# This morning I shot a white elephant in my pajamas **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 30, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885 "2004-06-30T14:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/41 "2004-07-13T18:13:43Z")
**Earthpuppy** , I’ve just been informed your package arrived, but it has not been opened yet. When it does get opened, I shall post the results immediately. ---
**Author:** ![dbygawdcapn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dbygawdcapn/32/3995_2.png) [@dbygawdcapn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dbygawdcapn)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/42 "2004-07-13T23:00:39Z")
Sunfish is the **BEST**! My white elephant was waiting for me when I returned home from work and Meine Gute, I understand why it seemed to take so long now. I received a large box of presents each individually wrapped with cool wrapping paper and packed away in a pull string plastic bag. Himmel zu Murgatroid this was better than Christmas! a silver platter with fleur-de-lis soaps a National Parks tote bag a set of nesting wicker baskets a deck of Bugs Bunny playing cards a lucite Star Wars paperweight a pair of maracad tied with a knitted curly worm assorted French paperbacks by Guy de Maupassant Marivaux Flaubert Toledano a beautiful set of carved Indian figures a framed pair of pressed wildflower arrangements assorted cassette tapes by Paul Winter Narada sampler Alex de Grassi Pangaea a seashell paperweight from Aruba a Bright Lights candle a basket full of assorted seashells a set of German language self study tapes a set of German language flash cards Ich habe das Jagerschnitzel mit spatzle und sauerkraut und ein Liter von Kostritzer Schwarzbier. Danke, Danke, Danke **sunfish** ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/43 "2004-07-14T22:54:06Z")
I’m happy to report that my white elephant from **Edward the Head** arrived safely this morning! I got:[ul] [li]a toy gun[/li][li]a yellow smiley face baseball that apparantly once belonged to someone named Aaron :)[/li][li]a Dexter’s Lab top[/li][li]a handful of cardboard coins[/li][li]a metro token[/li][li]an empty can of Smithwick’s[/li][li]Risk CD-ROM[/li][li]a Galactic Cowboys cd[/li][/ul] Thank you, **Edward the Head**! 😃 P.S. My elephant is scheduled for departure tomorrow after i get paid. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2004, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/44 "2004-07-14T22:55:54Z")
Oops. Forgot one more thing: a little MLS hackey sack in the form of a soccer ball 🆒 Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/45 "2004-07-15T20:23:31Z")
Woo Hoo!! I’ve been elephanted! Today a large box arrived at my door containing: -a rolled-up magnetic dartboard! -a grill plate complete with BBQ mitten! -a pair of plastic safety glasses! -a pack of navy blue napkins! -one video tape: **King Kong VS. Godzilla** (WOO HOO!! How did you know??)! -an Easter Bunny Egg Coloring Kit! -a beanie baby-like elephant replendantly colored in a stars and stripes theme… perfect for an election year! -a wooden… um… thing with a smiley face on it (hmm… paperweight?)! -6 plastic CD jewel cases! -a state of Indiana Drivers Manual! -a Delta Airlines air-sick bag! -a little foam rubber doll of Kenny from South Park (one arm slightly chewed… not sure if it came that way, or if the cat got to it while I was looking at the rest of the contents…)! -several sheets of bubble wrap (fun to pop!)! WOW! Quite the haul… thanks **Avarie537**! All of the above now have a loving new home here in San Diego… and my wife has never seen King Kong VS. Godzilla! Can you believe it? ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/46 "2004-07-15T21:01:44Z")
**Astroboy14** , the wooden thingy is called a Happy Massager. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/47 "2004-07-15T22:10:22Z")
Ah ha! That makes sense… and I found it online too. Behold: The [Happy Massager](http://www.ergopro.com/index.cfm?obj=prodDetails&pID=284)! Thanks again, **Avarie**! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/48 "2004-07-16T05:44:02Z")
