# The Straight Dope Secret Santa 2004 Exchange! New, with Improvements! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 23, 2004, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269 "2004-11-23T14:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/301 "2004-12-10T02:44:44Z")
> [@MrFantsyPants](#): > > So what’s the deal with opening the packages? Do we do it when we recieve it? Do we open them on Christmas? Do we pick a date, and all do it together in a new thread? I’m saving mine for Christmas. It’s going under the tree as soon as it gets here, and I _promise_ to resist the urge to tear it open right away. But after Christmas, I think it would be fun to find out what everyone got. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/302 "2004-12-10T10:17:31Z")
Alas I was told if I wanted to send internationally I would have to put a return address on otherwise they would not liable for compensation if it went walkies. So someone might find my address and work out it’s me 🙂 Oh well it’s better than having it disappear into the ocean somewhere to join Glenn Miller,Lord Lucan and Shergar ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/303 "2004-12-10T12:18:09Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Oh, and my address is: > > 147¾ ² Ducks Quack Echo DriveParkway > Fancy Pants Trailer Villa > Trailer #.01 > Dæd Ho®se, AK ¥48765 > Elbonia. Wow, Really? Do you know Phil in trailer 18.9[sup]?[/sup]. He owes me money! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/304 "2004-12-10T13:04:30Z")
Yes, yes I do. I am married to him. My ex is his brother. That means our children are my husbands neice and nephew stepchild. ow. I think my brain exploded. Oh, and don’t hold your breath on getting your money from Phil, he has to get a new tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/305 "2004-12-10T13:18:12Z")
Also I had to _ahem_ undervalue my gift since if I valued it more, I’d have to pay a higher rate of postage 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/306 "2004-12-10T13:19:25Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Yes, yes I do. I am married to him. My ex is his brother. Ah that’s in Elbonia. In Mississippi it would be my ex is my brother 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kuizelemartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19b73/32.png) [@Kuizelemartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuizelemartz)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/307 "2004-12-10T19:20:20Z")
OK, gift sent to **Shirley**. You got a sparkly new tube top, a pack of Camels, unfiltered, a box of crackers and some Cheese-Wiz. See, aren’t ya happy I didn’t send you the Vienna Sausages? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/308 "2004-12-10T22:57:43Z")
> [@Ravenous Lady](#): > > OK, gift sent to **Shirley**. You got a sparkly new tube top, a pack of Camels, unfiltered, a box of crackers and some Cheese-Wiz. > > See, aren’t ya happy I didn’t send you the Vienna Sausages? Cheeze Whiz! Gotta love a product named after bodily functions! That’s just good eatin’!!! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/309 "2004-12-10T23:07:44Z")
My leetle giftie is winging its way toward my victim as we speak. Merry Christmas! ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/310 "2004-12-11T04:53:48Z")
Mine is, too. I hope my person likes it. I haven’t decided if I’m going to do the crazed weasel thing or not…probably will. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![melondeca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@melondeca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melondeca)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/311 "2004-12-11T16:23:29Z")
I was a good little secret santa yesterday. My gift was purchased and will be sent on its way Monday and my donation was made to my local animal shelter. All is right with the world. ---
**Author:** ![Kuizelemartz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19b73/32.png) [@Kuizelemartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kuizelemartz)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/312 "2004-12-11T17:27:00Z")
I had a messed up dream last night. I did the crazed weasel thing. After I did that, I was wondering, what the hell did I just do? I wasn’t gonna do that, damn. I remember dreams like this, never any good ones. ---
**Author:** ![dcordell1960](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@dcordell1960](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dcordell1960)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/313 "2004-12-11T20:15:30Z")
Well, I got my secret santa today. Couldn’t wait so I opened it. It was a wonderful stuffed emu from Austrailia (Gods own country). It does not sit up real well but it is a lot of fun. Thank you… thank you… thank you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FreeRange\_Maniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/97f17d/32.png) [@FreeRange\_Maniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FreeRange_Maniac)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/314 "2004-12-11T22:15:34Z")
At last, at last, got my Secret Santa goft all sent away. Unfortunately, as the date for shipping was yesterday, and I was in a rush, I had to buy it, then get to the post office and ship it, so it’s not real pretty, but it’s on its way! ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/315 "2004-12-11T23:58:02Z")
Wow! I got mine today, all the way from _Australia!_ **Cunctator** , I can’t thank you enough! Those coins are beautiful! And those are definitely a keepsake that will be with me in my office for quite a while! And now, I’ve got my own li’l jar of Vegemite!! Wooooo! 😃 Tripler I have to admit, I think the taste is going to take some getting used to. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/316 "2004-12-12T00:49:04Z")
Well, I hit a bit of a snag trying to mail my present today. First, I spent 15 minutes in line at the post office across the street from my place, only to discover they only take cash, and I didn’t have any. So I went to get cash, and stopped in at the post office across the street from my bank, except that they had just closed. So armed with cash, I went back to the original post office, spent another 15 minutes in line, and was told that I’m not allowed to send chocolate to the States without pre-approval from the FDA. I haven’t checked out their website yet, but if that’s going to be too arduous, I guess it’s back to square one, and I’ll apologise to my Doper for the likely late arrival of their gift. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/317 "2004-12-12T16:32:36Z")
I just bought my giftee’s gift. Now I just have to wrap and mail it. ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/318 "2004-12-12T18:16:27Z")
I didn’t dare wrap mine just in case they gave me crap at the post office about trying to conceal something headed out of the country. Stupid post 9/11 crap. Why yes I am sending this chocolate covered nuclear warhead out of the country. It was on sale at Target - 149.99 - get them while they last. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/319 "2004-12-12T18:47:35Z")
It’s all ready to go, and my mother promises that since she has to go to the post office anyway sometime in the next few days, she’ll mail it for me (after, of course, I managed to convince her that participating in a Secret Santa thing with people over the internet will not lead to me being stalked and/or kidnapped- I hope 😛 ) ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269/320 "2004-12-12T20:41:54Z")
I sent my gift out on Friday…told it would take 5-10 days to get where it’s going. So my recipient should get it by Christmas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-secret-santa-2004-exchange-new-with-improvements/276269.md?page=17)