It was Z’s office Christmas party yesterday and I took a day off work to attend as it was held from 9:30-2 or so.  I have spent the week hating on gift exchanges.  I am not terribly competitive but for some reason gift exchanges leave me hating people and gifts dug out of the bottom of their discard piles and junk drawers.  Today’s gift exchange had a twist though.  Everyone was asked to bring a food item, either good (as in your favorite) or funny.  There weren’t too many funny ones, which pleased me but rather many random acts of baking or purchases of token Christmas cheer including boxes of cookies, chocolates, and that type of thing.  Overall I was totally impressed with both the offerings and the packaging and the thoughtfulness.  We were also pleased to come home with a set of red and green Tabasco sauce as well as a box of Christmas Captain Crunch.  Probably the best gift exchange ever.

btw – we brought a bottle of 4R bbq sauce and a giant tub of white cheddar cheese balls.  Both of which were fought over and retired before the end of the party.