Not coincidentally, I received a very comprehensively sealed package from San Diego today! **Astroboy** sent me: [ul] [li]a travel alarm clock[/li][li]a foam rocket, weighted at one end (my daughter, who appropriated it, says it’s a pool toy)[/li][li]clip-on sunglasses - tres chic![/li][li]a clip-on bookmark[/li][li]two…um…weighted cloth strips…more bookmarks? They’re pretty, at any rate[/li][li]a mini tennis ball, which the dog and youngest cat are fighting over[/li][li]a little box of Listerine strips (the daughter with the foam rocket loves those and took them, too)[/li][li]flossers (given to the other daughter in the name of parity and dental hygiene)[/li][li]a tiny, adorable toy ring, which will be given to the tiny, adorable neighbor child who comes by once a day to see if anyone will play[/li][li]a balloon weight (and I could have used it back in May - I’m saving it for the next party)[/li][li]a little plastic lizard that is the twin of the big live bearded dragon lizard upstairs[/li][li] last and best, a really cool kaleidoscope, which I have refused to let the children steal[/li][/ul] Thank you, **Astroboy**! We’re all thrilled, and next time I’ll open the package by myself! ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/49 "2004-07-16T11:31:43Z")
Woo Hoo! I’m glad it finally got there, **InternetLegend**! I was starting to get a little worried… A few notes: -the foam rocket I got from a job fair. A pool toy? OK… I never did figure out what it might be for… so I’ll buy that. -the two weighted cloth strips are indeed bookmarks. Got them in Korea, I did. I seemed to accumulate several bookmarks in Korea. Perhaps I appear to be a bookish person to Koreans. Hmmm… Many of the bookmarks I have our kitty refused to let me mail away, as apparently they are fun to play with. (strewn all over the floor!) :smack: -the tiny, adorable ring I have no explaination for… my wife came up with that. I looked at her like :dubious: but she just walked away… -the little plastic lizard was originally embedded in a bar of soap that I got somewhere or other. It has been rubbed all over my hot, naked body! But it’s clean, I swear! After all… it WAS in a bar of soap! 😃 - and the kaleidoscope… errr… Have no idea how I came into possession of that! It was my mother’s, but beyond that I’m lost… Enjoy!! ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/50 "2004-07-17T05:20:59Z")
> [@Astroboy14](#): > > -the little plastic lizard was originally embedded in a bar of soap that I got somewhere or other. It has been rubbed all over my hot, naked body! But it’s clean, I swear! After all… it WAS in a bar of soap! 😃 That would explain its shocked expression. Does your wife know you sent that?? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/51 "2004-07-17T07:01:10Z")
Geez, now I feel inadequate. Reading the inventories makes me think I seriously lack either neat stuff or creativity… Sent mine out on Thursday, priority mail. Haven’t received one yet. _sits down by the mailbox and waits_ ---
**Author:** ![Althea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@Althea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Althea)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/52 "2004-07-17T23:24:31Z")
Hooray! I got a box of stuff! This afternoon, I received from an anonymous source: - a blue and white teapot - a pair of grey fleece gloves - a Gumby quartz LCD watch still in the original packaging - a cocktail party invitation from the '70s - a sticker of three drunk men wearing fezs and drinking martinis - an informational brochure for Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tours - a postcard of an evil little girl called Hula Hula Dancing by Yoshitomo Nara - _A Pattern Language_, a book about architecture, planning, and building - _Good Omens_, a novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman - _Better Get Your Angel On_, a collection of short stories by Jennifer Allen - five romance/mystery novels from the '50s - a tape of medieval Norwegian folk songs - a tape of Brazilian music by Maria Bethania - a tape of Irish rock by the Virgin Prunes - a tape of NY techno by Prototype 909 - the blueprints for the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D - a little note that says, “You can fly!” It’s like Christmas, but better because I had no idea what I was getting and most of it is actually more useful and/or fun than what my relatives choose for me. Hooray Mystery White Elephanter! Come forward and accept my excited thanks! ---
