OMG I got a SS Gift ALREADY!!!! Received Thread 2011 - Page 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_jordi 

Okay so I finally got to open my laptop for the first time since the 23rd! I got my box right as we were about to head home for the holidays, but I managed to snap a few pics real quick! My SS was Katie and I have to say I LOVE everything!

some toy mice, a cup full of hot chocolate which is amazing! a penguin stuffy (I collect penguins) some doggy treats for Miss Reese, some kitty treats for the spoiled brats, some ghirradelli squares which are already gone, chocolate covered espresso beans which are oh so addictive, although Gary got into them the other night and ended up staying up until 2 am... I was ready to kill him! And last but not least an angry bird! It makes noises when you squeeze it too! But Reese has claimed it!! Its so funny! Usually she kills her toys, but this one she babies! She's so gentle with it! It's adorable! I couldnt bare to take it away!

A cute little manicure set and a gorgeous nail polish to add to my ever growing collection!

A super cute basket full of bath goodies! I got lotions and bubble bath!

lotions and bubble bath! They smell soooo goood!

A stocking with some very awesome lip balm and cuticle cream and some lovely smelling anti-bac gel with a red glittery holder!

an absolutely beautiful penguin frame, a dog frame, and a kitty frame along with "J" and "G" candy cane ornaments that immediately when on the tree! Now to try to get both cats in the same pic! LOL!

Also not pictures is a very cute and cuddley kitty cat lap blanket! My loving boyfriend hid it from me while cleaning the house the other day and I keep forgetting to ask him where he put it! I will have to snap a pic of it later!

 

Thank you again Katie! I LOOOOOVEEEE everything!!

Very nice loot!  And that Angry Bird is adorable! 

Today, I went to the post office to pick up a surprise package!  It was from my Secret Santa! I have no idea who she is only that she lives in Australia. 

The cute ring holder and the small notepad are in my favorite color. How did my SS know that I needed them? 

I will enjoy the logic puzzles and the cat magazine! Fantastic!!! 

The stickers will be a lovely addition to my collection! And the cat treats will certainly be devoured by my gang of 5 in no time!

Thank you very, very much dear Secret Santa! 

Now to find out who you are....

Recipient- Santa
3catsn1dog- Resqchick
-_aj_- - ?????
Alley Girl - Kailie
Alison Joy - Sillyitilangrl
BlueRexBear - Cheylink
BMW Kitty Cat - ????
Carolina - Blue Rex Bear
catbehaviors- Cat Person
Catkiki - CATTYBIRD
CATTYBIRD- Gemlady
cheylink - ????
Denice - Rianna
Duchess15 - SillyJilly
GailC - ????
gemlady - Ruthyb
GoldyCat - Carolina
JazzyTheCat - Mrblanche
jennyranson - gailC
Kailie - -_aj_-
katiemae1277 - nurseangel
Kluchetta - GoldyCat
mbjerkness - Ms. Freya
Milkmaid - Yayi
Momofmany - snake_lady
Momto3boys - mbjerkness
Mrblanche - Jennyranson
Ms.Freya - orangishcat
nurseangel - AlleyGirl
orangeishcat - BMW Kitty Cat
Pollyanna - Jessy
Resqchick-Anita1216
Rianna - Pollyanna
RubSluts'Mommy - AlisonJoy
RuthyB - Milkmaid
Sillyitilangrl - 3catsn1dog
SillyJilly - StarryEyedTiGeR
StarryEyedTiGeR - capt_jordi
Tara & Rob - ????
White cat lover - Momofmany
Yayi - TCS Secret Santa Elf and ???

Quote:

Originally Posted by yayi 

Today, I went to the post office to pick up a surprise package!  It was from my Secret Santa! I have no idea who she is only that she lives in Australia.

Ooh!  Ooh!  I think I know!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SillyJilly 

Look at the fishies!! CUTE CUTE!

Thanks! (if you mean the ones in my picture). It's a lamp. I meant to make it a prop to support the cat magazine upright, but the mag kept on slipping down. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblanche 

Ooh!  Ooh!  I think I know!!!

Please give me clues!

What a wonderful surprise!    That ring holder is adorable. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by yayi 

Please give me clues!

It's not too hard.  Look at the list of recipients and senders.  There are very few that aren't on both side, now.  Then, if that doesn't do it, look back a few pages; I know the person I think sent yours posted that they were worried that it hadn't been received yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrblanche 

It's not too hard.  Look at the list of recipients and senders.  There are very few that aren't on both side, now.  Then, if that doesn't do it, look back a few pages; I know the person I think sent yours posted that they were worried that it hadn't been received yet.

 

Yes, I did but a few did not post in the list like Jessy (did her SS send her a gift?). I am lousy when it comes to games of deduction, comes with age I guess.  It's okay. Is there a time limit to guessing who is who in the SS game?

Quote:

Originally Posted by yayi 

Today, I went to the post office to pick up a surprise package!  It was from my Secret Santa! I have no idea who she is only that she lives in Australia.

Are you sure it's a she? Hmm..
 

 I know, I know  

Quote:

Originally Posted by JazzyTheCat 

 

Are you sure it's a she? Hmm..
 

 

AHA!!! It's you! You're my SS!!! Thank you so very much for the presents! Love them all. 

Well, I am really bummed. My recipient never acknowledged she got the package. I know a notice was left and if not picked up in 15 days it was to be returned. That is the last I know of it. I never received it back, (it was delivered before Christmas). I don't know if someone stole it or if she got it or what. I am disappointed since I worked hard putting it together. I wish I had taken a picture of the little jewel box with the shells on top that I got specifically for the Secret Santa.

