Going home to drink my booze, eat my nuts, and write on my calandar

In a lot of professions, you have to quote out projects, find the lowest price, and go with that.

In my line of work, generally time, not money, is of the essence. (Though really it's both.)
I'm pretty proud of the good relationships I form with my vendors, of which there's a pretty tight pool of about 4 that I use now. I like them, they like me. In the beginning of this gig, it became clear who was my go-to printer. The one who didn't blink when I ordered a 6' x 4' foam core jigsaw puzzle, who's pulled my cookies out of the fire many, many times, when the client has pulled some asinine deadline out of their collective neither regions.
So I give them cookies. Send 'em a pen. Send 'em a Christmas Card. For my Go-To Printer, I send them an Edible Arrangement every year.

Am I supposed to? Probably not. It's unethical to show favor.
However, my being able to do my job comes down to how much these people are sometimes willing to bend, so if that means throwing them a bone, I'm all over it.

Merry Christmas, you blanket-wash-fume addicted crazies. It's been another year when we haven't come to blows, and we all still like each other.

And my go-to printer is now the reason I can't run for office based on "accepted unethical gifts". ;)
- K.