# SDMB Secret Santa Gift Exchange 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 2, 2018, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869 "2018-11-02T00:42:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/121 "2018-11-29T04:44:07Z")
My giftee will have to wait a bit longer than some. Hopefully shipping on Saturday, but also need to be out of town, and am expecting kittens to arrive the usual way here at home too. Crazy timing, all this action. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/122 "2018-11-29T04:47:09Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Just remember to punch holes in the box. šŸ˜‰ If she wants out that bad she can punch her own holes! ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/123 "2018-11-29T18:37:48Z")
Argh, tracked the package Iā€™m sending and it seems to be stuck somewhere. Hopefully things will get better. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/124 "2018-11-30T13:45:59Z")
Shopping is getting done tomorrow, package will hopefully be sent Monday. No cats are being sent, though. It will be _gasp_ my first Xmas shopping for the season! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/125 "2018-11-30T15:30:31Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > ā€¦ > No cats are being sent, though. > ā€¦ :dubious: But are you ruling out hamsters? According to the eleventy-billion tracking texts Iā€™m getting from USPS, my giftee should be receiving The Package todayā€“YAY! ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/126 "2018-11-30T18:46:51Z")
Blimey, I think Iā€™m the furthest away and Iā€™m still at the ā€˜deciding what to getā€™ stage. Well, okay, I have visited the local yarn shopā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/127 "2018-11-30T19:33:05Z")
All of my items are now purchased. Next step - package them up and off to the post office! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/128 "2018-11-30T20:46:11Z")
OMG! OMG! OMG! Am I the first to get their package? **ThelmaLou** sent me a lot of goodies! First there are two white chocolate ā€œaspirinā€, for when I overdo it. There is a chocolate mold of the Alamo, which Iā€™ll probably open as soon as I finish typing. There is an item Iā€™ve never seen before, a round fabric tortilla warmer. Her note says it can help keep warm anything else that fits. For 2019 there is a calendar, and each month has the recipe for a tasty sounding mixed drink. And since I like dachshunds there is a cute mat with a really long dachshund. It says ā€œWe are best friends. Always remember that when you fall, Iā€™ll pick you up. After I finish laughing.ā€ Itā€™s all wonderful! Thank you so much, I am thrilled! Iā€™ve been feeling blue for a while, this is a fantastic pick me up. **ThelmaLou** is the best! PS I forgot to mention the postcard from a fancy chocolate shop, now all I have to do to get a free truffle is go to San Antonio.šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/129 "2018-11-30T21:22:43Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > OMG! OMG! OMG! > > Am I the first to get their package? > > **ThelmaLou** sent me a lot of goodies! > > First there are two white chocolate ā€œaspirinā€, for when I overdo it. There is a chocolate mold of the Alamo, which Iā€™ll probably open as soon as I finish typing. There is an item Iā€™ve never seen before, a round fabric tortilla warmer. Her note says it can help keep warm anything else that fits. For 2019 there is a calendar, and each month has the recipe for a tasty sounding mixed drink. And since I like dachshunds there is a cute mat with a really long dachshund. It says ā€œWe are best friends. Always remember that when you fall, Iā€™ll pick you up. After I finish laughing.ā€ > > Itā€™s all wonderful! Thank you so much, I am thrilled! Iā€™ve been feeling blue for a while, this is a fantastic pick me up. **ThelmaLou** is the best! > > PS I forgot to mention the postcard from a fancy chocolate shop, now all I have to do to get a free truffle is go to San Antonio.šŸ˜ƒ Yay! Iā€™m so glad you like your goodies. (The dachshund thing is a pillowcaseā€¦) That tortilla warmer is an amazing thing. The directions say you can steam veggies in thereā€”If you try that, please report. > [@](#): > > Description > > Soft, warm tortillas are the key to delicious tacos and fajitasā€”and this cloth warmer will keep them hot for up to an hour. Just tuck tortillas (or naan and pita) inside and pop it in the microwave for 45 seconds. The warmer stays cool to the touch while retaining heat inside, and its vibrant design makes it a fun addition to meals around the table. > > ``` > Microwavable warmer keeps tortillas warm and soft for up to an hour > > Tortilla warmer can also be used for heating bread, pita, empanadas, pancakes, waffles, naan and more > > Recommended by Cookā€™s Illustrated > > ``` Iā€™m glad the things cheered you up. That means the world to me. šŸ™‚ P.S. I think I gave last yearā€™s giftee a tortilla warmer, too. If I keep doing this long enough, everyone will have one! ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2018, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/130 "2018-12-02T01:35:43Z")
I just bought my giftee their items! That was fun! Now to just get them packed up and sent out. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/131 "2018-12-03T14:33:48Z")
Started the bulk of the homemade portion of my gifts last night, so now Iā€™ve got momentum. I rarely plan out my crafts in great detail, so the ā€œdesignā€ process is mostly fiddling aimlessly with colors and textures until stuff clicks. Iā€™m currently working from home as a phone CSR so this is a terrific way to multitask. (I love customers who just wanna bitch endlessly! My hands are free to make more gift components, and they pay me the same either way.) Now yā€™all get to speculate what Iā€™m making, to keep yourselves occupied until Santa arrives. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/132 "2018-12-03T14:59:02Z")
**purplehorseshoe** - considering our discussion of whether to put holes in our boxes, is it a handmade model of Schrodingerā€™s cat? ---
**Author:** ![slightly\_askew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@slightly\_askew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slightly_askew)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2018, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/133 "2018-12-03T20:39:27Z")
Ack! Project is going more slowly than hoped. I gotta ship to whereā€¦ double Ack!!! Christmas is 12 days long, right?!? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/134 "2018-12-04T01:44:49Z")
OK, mine is all sent! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/135 "2018-12-04T02:40:29Z")
Mine will be sent Friday. I just canā€™t get to the post office before then, but I have all Friday off. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/136 "2018-12-04T03:26:25Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Mine will be sent Friday. I just canā€™t get to the post office before then, but I have all Friday off. Speaking of The Post Office. I took my package to the local Post Office/FedEX/Boutique place where I usually drop off prepaid amazon returns and the like. They also do US Post Office functions. The clerk there weighed my package and told me the US Postage would be $22! I said (in effect) WTF?!? I went home and got on the [USPS.gov](http://USPS.gov) site where I have ordered stamps and stuff in the past. (I ordered personalized first class stamps for my friend for Christmas that have her dogā€™s picture on them ā€“ so cute!) I got out my coffee scale and weighed the package, 2.2 lbs, put in Bakerā€™s address, and _voila_! the postage was $11.75. I printed a label, took it to the post office, and shoved it in the package receiving slot without having to stand in line. Iā€™m wondering now if that mini-post office is running a scam and if I should rat them out to the main post office. Anyhoo, my point being, donā€™t underestimate the convenience of paying for postage online and printing up your own mailing label. You still probably have to drop it off at the post office (Unless you can spot the USPS worker in his/her truck and give it to him/her), but you wonā€™t have to stand in line. Setting up an account at [USPS.gov](http://USPS.gov) is very easy. (This is not a paid announcement.) Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/137 "2018-12-04T04:29:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Speaking of The Post Officeā€¦The clerk there weighed my package and told me the US Postage would be $22! I said (in effect) WTF?!? Yeah mine was $18 to send. Ah well, itā€™s on its way to the USA! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/138 "2018-12-04T04:47:22Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Yeah mine was $18 to send. Ah well, itā€™s on its way to the USA! My point was that it didnā€™t cost $22 to send by US Mail; it cost $11.75 when I went online to the US Mail website and calculated the postage myself. The person at the mini-post office was intentionally or unintentionally sticking it to me. This package went within the continental United States. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/139 "2018-12-04T05:29:08Z")
You know what I like about this thread? Knowing that someone, somewhere is thinking about me and planning a gift for me. And someone doesnā€™t know it, yet, but Iā€™ve been thinking about them and Iā€™ve sent them off a package. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2018, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869/140 "2018-12-04T08:25:45Z")
It was a quiet night on tonightā€™s shift so Iā€™m on a roll. My giftee rattled off several items, one of which happens to be something I like to make. So, uh, hope you werenā€™t kidding about liking that one thing on your list! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sdmb-secret-santa-gift-exchange-2018/823869.md?page=8)