BS: My pressie has arrived!!!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,Col K's SS
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:46 PM

Dear Col...

Thanks for letting me know that at least one sleigh shipment made it. There is another on its way, which you should receive soon if you've been a good Mudcatter, and a card as well.

Ho ho ho, Merrrrrryyyyy Christmas!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Mudlark
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:20 PM

Dear Firecat...

Oh, oh, your heart must have been in your mouth when you read my message...it REALLY would be if you knew that tonight is trash night and everything is put in the bin. I don't know what made me look one more time in the box before tossing it...at least hasty stupidity was followed by native caution!

I am truly overwhelmed with this last present! How could you know that silver bangles are just about the only jewelry I wear aside from some silver rings my husband made many years ago. I adore them! I am wearing them now and doubt I will ever take them off. They are STUNNING! The designs are sheer sculpture, off as well as on, they fit perfectly and I just love them. Really enjoyed your note too...found that as well. Glad to know another reader!

Thanks all over again and 10 times over. You have made my Christmas!

Love from your appreciative, grateful and admiring Santee...

Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Trevor
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 07:29 PM

Soz Kim! I read the label as well - goodness why I wrote Memphis - one of my blank moments I guess.

And them thar munchies are great.

And 'cheers' is a very English expression to put on the card.

And I love your accent, on your phone message and the CD.

Tell Paul to watch out, I'm smitten!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Firecat
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 06:20 PM

yay! Thanks for letting me know Santa!

Mudlark, you didn't find all of the pressies! If you look carefully, there is another one!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,Firecat's Secret Santa
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 06:09 PM

OK! It's on the way. Whew!

Hope that plane finds you OK.

I am very far away from you, and have to hope all those hands in between are gentle.

Have fun!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Mudlark
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 05:26 PM

Wheeee! Came home from a long day in town to find that Santa had arrived while I was gone (dang it) and left a large plastic bag hanging from my gate post. I got it down, opened the bag, and inside, at the bottom, was a box, a cardboard box wound round and round with festive duct tape and deeply dented. OH NO! I thot...it's been Postal-ed! I carefully pulled it out and, cringing, rattled it, and was overjoyed to hear no alarming rattles.

No sign on the outside of the box, as to SS's identity, but definitely from aX the pond. I carefully opened the box and found 3 treasures inside, plus a card. Luckily, I have a dispensation from the Father of All Santas and no will power, so opened all presents immediately. I started with the card, so now know that Firekat, and Tig and Badger, are my benefactors.

Thank you, thank you for these great gifts! First off, a nifty hair brush, much like the one my English friend Linda has which I've coveted for some time, but soooo much better, as it's been personalized with some very clever woodburned decoration on the back. Is this your work, Kat? I've never owned a brush with my name on it! Next, a wonderfully inventive twisted wire sculpture--leaping dolphins, and also personalized with my own Mudcat monicker. And last, but definitely not least, a book I've been dying to read by one of my favorite authors: Bill Bryson's "Mother Tongue." Thank you again, Firekat, Tig and Badger for such thoughtful and creative gifts.

Now with great pleasure I'm off to read my new book....

Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Col K
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 05:03 PM

One card and one package have arrived,the package contains
"wooden thing" on the customs declaration form.I have resisted opening it yet,but many thanks Santa.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Pseudolus
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 01:21 PM

I typed in a very long post only to have my computer crash and it looks like it didn't get saved so let me try this again....

I admit it, I gave in and opened the gift! But my SS PM'd me and told me to! Said something about there being stuff in there to be used before Christmas....boy was SHE right!! It's awesome! JenEllen is another in a list of GREAT Secret Santas I've had the pleasure to draw my name! Wait'll ya hear this.....

