We used to have fairly cool christmas parties in the evening were you could bring your spouse or 1-guest-whoever that was. Ove the years we had it at the Nixon library, Long Beach Aquarium, Disneyland hotel, etc.. It was really nice with food, music, dancing drinks etc. They then stopped them to cut costs. Now we have a Department Christmas party in the middle of the day at a offsite location. We then have a white elephant gift exchange that or VP gets all fired up about. After the fourth year of this, it is really starting to get irritating. The same crappy jokes etc. I am about ready to put something really interesting as the white elephant gift IE box of gun ammo or a gift certificate to a online sex shop like "The Stockroom". I was hoping that because of the re-organization that I would finally escape this ritual. We have a new VP that is on the other coast. Nope we have to go to the same crappy party in the middle of the day with a VP that we no longer report to. I would rather have the afternoon off. Oh well smile and wave, we are happy office drones.