Day 349: Jawa Bobblehead

At Tuesday night's aforementioned Improvables Christmas party, one of our activities was a white elephant gift exchange. For my contribution, I donated a roll of Justin Bieber duct tape (yes, that's a real thing) I just so happened to come across while at the store, and Shannon enthusiastically "Yankee swapped" for it and took it home. Apparently, she already has plans for how she's going to use it.

To each his/her own, I suppose.

As for myself, I ended up with a Jawa bobblehead, and I must say that it looks pretty good sitting up on my shelf.

Christmas in July, Part II

The theme of tonight’s FHE was "Christmas in July," and I must say that it's never too early (or too late?) to do anything Christmas related, as far as I'm concerned. This also made for my second Christmas-themed happening in the past month, counting my present (video game) that arrived six months after the fact.

For tonight's event, we took part in a white elephant gift exchange as a ward. I am always fascinated by these exchanges, both by the creative and unusual gifts that people give out and by the kinds of things people set their hearts on exchanging for. We also listened to favorite Christmas carols, and Christmas lights lined the walls.

As for me, I happily walked away with a Yoshi (as in the one from all of the Mario video games) toy doll. It now sits in a prominent place in my room.


Another popular gift, which was passed around a few times, was a snowglobe featuring Brian Ryerse - which Brian swears he had nothing to do with constructing.


Methinks a little imp named Steve Keiser was involved in that.

After FHE concluded, I joined with a small group of friends in watching Joe Versus the Volcano on VHS in our foyer, which had been the white elephant gift that MaryAnne ended up with.

Good times were had by all.

White Elephants on Parade

At tonight's ward FHE, the theme was "Christmas in July." Since we celebrated Independence Day just two days ago, I suppose, the feeling was that one good holiday deserves another.

Well, who am I to complain?

Anyway, to celebrate the halfway point until we reach next Christmas - yes, 2009 really is slipping away on us that quickly - we all took part in a white elephant gift exchange. My contribution was the Deseret News Darrell Griffith statue I walked away with at the last white elephant exchange I attended, approximately a year-and-a-half ago. It just sat on my shelf, collecting dust, so I guess I could bear to part with it.


For those who don't know who Darrell Griffith, aka "the Golden Griff," aka "Dr. Dunkenstein" is, he played his entire 11-year NBA career, from 1980-1991, with the Utah Jazz. I grew up watching him play with the Jazz in the Salt Palace.

My good friend Pepe, who is an even-bigger Jazz fan than I am, walked away with the Golden Griff statue this time. Yes, it is in good hands.

Some of the other gifts that were passed around (there was a lot of "Yankee swapping" going on) included a mini-foosball table, Mormon Tabernacle Choir CDs, many types of candy, toys, and other knickknacks. My brother Ben took home a zip-up coconut filled with candy and a $5 bill to boot.

As for me, I ended up with a Big Mouth Billy Bass fish - one of those toys that was quite popular a decade or so ago. I must say that I'm quite pleased with it. On command, it plays/sings one of two songs: Bobby McFerrin's "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and Al Green's "Take Me to the River."

I have wanted to own a Big Mouth Billy Bass ever since I saw one as portrayed in the movie Wall-E.

There's nothing wrong with dreaming big, right?