Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Sep 12 - 12:02 PM We had a pretty good turnout last year, and I think only a couple of parcels went astray or weren't sent. Health and household crises do sometimes arise. In mid-October I'll go ahead and start another thread for Secret Santa 2012. Don't sign up here. This is a heads up - since someone started a thread about christmas mince pies today I am reminded the holidays are just around the corner. The main points I want to make here are that while most of the gifts arrive on time, there are always a few glitches. If you choose to play, you're welcome, and if something happens to take you out of play, please let me know so I can have an alternate (because we have so many generous Mudcat members who love this game!) step in and take care of the delivery. Don't wait till the last minute, some of these parcels go halfway around the planet and need time if they are to be affordable. This game goes back quite a few years. For newer members not familiar with it, Here is an old thread with a lot of the games and chatter. People sign out of their Mudcat accounts to post hints or to tease the recipient, but please use a consistent guest name when you post in the threads that will run for this year so the moderators don't accidentally delete posts if they would otherwise look like spam. :) SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Nov 11 - 09:09 PM All assignments have been sent. If you come to this late, send me a PM directly and I'll see about late assignments. I made sure that none of the assignments are duplicates of last year, but I don't have information from previous years (I didn't look it up because that would have made this way more complicated than it needs to be.) If you've sent to this party before, see if you can be very creative in disguising your identity. Try asking your friends and family for help. Surrogate R. Santa |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Cats Date: 02 Nov 11 - 02:58 PM yippeeee nearly there. Bliss... shopping!!! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Nov 11 - 10:57 AM I've made the list and now I'm checking it twice . . . |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 02 Nov 11 - 06:03 AM cheers to Stilly! BS: Secret Santa Hints 2011 BS: Santas and Santees |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Nov 11 - 10:26 PM For several weeks I've collected names from folks wanting to participate in the Secret Santa gift (and card) exchange. That file has been printed out twice and the (scissors and tape) cut and paste part of this process has begun. I'll let people know this week by PM who their secret santee is. I'll announce in this thread when that process is finished. If you're a straggler, like I mentioned earlier, don't broadcast that you're joining late, just send me a PM and I'll do what I can to include you in the game. The teasing threads will soon begin! I really love being part of this - setting so much activity in motion. Let your good intentions guide you in this - if you've signed up to play, be sure your gift goes out early (better early than late) and put it in play. It isn't the dollar value, it truly is the thought that counts. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Nov 11 - 04:43 PM ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ Tonight, tonight. . . SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Oct 11 - 10:02 PM Tomorrow night I'll start working on the names. I had another one added today. |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 31 Oct 11 - 10:28 AM I have my Word file set up with a table and I know how to use it. I'll start sorting tomorrow evening. I'm sure there will be a few stragglers, so be warned: if you post in this thread that you're late and can you be added then you'll be telegraphing to other stragglers who you are. If you don't get a message to me by the evening of Nov. 1 (Texas, Central Daylight Time) then just send me a PM, don't post your intent here. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Oct 11 - 05:02 AM last bounce!! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 30 Oct 11 - 04:53 PM Boing! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 30 Oct 11 - 10:09 AM again |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 30 Oct 11 - 12:26 AM Back to the top. |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- NOV 1! From: Stilly River Sage Date: 29 Oct 11 - 10:00 AM Down to the last three days before I start the mixing and matching of Santas and Santees. Send me a PM if you want to join the game. Find the instructions in the first post and refinements mentioned throughout. SRS ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ ☃ |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Oct 11 - 10:42 AM Good! Next week the assignments will be made! Rattle the cages of any you think might want to play but have missed this thread! SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Date: 28 Oct 11 - 10:38 AM I'm in! I'm in! I hadn't responded publicly, but I'm definitely in! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Oct 11 - 08:29 PM |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 23 Oct 11 - 11:31 AM One last suggestion - if you know who your last year's recipient or sender was, and you haven't seen them respond to this list, why not send a link and a reminder of the program this year? If your santa kind of fell through, then skip the message. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 23 Oct 11 - 02:58 AM Refresh for UK'ers! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 22 Oct 11 - 10:04 PM Any more out there? The list is growing, but I think it was quite a bit longer last year. Rattle cages, one and all, and in this next week let's see if we can add participants. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 21 Oct 11 - 11:31 PM Good! We're going to be spanning the globe again with our Santas! Who else would like to join the game? SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Joybell Date: 21 Oct 11 - 10:46 PM I'd like to be in again too please. PM on the way. Cheers, Joy |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 19 Oct 11 - 02:12 PM Fab idea putting last year's list on here & suggesting nudging the stragglers! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Oct 11 - 11:06 PM Here is last year's match-up: From - To Barb'ry - Nancy King Sarah the Flute - Joybell Hardiman the flute - ClaireBear Sandra In Sydney - Barb'ry Jacqui.c - My guru always said Anne Lister - Becca72 Severn - Sarah the Flute Joybell - Hardiman the Fiddler Nancy King - Art Brooks Leadfingers - vectis Hawker - JennieG My guru always said - Cats Sinsull - Anne Lister vectis - Wolfhoud person Art Brooks - Jacqui.c Jenn Brooks - Sinsull Tinker - Tig Wolfhound person - Tinker Cats - Bat Goddess Becca72 - Hawker ClaireBear - Severn JennieG - Animaterra Animaterra - Sandra In Sydney Bat Goddess - Jen Brooks Tig - Dan Schats late assignments (note to self: if I'd waited a little longer for stragglers, I could have mixed it up more.) Greg Stephens - Ranger 1 Ranger1 - Greg Stephens Hollowfox - Ranger Steve Ranger Steve - Hollowfox Anyone one the list you're in touch with who you think might want to join the game again? Please let them know! SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 18 Oct 11 - 02:25 PM It feels like fall! We're getting closer to gift-giving season (at least in the northern hemisphere). Any more folks want to step up and join the game? SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 17 Oct 11 - 09:10 PM What we really need is a secret santa for Max to get him a new server. See the Slowwwwwwwwww thread. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Anne Lister Date: 17 Oct 11 - 05:14 PM Refresh |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Hawker Date: 16 Oct 11 - 07:52 PM BOINGgggg...... Come on ! You know you want to! Who cares if it arrives late? Who cares if it is a hassle? Knowing it brings a moment of joy, excitement and a feeling that someone out there you maybe dont know that well cared enough to take time,out of thier busy lives to send you a present is just great.....and it needn't cost the earth either, make something, it's more personal then, My first Santa, Pseudolus sent me a beautiful fleece blanket that had been hand made, It has been to every festival we have been to since, not to mention the crabs shot glass and blueberry 'caviar' I received last year :0) |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 16 Oct 11 - 03:23 AM You're doing a fabulous job Maggie, keep it up Girl! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 15 Oct 11 - 10:03 PM Some of you might want to contact friends who have played this game in the past. There are several I haven't heard a peep from, but I haven't seen them on Mudcat lately either. Probe the old lists, see if you can bring a few aboard, or we might send out names sooner than Nov. 1. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 14 Oct 11 - 10:06 PM Round and round and round we go - any more participants in this year's Secret Santa exchange (or the new card component?) SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Oct 11 - 11:42 PM Back up to the top! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 13 Oct 11 - 12:46 AM DrugCrazed, there are a couple of you who are wondering if you want to join, for the sheer fact of a busy life, but also because of past disappointment. I know of at least one last year that simply never reached it's destination, and there was another one that I never heard from one way or the other. I'm keeping all of that in mind as I compile this year's list. There are no guarantees, but short of that, I'll do inspire follow-through. :) SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 12 Oct 11 - 09:31 AM Mudcat facebook page for checking when the 'Cat can't be found |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: DrugCrazed Date: 12 Oct 11 - 04:18 AM I'll mull this over, I'd like to do it but I'm currently running around like a headless chicken so I'd rather not be someone who ends up disappointing someone else. SRS, if I don't send you a PM or post in here by next week(ish) then just shout. |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:56 AM Is it, Sandra? I didn't know that, any chance of a link? |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 12 Oct 11 - 03:53 AM I'm not a facebook member, but I do check the Mudcat page when I can't get into the Cat! The page is available to non-facebook members |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Oct 11 - 12:33 PM There are a lot of them over there - I hope they're still visiting Mudcat because facebook doesn't have much activity except to complain that Mudcat is down. :) SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: My guru always said Date: 11 Oct 11 - 11:45 AM Maybe some of the UK Catters have diverted to Facebook and haven't seen this. I'm not on Facebook, but maybe someone else is who can point the MudCat group to this thread? |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:14 AM Don't worry, when threads get long enough people tend to skip down to the most recent posts. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Becca72 Date: 11 Oct 11 - 09:05 AM My apologies. I obviously missed it in the OP; must not have been paying attention that day. |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 11 Oct 11 - 12:23 AM Another one added today. I think a few folks are reluctant to join because they've been disappointed in the past. This game is a way to turn back time, to bring a child-like anticipation for grownups, and when packages arrive, the pleasure of exploring the contents and guessing. To keep this thread going, I wonder if any of you might like to share a great experience with one or more of these Secret Santa packages when they arrived? I'll start- though it is about the sending, not the receiving - when we did this the first time my children were still here at home, and we planned a nice lap quilt. My Santee was MMario, and we made a very sturdy travel-worthy quilt, with a soft corduroy back and it might have been flannel on top - I don't remember now - but it was one durable lab robe. My kids enjoyed his thanks and news that he was planning to put it in his travel kit, so he'd have that mudcat lap quilt for his trips. They were happy to send this along because I had received a wonderful cotton lap quilt from a co-worker in a gift exchange, and I can't tell you how many naps have been taken under that gift. They wanted to pass along that sensation of a comfy nap cover to a Mudcat recipient. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Oct 11 - 02:34 PM First post spells it out. I plan collecting addresses during October and will send santee info after Nov. 1, unless there is a compelling reason why we should do it earlier. If people are fairly prompt in choosing their gifts and shipping, 7 weeks should be enough time. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Becca72 Date: 10 Oct 11 - 12:06 PM When might we expect to receive the names of our santees? No pressure - just curious! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 10 Oct 11 - 09:29 AM Back up to the top! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 09 Oct 11 - 10:02 AM Back in January it was still chatter, but by say, June, something should have arrived. :-/ I sent out a book in July to one of our folks because I realized nothing had arrived, I'd have sent a couple had I known more never got there. I guess I'll add a third column to the table this year for "received" and if people keep receipts from their postal folks perhaps missing packages can at least be reported. We do have a couple of volunteer pinch-hit santas, but hope to not have to use them. SRS |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 09 Oct 11 - 05:14 AM BS: Thank you Santa - Christmas 2010 |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: Stilly River Sage Date: 08 Oct 11 - 05:20 PM Now you tell me. . . |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: greg stephens Date: 08 Oct 11 - 04:56 PM WEll I'm in, as always. Though I have to say I am still waiting for last year's present! |
Subject: RE: BS: Secret Santa Gifts & Cards - 2011- From: JennieG Date: 08 Oct 11 - 04:50 PM It's bouncing along nicely. |