Re: CHRISTMAS GAME

[Guest guest]

-HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.

I am trying to read and catch up on news. Have been sitting up with

chest pain this morning. I have not had the energy to keep up of late

with Christmas, work, family etc.

I must say I have been pretty worn out to really appreciate

celebrations.

It's pretty hot here so have been close to the pool a lot.

I have a variation to Sandy's game. We have been doing our secret

santa game at our staff christmas party for some years.

Everyone brings a small inexpensive gift to the party wrapped. We

then put everyones name into a basket.We draw a name out and that

person selects a gift and unwraps it. That person then selects

another name out of the basket. The second person can either take a

gift already unwrapped or another from the pile. They in turn pick an

name and the next has the choice to steal a gift or take one from the

pile.If you have your gift taken, you then can either steel someone

elses gift (not the one just taken from you though-you may be to

steal it back later though) or get a new one from the pile. This can

go on for quite a while when there are some cool gifts going around.

This year we had some salt and pepper shakers and a hand made

miniature bicycle from copper wire and a few others kept going around

the circle. It is definitley like your game a lot of fun.

It has become a tradition for our staff parties along with a lot of

pool water.

I have thought of everyone often and hoped that your health is

fairing well. Many would be seeing New Year in about now. We have

done that on this side of the world.

Biljana, I looked out for the Christmas article on Achalasia on you.

Did I miss it? Was looking forward to seeing it. If they printed it,

let me know which magazine and month and I will go get it.

On a sad note in " Thats Life " magazine, there is an article of a man

hit by a car while riding his bicycle. That happened here. He is

wearing the jersey I designed for my shop. It was a very sad

occassion, the driver left the scene and was badly intoxicated. He

had been caught for drunk driving something like 12 times before. He

is now only doing 5years for it. Where is that justified? Neil has

young children and was a lovely person.

Crystal, I had my myotomy the same week as you. I am now having some

trouble swallowing too. The food goes through much slower that I

thought and needs regular water. Maybe it is the healing and scarr

tissue. It is still much better than before surgery, not regrets.

Hope you are doing well.

I still get so weary every day. Am still trying to reabilitate my

leg. Have started riding a bicycle to try and get the muscles to work

in the leg. I only really have the energy to ride 2-4kms. It is not

much when I used to cycle between 30-100km a day once. Can't see ever

getting that much energy back again. The last month has been pretty

tough for me.

So here's to looking forward, to a New Year to good health for

everyone.

Ann, your surgery will sail past and you will find such a change to

your life. I was so sick with worry before mine as well. I have no

regrets. Your boundaries of normal will change. I can now eat out

with no embarrassing moments which I had everwhere.

We are all hoping a wishing you and all others going through it over

the coming months the best.

Deborah also I am glad you finally have a date. Don't back out or

change it. Your life will be so much more manageable after you

recover.

I think I have prattled on enough. Will go and read more posting here

and try to catch up on all the news while I am listening to my

daughter with her kareoke.

Best wishes to all.

in Australia

-- In achalasia , " toomuchclutter " <sandycarroll@c...>

wrote:

>

>

>

> Sooooo glad to hear from you Sandi. Wonderful news about the

biopsy. I have a neighbor who has bad acid reflux (and kidney

disease, not related) and I've noticed she often forgets to take

Prevacid and takes when in pain. I've wondered about the damage

because of tv commercials. Apparently, you don't always feel the

damage.

>

> My heart warmed to hear you play the " game " . I'm like a dog, you

give me a little attention and I want more.... here is the " game " .

Guaranteed to keep opposing sides of the family diverting their

aggression toward others into a harmless way hopefully, although

memories remain strong.

>

> Everyone, or " host " brings inexpensive gifts. Not necessarily gag

gifts, because that is kind of a waste of money... but whatever....

bottles of sparkling cider are a favorite, chocolate covered

cherries, warm socks, cookie cutters, rolls of toilet paper

(something useful at least), collectible cards for kids.... something

for everyone. They are all wrapped.

>

> Pile them all in the center, everyone sits around, get some

dice.... whatever you have, 2,3 or 5 of them and set the winning

combos.... so that you get a winner about every 3rd roll. Winners

get to roll again. (This is the part where you argue every year, how

many dice, what counts etc.)

>

> Winners pick a gift, don't open it (or do, another area for

argument) until all gifts are gone. Open them all together and show

off. Set a timer for about 40 minutes (or whatever, another area of

argument potential). Continue rolling and then you steal from each

other. This is the vicious part. In-laws that won't speak to each

other start speaking because they want the cookie cutters and steal

them. Killer mean and vicious usually. Grannies steal from 2 year

olds.

>

> My grandmother started this about 40 years ago, when I think she

forgot gifts for all of us. There were some aunts that had some

strained relationships and lots of kids. I remember fighting and

screaming over cookie cutters and chocolate covered cherries. Tons

of fun.

>

> Roughly, you want about 3 gifts per person so no one goes home

empty handed or you start going through the kitchen or refrigerator,

like Sandi. Eventually kindness shows hopefully and the kids are

left with the box of colors. Old awful gifts are acceptable and also

things on the way to Good Will as people want the weirdest things.

I've run out of time and gotten a bunch of $5 Target gift cards and

those are always winners for pre-teens and teens (and Moms).

>

> Way too long an explanation.... make it what you will.... the

arguing about the rules are great for people with control issues and

part of the tradition.

>

> Sandi, you've inspired me to get stuff going this year. My MIL

loved this game, the past 15 years and she passed away this fall. I

was going to skip it as the family isn't getting together (SIL with

severe control issues doesn't want to bother with us). So I'll go

get stuff for just the four of us, so my kids won't be disappointed.

>

> Speaking of them, they got up early to bug me.... ANYONE PLEASE...

2 weeks off from school. HELP ME.

>

> Sandy in So Cal

>

> Quincia, there are some

> > EXCELLENT experienced doctors on the West Coast -- which doctor

are

> > you seeing?

> > > >

> > > > Debbi in Michigan

> > > > hi, guys,

> > > > my name is Quincia Xu as said in my email address. I am from

San

> > Francisco, CA, USA. Thank you all for your feedback. I am really

> > appreciated. I learned a lots by reading your emails.

> > > > Quincia

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >