November 18, 2004

• i'm in, but no time to moderate... sorry!
• Definitely in. I could moderate too, unless someone more organised wants to step up to the plate.
• Yeah, sure, I'm in. But I can't moderate.
• You mean "I can't be moderate"
• I'm in, but like most others, I can't moderate.
• I'm in.
• Shut the fuck up, quidnunc!!!! /spittle
• I'm in, but I'm too new here to be trustworthy enough to moderate.
• I'm in! But I'm too new here to be trustworthy enough to moderate. Oh, snap.
• I can't moderate but I'm in if you don't mind getting a present from a lurker.
• I'm down. I'm willing to moderate.
• I am immoderate, but in.
• I'm in. What if we used something like Elfster to aid the process? I did this once before with an online group and it went swimmingly--folks could post links to wishlists and whatnot, plus it kept things organized.
• I'm in and anxiously awaiting my lump 'o' coal via canada post ;)
• I would do it. But I think it would be better if it is random. No wishlists or saying your shoe size.
• I also am in.
• I'm in and I second the Elfster site.
• back to Mfpb 2 21's comments & others: 1. under $15 us dollars? or something like $20 total with freight? (need to address postage issues for those monkeys who exchange over oceans--shall freight be part of total gift cost?) 2. need to set a deadline. er, december 1 to sign up, dec. 10 to mail? 3. if links to wishlists are provided, they may not be used (would that work, Wibbleflex?). 4. often the fact that it's mailed means that a certain amount of anonymity is lost as soon as one opens the package/looks at return address. 5. the_bone, since you are the one who's stepped up to moderate, would you like to get this rolling? i'm hyper-excited and love getting things in the mail! whee!
• shall freight be part of total gift cost? + under $15 us dollars = some mighty cheap gifts from secret seppo santas to our friends the kiwis
• damn, I knew international rates were high but I'd never sent anything to NZ before. hmm. a wily monkey could buy from a place already in NZ and pay only local freight (or in the case of the linked shop, none). US$1 = NZ$1.61 or send something that fits in the small global priority mail flat rate envelope--6" x 10"--and pay $5 US.
• I'm down to moderate. I have no idea how elfstar works, but can figure it out by the weekend. I'd like to get an idea of who will participate: if you're gonna rock down to Electric Avenue (and subsequently take it higher), then drop a line to doyoulikemoviesaboutgladiators@gmail.com, with the subject "Secret Santa" (or something similar; "Secret Satan" will work too).
• I am in if anyone wants a ziploc bag full of semen.
• We'd probably have to have a bit of leaway about value, shipping. I'd imagine 15USD wouldn't go as far in England.
• Send me free stuff, and I'll do the same for you. Or someone else. But I have three little kids who also want lotsa stuff, and who don't realise that Daddy is Satan, so go gentle on my wallet, please. Oh yeah, and I couldn't moderate if I tried.
• Oops. You know.
• I'm so down for this. And I don't mind if it's something small - I know it's expensive to post. As long as it isn't an iPod; I've already got one.
• Elfster sounds like it would be a good way to ask some questions in a way that wouldn't create a ton of work for the moderator. I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into, but I'm into it. Email: away.
• I just signed up at elfster to see how it works. it lets you set a signup date, a distribution date, a description of what's up, set wishlist items (with links), and set dear-god-please-not-one-of-those items (with links). the process is easy.
• Nice. Let's do this... I just set up an account at elfster (I'll stop calling it Elfstar, I promise) with the group name "Monkeyfilter." Continue to email me (please include your MoFi handle. Omit death threats) at if you're interested. Deadline for signups will be Dec. 1st, and we'll shoot for the 10th to get gifts sent. Do participants also have to make an account at elfster as well, or can it be done via email? I'd recommend that participants get a username at elfster just in case... couldn't hurt. I'll be offline for the rest of the evening, so I'll get back to everyone later tonight or tomorrow.
• Elfster FAQ on how to participate. Looks like the email we get with our invite will give us a link to set stuff up.
• Oh, ok. I, as "organizer," send out the emails, y'all respond and sign up then. Am I grokking you yet? OK, I'm really, really off to rehearsal now.
• Really.
• I signed up at elfster, thinking I could then look for the mofi exchange, but it just wants me to create a new exchange. Should I just email you, the_bone?
• I'm in
• Just email me; I'll figure out the details and let everyone know what's up.
• Wow! I'm glad to see there's still interest. Now let's just make sure this stays on the sidebar and doesn't die like it did last time...
• Here's the deal. I think. You email me. I cut and paste emails and names into elfster, which adds you onto A List. At the appropriate time I invite all of you simultaneously (I'm sending out the first batch of invites now), and you sign up to accept or decline. When the appropriate date arrives (Dec. 1st), signups close, people are randomly matched up and the contact info for your gift-ee is emailed to you automatically. Poeple wanting to particpate MUST, MUST EMAIL ME BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30. I have a rehearsal that night, so if you contact me after 3:00 PM (time zone: UTC-5) on the 30th, I may not get the email in time. And that would be sad. So far, 9 people have responded. Keep 'em coming, yo. More later.
