2012: Unofficial GWJ Secret Santa 6.0 feat. Trichy Claus

Ugh, such good gifts everyone got. I'm going overboard next year, so whomever gets me as your Santa... you are welcome in advance

So, Phoenix Rev got his Secret Santa gifts and has shown off his quality items. Now... my turn.

First, I got the knife and decided to impersonate our favorite Canadian bald elf, Strangeblades:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Crazed_zps6164e14e.jpg)

Wait... not Strangeblades-y enough:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/StrangebladesRBD_zps09f7d426.jpg)
PERFECT.

Now, it came from a C. Cesarano. Hmm... who's my Stanta?
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Strugg_e_zps513313f9.jpg)

Phoenix Rev reminded me that that's Certis, so yay for site founder lo...

Wait. He says it's ccesarano.

Really?

How'd I get that confused? Must be the eggnog.

Anyhow, so the opening commenced. Note the slicing AWAY from my fingers:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Surgeon_zps25a56d18.jpg)

And note the technique:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Knife-1_zpsa9791bcd.jpg)

FANCY.

I open the box and see:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Open-Box_zps841c23ba.jpg)

Styrofoam peanuts?!? My favorites!!

Wait:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Baggie_zpsd6ba9a9a.jpg)

Baggie of presents! Even better!

A letter inside states to wait until the presents are opened. Fair enough. The first two look like this:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Package-1_zpsa281f1be.jpg)

One contains:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-CD-2_zps8a106c05.jpg)

Geek-apella! Neat! I've heard a couple of these but I didn't own them, so yay!

The other:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-CD-1_zpsec637b98.jpg)
Van Canto! Very cool! I've pulled them up on YouTube a few times, so I'm happy to get this and have it available to me to add to my mixes.

One box is kind of small, but contains:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Yukon-2_zpsdad7e439.jpg)

My mini-me! This is going up on my desk at work when I get back. I'm thrilled with having this, you don't even know. Except now you do, I guess. But you didn't. Before, I mean.

Ahem.

The final is a large, dense rectangle, which reveals upon unwrapping:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Valve_zpseaa32414.jpg)

A hardbound book of the various Valve comics, including The Sacrifice! This is great! I've loved these over the years on Steam.

Finally, the letter, which explains the impetus behind some of the gifts (note to ccesarano re: the Skyrim theme - I'm probably going to bump into the guy who did that soon, and will pass along your compliments to him when I do), and includes this awesome comic:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/RBD-Letter_zps62962e06.jpg)
In case you can't read it, it's ccesarano saying "Merry Blunderbuss of Cheer, motherf****r!"

Awesomeness all around. Thank you so much, ccesarano! This was amazing.

Oh, and:
IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/StrangebladesRBD_zps09f7d426.jpg)

And, so, it has come to pass that I have opened my Christmas presents from my Secret Santa.

But the story must be told, and here it is.

Packages arrived and I combined everything into this lovely ensemble complete with festive bow and tasteful gift tag.

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Gift.jpg)

But what could it be?

It could be anything.

It could be this!!!

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Ferrari.jpg)

No, I don't think Amazon sells that... yet.

Hmmm.

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Hmmm.jpg)

What could a man in his late 40s possibly want?

Let me think. Let me think. Let me think.

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/sexymodel.jpg)

Umm...

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Ummmm.jpg)

Okay... Let's move on.

What IS in that package?

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Ponder.jpg)

I know! I shall open the package!

(Sometimes, my brilliance even astounds me.)

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Knife.jpg)

I have a knife.

This should strike terror in the hearts of citizens of the world.

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Watch-the-Finger.jpg)

Yeah.

Love the sharp knife right next to the digits.

Thank God, Paleocon didn't have me as his Santee. I would be dead by now.

Oh!

Packages in packages.

Let's open the first one.

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Chew.jpg)

Ah, one of my classier moments.

OMG!

YAY!

