White Elephants in Houston...and an International Christmas Lesson!

For the past 22 years, an annual White Elephant party has occurred featuring many of my closest and dearest friends.  The whole thing started in 1990 with an impromptu small gathering at my sweet friend Christian's apartment where she welcomed us all in for supper and quick gift exchange.  Of course one of the gifts was a nice bottle of Scotch which allowed the evening to progress well into the wee hours of the night.

This year's fete was hosted by Ruth and Scott Calabrese, whom many of you know quite well by now if you read this blog regularly.  I think they are done throwing parties for awhile!  Anyway, another fantastic evening was had by all that included an Italian style offering of pasta and giant meatballs.  Once again the cooks outdid themselves.  And of course the usual adult gifts appeared early and created much laughter and good humored heckling during the White Elephant exchange.  I came home with a small space heater while my bride managed to score a meat thermometer and cooking tongs, always needed around our house! 

The party in full Christmas Swing!

Our wonderful host and hostess for the evening

Getting ready for the big gift exchange...

Is that J.G. "Rastaman" Biggs, CPA?

Now those are some handsome dudes!

Now I truly believe I might have won for the best gift given this year...a portrait of a young, stylish, buff young man of 14 years named Yours Truly.  It was promptly hung in a prominent space after which I was asked to render a note and signature.  And then they wanted a picture of me next to my picture!  Who was I to say no?

So a huge thanks to our wonderful hosts and to all the guests for making the 22nd White Elephant Party yet another fun, memorable evening.

On another note, I thought you dear readers might enjoy a photo of my beautiful bride executing an International Christmas Party lesson at my son's school.  They were doing a Christmas around the world theme and Jen drew India.  Luckily one of our old friends is married to a nice fella from India who loaned Jen some items to help.  Boy, 1st Grade Christmas parties have sure changed since the 1970's!