Inside the box were two bear ornaments, personalized with the names Joshua and Jacob! For those of you that haven't heard they are the names of my miricale twins! Sometime in the next week, we will be putting up our tree and they will be the first ornaments hung! There were also two cassette tapes, one with some of JenEllen's favorite Christmas songs, the first of which was Bob and Doug McKenzie's Great White North twelve days of Christmas. My daughter and I listened to it on the way to her school this morning and we both laughed like idiots all the way...somehow each additional "and a beer...." is funnier than the last! The other tape is a collection of kids stories that originally came from Sorcha and JenEllen loved them so much she decided to pass a copy along to me and my family. It's the gift that keeps on giving! I can't wait to share the stories with Joshua and Jacob. Also the there was a jar of apple butter that looks like it was homemade...YUM! My father-in-law LOVES apple butter and my first thought was to share a little with him...and I thought, NO! hahahaha...

As if that isn't enough there's a wrapped present that I think I will hold off on until Christmas morning (JenEllen's suggestion). What a great year! Christmas is always a special time and this makes it that much better! thanks JenEllen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: SussexCarole
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 01:11 PM

I'm trying so hard to collect it, the Post Office is only open during the hours I work so I've got to wait til Saturday...grrrrrr I'm so impatient. Thank you so much Santa..can't wait to collect it and have a feel & guess and then wait til Christmas day to open it! Carolexx x x

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,Sussex Carole's SS
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 11:47 AM

Well, Carole, did you go pick up the package yet???? It won't wait forever.....

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:02 AM

(ahem, Nashville.) :-)

How d'ya like them GooGoos?!!!?!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Trevor
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 06:28 PM

Sandy Claws lives in Memphis!!

Thank you, dear Kim.

Love,
Trev (munching candy, looking wistfully at piccie of boat whilst reading 'The Tennesean' and listening to CD!)

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Hollowfox
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 04:44 PM

League of Conservative Voters?!?!? Well, JenEllen, as you might have guessed, I ordered it, but I didn't ship it. Doug Elliott is a conservationist for sure, but (while we've never discussed politics) this doesn't sound like his style. It doesn't seem exactly like his sense of humor either. On the other hand, he's big on recycling....
I hope you love his writing as much as I do.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,karen k's SS
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 04:25 PM

Ah! Ha! There you are! All my hints about the licorice socks and all. I do hope they fit. You still don't know who I am do you! Lots of people drop into that post office that's on the post mark and the return address - ? Well anyone can make those little lables! And put any old name on them! Just because there's only one Mudcatter within hundreds of miles you needn't assume it's me!
                      Karen's SS still desperately trying to remain anonymous until Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 04:20 PM

Rog says he thinks my pressie has arrived, at least it looks likely. I will talk with him more this evening and get the lowdown. THANKS, Secret Santa, whoever you are!!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 02:12 PM

My parcel has arrived...well I'm guessing its from a secret santa.It has very strange wrapping paper that nobody I knew would choose, and there is no address of origin on it. It is currently sitting under where the tree will be when I get round to going to the tree place. I am looking forward to it with great interest, but I shall restrain myself, till the official day and time.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,Mooman's Secret Santa
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 12:14 AM

Have no fear Mooman, my friend, your present will be on the way soon. Unfortunately, you have a very slow Secret Santa. It will be mailed this week and when it is I will post here again. Hopefully I won't forget. Just to give you a hint - it is musical, wearable and from America. Hang in there. You are not forgotten.

SS

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: JenEllen
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 02:31 PM

I got mine!!!!! I was going to be good and wait, but it got opened by accident. Mine came in an envelope that was marked "League of Conservative Voters" so it very nearly went into the trash! I thought "What the hell?" when I saw the address and almost chucked it! Thank the gods for curious women!

THANK YOU HOLLOWFOX!!!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: vectis
Date: 07 Dec 03 - 07:29 PM

AHH Santus Arcanus
If you only knew how tempted I've been but the fun of squeezing and shaking it and trying to guess at the contents. Only two and a bit weks to go........
The suspense is delicious in its way.
Tnx times umpteeen once again
Vectis

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Kim C
Date: 07 Dec 03 - 09:54 AM

Mine came yesterday and I opened it! (Hey, life's too short.) I have a box of Terry's chocolates, a lovely day book with floral paintings, a desk calendar with some fabulous photographs, and a beautiful black scarf with white music notes on it. As the desk calendar was created by Beachcomber, I have reason to believe that my Santa is the same.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

(oh gosh, this is so much fun!!!)

But now I kinda feel bad, because I didn't carefully wrap all the items in the package I sent to my Santee! As it was going overseas, I went for safety and functionality rather than colorfulness. Santee, I hope you will understand! :-)

Thanks again to Clinton for coming up with the idea.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,vectis' santus arcanus
Date: 06 Dec 03 - 04:10 PM

There you are...I thought maybe you'd fallen off...I see you've been good, but remember, now, I said it would be okay if you were just overwhelmed and couldn't wait to open it!**bg**

santus arcanus longing to reveal ALL!HeeHeeHee

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: SussexCarole
Date: 05 Dec 03 - 04:41 PM

Yipeee.....had a card through my letterbox from Santa aka Parcelforce Worldwide today. I have a prezzie waiting for me at the Post Office...could this be from my secret Santa????

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: karen k
Date: 04 Dec 03 - 12:05 AM

I got mine the other day. Haven't opened it yet. Thankkkkkkkkkkkkk youuuuuuuuuuuuuu! Now I just have to get off my tail and mail mine out. No excuse if it's late and it has to go to Europe. I've had it since Oct.!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: vectis
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 07:49 PM

My pressie is sitting under my virtual Christmas tree still unopened after three weeks. I have caressed it a few times and have guessed at the contents. Only three weeks to go..........
I still haven't worked out who my luverly SS is though. Must be from USA, Colorado or California is my best guess so far. WIll I find out when I open it???
Whoever you are
Thankyou
Thankyou
Thankyou
Thankyou
Thankyou
Thankyou
I'm still bein good Santa
HONEST :-))

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,Blackcatters SS
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 07:18 PM

Had a slight problem with the reindeer not fancying America at this time of year - would prefer it in the summer.

Have had to send off your pressie by Royal Males and Hairy Planes. Hopefully it should turn up in time for Yule.

Hope you are still being a good boy.

xoxoxo

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 05:04 PM

Mine arrived, but my mischevious Canadian SS left no hint as to who they were? How can I gush and thank you if I don't know who you are???

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: nutty
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 02:44 PM

THANK-YOU - I got my pressie too .... I'm saving it for Christmas Day

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 02:26 PM

Well, my pressie to my Santee has gone out.....no word that it has arrived......

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 02:19 PM

Proximity is everything in this global village. Even in the virtual world of thread postings. . .

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Barb'ry
Date: 03 Dec 03 - 02:09 PM

I GOT MY PRESSIE!!!!!!!! But I am still being good and haven't opened it yet. Yet.......
Thank you secret santa!!!!
Texas huh?

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 10:54 PM

I heard a thump out on the porch, and found a package perched on my mailbox. This is it, my Secret Santa is revealed. It took under a week from the UK to the TX. I haven't opened the box yet, we'll save that for Christmas. As to geography, I can see that if I had gotten out the atlas I could have put a name to a county closer to the channel than the city of London (but that is on the right side of the island!) I probably could have even risked the guess of Kent, because I used to be pretty good at the locations over there when I was reading more British lit. I still wouldn't have figured out who it was, because I don't know where all of our British Mudcatters live.

I love the way you spell your name--over here all of the silent consonants would have been dropped and it would look different.

Now, I wonder if the box I mailed last week has made it on its appointed rounds?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Pseudolus
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 10:12 PM

I got mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OK, I'm not gonna open it yet, I can't decide, well I'm gonna wait until tomorrow at least and see if the will power holds out, I sorta doubt it!!!!!


Here's to tryin!!
Frank

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: JennyO
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 09:37 PM

Been doing a bit of sleuthing, based on what my Santa said on the postcard, and on which mudcatters from that area are involved in this, and I think I have narrowed it down to three likely contenders, with one of you definitely having the front running.

So SS, is the answer in the parcels, or will I still have to do more sleuthing after I open them?

Jenny (looking at the unopened parcels, fingers feeling decidedy itchy, but determined to wait till the proper time)

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Lyrical Lady
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 08:54 PM

My pressie arrived two weeks ago. I haven't opened a thing but I have plenty of clues as to what to expect. No clues as to who my Santa is tho..hmmm...ok who's from Birmingham..fess up now!
I can't wait to open all my little packages!

Lyrical Lady

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,Noreen's Secret Santa
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 08:45 PM

HO HO HO ..... my little Crumpet......your parcel is slogging it's way over hill and dale! Hopefully it will arrive before the big day!
Enjoy.....

Noreen's Secret Santa

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: JennyO
Date: 02 Dec 03 - 01:19 AM

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My package arrived today. I have been sort-of semi-good. I have opened enough of the outer wrapping to know that my Santa is in the UK and I have a rough idea of where from the postcards, but there are 3 wrapped parcels which I am going to try and not open till Christmas (well maybe a few days before as I'm going off to Woodford on the 22nd). So now I'm puzzling over the few clues I have been given. Hmmmmmm.

Oooh this is fun! Now I'm feeling guilty 'cos I haven't sent my santee's present yet. Must get busy!

Jenny

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 12:45 PM

Oh, no! There was something about "frogs" and "tunneling" and I assumed it was slang saying the French were nearby via the tunnel.

Sigh.

I'll go get those clues and start to work. . .

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,SRS' Secret Santa
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 04:56 AM

Boy is your geography out!

I'd guess an atlas for Christmas would've been a good idea. Shame I've already wrapped that package of barbeque charcoal.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Nov 03 - 03:24 AM

I refreshed this earlier to bring it back onto the screen and later realized it could be misconstrued. I haven't seen anything from my Santa for a while, and no package yet. Perhaps it is time to pull out the poem again and look for more clues. I've established that this is someone from the UK, I'm guessing around London. My geography (sans an atlas) got me that far, anyway.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: SINSULL
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 08:14 PM

Hope my SS is patient. Won't be getting her goodies until just before Christmas, as is suitable.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Nov 03 - 07:25 PM

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Col K
Date: 27 Nov 03 - 10:34 AM

I just posted my pressie off to my recipient. Hope it gets there.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:54 PM

Oops! Santa brain fart alert!

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 02:54 PM

What kind of reindeer are those? They'd better deliver on December 24! Must be New [Year] Age reindeer.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Amos
Date: 26 Nov 03 - 11:37 AM

Jeri, Harpy -- Escargot in a tin for both of yez!! LOL!!


A

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: GUEST,Barb'ry's SS
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:55 PM

The nice student-sized elf at my postal station had me sign a parchment-like paper saying I wasn't sending explosives or nasty stuff through the mail. I was a bit vague, while remaining accurate, about the contents of that package.

Only Two Weeks 'til it gets there! The reindeer have their antlers crossed hoping it arrives safely (they only deliver on December 31--the rest of the time they're bulking up and helping pack the bag of goodies!)

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:09 PM

I don't know Jeri. It doesn't seemed to have worked for me lately!

Oh, pardon me...you meant the present part... ahem...

LOL

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:02 PM

Amos, if being a bitch occasionally prevents us from getting presents, we're all screwed.

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: harpgirl
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 10:02 PM

No, I know I've been a bitch, Amos. Would you expect anything different????????? Of course it does depend on who you talk to...

Subject: RE: BS: My pressie has arrived!!!
From: Amos
Date: 25 Nov 03 - 09:54 PM

Well, ya now, Harpy, sometimes we _think_ we're being good and we're really _not_. At least it seems that way, ya know woddIMean? Like we don't really know if we're really good or just explaining our actions away anyway? Ya know? So maybe....I mean, I just thought maybe ya been really good in your mind, like, but in reality you just been a real bitch, ya know....ya think maybe? Woddya think?

A