• are you including people who said "i'm in" in this thread? and did you contact SideDish?
• Got the email from elfster. Am I the only one who laughed at this? elfster because it's too big a sack for one man to carry
• I'm waiting on people to email me, to make sure that I have the best email address for them. I'm gonna be incommunicado for the rest of the workday, so if I haven't heard from SideDish by this evening I'll write to her (I have her email somewhere).
• I like secret santas, I am in.
• from elfster's privacy policy: No matter how many times John Ashcroft asks, we’re not sharing your information. We can’t, we’re Santa’s little helpers. If you feel that this site is not following its stated information policy, call the elf call center and start yelling.
• Bumping this up for the sidebar. Also, I'm gonna sign up the people that said they were interested in the thread, but haven't emailed me. You can always decline the Elfster invitation. My preference from here on out is that you email me though, if only because that way I don't have to click on userpages for email info.
• As of now, 28 invitations have gone out, and 13 have responded in the affirmative.
• this is teh awesomeness. merci monsieur bone.
• Just a nudge to get it back onto the sidebar. Don't mind me.
• 19 monkeys have joined in! happy bump for sidebar.
• Sorry, I didn't e-mail, I had just read the rest of the thread and was just about to when I got my invite. Thanks the_bone.
• Yeah, I've emailed everyone posting in this thread, except for quidnunc and el_hombre (who makes me want to change my username to el_hueso), as they didn't specifically say they wanted to be included. I can always invite you two later; just let me know if you want in. I _did_ email bernockle, because that way I have a 1 in 30 chance (right now) of his DNA showing up to my house via UPS, and I like those odds. A request: Can those MoFizzles that have signed up put their MoFi handle somewhere in either the name field or the comment field on Elfster? That would help me keep track of everyone right now, and when the matchups are doled out on the 1st people will have a better idea of who they've drawn.
• Bump-ity bump-bump, bump-ity bump-bump, look at Frosty go. SideDish sent over a link to a Secret Santa Name Picker program... not needed now because Elfster does all that for us, but perhaps someone here might find it useful. 24 MoPhigians are now in like Flynn. As for the rest of you: Don't hate! Participate!
• Does anyone have any idea what the "Ho Ho Ho Rank" is? Because I want to know if I should be really happy or really bummed that mine is 88.
• you had one? Mine was zero :(
• I mean, I don't know what it is, but I'd like some. (weeee! capitalism. I dont' know what it is, but I want some.)
• mine was 55 till i listed a charity then it went to three on the ho ho ho rank thing, and my naughtiness level went up to 70 after listing the charity. I find that a little odd.
• Well, I didn't select a charity (Scrooge!) or even say if I was naughty or nice. You don't think it's random, do you? Then how are we supposed to know how much better than other people we are?!
• So I had to find out about those Ho Ho Ho numbers, I e-mailed an inquiry and the reply follows: Well, I will let you in on a little secret. They are randomly generated numbers and are only meant to be something to talk about. If you don't like your numbers, go to the "update profile" screen and click "save". The numbers are regenerated every time you save your profile. Don't tell anyone ;-) (or else you could get a fruitcake this year!) Ho ho ho, Peter
• Oh damn, I told all the monkeys, oh well I guess a fruitcake won't be so bad. On second thought, that would suck.
• I like fruitcake.
• I am a fruitcake.
• Then I guess, since I like all monkeys, I must like fruitcake after all.
• i for one welcome my new fruitcake overlords.
• It's just as I feared! No sense to anything!
• Apparently, the fruitcake soda is the best tasting one in the Holiday Pack, but that's not sayin' much.
• is this fun or what?
• i said, IS THIS FUN OR WHAT?
• Step One: Consider what is funny about fruitcake... How To Write A Fruitcake Joke OK, who'll go first?
• I'm having fun...
• I can make great fruitcake, that even I like. I never liked the stuff before making it this recipe and I've won over many converts. I think I still have a few pounds in the freezer, if anyone wants some done up in lots of liquers and almond icing.
• This is fun.
• I love a good fruitcake whether its in a pan or walks on two feet ;)
• I've got all my hot cocoa sampler packs ready to be wrapped
• I gotta wonder about dxlifer. The elves are still calculating her naughtiness and Ho Ho Ho factors. Very interesting...
• what's up with the holdouts? 5 monkeys have not opted in (or out), and maybe this post that bumps the thread to the sidebar will remind them!
• *sidebar bump-up*
• *didn't notice tracicle's permanent sidebar link, whee*
• I'd love a good fruitcake recipe that doesn't use those nasty candied peel bits. The only thing that invokes my gag reflex faster is Salzlakritz.
• so now what happens? we wait? for?
• we wait for the draw date, december 1st. that gives the 4 nonresponders a chance to opt in (or anyone else who suddenly has a burning secret santa desire), and it gives the rest of us a chance to plot and plan and cackle a lot.
• To those who have responded: 1. If, upon perusing the list of participants, there is anyone you would prefer to not draw, let me know. I'm not aware of any FeudFilter-ness between any of the folks who have signed up, but in case there is we can deal with that. 2. If you have not provided an address you should do so at the time of the draw, assuming that you want your monkeyswag.
• Mini technicality george: Should we make a new thread (when the time comes) for the inevitable "who sent me the rotting guava?" / "I sent you the rotting guava!" revelatory messages? Or should we just stick to this one?
• Um, good question. A new thread might be appropriate; we'll be closer to whatever December-y holidays there may be, and other MoFi posters could use it as a place to wish people well for the holidays.
• monkeyswag priceless
• Last chance. The draw happens tonight, so if you want in please email me. I'm leaving for a rehearsal around 4:00 PM (East Coast USA time, for the international observers), won't be home until kind of late, and can't guarantee that you'll get onto the elfster listy thing if you don't email me before then.
• Names have been drawn! Check your email, and begin plotting!
• Um...stupid question time. If we want to keep our Secret Santa identities, can everyone on the list please put up their snail mail addresses up on the Secret Santas Website? mkthx.
• Man I am lame, I said, send me an e-mail and I will send you an addy, on my profile. Duh, now how would that be a secret? I changed my elfster profile and added the addy. I just am a tad bit nervous about posting my addy online. There are freaks out there, but bring 'em on, I got it covered. :)
• If there are folks that are apprehensive about publishing addresses, send them to me and I will forward them to the appropriate person.
• IS THIS FUN OR WHAT???
• It's fun! Whee!!!
• now the panic sets in ... omg what do I get? One rather large 3 year old fruitcake? A lump of coal? 6 pack of Fruit of the Loom socks? Can people add their likes and dislikes* to elfster? I tried rubbing the great monkey gods belly for help, I tried consulting the great yellow banana - but no dice. ie: reading posts etc isn't helping me out. ie: fav foods - hated foods, what kind of humour you enjoy - few hints at personality please :)
• Wibbleflex: on the off chance you read this thread before checking your email, please send me your address so I can pass it along to your Santabashi.
• You can ask anonymous questions about your person through the system. There doesn't seem to be a place to put likes or dislikes, so I used the wishlist section (because just putting actual items there would ruin the surprise and mystery - my favorite things are things I wouldn't have thought of because they are unusual or unique.)
• I meant to ask this earlier: What's the verdict on spending limits? Is that with or without postage?
• I think it's a case of being sensible and knowing your own situation. If you've got a good income, and you know you have to mail it far, then maybe you don't include the mail. But the whole point of the limit is that it should be a simple present.
• this is actually more fun than some of my regular gift exchanges this year. go monkeys!
• I think it's a case of being sensible noooo!!! no sensiblity!!!
• IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE IF PEOPLE INCLUDED THEIR ADDRESS IN THEIR ELFSTER PROFILE.
• beeza, I'm thinking it would have to be a 7-pack.
• what's that you say, patb?
• *reads SideDish's comment* *spews milk all over screen* PatB, you could also ask the_bone to get the addy from your secret receipient, in case he/she/it is leery of posting addys online.
• Yes. Email me addresses if you have not already done so.
• If your person hasn't responded with an address, you can always ask them to do so (whether on Elfster or to the_bone) with the anonymous question deal-y as well.
• To those stressing about not knowing what to get: I, for one, will be absolutely ecstatic just to get a physical object in the mail from someone. If you've not participated in the MoFi CD Swap then perhaps you underestimate the value of simple physical presence. I listened to every minute of CDs full of music I'd perhaps otherwise not enjoy as much, but the fact that someone made them for me, someone who was essentially a stranger furthermore, made them so much more special. Seriousously, my S.S. could just send me a piece of paper with a banana drawn on it and I'd get excited. I'd post it on my wall and I'd be, like, "omg! a MONKEY sent this to me! AHHHhhh!" and that'd be that. Pathetic, yeah. But don't underestimate the simple power of giving itself, I guess. /long unedited ramblyrant
• Nicely said, Mfpb 2 21. Personally, I would be just totally excited by the package itself. I adore mail, and almost never get any.
• It's true. I get all excited whenever I get a postcard. I jump around the house when I get a CD. On the day the iPod arrived, I was >< this close to asploding.
• HO, HO, HO!!11!
• Oh, and seriously... Things seem to be going well. Again, email me if there are any concerns (you can always do so anonymously through elfster, as Smo noted).
• Yea! Santabashi! This monkeyelf sent her package to her deserving monkey today. Happy Monkey Holiday!
• May I know if we're still obliged to keep our identities secret after the presents are received? Cos I have something in mind which would probably give me away once it's opened.
• I included a card with my name inside. Plus, I shipped mine internationally, so I had to put my name on it.
• I think our only obligation is to deliver the present... sending it will reveal the santa's identity in most cases anyway. i've been teased about my enthusiasm for the mail, to the point where my husband says, "go check! maybe today you'll get a letter from the queen!" I maintain that one day I may actually get a letter from the queen, and he'll be very sorry.
• SANTABASHI REALLY EXISTS!!!! HE DOES HE DOES HE DOES!!! *twirls about festively* IS THIS FUN OR WHAT????
• YES! YES IT IS!!1! H0 H0 H0XX0RZ!!11!111!!11!1
• (you forgot to log in as SANTABASHI :)
• Goddamnit!
• oh poo! I can't believe I didn't see this in the sidebar until today! no secret satan for me this year but I hope all you "swapping" monkeys (heh heh heh) enjoy your gifts! happy non-sectarian agnostic wintertime merry holiday season
• no secret satan for me this year *kneels, thanks various $DEITIES*
• *envies Alnedra's deities*
• It is my hope that no one would be offended by a package that includes used books (selected, of course, with your stated interests in mind), among other things.
• I don't think many would, unless they had been read so many times that the text had been worn off the page. :)
• I went in search of monkeys, know how many monkeys I found? 3, count them ... three - yes, I mean three and not one of them was a sock monkey. In a city of 60,000+ people you would think there would be more monkeys (lots of elephants, giraffes, frogs, cows, horses, roosters - no monkeys) but noooooo. My city sucks - I live in a cultural void! So I went with my initial idea and sent 5 mismatched socks, a lump of coal and a 3 year old slice of fruit cake ;)
• suggestion: send your recipient a copy of your MoFi CD Swap mixes, if you made one!
• The present is in the mail. Such fun.
• Exchange date = needs to be received by or sent by?
• I thought sent by. I hope so. I'm planning on sending mine today, though.
• suggestions for mofi secret santas suffering from gift-finders-block
• exchange date = sent by. the hope is that the recipients will have stuff by xmas.
• and more fun ideas here!
• just sent mine off... IS THIS FUN OR WHAT????
• Dear shinything's Secret Santa, I would like to apologize for the lateness in answering your last question. I'm in the middle of a yucky gig with a yuckier deadline. Please forgive. xo shinything
• This was way too much fun, and also not a bad introduction to the wacky world of international shipping rates. Mine is be sent off tomorrow.
• address? OHHHH ADDRESS! oops
• i'm tracking my secret santa gift across the nation!!! wooooo!!!! it's nearly there!!! ON FEDEX VEHICLE FOR DELIVERY!!! woooo!!!
• 'Tis gone! 'Tis sent! 'Tis winging its merry way across continents! Across oceans! Half-way across the world! Safe trip, little gift! (and now hopefully the damn useless Italian postal service will pull its damn finger out and be less damn useless than they normally are and actually get it there on time ... they'd better - don't they know it's SECRET SANTA?!) oh this is *so* much fun!
• It's here! Thank you Santa SideDish. I brought the package with me to the office and I've been wondering how long I can/should hold out before opening it.
• Have you opened it yet, what did you get PY? We are having fun now. :)
• My gift is on its way too. Hope it gets there in time for Christmas.
• santabashi, when do we get to open our presents? huh huh huh HUH HUH HUH?????????
• Good question. I'm open to suggestions... how about Friday the 17th? That gives a week for parcels put in by people running up against the deadline (like myself; mine is going out today) to arrive. If folks are really impatient, and want to open gifts as they arrive, I don't see the harm in that either. Anybody else have any thoughts?
• I say open the present as soon as you get it, then post here what you got. I can hardly stand the suspense, I really want to know what all the monkeys got.
• I'M WITH BRATCAT!!!! we'll have a new surprise every day as gifts arrive!!
• Well, knowing how Santa SideDish feels, I gave into my desire to rip open that FedEx box a moment ago, and wow! The penguin socks are cute and will be tested out tonight with my polar bear-patterned pajamas, and the book on Christmas kitsch (say that 10 times fast) is the cooolest! THANK YOU SANTA SIDEDISH!!!!! I've only just thumbed through the entertaining illustrated photos so far but I already want to try making the marshmallow snow man. And how punny...there's a wreath of franklins framing the "undisputed Queen of Soul"...
• hehe. mine is sent. i am awaiting the dear cries of my mofi secret santa-ee "what is this? i don't understand!"
• It is sent. It is gone. I hope you like it. It likes you.
• Mine went out two days ago. Uh...it's nothing interesting like santa SideDish's...*twiddle thumbs sheepishly*
• let's bask in the awkwardness for juuuuuust a lil' bit.
• hurray PY!! glad you like the stuff, i had fun picking it out at a funky shop across the street from my office called Chocolate Moose. merry merry!! xxoo
• Mine is sent. It flies far and free, wending its way across timezones, rivers, continents, oceans, galaxies... mwahahahaha!
• I'm going to get mine out today on super-fast airmail. I'll cross all my digits that it gets there quickly.
• Mine went out 2 days ago but it is in two parts. Something purchased online and something from here. I wanted to make sure you go it before Christmas. One will most definitely come before the other. (feel like a major heel for doing it this way but saw no other choice)
• Seeing as several non-USAers are stressing about overseas mail, I guess I'll just say this: if you have me, don't worry about your package probably being late. I'm late too. It's totally cool. Whatever.
• Sent mine today - it should arrive sometime late next week. But at the same time, my mother always said the 25th isn't when Christmas ends, but just when it begins.
• I sent mine out via international air and the packaging said 3-10 days. So it should arrive with time to spare, yay!
• Wait, people are identifying themselves to their victims gift recipients? Shoot...I didn't do that. Ok, you will know that I am your secret santa if your gift is unabashedly yellow. And fluffy. And has an unrelated companion.
• You will know my gift by the monkey.
• Well, I had to put my return address on it, but at least they won't know until they get it.
• haha! Mine will be suitably cryptic, since it's being sent from a location thousands of miles from where I am. Bask in the subtleness of my deviousness! I better go get some sleep.
• Oh, crap. During the 36 hours I was away from my emailbox, the major online retail entity realized they didn't have the item they promised to ship and cancelled my order. I'll be working frantically at a plan B. The good news is my recipient is in the same country I am (well... it is a RED state), so if I can get it moving by Monday, he/she may not even notice the delay... except I just blabbed the whole thing. So, Mr. Bond, now that I've told you all my evil plans, I'll have to kill you now, but not quickly, I'll just leave you in this room while my evil killing gadget takes a few minutes to warm up...
• I had to put my return address and also list what was inside. I would rather the contents could have been a surprise for the far away monkey.
• Are we not supposed to identify ourselves with the gift? How do we express our thanks?
• in secret santas where it's easier to get the gifts to people (i.e. no postal worker involved), I think it's tradition not to reveal until after the gift has been opened (and sometimes only after guessing). but if you have to mail it, there's no good way to hide your identity (and I would be driven mad by not knowing who had sent me the cool whatsamadoodle).
• Man, I'm totally hoping for a whatsamadoodle!
• I'd like to thank everyone for participating... this has been rad. Elfster has been an invaluable service. It made things go so smoothly! I was anticipating spending a significant amount of time on this project the weekend before the draw date, but the time I've actually had to put in has been negligible. Again, crazy mad propz to patita for the suggestion. As for me, I've had hot girls from all over the world emailing me, which is its own reward.
• Is there anyone else who feels left out and would like to think about doing a tiny round for.. umm.. New Years or something? except that it probably wouldn't be so secret..
• sarah, i find you adorable. can i send you something anyway? and no thats actually not a bad idea.
• If you're like me and it's the exchange part of the affair that appeals to you, more than the actual thing you get from someone, you might enjoy taking part in the next MoFi CD swap.
• crazy mad props to SANTABASHI for stepping forward and organizing the whole thing! we can all believe in the miracle on Monkeyfilter! i thought a post-holiday cd swap would be cool, so we could share the new stuff we got over the holiday.
• I'd also enjoy doing a post-holiday (PoHo?) CD swap. However, despite having a total blast coordinating Sucrets Santa, I'll let someone else take on the organizational aspects of a CD swap. I'll step up to the plate again on a future effort though!
• PoHo almost sounds like a food item :) and thx santabashi for putting in the time and effort on this side project.
• Yes, all hail Santabashi the Benevolent! Thanks so much.
• *bows to the great S. Bashi*
• I finally sent my mystery gift off today! /and it is going to get there in time, even though the postage cost more than the gift. *post-office shock*
• don't forget to post what you received so everybody can share your Festive Holiday Happiness
• I sent mine off today, too! The postage was less horrifying than I expected, though I was careful to pick flat/light/cool objects. I hope it gets there in time! Also, I'm going home to TX on Friday, so if I don't receive mine before I go, thanks in advance :)
• whee! thanks jb for the coooooolest present package! the little monkey guys are like icing on the wacky indian perpetual calenday cake! and I can't wait to listen to the CD. xmas with monkeys rocks.
• I wish the postage hadn't been so damn expensive. I had to rethink the gift idea I had originally planned because of it. Maybe the backup will work out better anyway. Hopefully.
• patita and jb, I was going to send a perpetual calendar to my secret monkey. I had to decide against it because of the airmail cost but aren't they useful as well as nice to handle and look at.
• patita - I am very glad you like it - Merry Christmas! The photocopied portrait of Lord Petre was just an added bonus from my scrap paper collection - itwas to protect the calendar.
• the whole package was so well-considered (down to the tissue paper)! I thought Lord Petre was an important part of the gift . seriously, it was the first time I'd received a bit of genealogy/portraiture on my scrap. I'm set for 39 years now.
• I know the 'sticker-shock' was my own fault due to disorganised tardiness. Any more seasonal deadlines will be more diligently attended to in future. Considering international borders here, perhaps we can get started earlier for next Christmas. /or birthdays? or Easter? or Monkeyday? *loves gifts*
• It was actually more expensive to send my package via the slow-boat-to-China method than to send it airmail. Go figure.
• I've been thinking for a while on starting up a care package swap community - my friend joined this one a couple years ago and it always seemed like so much fun. I mean, 1) I love giving gifts, and 2) I love getting mail. Would some of the monkeys be interested in playing if I set one up? You'd send and receive a small package of goodies (cost 5 - 15 bucks total) to and from a different person each month, opting out on any months you weren't able to/didn't feel like doing it. Let me know if you're into the idea (my email's in my profile). With enough interest it could be ready to start swapping in January.
• I'd be tempted. My sister-in-law to-be (who posts on here as roxihart) is in one (also on lj) and I'd told her I'd be the one who always gets the package out late, or not at all, but if we could opt out at times of stress I'd be in.
