Straight Dope Message Board

[ThelmaLou]

Originally Posted by freckafree

On the first day of Christmas, purplehorsehoe gave to me...

Five awesome Texas things (chocolate and vodka!)
Four pairs of earrings
Three colorful candles
Two lovely bracelets
And a blue-green sparkly ruffled scarf!

(And a scalp massager that didn't fit in the song, but I don't have one and know I'll use it!)

The bracelets fit perfectly. I'm wearing the green pair of earrings right now. The scarf -- well, sparkly AND blue/green/turquoise. Doesn't get much better than that. I think the candles will go to my little meditation space (where I will heed your stern advice and NOT burn my house down). The chocolate and vodka will not last the day, I'm sure.

Oh, and the jewelry, scarf and candles are all handmade by purplehorseshoe herself. (Almost typed "herelf." Freudian typo!)

Merry Christmas and thank you so much for all the goodies!

PicturesPicturesPictures...

Sounds so pretty!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Be of Good Cheer, and whatever else floats y'all's* boats!




* Yes, that is a real word.

[carnut]

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

Carnut, I opened the U Maple Me Berry jam tonight. I'm low-carbing, so slathering it on a ginormous slice of toast isn't in the cards at the moment. Instead I put a big tablespoonful on a scoop of plain Fage yogurt and added some blueberries and raspberries. It's a marriage made in heaven! The tanginess of the thick Greek yogurt and the sweetness of the jam--perfection.

I put it in yogurt too. The full name is "U Maple Me Berry because there wasn't room to add the word "Happy". Every time I come up with a new jam & jam name, I have to consider the label. When I saw the liqueur, I knew I had to use it in a jam. Because alcohol flavor in jam rocks, even if the alcohol burns off.

[justanothermike]

Merry Everything to my fellow dopers!

[FloatyGimpy]

Ok!! So I opened my package:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Got a grievous wound in the process:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Pulled out the prezzies:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Unwrapped the first gift. An Audubon bird calendar! I thought "Wow, how did she know this is exactly what I wanted??" I didn't put anything that specific in this thread other than "I like birds". Then I remembered that we'd had a "What do you want for Christmas" thread. So I went back to see what I'd put because I couldn't remember. I had indeed said an Audubon bird calendar. Then I thought "OMG what if there is a Labrys lapel pin in amongst these gifts!".

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Then I opened Vietnamese coffee and Mexican hot chocolate tablets, which I'd never heard of but will be enjoying today!"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Next was two Texas items. One is a map of Texas (sorry it's unsidedown!) made from reclaimed wood:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

And a magnet from Paris, Texas:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

I was so, so happy with my gifts. They just made me so happy. I had one, tiny gift left:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

My pin! I'd been wanting a Labrys pin for a while but didn't know where to find one. I normally wear a dinosaur pin on my work sweater but I've already changed it out for my Labrys pin.

My sincere thanks, txobbin, for your well thought out gifts. I'm so pleased. Happy Holidays to you and yours. (hugs)

[ThelmaLou]

Originally Posted by FloatyGimpy

Ok!! So I opened my package:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Got a grievous wound in the process:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Pulled out the prezzies:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Unwrapped the first gift. An Audubon bird calendar! I thought "Wow, how did she know this is exactly what I wanted??" I didn't put anything that specific in this thread other than "I like birds". Then I remembered that we'd had a "What do you want for Christmas" thread. So I went back to see what I'd put because I couldn't remember. I had indeed said an Audubon bird calendar. Then I thought "OMG what if there is a Labrys lapel pin in amongst these gifts!".

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Then I opened Vietnamese coffee and Mexican hot chocolate tablets, which I'd never heard of but will be enjoying today!"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

Next was two Texas items. One is a map of Texas (sorry it's unsidedown!) made from reclaimed wood:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

And a magnet from Paris, Texas:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

I was so, so happy with my gifts. They just made me so happy. I had one, tiny gift left:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/568215...posted-public/

My pin! I'd been wanting a Labrys pin for a while but didn't know where to find one. I normally wear a dinosaur pin on my work sweater but I've already changed it out for my Labrys pin.