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Contact.jpg)

"Contact" in Blu-Ray. What an awesome film. (They are here on Earth already, you know.)

Here's another package!

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Package.jpg)

Goodness!

It's wonderful.

It's bloody.

No, it's not another knife.

Even bloodier!

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-DA2.jpg)

HOORAY! Dragon Age 2!

Well, there is one more present to be opened.

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Vanna.jpg)

Eat your heart out Price is Right ladies! I can showcase anything!

Let's see what we have here.

Oh, how lovely. And absolutely perfect for an Ivy Leaguer!

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Emily.jpg)

Just wonderful! I love etiquette books. They are so helpful and classy.

Why, I even put it to use moments after I opened it:

IMAGE(http://www.feastinginphoenix.com/images/Zach-Snob.jpg)

"Oh, we use to go to the Hamptons, but that is so droll these days. No, we go to Cardiff by the Sea where Barack and Michelle and we hang out in the spring. Jeffrey! A refill on the cognac!"

Well, thank you very, very much to my Secret Santa. What a wonderful holiday gift and it is truly appreciated.

And thanks to trichy for facilitating this!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Hmm - the tracking number for my outbound package appears to not have updated since December 19th, when it was processed through the sort facility in Chicago.

I'm hoping that maybe it doesn't provide updates once it goes internationally. Though it would kind of defeat the point of a tracking number, that would definitely be preferable to it getting lost in a corner of the Chicago sorting facility.

If it ends up irrevocably lost, I'll get more [redacted]s made, but that'd take a while.

Fingers crossed for it showing up this week.

(And I'm regretting my decision to refrain from wrapping so it could get in the mail right away, since obviously we missed the Christmas window regardless).

You guys certainly made that an entertaining read, though I must confess I was sitting here biting my nails (which I had recently clipped last night so not quite healthy) hoping the reactions would be positive. I'm glad they were.

I tried to find a lot more geek acapella, but most of the quality was either trash or yet another Mario Bros. theme.

I'm glad I did well for my first Secret Stan, though it seems Blunderbuss of Cheer is the usual gift-giving strategy around these parts.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

Hmm - the tracking number for my outbound package appears to not have updated since December 19th, when it was processed through the sort facility in Chicago.

The storms in the midwest have been wreaking havoc on delivery schedules too.

ccesarano wrote:

I tried to find a lot more geek acapella, but most of the quality was either trash or yet another Mario Bros. theme.

I'm glad I did well for my first Secret Stan, though it seems Blunderbuss of Cheer is the usual gift-giving strategy around these parts. :D

Yes, the Blunderbuss worked quite well, so good job!

And yes, it seems like the Mario Theme is the frickin' go-to song for turning into an a cappella number if you want a "geeky" song in your set. College groups, STEP UP YO' GAME.

Ahem.

Thanks again, sir!

Woot! Glad you like it man. Merry Stantas!

Ha ha. I do appreciate good stibbings. Merry Christmas!

rubb ed wrote:

IMAGE(http://i1327.photobucket.com/albums/u664/dcwilson73/Secret%20Stanta%202012/StrangebladesRBD_zps09f7d426.jpg)

To be honest, this is how I've always pictured our local unusual edged implement.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

Hmm - the tracking number for my outbound package appears to not have updated since December 19th, when it was processed through the sort facility in Chicago.

I'm hoping that maybe it doesn't provide updates once it goes internationally. Though it would kind of defeat the point of a tracking number, that would definitely be preferable to it getting lost in a corner of the Chicago sorting facility.

If it ends up irrevocably lost, I'll get more [redacted]s made, but that'd take a while.

Fingers crossed for it showing up this week.

(And I'm regretting my decision to refrain from wrapping so it could get in the mail right away, since obviously we missed the Christmas window regardless).

Still listed as 'Advised' on the Post Office website, so I'll keep an eye on the mail tomorrow. We should be home tomorrow evening, so can pick things up on Friday if we miss them tomorrow.

Not that I'm anxious or excited or anything...