**Author:** ![mrunlucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@mrunlucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrunlucky)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2004, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/53 "2004-07-18T04:55:47Z")
**Althea** , that was me, I forgot to put my Doper name on there! I’m glad the teapot survived. It took me a while to get this out to you because I kept interchanging things until nothing else fit in the box, so there you go. The gloves: quite warm but I always disliked them, and I had lost one for about a year until the other week. The sticker is art by Shag. If you like it do a search for him, his work is everywhere these days. The Maria Bethania tape I found, in of all places, a thrift store, in Denver, a day before I took a road trip from there in a newly acquired car that only had a tape deck. Those Norwegian songs are amazing. I upgraded to CD last year. I couldn’t make up my mind about that Jennifer Allen book. Maybe you will like it. I never finished that Pratchett book. That name comes up on this board every so often, so I hedged a bet and gave it to you. The blueprints – they must have some use, but after looking at them for years, I give up. ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/54 "2004-07-20T16:26:54Z")
I just picked up my package from **jay jay** , and wow what a neat bunch of new stuff! You don’t lack any creativity at all, my good man. For the record, I got: - an absolutely adorable and cuddly teddy bear, complete with jacket, hat and baby bear - a pair of size 10.5 knitting needles and a honking big skein of multicolored yarn - a shimmery white decorative spray with stars - a guide to dinosaurs, which I can use to brush up on all my dino names for when the older nephew comes with questions 😃 - a blue glass ornament - a keychain with a mini T-rex kind of dinosaur on it, whose mouth opens to reveal a bright red light 🆒 - a little black iron pot, which I will use for some flowers - a cute little set of animal ears and a nose, which I’ll put on the younger nephew at first opportunity 😃 - a pretty little conch shell - a little Harley Quinn figure - a Wizard of Oz button - an antique toy dog with wheels - a Tina Turner greatest hits CD - an Eagles greatest hits CD (and I was just thinking of buying one recently) - a Silly Songs CD (with some of my favorite songs from when I was little!) - a Gorillaz CD (have to try this one out) Muchas gracias, **jay jay** - I’m gonna enjoy this! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/55 "2004-07-20T21:43:12Z")
> [@sunfish](#): > > I just picked up my package from **jay jay** , and wow what a neat bunch of new stuff! You don’t lack any creativity at all, my good man. Thank you! 🙂 > [@](#): > > For the record, I got: > > - an absolutely adorable and cuddly teddy bear, complete with jacket, hat and baby bear I picked that up at my mom’s church rummage sale and then realized that I really had no room for it. > [@](#): > > - a pair of size 10.5 knitting needles and a honking big skein of multicolored yarn That’s the knitting missionary in me clawing its way out. If you send yarn, they will knit… > [@](#): > > - a shimmery white decorative spray with stars Because it’s FABULOUS! > [@](#): > > - a guide to dinosaurs, which I can use to brush up on all my dino names for when the older nephew comes with questions 😃 Something that I thought was really neat when I bought it a year ago. And still think is neat, but it was time to send it on to someone else. > [@](#): > > - a blue glass ornament It’s actually a fishing net float, but considering that it’s seen a serious dearth of large bodies of water the last few years, “ornament” is a good retirement goal for it. 🙂 > [@](#): > > - a keychain with a mini T-rex kind of dinosaur on it, whose mouth opens to reveal a bright red light 🆒 Rahrrrr! > [@](#): > > - a little black iron pot, which I will use for some flowers Picked up as an incense burner when I was in my Wicca college student phase. It’s been sitting on my bookcase for about ten years gathering dust. > [@](#): > > - a cute little set of animal ears and a nose, which I’ll put on the younger nephew at first opportunity 😃 My Halloween costume of about three years ago. I was a teddy bear! (I even had a little heart-shaped butt tag that read “TY me up!”) > [@](#): > > - a pretty little conch shell This is one of those “Where the heck did that come from?” objects…obviously picked up on a vacation somewhere, but ellefino… > [@](#): > > - a little Harley Quinn figure From a game called Hero Clicks, which I’ve never played but have about