 100% of the Santas right. She got $25. We each had to put in $2. That was the least drama filled part of this whole event.
13. There was a fight about our lunch food.
14. There was a fight about the plates we were going to use.
15. There was a fight about almost every damn part of this whole game from start to finish including fighting over who was going to draw names first.
16. Only women played.
17. Enough said.*
In the midst of all of these shenanigans, as a participant I received gifts. This was the highlight of my week, in addition to giving my recipient gifts. There was one particular gift I was most excited to get and I am sure you will all be able to guess which one. But let's hit them all one by one, shall we?
On the first day of Office Christmas Secret Santa, my Santa gave to me:
A pair of reindeer socks and BBW lotion in peppermint!
Okay, there is no lotion in that picture. I left it at the office by mistake. So just picture a small bottle of yummy smelling peppermint with a hint of vanilla lotion that I use on my hands every day in that picture. Got it? Okay, moving on...
On the second day of Office Christmas Secret Santa, my Santa gave to me:
A reed diffuser in Vanilla Spice!
I love these and currently have one on my desk. Everyone comments on how nice my office smells. This one rocks because the container, which is usually a plain bottle, reminds me of a beautiful ornament. Take a look:
Pretty, right? Okay, moving on:
On the third day of Office Christmas Secret Santa, my Santa gave to me:
A puzzle! A very hard looking puzzle to be exact.
Look at the full picture on the back!
Scary hard, no? I might have to do this over the holidays if I can convince the cats not to run off with any pieces.
On the fourth day of Office Christmas Secret Santa, my Santa gave to me:
A Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law bobblehead!
I think I am in love! Dwight has already accepted him as has the two baseball players. The Tropic Thunder guys don't know about him yet, however, because they are still in their box facing the wall. One day I will display them. They are starting to feel neglected.
Finally, at the reveal lunch, I received my final gift:
Four cocoa mugs, with cocoa inside and a Starbucks gift card (not pictured). Perfect. Also, my Secret Santa bought every participant an ornament with a lotto ticket attached. Then all of us got copies of everyone's ticket and we had the understanding that anything over $10,000 would be split amongst us all.
Alas, I did not wake up a millionaire on Saturday so I had to go to the office today. However, the day was cut short by a big power outage which was kind of like winning the lottery.
At least for a few hours.
*I love women, but too many are not a good thing. Testosterone is our friend. The same with men. Had it only been men participating, there would have been a lot of competition and, quite possibly, a couple of punches. Who needs that? It's all about balance people.
**Did you figure out which is my favorite?
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9 important things being said:
I love this! My office should do this next year!. You had a great Secret Santa.
Jennifer - it was fun in between all of the drama and I totally lucked out and got the best Santa.
I think maybe the Starbucks gift card was your favorite, but it could have been the socks to help keep your feet warm in your cold house.
That drama sounds like NO fun (and quite a headache), but it looks like you made out well, despite it all!
Nah, see, if it was only guys, we wouldn't care enough to get angry. We'd all get each other awesome gifts, grab some drinks, and talk about boobs.
You are right, however, about large groups of women turning into trouble.
Word verification: Caturd. Yep.
boo office drama! looks like you and your secret santa had fun though! and? i work in an office that is almost all men, i'll trade you.
Mom - the Starbucks card is definitely up there. Probably a close second. The socks are not warm enough to top the list.
EP - drama is not fun but it sure can be funny. I did make out well and none of the drama was directed at me so all's well that ends well, right?
Andy - Caturd? Obviously a conspiracy and my cats don't like it. Also, men could never organize such an event. It's true. Check your manual.
Rachel - boo to drama is right! And I have worked for all men before, in a real estate office where they like to act super charged man like. I feel your pain. There needs to be balance!
A randmon gift exchange is hard to pull off - especially if you really love what you gave away and get crap in return. But it sounds like your SS really put some thought into it.
Congrats again on the win! (I had to see who I was turning the goods over to!)
Brandy - I really did get the best gifts from my secret santa. And from you! Thanks for the giveaway. Can't wait to receive it and blog about it.
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