• I'm stepping out of the house tomorrow, and will be back the 27th. So, if you are my secret santa, don't worry if I don't post that I received your gift for a while.
• I just got mine: A John Waters Christmas. I love it. It had rock, it had soul, it had a thermin, it was John Waters. Thank you Secret Santa!
• I found a package on my doorstep this morning that said "Sliced Pickled Beets". Inside, I found 2 monkey shotglasses, a novelty smoking monkey, and 25 monkey band-aids! I've been spoiled!!!!! Thank you to my Secret Santa, whoever you are! Reveal yourself so I can give you a huge hug.
• *coughs* I thought they'd put my name on the receipt in the box. ;)
• well, *i* just got the coolest secret santa gift of all!!!! coffee soap and pizza soap all the way to d.c. from italy! even the outside of the package smelled like, well, a cup of coffee and slice of pizza. ha! thank you thank you secret santa mothninja! i am honored to receive such a lovely and unique gift.
• omg, Melinika, thank you! Yeah, the receipt didn't indicate a sender at all. Having had me for the CD Swap, you must be getting tired of mailing things to my house... speaking of which, I listened to your CD yesterday. Well, I AM having fun.
• Sidedish, that's a wonderful gift. Specially imported European soaps...how esquitely indulgent. Do you think the coffeee soap will have an the aromatherapy effect of vitalisation in the morning? It may reduce caffeine urges.
• Nah, I enjoyed it. Made it a bit easier to pick out gifts - figured you would be all good with the silly. Had to get the shotglasses because they say "Less Talk, More Monkey" on them. Thought that was totally appropriate. ;)
• I was gonna pretend I didn't look at the receipt because I thought we were supposed to wait until we had a thread to reveal who gave what, but: Thanks, the_bone :)
• Oooh! All these presents sound so great! Yea!
• Yay! I got mine! Bratcat, the blue monkey is the cutest! I love it! And I already know where he's gonna be hanging :)
• Thanks for the banana coffee, ice cream topping and monkey goods. I will find something vanilla to slather asap.
• You're welcome, Wibbleflex. I was so excited to find the monkey stuff.
• Alnedra, I knew the blue monkey would find a good home with you. You are welcome, whenever you squeeze the monkey's tummy and you hear that monkey call, it is me saying hello. :)
• Mfpb 2 21: Thank you [*blushes*] I feel all special now - that has made me feel heaps better and happy too after a fairly mediocre run at work lately - you cheered me up no end :o)
• Interesting Monkey Fact 1: Its head is tilted just right so when I have it on my lap, it looks up to me with a monkey smile; IMF 2: When I give it a cuddle, it goes *snuggle click CLICK WOOOEEEKKEEKEKKWOOO*
• Melinika: figured you would be all good with the silly well no shit. less talk, more monkey IS totally appropriate! i think that should be our tagline (if we ever get one) or something. sarah: glad to be of assistance.
• You are so welcome, SideDish, glad you liked it! And a huge big seasonal shoutout to the SantaBashi massive - thankyou for getting us all organised. this was such a good idea. and this thread is so much fun to read. yay for happy holiday monkeys!
• I received an ExecuToys Stress Shooter which fires foam discs up to 20 feet away, and it will no doubt get used on my elementary school students this Friday as we prepare to start winter break. My Santa was effectively able to conceal her identity... but there are no secrets for Santabashi, who sees you when you're sleeping and all that*. Big love to yentrouc! * That Christmas carol always creeped me out; it gave me an impression of Santa as some weird Yuletide stalker.
• My only question is related to the following series of questions I received via Elfster: A Secret Santa Asked: Do you prefer things that are bright/shiny and useless, complicated and useless, or kitschy and useless? Your Reply: Bright/shiny is good. A Secret Santa Asked: do you like movies about gladiators? Your Reply: No, but I have spent time in a Turkish prison. A Secret Santa Asked: Hey, I didn't ask that question about the gladiators. Do you have two secret santas? Your Reply: Um, I hope not. A Secret Santa Asked: just one secret santa, but more than one naughty monkey asking questions! Your Reply: Naughty monkeys must be spanked. Who was the extra monkey questioner? Of course, having asked I doubt I'll get an answer now. At any rate, it was humorous.
• i just recieved the awesomemost secret santa gift box of goodies. shinything is t3h w0w!
• pattern-noticing george: people seem to be sending packages of several small gifts more often than one large one. is there a reason for this or are we just weird?
• i sent one large one. well, a single gift, anyway... but i got a whole lot of little things (which are all ace!)
• Oh prismatic7, I am so glad you like the package. I had fun putting it together. :) I'll send you some recipes soon to go with all that stuff.
• I think because little things are fun, and not too expensive. Also, I know I really wanted to send some monkeys, and I found little plastic ones for a good price (I liked how they were quite realistic). I was thinking I should bring some to the next NY area meet-up.
• I confess, I was the extra-question-asking monkey. I could not resist the temptation of secret question-asking!
• Well, my gift is rotting in a post office in Vermont whilst the recepient is probably off fornicationg in some forlorned ski lodge notel. 3 days and no pick up. Alas
• I didn't realise a package in a post office would be a problem. I had given my Canadian address, thinking that I would be there already, but I am still in the States. I get to Canada on Dec 22. So to my secret santa - If there are any problems with delivery because of this, you can message me through the elfster site.
