Groovy, baby, Groovy.
Day went swimmingly. Clients are testing away on the software, we're finalizing the issues list (after a month of hitting a moving target) and vendor is working on fixes. It was also the day of our annual "Gift Swap/Steal Game" and potluck, which was tons of fun. If you're not familiar with the game, it's great fun.
Each person brings a smallish gift, about $20, wrapped, and unmarked. The idea is that they're total mysteries. We stick them all on a table.
Each person draws a number and you go in order.
#1 chooses a gift from the table and opens it. But doesn't get too attached to it ;)
#2 can steal gift from #1 or chooses a fresh gift from the table.
If #2 steals from #1, #1 doesn't have anyone to steal from so they get a fresh gift.
#3 can steal from either 1 or 2, and if they do, then that person can steal from the remaining person OR choose a fresh gift.
and so it goes til everyone's number has been drawn.
Our rules:
You can't resteal in the same round. Let's say Person 4 steals from #3. #3 can't turn around and steal the gift back from #4 - they have to pick from people 1, 2 or 3. And if they choose #2, #2 can't steal from #3 or #4 - each person/gift can only steal/be "stolen" once per "round".
But the new rounds starts with the next person, so nothing desirable ever sits still for long :)
When everyone has had a turn, Person #1 gets a freebie - they can keep their own gift or steal from ANY one. And then they can steal from any of the remaining people for that round, and so on. We did this coz if they get a lame or gag gift, they usually get stuck with it coz no one steals it from them.
MOST IMPORTANT RULE - NO ONE IS TO TAKE ANY OF IT SERIOUSLY. I've heard of friendships/working relationships lost over this game, and we'll have none of that.
One year, that last round got really hairy as all gloves were "off" and nearly everyone stole from everyone else (except for the slippers, nobody wanted those)
This year? I came away with a roll of Sudoku toilet paper and a book of puzzles. Totally cracked me up.
OH! OH ! OH!!! and the guy named Bob that sits in a cubicle got the Cubicle Bob toy! ROFL! It was pure serendipity, too!
Each year there seems to be one item that stimulates ruthless stealing - this year, it was a set of AA batteries that you can charge via a USB port. One year it was a bag of prime beef jerky. Another year, it was a singing/dancing ninja hamster. You never know with our crew :)
And the food!? Oy! Considering there are only about 12 of us, we ate REALLY REALLY well today and had plenty of nibbles for the afternoon. We never pre-plan any of it, but there's always a good mix.
Lastly - this was my birthday present to myself :) I LOVE it.
Each person brings a smallish gift, about $20, wrapped, and unmarked. The idea is that they're total mysteries. We stick them all on a table.
Each person draws a number and you go in order.
#1 chooses a gift from the table and opens it. But doesn't get too attached to it ;)
#2 can steal gift from #1 or chooses a fresh gift from the table.
If #2 steals from #1, #1 doesn't have anyone to steal from so they get a fresh gift.
#3 can steal from either 1 or 2, and if they do, then that person can steal from the remaining person OR choose a fresh gift.
and so it goes til everyone's number has been drawn.
Our rules:
You can't resteal in the same round. Let's say Person 4 steals from #3. #3 can't turn around and steal the gift back from #4 - they have to pick from people 1, 2 or 3. And if they choose #2, #2 can't steal from #3 or #4 - each person/gift can only steal/be "stolen" once per "round".
But the new rounds starts with the next person, so nothing desirable ever sits still for long :)
When everyone has had a turn, Person #1 gets a freebie - they can keep their own gift or steal from ANY one. And then they can steal from any of the remaining people for that round, and so on. We did this coz if they get a lame or gag gift, they usually get stuck with it coz no one steals it from them.
MOST IMPORTANT RULE - NO ONE IS TO TAKE ANY OF IT SERIOUSLY. I've heard of friendships/working relationships lost over this game, and we'll have none of that.
One year, that last round got really hairy as all gloves were "off" and nearly everyone stole from everyone else (except for the slippers, nobody wanted those)
This year? I came away with a roll of Sudoku toilet paper and a book of puzzles. Totally cracked me up.
OH! OH ! OH!!! and the guy named Bob that sits in a cubicle got the Cubicle Bob toy! ROFL! It was pure serendipity, too!
Each year there seems to be one item that stimulates ruthless stealing - this year, it was a set of AA batteries that you can charge via a USB port. One year it was a bag of prime beef jerky. Another year, it was a singing/dancing ninja hamster. You never know with our crew :)
And the food!? Oy! Considering there are only about 12 of us, we ate REALLY REALLY well today and had plenty of nibbles for the afternoon. We never pre-plan any of it, but there's always a good mix.
Lastly - this was my birthday present to myself :) I LOVE it.