# White Elephant 2008 Update Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043 "2008-09-11T01:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/181 "2008-10-23T14:30:12Z")
I am curious if my elephantee was one of the dropouts because they never came in here to gripe about the lateness and they should have received it by now. I never got an email that they had dropped out though. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/182 "2008-10-23T15:12:32Z")
Do you get an email if your person drops out? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/183 "2008-10-23T18:07:40Z")
There have been only two dropouts. 1 person dropped out before names had been sent out so they have no bearing on the WE. A second person dropped out due to extremely unfortunate family circumstances in the middle of September. That person’s receiver was reassigned to a very kind a gracious volunteer who sent out a second package; however, I elected to have the drop out person remain in the exchange to receive a package, as they were have a totally shit-tastic time of things. Unfortunately, my kind and gracious volunteers are in short supply and at this point there are many more people with no packages than there are volunteers to send out extra stuff. For that reason I’m trying to cajole the people who were originally assigned to actually send out their packages. So far I’ve been totally ignored by some, bitched at by others, and some have responded and promptly sent out their packages. I love those last people. ---
**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:** [October 23, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/184 "2008-10-23T18:21:05Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > bitched at by others Excuse me?! Bitched at?! By people who SIGNED UP and committed to performing a small task, and then not only didn’t follow through, but didn’t bother to inform the organizer that they weren’t following through? Bitched at?! You’re a better person than I am. I’d have posted the names. In bold red 23-point type. And I don’t just say that because I still haven’t received a package… ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/185 "2008-10-23T18:48:23Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > You’re a better person than I am. I’d have posted the names. In bold red 23-point type. I’m getting close. > [@](#): > > And I don’t just say that because I still haven’t received a package… Aww shit. I’m going to send out more e-mails tonight. Perhaps by christmas time? I don’t actually have much more stuff that I can send to people - I’m pretty cleared out so people may start receiving packages with chips and salsa in them… ---
**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:** [October 23, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/186 "2008-10-23T18:56:17Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Aww shit. I’m going to send out more e-mails tonight. Perhaps by christmas time? I don’t actually have much more stuff that I can send to people - I’m pretty cleared out so people may start receiving packages with chips and salsa in them… Seriously, if it comes down to something like that, don’t worry about it. I’ll look at it as a net plus, having gotten rid of some junk that’s been sitting around, sometimes for more than a year, and not having to take on someone else’s. It would have been neat to get a box, but it’s not necessary. If something comes from the original source (or the secondary, assuming one had been put into play when I made the first mention of no delivery a week ago) it’s all good. But if nothing comes, also all good. Relax on at least one elephantee’s part, **alice**. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/187 "2008-10-23T23:04:17Z")
> [@mmouse9799](#): > > Woooo Hoooo!! My WE was here waiting for me to get home with some very interesting treasures inside! > > [LIST=] > [li]Little word magnets for the fridge! Awesome! I always think about getting some of these, but never have.[/li] > [li]Bubbles!! (hee hee we think alike, I have a bottle that I was planning on sending out if I got another name)[/li] > [li]Kids paints[/li] > [li]“Angel Snot”[/li] > [li]Warm Apple Pie candle (I Lurve candles!)[/li] > [li]VHS tape of “The Naked Gun 2 1/2”…(hmmm I wonder if the VCR still works; it may need to come out of the closet for a night)[/li] > [li]Book of Sudoku[/li] > [li]Book on Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 (“If only it had the code.” – my bf)[/li] > [li]Little car (that I can’t figure out how to turn on)[/li] > [li]Book on immortality and extending life[/li] > [li]Something that looks to be the top of a crochet heart shaped box (no box though)[/li] > [li]Alas, the mug (from NYC?) did not make it.[/li][/LIST] > Thank you, **Ms. Whatsit**!! Glad you liked it! The magnetic poetry set was, I believe, an “expanded vocabulary” set, so have fun with that one! Our fridge is completely plastered with kids’ artwork and school projects now, so we have no room for magnetic poetry anymore. The crochet heart shaped box thing was actually not supposed to go in there; I suspect it was a last-minute addition from Whatsit the Youngest, who is fond of putting things into other things. You know, like keys into the trash can. Or soda pop into the VCR. However, I wish you the best of the crochet heart thing, as I’m not really sure where it came from in the first place. 😃 The index to the MS Office book was written by yours truly, by the way. Unless you try to use it and you think it sucks, in which case I don’t know how that got in there, either. _whistles innocently_ ---
**Author:** ![papaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@papaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papaw)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/188 "2008-10-24T00:42:03Z")
My WE hasn’t arrived yet, but I have gotten email from the giftor, so all is good. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/189 "2008-10-24T01:46:38Z")