• Thank you Secret Santa! An intriguing-looking parcel arrived this morning, and in a fit of massive and uncharacteristic self-restraint I've put it under the tree to wait for Christmas... Unless I explode with excitement and anticipation first. Thankyouthankyou! Wheee! Fun! *does little happy dance*
• Yes -- I'm here at my folks' house, and I got here before my shiny prize found me, so hopefully delivery won't get messed up because of that! (But... it's -9 up at school at it got up to 70 here. Yay, the South!)
• the_bone - I'm glad you like the ExecuToy. I'm glad I sent two gifts, since had I chosen just one, I would have gone with the hat.
• A big thank you to meredithea! My package arrived this morning and made my day. It was exciting getting a package from so far away and from someone I don't know. I love the cute looking animal on the front of the Christmas card, but could you tell me what it is? There wasn't anything printed on the card so I would just be guessing.
• yentruoc: The hat was also teh rad. I'm going to post a picture of myself modeling it later tonight. An anonymous Canadian monkey sent me a lovely card as well... thank you, mystery elf! Made my day.
• Same here - thank you, anonymous Canadian elf, whoever ye may be.
• Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy! Guess what I just got? A lovely package of goodies from my Secret Santa, the wonderful Monkeybashi herself, Tracicle!!! What an honor! I got the coolest book about New Zealand pop culture and a New Zealand keychain with cute cartoon sheep and a beautiful New Zealand pin and a box of strawberry daiquiri bubble bath that came with a recipe for strawberry daiquiris. Yum! AND a cd of Christmas music! Thank you so much tracicle! This is teh awesomest coolest w00t! Woo hoo! /doing the happy dance
• Horizon -- glad you liked it! I had fun looking for stuff to send. I'm pretty sure the animal on the card is a very chubby prarie dog. They live in holes and tunnels they dig into fields, and when there's danger around they stand up on their hind legs and chatter. Very cute little critters!
• I'm so glad it made it before Christmas, shinything! I was so worried it would end up being an Secret Easter Bunny gift. :) Glad you liked it; I was determined to find something monkey-related but my monkeyfu failed me.
• Thanks for the info meredithea. I've seen them on TV but only skinny ones. They are very appealing little animals. Enjoy your holidays :-)
• I received my present. A book, "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill", from a very knowing patita. We've been talking parrots and she got me right where it counts...my love for all critters, especially those like my own. Thanks patita and santabashi and tracicle for making this kind of special communion possible. Best of the Season to you all.
• I'm no good at these things. I hope my mark likes cheese.
• My darlingest, Mfpb 2 21, your gift just arrived. What perfect timing, Christmas Eve. Thank you. I love the Nodder Monkey, he is hanging out on my desk as I type. The mini-Bratcats are too cute. The Chinese post cards are cool, if only I could read what is printed on them. :-) The recipe cards can be useful. Last but not least, the catalog from Archie McPhee is awesome. I love novelty items. And the bonus for me was the return address of Wa. State. Oh, how I wish I were there. Washington is my true home, my heart is there.
• As promised, here I am modeling the lovely wig included in the monkeyswag sent to me by yentruoc.
• Lovely. Rock on Big Bird, I mean, SANTABASHI. Thank you.
• *applause
• So pretty!
• to be honest, the chinese postcards and recipe cards get to come with every online purchase - i took a bit of a risk there. Again, I'm sorry the package is so late, but I'm glad it made it to you before Christmas! Santabashi looks hot as fuck
• *curtsies*
• *curtsies*
• I see everything twice!
• Wow, SANTABASHI, now you can let us know if blondes really do have more fun.
• As a longtime blonde I don't need a feathery wig to tell you the answer to that question. The answer is yes.
• Happy Holidays to all you monkeys.
• mothninja mothninja! What'd you get?? /jumps up and down in unseemly anticipation
• Wendell, you get your stuff?
• Yes! (second paragraph between the MSNBC cap and the weasel) Thank you! Now, did naturesgreatestmiracle get what I sent (or rather, had the online store ship directly to) her? I am ashamed at my lack of imagination...
• Hmmm did PatB get anything?
• What about jb? Did the parcel arrive safely?
• Actually, not yet. I gave my mum's address because I would be here, but she says no parcel cards have arrived yet. But I hadn't counted on the speed of the US postage system versus the slowness of Canada Post. (I should have given the US address as wel, in case the secret santa was American). But I'm not worried about it, except that something might have happened at the Post Office. Sorry about this.
• Thanks to my secret monkey-santa! Yea for caffeine! I am making my first yummy pot as I type. Also, did you send me the Bush playing cards and the stickers to indicate those who resigned, were fired, discredited, etc? That package doesn't have name.
• Woohoo! Thanks Alnedra! I love the tea, and will be able to keep it piping hot with my coincigift - an industrial-looking tea thermos from China. I look forward to many jittery hours of enjoyment.
