White Elephant Exchange Gift

Among all the Christmas gift giving traditions, one which I've been enjoying ever since it was introduced to me is the "white elephant"...
This is where you bring along something as your exchange gift but it should be some "junk" or "recycled" gift or something that's been with you that you haven't used (even opened) and won't be using anymore - in the hope that someone else can find your "junk" or recycled gift useful :)
For us though aside from this recycled gift, you should also have a "regular" exchange gift and when I say regular, it's something new that you bought for the purpose of the... You get it right?

So to briefly explain the mechanics (which incidentally we've argued and modified the last time we had it) all the participants randomly choose the "sequence" of how you're picking your gifts...
We have all the gifts piled at the center... The 1st person chooses 2 gifts and opens both for everyone else to see... The 2nd person gets to choose whether to pick his gifts from the pile or STEAL the gift of the 1st person! and if your gift is stolen, you can pick again from the pile or from the opened gÍfts "at play"... The gift can only be stolen "twÍce"!...
and so whoever is that 2nd person stealing that sÀme item will be the final owner...gets? Are you still with me? Haha

Can you just imagine...
It's bad if you're the 1st person... Or even the last person... Or esp if someone else stole the gift you're eyeing!
It's hard to explain and more fun to experience firsthand!

And in the 3 years I've had the "whÍte elephant" with the "Óld gang" we still keep modifying the mecHanics! FÓr sure next year... Iba na naman gagawin nÀmin at mabubuhaÝ na naman si "Mr. Inday" hahaha - sorry insiders' joke :)

And this is what I STOLE!!!
I may not be a "geek" but gosh I couldn't resist them!
So thanks for these!

Oh and...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

My new popup book

The Chronicles of Narnia

Ms ok ka lang?

I lost my ipod last wednesday to a sneaky little thief outsider at work...
Blame it to my over assurance to my office cubicle's security that's why I have the habit of just leaving my things by my chair unattended... Well lesson learned - bring my bag every where I go in campus hahaha

But what's funny about that episode is the common reaction of my kids to that incident... I was not the lone victim of that sneaky little thief, other 4th year students of mine lost their phones and some money I believe...
A few students looked for me to tell me what happened, incidentally when they came that was the time I just discovered that my ipod was lost too...
A few minutes afterwards at the hs principal's office while I was there on an errand, a kid sees me and said "ms ok ka lang?" With that pitying look on his face... And I asked huh? And instantly I knew... You know? Haha the speed of gossip I tell you! Well it was no rumor of course but still you catch my drift?...
I encountered about 3 other students all reacting the same way and asking "ms ok ka lang?" Hahaha
Apparently some heard like the other students, they thought I was crying over the loss of my ipod!
hahaha
When I told the story to another teacher, Ms. Nanette, she said that she heard about me "crying" and she denied it and sort of defended me by saying - "Yun iiyak?! Eh tawa nga sya ng tawa dito kanina diba? Saka kaya nun bumili ng bago!"
Hahaha

Which is true of course, It's only a gadget which I can replace with a new one though it would take me a few more months since I didn't plan on buying a new one really... I'm only sad about losing my photos and apps and journal and appointments and contacts and... Oh well...

So ok ka lang? :)


Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld