I’m in. As usual I will throw myself on the great gift giving dopers. Y’all have always come through without hints, and other than edibles, I wear/use the items I was sent to this day.
Hurray for another person! This is going to be so much fun, thanks for joining us 
If you’d just typed the word “newborn,” that would have been enough.
I know, right?
(Hey - how many people do we have so far?)
Not sure how the last part of that paragraph got cut off. I said that adult books in Spanish, like Isabel Allende are out of my reach, unless they are dual language or heavily annotated for a Spanish student. Adult books written just for learners are fine.
Edibles are not a good idea. We are vegetarian and kosher, and I have reactive hypoglycemia.
Outside of the issue with edibles, I really am not fussy.
Oh, since edibles are not involved, and we don’t care whether it arrives by Christmas or not, feel free to ship as cheaply as possible.
In regard to matching me with someone-- since I don’t really know what makes a good Christmas gift, I’m a good match for someone who prefers content over “shine.” And I ship overseas. Have someone in Europe or Asia who would like several paperbacks of genre fiction? I would love to go to a used bookstore, and pick up a stack at a discount. Volume over appearance-- but you see what I mean-- I really have no idea whether people give used items for Christmas or not. I’ve never given an adult a Chanukah gift, unless it was a gag gift, or an excuse to give something I wanted to give anyway. Or the “adult” was a college student I slipped some money.
Once I got, as a “gift,” an elaborately wrapped book from my cousin-- that I had lent to her four years earlier, and figured I’d never see again (along with a very nice card). That’s the kind of thing an adult would give another for Chanukah. Or, once when I went to Israel right after Chanukah, several family members sent me money.
Purim, our other gift-gving holiday is the same-- just for children, really.
I’m in! I haven’t been around much (at all really) lately, but I try to never miss the gift exchange!
I always love getting something local to the givers area. I would love local coffees or teas!
I have a cat and a dog. I love houseplants. A funky pot/planter would be fun.
I love deep colors: reds, purples, greens, etc. If you are crafty, I would love something you made.
I’m laughing at how your cousin gave you “your” book back, so funny!
The best part of the SDMB Christmas exchange is that you don’t have to “do” Christmas at all. I mean, I bought some Christmas wrapping paper but that was mostly because my cats had already gotten all of the mylar paper I had and my giftee had a cat who needed some.
Folks like local things, fridge magnets and coffee cups are often happily received. This year’s giftee is going to receive a saguaro shaped fridge magnet that I bought at a local craft show.
I honestly think that you are over-thinking this! Nobody doing these sort of things actually needs anything, we are doing it for fun and it seems as though fun is in short supply these days.
@purplehorseshoe I have 6 addresses so far, but it’s early yet. Not being sure what has happened in the past if the we don’t have an odd number signing up, I have made the executive decision that I will be the one sending two packages and getting twice the shopping fun! Not to mention that bitching about the post office has become quite a favored passtime of mine, sending two packages will give me twice the complaining i can do!
@Rhiannon8404 Welcome! It’s great to have you, the more the merrier!
Yay, @Rhiannon8404 is back! She give great gifts.
Signed,
a lucky recipient.
@RivkahChaya , Jane said it well.
There’s nothing that makes a “Christmas” gift different in this exchange from any other gift. (How is this gift different from all other gifts? It’s not.) A Christmassy theme or Christmassy content is definitely not required. The SDMB is a pretty secular place. It’s just a fun, distracting thing we do to brighten up our drab lives (well, I do it to brighten up my drab life anyway).
Oh go on, I’m in.
Postage to the UK can be really expensive for heavy stuff, so please send lightweight things, and do check what’s legal- I’ve had a previous years’ gift not get through, and that’s just a bummer all round.
I’m vegetarian, otherwise unfussy. I have a nickel allergy, but no others I know of (possibly black mold- please do not send me that)
I like plants, but currently have no garden as I’m a student (but please don’t attempt to send me plants, including seeds- not only will it likely get confiscated, but I know many of the people in the gummint agency which deals with plant imports and I’d never live it down). I’ve just got into crochet, but I’m not very good, I like most colours, especially green and purple. T-shirt size is probably M. I’ve not been to the US, so anything local is nice.
I missed this last year, so I’m in again! Thanks, @JaneDoe42 !
I like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain…wait, no I don’t. Sorry, they’re playing the yacht rock channel at work again.
I like just about anything I’m sent. (Including fruitcake!) Especially magnets from local attractions, ornaments, tee shirts (XL), scarves, cool rocks, and shiny metal things. I’m a runner, so running socks and sweatbands are always welcome. Foodwise, no allergies. Not a fan of eggs or mushrooms or coffee, but beyond that, will try almost anything.
I’m wondering about the deadline, though. If the entry ends at Thanksgiving, I assume that’s when we find out our Santee. Doesn’t seem to allow a lot of time to shop for, assemble, and ship the package by 12/01.
@RivkahChaya – I’ve participated in several of these. Don’t worry about what makes an appropriate gift; the only vaguely Christmassy things I’ve ever gotten were ornaments for the tree. (Both very very cool, though – one was a salmon-skin heart, from a Doper in the Faroe Islands, and the other gift was origami horses.) Any gift you send will be fine; I mean, I think non-Christians outnumber Christians on the SMDB.
Forgot to add: I’m male, if that matters. But I do like pretty soaps and such.
Maybe we will wind up fudging on that a bit. (BTW, I like fudge. 
) The Christmas season doesn’t officially end until 12th Night (Jan 6), correct? Anyhoo, in my world, there’s no such thing as a late gift and there’s no bad time to get a prezzie.
I’ve been having second thoughts about that too. I’m thinking Thelma is right and we will fudge it some. Of course we will want to get our packages out as soon as possible but we want to be sure we send our giftee stuff she or he will want!
I’m glad you are both here @Filbert and @Slow_Moving_Vehicle! The more the better!!!
I forgot to say that- I really don’t mind getting late presents. I will be away for a few days over the actual holiday anyway, and a bit of anticipation is always good 
Works for me. Gives me an extended period during which I get presents, are you kidding??!? so I’ve never had a problem with belated gifts.
Adding to the chorus for @RivkahChaya (and whoever else might feel trepidation) there’s no such thing as a “wrong” gift.
We’re just trying to brighten each other’s lives. (A mitzvah, yes? Good deed?)
Don’t overthink. Give from the heart, make it fun for you - and the receiver - and you’ll be more than O.K.
In Medieval times, gifts were exchanged on 12th Night, not sooner.
Well, there we go. We will enjoy our gifts despite the shipping delays and be happy that we are able to have fun with so many other great people.
Most previous swaps haven’t been people paired up to swap- it’s often been groups, so A sends to B sends to C sends to D sends to A. Just FYI.
Thank you SO much for that! I didn’t want people mailing back and forth to each other and was going to hand the task off to Mom because she’s so good at that sort of sorting.
It would be unfair for me to pick my own giftee/gifter and it would be easier for me if she does the whole picking names so I assigned the task to her. She is leaving on Tuesday and says its not because she doesn’t want to do it…