• Whichever Canadian monkey sent me a pop-up monkey flashlight - made into ahem, a lovely "Christmas tree ornament" with the addition of a little red ribbon - has definitely made my holiday a little bit brighter. Thank you, Secret Santa! And to one American monkey who has not received my Secret Santa gift yet, it should arrive next week - I promise it is not a monkey flashlight!
• *does Happy Dance* So glad it arrived all right, yentruoc :)
• A huge big thaaaaaank yoooooooou to my mysterious Secret Santa for the absolutely fantastic Solar Radiometer!! (For those of you who don't know, it is a 'light windmill', like a mini solar power plant, and looks a bit like this, only mine is all glass and much prettier :-) ) What an unusual and wonderful gift - I didn't even know these things existed, but it's beautiful. It has been sat spinning gently in the light of the Christmas tree and the candles - gorgeous! Hurrah for Secret Santas!
• There were some awesome presents by the sounds; teach me to do better next year. :)
• I am the happiest man on the planet. My Bjorklund cheese slicer is the bestest gift ever! Thanks secret santa!!!!!!!!
• Now you too can be a cheese-eating surrender monkey! I got my Monkey Benders today, too. And I fell to stacking them. Fantastic! These things should be compulsory around here. Many thanks, beezaSecret Santa.
• Must learn to spell.
• :) Glad you got it was starting to wonder is they had taken a detour to another part of the world. I was going to send the "everything you need to learn hula dancing in 10 easy steps" but I thought the coconut bra would have been a bit too much ;)
• Mikey, that was I who sent the monkey flashlight. It was the closest I could find to your xmas-wish. Did it still chatter by the time it got there? Did you count the leaves?
• I'm glad the solar radiometer got there okay.
• I now have wonderful Tasmanian pepper, a windchime and a beautiful moonstone - thank you, Horizon! The pepper smells amazing.
• Yay Wibbleflex! Thank you so much! And a happy new year to you!
• You are welcome jb :-) Happy New Year.
• Well, now that all the Santas have been outed by elfster, I feel it's safe to ask...beeza, did you get yours yet?
• happy..new..year..
• dxlifer, it's supposed to chatter? Hmm, no, it doesn't chatter. But when I shone the light on the wall, Monkeybashi was giving me "the look." Kinda spooky, actually.
• oh mickey, maybe the mail was too abusive. When you push the button the the head should move back and it should give this monkey-chatter sound. That was the part that made it so funny, I thought. Did the packaging get damaged? Is the head and mouth not opening? /runs off to check receipt and warranty.
• No package damage. In fact, the box was in great shape. The mouth did open but there was no chattering - just a loud click when it snapped. I'll have to play with it some more, and perhaps I can figure out what's going on.
• Nothing yet PY. I have a sneaking suspicion that what was sent was breathing/moving inside or ticked. that 'caution may contain explosives!' sticker prolly wont help matters either ;)
• Ha! I'll offer up prayers to various winged messenger gods and look for those receipts in case they have a tracking number.
• dxlifer, I just got the shock of my life when the flashlight screamed at me like a crazed spider monkey in heat. So yes, it does "chatter." It actually happens at random times, not every time I turn it on. What a great flashlight! This is going on every camping trip with me from now on. Thank you, Santa Monkey!
• Mickey...that monkey is chattering all on it's own? I was so worried it might do that in transit and get itself isolated and blown up. The question is, on camping trips will it repel or attract attention? It figures that I'd find a monkey with a mind of it's own. I hope that fancy four+ leaf clover gets you through it.
• prismatic7: Thanks for the book! It looks like a lot of fun (I just got back home after visiting my family for Christmas.)! I love mysteries. Also, the "Merry (monkey) Christmas" card was awesome.
• It chatters, on average, about every 4th time you turn on the flashlight. If it were chattering while I was across the room, you would have gotten it back. Thank you also for the clover. That was a lovely bonus, and it will come in very handy this year.
• well ... it didn't tick and it didn't explode. Thanks santa PY!!! I love the book of portraits and will proudly wear my curious george t-shirt :)
• Hey! Hey! Thanks tons flashboy! What an awesome way to start out 2005. Merry (belated) X-mas and Happy New Year.
• Yay! I'm so glad you got it, because I didn't go look for the postal receipt like I said I would and now I don't have to...by the way, there are a few video clips of the photographer talking about some of the portraits over here. Now that my personal triangle of gift exchanges is complete, I'd like to thank SANTABASHI again. May his giving spirit remain with us throughout the new year.
• meredithea: my plea-sure! the book is all set in the inner suburbs of melbourne in the 1920's, so i figured it would be kinda cool :) enjoy!
• Damn. We're good gift givers.
• .
• anyone up to doing an un-xmas gift exchange, say at the end of June? 12 months is too long between monkey gift exchanges, I think!
• I would be... that would be pretty near my birthday!
• Summer solstice gifts? Great idea!
• I'd do another gift exchange with you monkeys, just say when.
• Melinika wanted to start a monthly opt-in/opt-out gift exchange. Maybe this would be a better idea?
• Last I knew, only myself and tracicle had signed up for Melinika's exchange idea... would love to see others join!
• Posted Monkey swap community here if you're still interested.