Haakon7 wrote:

Not that I'm thirsty or excited or anything... ;)

Fixed that for my optimism.

A package is here! Some carwork and dinner and then I'll open/post pics.

Yay beer, mead and moonshine books!
Pics to follow with more thanks to bernard!

BEHOLD! The Unboxing (and a hearty Thank You to TheHipGamer):

IMAGE(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j9mAjEVsmGU/UN0ZQVhivmI/AAAAAAAAArc/yyHYmyCaiNU/s800/DSC02206-fix.JPG)
The Box

IMAGE(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RfKJRZE1WCg/UN0ZRD4ms5I/AAAAAAAAArk/R1GMxehC4qU/s800/DSC02208-fix.JPG)
The Stuff Inside (wrapped!)

IMAGE(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-DnMGCYGojJA/UN0ZUez-xxI/AAAAAAAAAr8/aQONMVQl0a0/s800/DSC02211.JPG)
In the card was a code for FTL! I added it to my cart today but hadn't pulled the trigger (I was going to wait until the last minute and karma was on my side baby!).

IMAGE(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MPn6j4dDZrQ/UN0ZRybCVEI/AAAAAAAAArs/S0I1hd37z3I/s800/DSC02209.JPG)
First gift! A small handmade notebook with Atari 2600's screened on the front (I still have my atari and force my kids to play it every New Years).

IMAGE(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1-JiTaltGUI/UN0ZVV8LtYI/AAAAAAAAAsE/CroYf_gFt_Y/s800/DSC02212.JPG)
From my real name wishlist the book of People. A comment from the Amazon page:
An enormous, 100+ page book of drawings of people. Bachelors and babies. Friends and foes. Biologists and astronomers. All kinds of people. Here together in the same enormous book. Happily together in the same enormous book.
COP
ROBBER
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
CAT BURGLAR
MESSENGER
BUSINESS MAN
BUILDER
DEMOLISHER

I'll post later if Batman or Spider-Man are in there. Also, I commend you on your stalking skills HipGamer

The next gift got the whole family who isn't my wife excited. Take a look:
IMAGE(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pQjbDYUkR2s/UN0ZXpmYqUI/AAAAAAAAAsU/PBgM6yONHOE/s800/DSC02214.JPG)
IMAGE(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZRcxfsB3k-Q/UN0ZZNAhPtI/AAAAAAAAAsc/Sxqey5zlyRE/s800/DSC02217.JPG)

The gift? A remote helicopter. By the way, that is my daughter pantomiming her flying skillz for paying billz and my son was jumping up and down with excitement.

IMAGE(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8UvmhpEAJio/UN0ZWZC4QyI/AAAAAAAAAsM/Jih5DxUBlBs/s800/DSC02213.JPG)

Again a hearty Thank You to TheHipGamer, it was worth the wait.

Eezy_Bordone wrote:

BEHOLD! The Unboxing (and a hearty Thank You to TheHipGamer)

Pictures!

Cheers, Eezy, and apologies for the delay. From the look of the box, UPS took their time mashing it as best as they could before delivering it!

I got home this morning from visiting family over Christmas and I found a pair of boxes waiting for me. One had airmail postage. The smaller package from amazon felt solid. The larger amazon box by way of the UK made rattling sounds when lightly shaken.

The smaller book had 2 books that will get a lot of usage. I love to cook and I often wonder about taking recipes I like substituting other flavors. I've already cracked open The Flavor Thesaurus. Ratio may not be as flashy, but I can't wait to read it.

Enough words, my Secret Stanta didn't include his forum name, but gave me plenty of stalking material. We have people with really cool jobs.

Everything came unwrapped except for one package:
IMAGE(http://redjenosu.com/images/stanta/2012-books-n-stuff.jpg)

The mystery box had this inside:
IMAGE(http://redjenosu.com/images/stanta/2012-skylon-space.jpg)

Here is some more information listed on the box about the Skylon C1:
IMAGE(http://redjenosu.com/images/stanta/2012-skylon-info.jpg)

Goodjer aka Matthew, you did awesome & rock!