My sincere thanks, txobbin, for your well thought out gifts. I'm so pleased. Happy Holidays to you and yours. (hugs)

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!

I have some of that Vinacafe Vietnamese instant coffee, and I love it! That brand is excellent. One envelope makes a smallish cup, only about six ounces. I mix it in the cup with water just off the boil using my milk frother. That also helps cool it down. It already has milk and sugar in it, so some may find it too sweet, but not me.

The chocolate tablets are, of course, for making hot chocolate (mix in hot milk while it's on the stove), but sometimes if I'm desperate for a treat, I'll just break them up and eat them. I'm bad, I know.

Love the cowboy hat on the Eiffel Tower. Great prezzies, artfully presented.

FloatyGimpy, thank you for going to all that trouble.

[purplehorseshoe]

Wow! I must say, having a song (parody) composed as a thank-you was delightful!

The scalp massage thingy was a last minute little throwaway addition - the box equivalent of a stocking stuffer - so it's quite appropriate that it didn't fit the song either. I had vaguely noticed the sequential number of things as I was packing, but somehow the carol didn't even occur to me!

It was fun picking out colors for you and imagining what you might like. Internal arguments like, "I dunno. Maybe too much ... ?" "She said BOLD COLORS dammit woman!"

The vodka (Deep Eddy) is from the Austin area. I tried to pick "southern" flavors.

This was barrels of fun. Merry Holidays y'all!

[txobbin]

FloatyGimpy, I am pleased that you are pleased! It feels wonderful making someone happy. Oh no! about the finger cut, may it heal quickly.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everybody, this has been great fun. I like the links to pictures of the prezzies, that doubles the fun!

[Baker]

Has everyone got their gifts?

[smokey78]

Silvorange, I sent my gift to carnut, and she confirmed she got it.... alas, I haven't gotten anything (yet), but one bright spot was that it pushed me to join the confirmed delivery program for my PO Box. That way I don't have to check it every few days. (I can only make a trip every other Saturday) .
I had a bit of snafus over the years, but finally they approved taking pics of deliveries and just emailing to me to indicate I have something in my box!

[swampspruce]

Originally Posted by txobbin

https://imgur.com/a/zAUJTUs

If I did it correctly, here are images of the hand towels and the Maneki Cat, in regular form and UV purple.

Thanks for doing that tx, I was going to post but you beat me to it!

[swampspruce]

Originally Posted by txobbin

Aww thank you ThelmaLou!

swampspruce, my kitty is a huuuuge hit! Do you take orders??

I could be persuaded.... There's also another filament that turns blue based on temperature.

[smokey78]

oh happy day, I got my package! It's from freckafree and I love this Bad Cats Calendar! And just to think they couldn't get any more creative with wall calendars, this one has a cat on each day! Also wonderful candy bars. Thanks so much! This has been a great idea, would love to participate next year too

[ThelmaLou]

What a lot of fun our gift exchange has been!

Is it next year yet??

[freckafree]

YAY! I'm glad it finally arrived! The USPS said it would be there on Dec. 22, and it obviously was not!

I'm glad you enjoyed the goodies!

[Eyebrows 0f Doom]

Originally Posted by Slow Moving Vehicle

Ack! Holy ADD, Batman! Eyebrows of Doom, I was going through the box I had originally used to send all your gifts (before deciding padded envelopes were safer and less expensive), and I found the Clermont Lounge magnet I meant to send you! My story about Blondie probably made no sense at all to you.

I'll get it in the mail this weekend. I'll be, uh, a New Year's present!

I got it today!! A New Year’s Eve present! It’s very cool, thank you! It’s now on my fridge.

[txobbin]

Yay for the Ukrainian Christmas Season!
swampspruce, I received my book Thank You! I look forward to reading this, it is appealing.
Such pretty packaging!

As an added bonus, Fluffy the Cat got a new resting place

[ThelmaLou]

Originally Posted by txobbin

Yay for the Ukrainian Christmas Season!
swampspruce, I received my book Thank You! I look forward to reading this, it is appealing.
Such pretty packaging!