I thought my WE had arrived today, as I had a note from Fed Ex on my door when I got home. I had to sign it, allowing them to leave it tomorrow. When I got on here, however; I had a PM from my slack-ass elephanter (kidding!) saying my box would go out this weekend. So now I’m left wondering who Fed Exed me something… ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/190 "2008-10-24T02:28:36Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I thought my WE had arrived today, as I had a note from Fed Ex on my door when I got home. I had to sign it, allowing them to leave it tomorrow. When I got on here, however; I had a PM from my slack-ass elephanter (kidding!) saying my box would go out this weekend. > > So now I’m left wondering who Fed Exed me something… I mailed it 2-3 days ago I think, so you should get it very soon. That might have been it, but I checked off the box ‘signature not required.’ Weird. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/191 "2008-10-24T03:16:31Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > I mailed it 2-3 days ago I think, so you should get it very soon. That might have been it, but I checked off the box ‘signature not required.’ Weird. Okay, now I’m even more confused. You’re not the one who PM’d me. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/192 "2008-10-24T03:46:01Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > I mailed it 2-3 days ago I think, so you should get it very soon. That might have been it, but I checked off the box ‘signature not required.’ Weird. Dude, Biblocat was NOT the person you were supposed to send your package to. I have just confirmed that by checking the e-mail I sent you - that is NOT the name you received. I really, really hope that you’re having a brain fart. Otherwise, I have someone else with no package coming to them. I am not a happy bunny. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/193 "2008-10-24T03:55:55Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I am not a happy bunny. ::pokes the bunny: Yeah, it was just a brain fart. **BiblioCat** gave me my elephant, and I sent mine to **Pixilated**. Nothing more to see here… ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/194 "2008-10-24T03:59:43Z")
Yeah, I was thinking it was just a brainfart - I sent my WE to **Autolycus.** ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/195 "2008-10-24T04:05:09Z")
Oh thank god. I don’t think I can take one more person without a WE. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/196 "2008-10-24T20:37:00Z")
My family and are spending a couple of days visiting family. In between loading the car and actually leaving, the mailman came and dropped a package on the porch. Since I’m not expecting anything else, I can only assume that my elephant has arrived! However, I showed remarkable restraint – I placed it on the table and we left. I’ll scour it when we get back on Sunday, but until then, thanks unknown person! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/197 "2008-10-24T23:03:43Z")
Life keeps rearing it’s ugly head. I will try to get my elephant out on Saturday before the post office closes… not sure if I’ll have time after Martial Arts, but I’m gonna try. If I fail, I’ll have the wife drop it off on Monday to head out. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/198 "2008-10-25T02:47:29Z")
Oh, joy! The Fed Ex package _ **was** _ my White Elephant, courtesy of **NinetyWt**! Among the treasures were some cool candles, an interesting book, an outdoor thermometer (I’d just been thinking about getting one for my balcony door!), a couple of beer cozies, a bag with some beads and costume jewelry (was that a troll earring?), a couple of pens (which is funny, because I sent _my_ WE some pens), some nice little pads of paper (which will be great for work!) and a Scooby-Doo hackey sack, which my son promptly claimed. There was more, but that’s all I can recall off the top of my head. The best thing was an NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) sticker, which is wonderful, since I’m a firefighter/EMT with hazmat training. My SO is a member, and has the stickers on his car. I’ll probably end up giving it to him, but I like having one for my own for now. Thanks, **NinetyWt**!!! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/199 "2008-10-25T18:20:08Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > The best thing was an NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) sticker, which is wonderful, since I’m a firefighter/EMT with hazmat training. My SO is a member, and has the stickers on his car. I’ll probably end up giving it to him, but I like having one for my own for now. I’m so very glad you liked the stuffs. I put the box together rather quickly, so it’s kind of serendipitous that the sticker got in there - I had noticed it in my desk drawer and thought “what the heck”. I can’t even remember why I had it. Maybe one of the FD guys gave it to me when I was at the City or something. Sorry the little turtle candle is so dusty - I didn’t have time to give him a dusting. 🙂 Oh yeah - Miss Welty is a much loved author from here in Jackson. I think you will like those stories. ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043/200 "2008-10-30T14:17:59Z")
As promised, here are [the pics](http://www.flickr.com/photos/25744946@N03) (top three or so) of what I am wearing at work even as I type this. (The BK mask is from my WE, and apparently is a recycled runnning tradition.) And I would like to debut here on the SDMB, my very [first EVAH youtube video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvmq1GSb2xQ). My life is complete now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/white-elephant-2008-update-thread/463043.md?page=11)