For those keeping score: wicked model of space ship under development for 2020, 2 books for cooking, assorted candy from the UK, a puzzle, mug & information on the UK Space Agency.

I feel relatively confident that RedJen's Stanta is Haakon7, who I really hope is (even at this very moment) getting his gift in the post.

Hope you like the stuff, Jen. I tried to strike the right balance between useful and random!

I have and use both Ratio and the FT regularly. FT is great for getting new inspiration for things that are left in the fridge, and Ratio has changed the way I bake bread, so hope they will come in useful.

Dimmer, no gift yet, but am around all weekend, so will stay on watch!

In case anyone was wondering, Lester_king is awesome. I came home today to find a package at my door.

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/5C97FDDA-0AC1-4EC2-8E36-AA5B2415EBF8-10613-0000097030B01478.jpg)

Now to open!

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/2074EC89-CBFF-4862-9E52-C83AA36A8115-10613-000009726EF83C04.jpg)

3 packages!

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/A1088826-953D-49BB-B0FC-FAB8C546A970-10613-00000972767200ED.jpg)

Bows and instructions drawn on the packages.

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/34A8031B-2721-4D6A-A2B0-3F4A285BB267-10613-000009727D59514E.jpg)

Cards against Humanity! Looking forward to breaking this out on New Years Eve at a friend's house.

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/31ACC2B8-3DE4-40B0-810D-6F272D09720D-10613-0000097283B82B22.jpg)

This is about the point in which the cats decided I needed help.

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/5FC8DBF3-5597-40D0-9541-CB2ECF671A1D-10613-0000097289F68B73.jpg)

Now the first expansion! Good thing as I think there will be a good number of people playing.

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/F1E4708F-8145-426F-AA29-72CD09FF8233-10613-000009728EE41E7C.jpg)

A homemade libation. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but as my nieces and nephews are at my house at the moment, I'll have to give this a shot Tuesday or so.

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/60D9222E-BEF9-46A5-BF18-F36107CA4241-10613-000009730201A477.jpg)

The haul.

IMAGE(http://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m520/obirano/C919128D-F8D8-4C11-A74D-B9A8D6663322-10613-0000097308352C62.jpg)

Thanks again Lester_king!

you know, it just occurred to me that GWJ is the only place i'd receive unmarked liquids from and be good with drinking it without question.

Wow, this thread died.

obirano wrote:

Wow, this thread died.

It's just in hibernation, waiting for next year, when we shall plan and plot and stalk each other anew.

Obirano, you have to tell us what the liquid is...

obirano wrote:

Wow, this thread died.

I would have commented earlier but I was in NYC for the weekend.

Excuuuuuse me, Princess!

Seriously though, this is the best online community to ever exist. I wish the entire Internet was like this. (I'm sure I've said this before, or have read someone else say it, but it always bears (bares?) repeating).

ccesarano wrote:
obirano wrote:

Wow, this thread died.

I would have commented earlier but I was in NYC for the weekend.

Excuuuuuse me, Princess!

Seriously though, this is the best online community to ever exist. I wish the entire Internet was like this. (I'm sure I've said this before, or have read someone else say it, but it always bears (bares?) repeating).

To "bear repeating" means that it can carry the weight of repetition; bear, in this sense, is akin to "bearing arms" or "bearing the burden".

Bare Repeating probably comes on Cinemax after midnight.

I have been repeatedly shooting bears, thanks to my Stanta!

Don't worry, obirano, we're all still reading. But the holiday season is still taking its toll.

TheHipGamer wrote:
obirano wrote:

Wow, this thread died.

It's just in hibernation, waiting for next year, when we shall plan and plot and stalk each other anew.

Some goodjers are still awaiting a visit from Stanta.

I figured it was due to the holidays.

I just need to be the center of attention darn it!