ten pieces from, thanks to my local bartender who keeps giving them to me ('cause I’m a minor comic geek). > [@](#): > > - a Wizard of Oz button From the live show at the Ordway Theater in St. Paul back in 1996. > [@](#): > > - an antique toy dog with wheels It doesn’t work, unfortunately. My late father’s hobby was repairing antique and vintage toys (wind-up and battery-op). He never got around to this one, and I definitely don’t have the knowledge or skill that he did. > [@](#): > > - a Tina Turner greatest hits CD > - an Eagles greatest hits CD (and I was just thinking of buying one recently) > - a Silly Songs CD (with some of my favorite songs from when I was little!) > - a Gorillaz CD (have to try this one out) All CDs that I have…erm…backup copies of… 🙂 > [@](#): > > Muchas gracias, **jay jay** - I’m gonna enjoy this! 🙂 De nada! Now if mine would just arrive… ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/56 "2004-07-21T00:17:56Z")
My pachyderm was waiting patiently in the garage when we returned from [Lake Quinault Lodge](http://www.visitlakequinault.com/) this afternoon. I posted the elephant parts in the other thread. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/57 "2004-07-26T23:33:53Z")
> [@DaToad](#): > > I got my package yesterday. I can’t read the user name on the return address, but I got way cool stuff. > > I got a set of four, “as seen on TV”, magic touch lights, an insulated personal sized lunch bag, with genuine _Velcro_ closure, and (eat your hearts out all you beer guzzlers) a beer drinking game. That was from me. 😃 Glad you liked your loot. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/58 "2004-07-26T23:39:58Z")
Still nothing here or any indication that mine was recieved either. I guess this was a total failure on my part. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/59 "2004-07-28T23:48:24Z")
Wooooooooooooooooo Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Tanookie! You Rock I came home from a defeating day of Getting The Muffler Repaired and all the joys that entails, I found a huge box by my garage door. It was loaded with a bunch of fun crap! I cannot list it all here now, but it was: A paint set ( the kids _love this_ . and me too. This was the best, absolutely the best! A bunch of candles ( some of them smell so good!) Xmas ornaments & christmas basket ( taken by my daughter instantly) Some kind of electronic gadget thingie. A CD how to be a better speaker. (This killed me) A buttload of knitting instruction manuals . I have nearly the same ones here. Yes, ones from the 60’s or earlier. I have yet to learn the joys of knitting. Two embroidery manuals ( This I was quite excited about because I want to learn how to do basic embroidery. I don’t know why embroidery isn’t more popular. It’s cheaper and more flexible than cross stitching, crewel or whatever.) A huge belgian linen to-be-worked on in cross stitching table cloth. ( I know someone who likes this, so I will pass it along.) Cross stitch kits. A picture frame And some other things that escaped my sieve like brain right now. Tanookie is now my personal favorite Doper. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885/60 "2004-07-29T20:18:00Z")
I feel like such a heel–I can’t find the box lid, so I don’t know who to thank for the cool stuff. :smack: Lessee, there was a UT sweatshirt (I’m graduating from UT Arlington, so I’m a Maverick instead of a Longhorn, but I’ll still wear the sweatshirt with pleasure), a brand new cribbage game, a pack of cards, a Slinky that actually works! (my husband stole it from me), some 3-ring binders that will come in very handy for the books I’m writing, an extension cord that I have already put to good use, some candy (I ate the Big Hunk & the M&M Minis; my husband stole the Nerds), a huge bottle of seasoned salt, some little purse-sized packs of Kleenex, a couple of books I’m looking forward to reading after graduation and some other goodies that escape my mind at the moment. That was such a fun and delightful treat! I felt like a kid on Christmas Day as I opened up the box and went through everything. I immediately lay on my stomach and ate the Big Hunk candy bar, savoring every sticky chewy mouthful that nearly yanked the teeth out of my head. [Gomer Pyle]Thank you, thank you, thank you![/Gomer Pyle] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-morning-i-shot-a-white-elephant-in-my-pajamas/252885.md?page=4)