Secret Santa - Giving & Getting

This being the last business day before Christmas, our office had its annual Secret Santa Lunch, wherein sandwiches were ordered and gifts exchanged. For some reason, I am always the person who organizes the Secret Santas, and the first time I did this, I did some reasearch and found that most people recommend a "questionnaire" of some kind. Good idea! Everyone in the office gets a questionnaire to fill out, designating their likes, dislikes, hobbies, preferences, etc., and then the questionnaires are exchanged anonymously. This makes the Secret Santa-ing fun and organized, while it also helps you to actually receive something you'll like.

I drew my colleage Ben's name, and since he's a stylish and cultured man-about-town, I got him a gift certificate to the new Art of Shaving store in the San Francisco Centre. I figured he's the kind of guy who'd appreciate a nice barber-shop shave. The Art of Shaving was kind enough to throw in a few samples too, so that really sealed the deal on the gift's success.

On my questionnaire under hobbies I put things like: "writing, books, art, crafts, sewing, knitting, parties..." and for some reason, these things have netted Ms. Wilson some darn good Christmas booty. Two years ago I got Sheila Lukins' Celebrate (fabulous tome of party menus) and last year I received Blahnik by Bowman (deliciousness of another variety.) I knew right away I'd received yet another book, and while I didn't know who it was from at first (Secret Santas are supposed to put their name on their cards...but,) I was able to determine it was my colleage Patrick who'd served as my Secret Santa. This year's book? Amy Sedaris' I Like You - Hospitality Under the Influence.  Patrick said: "I saw Amy Sedaris the other day at her book signing and she was just hilarious...god, she's such a mess." And of course, he thought of me. Hmmmmm.

This is especially ironic since, while at my friend Pam's White Elephant Hanukkah party last weekend, I drew this very same book, but it was "stolen" from me in the way that people steal gifts at white elephant parties. (I have since learned that it's better to draw a late number at white elephant parties so that you will have better gifts to steal from others, but hey, I'm a shiksa - all I know is the "that's mine!" school of present exchanges.) So, since Patrick gave me this book too, I think it means that the universe is telling me to read it.

I should state that as a rule, Amy Sedaris sort of creeps me out. I mean, she's a lovely gal, but I think some of that kitchy humor and odd-ball character acting goes a little far. As a person I'd probably really dig her, but only if the characters were checked at the door. Then, I opened the book and almost busted a gut. Tips from booby-trapping your medicine cabinet to put the kabbosh on nosey guests, to patient care "you don't want anything dying in the sick room," are spot-on and laugh-out-loud. But humor aside, Ms. Sedaris provides solid hostess advice that is good for anyone to know. For instance, take this bit from "Ding Dong, Guests Arriving":

"Once your door swings open, your party has started... Allow your guests to soak up the environment you have created. There is no need to point things out. They don't need to be made aware of how much work you've done right away; you've got plenty of time to tell them.  And don't show it in your appearance either. You must look radiant; no one wants to open the door to a tired, anxious, overworked raccoon-eyed hostess. It should appear as though you've used witchcraft. The party should seem effortless."

I don't think Martha Stewart nor Emily Post could have said it better. Ms. Sedaris brings out the old-school entertaining rules that were the purview of my grandmother's bridge club, complete with images of an angel food cake upside down on a bottle of wine.  (If I had a nickel for every time I saw that in Grandma's kitchen...) While some of the images are strange - if Ms. Sedaris' house really looks like this, it's no wonder she's NOT been featured in InStyle -  if not disturbing (as is the purview of all of the Sedaris siblings,) the illustrations are charming and well-planned for the book's aesthetic. She is even kind enough to put in some classic Greek recipes I've been looking for, such as Avgolemono Soup and Moussaka. Yes, I'll admit it, Ms. Sedaris is a real person under all of the character, and she knows a thing or two about a thing or two. No wonder Patrick thought of me!

So, it seems that the entire office is content what what Secret Santa brought them, and we've decided to open some  nice California blanc de noirs to celebrate our successful 2006. I can already feel the headache I always get when I drink champagne this early in the day, but it's Christmas, and Santa has been good to me - and I've been a good Santa...