As an added bonus, Fluffy the Cat got a new resting place

Ahhh... a new box. Life is very good. (Thanks for the pics.)

I don't know if you frequent Reddit, but there is an entire subreddit devoted to pictures of cats sitting in boxes. Yup. Gotta love the interwebs.

[swampspruce]

That is definitely better wrapping than I would have done! Yay! Double win 'cos Kitteh can has box! So Hrystos sya rojdaye!

[txobbin]

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

Ahhh... a new box. Life is very good. (Thanks for the pics.)

I don't know if you frequent Reddit, but there is an entire subreddit devoted to pictures of cats sitting in boxes. Yup. Gotta love the interwebs.

OMG! There is a Fluffy in a box that looks so much like my Fluffy! Might sign up to post side by side pics heh.

[Nayna]

Has there been a “final” list? As far as I know, my recipient (harmonicamoon - sorry for the spoiler, but I think we can let the cat out of the bag at 38 days since mailing) - has not received, and presumably will not receive, my gift. I sent it via USPS on 12/4, and haven’t heard anything since. So disappointing for me, and I can’t imageine how sad harmonicamoon must be!

[FloatyGimpy]

Originally Posted by BeeGee

I got a package from Vancouver with cougar snot soap, some cat toys, mints, and something else that I don't remember...

This was from me if you're wanting to keep track of senders and givers.

My gift included a wall calendar from Vancouver Island:

https://www.calendarclub.ca/products/prd201901563

I also went to a wild life recovery center ( https://www.niwra.org/) in town to get some Cougar Booger soap and Bear's Breath mints:

http://www.goatmountainsoap.com/cougar_booger.html

I sent two cat toys. One was a little stuffed dinosaur with a feather sticking out of his head and the other was a battery operated cricket:

https://www.petsmart.ca/cat/toys/ele...y-5264295.html

There was also an obnoxious Christmas Minion keychain that lit up and made sound that I thought was funny:

https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Minions...RD1O7ATM7A7LW0

[harmonicamoon]

Originally Posted by Nayna

Has there been a “final” list? As far as I know, my recipient (harmonicamoon - sorry for the spoiler, but I think we can let the cat out of the bag at 38 days since mailing) - has not received, and presumably will not receive, my gift. I sent it via USPS on 12/4, and haven’t heard anything since. So disappointing for me, and I can’t imageine how sad harmonicamoon must be!

Hola Nayna. Thank you for the post.

I spent the first three weeks of December in the hospital. Got out last Saturday. I immediately searched the yard for a package or note from Mexico Correos. Nothing. This is a small pueblito and everyone at the post office knows me. I was able to get enough energy to go to their office today. They have not seen the package. Said there will be more mail from the USA tomorrow. And will bring it if it comes. So, there is still hope. They did ask for a tracking number. Do you have one?

Although Secret Santa gifts have always arrived here, there is always the chance they could get intercepted.

I am not sad. I appreciate you playing Secret Santa and agreeing to ship international. And the anticipation has been very exciting.

Life is good. Thank you for your efforts.

Vive Secret Santa!

[Nayna]

Hi, Harmonicamoon! I'm glad you're home from the hospital, but it's really too bad that you haven't received the gift. I do not have a tracking number! I specifically remember throwing the receipt out, actually, and I've been kicking myself ever since. Grr. I'd heard USPS can't trace it once it leaves the country, and your concern seemed to be at the receiving end.

Well, you might as well know (and this may be why it might have been stolen?) it contained food made locally - pretzels made in Pittsburgh, PA, chocolates made in Pittsburgh, biscotti made in Pittsburgh. I think maybe also some chocolate made in Buffalo, NY, where my daughter goes to college. I worried when I wrote the contents of the box on the customs form that somebody along the way would have the munchies!

Grr. Well, only ten months until SDMB Secret Santa 2019!

[harmonicamoon]

Hola.

Thank you for the reply.

Once the package enters Mexico, it can be tracked here.

Thank you for your efforts, and thanks for playing Secret Santa.