Well, this isn't going to put me off participating. I just wanted to let everyone know that I did send it.  I have been in touch from the beginning with katiemae1277 from the beginning of this fiasco.

I just am very disappointed about all of this and just a little bit hurt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catkiki 

 

 

Well, this isn't going to put me off participating.

That's the spirit! 

It happened to me in the 2010 SS so I know how you feel. Though I did find out the reason for the non-acknowledgement and it was a shocker. Hope it is not the same for you. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by yayi 

 

That's the spirit! 

It happened to me in the 2010 SS so I know how you feel. Though I did find out the reason for the non-acknowledgement and it was a shocker. Hope it is not the same for you. 

I think I remember that. It was a shocker but the same thing is not happening here. My recipient has been on the site within the past 2 weeks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catkiki 

Well, I am really bummed. My recipient never acknowledged she got the package. I know a notice was left and if not picked up in 15 days it was to be returned. That is the last I know of it. I never received it back, (it was delivered before Christmas). I don't know if someone stole it or if she got it or what. I am disappointed since I worked hard putting it together. I wish I had taken a picture of the little jewel box with the shells on top that I got specifically for the Secret Santa.

 

Well, this isn't going to put me off participating. I just wanted to let everyone know that I did send it.  I have been in touch from the beginning with katiemae1277 from the beginning of this fiasco.

 

I just am very disappointed about all of this and just a little bit hurt.

I had a similar experience, and it completely put me off the whole SS thing.

I partipated a few times.  The last year I did, I was really into the excitement of it all. The first 2 times were great experiences, s much so that I literally started shopping right after Christmas for the next year, the 3rd (and final) time!!!  The 3rd time I was paired up with was someone I'd never heard of before and when I searched I discovered that they came and went for weeks and months at a time. I was disappointed to find that out and I got a bit of a bad feeling about it and even thought to ask to change who I had been paired up with.

I was so excited to send my parcel and I paid additional shipping costs to make sure it arrived Express mail so that I could track where it was and make sure that it arrived at its destination.

I knew when the parcel was delivered (early December), but it was weeks (after Christmas) before the person even acknowledged receipt.  And all they said was 1 short sentence about having received their SS gift and listed 3 or 4 things out of the dozens that I had sent. They didn't post pictures (I knew they had a camera because they had posted pics of their cats), and they didn't even try to figure out who their SS was.  And then they disappeared again for weeks more. I finally posted in the list of SS and recipients who I had been paired up with.

That year several people did not receive gifts from their SS and I often wonder if the person I had been paired up with was one of the ones who didn't send their gifts.  To me it just seemed that they reappeared on the boards in time to sign up for SS and then vanished again.

I was so disappointed and my feelings were hurt. I decided to not participate anymore

I think the idea behind SS is a good one.  And like I said, the first 2 times I signed up, I had a great experience, largely because the people I sent to were active posters and seemed thrilled with what I had sent (even if maybe they weren't).  But to me it is the giving that means so much. Getting gifts is great, but what makes me the happiest is giving them and seeing/hearing people's reactions. 

As tough as some think the rules are for participating in SS, IMHO they aren't tough enough.  Aside from having to be a member for a certain period of time, I think people need to be active posters too, or at least active within a set period of time at the time SS sign up comes along.

Thankfully I have had a blast both years I have participated, nothing but positive experiences. I don't think I'd ever let one bad experience put me off though...but I can absolutely understand how upsetting it would be to put so much work into something to not have it properly acknowledged. I love SS so much that I think we should have a Christmas in July exchange!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kailie 

Thankfully I have had a blast both years I have participated, nothing but positive experiences. I don't think I'd ever let one bad experience put me off though...but I can absolutely understand how upsetting it would be to put so much work into something to not have it properly acknowledged. I love SS so much that I think we should have a Christmas in July exchange!

My first two times were great. It is just this last time where my gift wasn't acknowledged. I checked the tracking and it still says a notice was left. I am not going to let one person sour me on participating.

It always seems like my recipients disappear, don't post photos, etc.  Maybe I should quit participating so I don't jinx it?  ;)

Ill hold my hands up to being one who doesnt post pictures the last two years Ive had to work on christmas day so makes it very difficult to try and get them before having to rush out, I have however found my pics from when Angie was my SS LOL!!!  I havent had any problems so ill be continuing to participate :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catkiki 

My first two times were great. It is just this last time where my gift wasn't acknowledged. I checked the tracking and it still says a notice was left. I am not going to let one person sour me on participating.

I am glad you are going to stay with it! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by katiemae1277 

It's very unfortunate that Meda and others have had a disappointing experience, but that's the nature of the internet I suppose. We have made our rules stricter over the last couple years and there are still folks who, for one reason or another, don't follow through, or that have life interfere, or whatever it is. There are many members that will be crazy active and then just disappear, and even long long long term members move on suddenly. I'm glad this will not prevent you from participating, Meda, because really, if you quit things after one bad experience, would any of us being doing anything? This year was especially rough because of the host switch and general post office shenanigans plus me basically handling the whole sha-bang on my own- let me tell you, wrangling 40+ Secret Santas from all over the world is a full time job I will not let it deter me tho! I will continue to be your SS coordinator, but there will no Christmas in July

Yes, Christmas in July!  Excellent suggestion, Katie! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by -_aj_- 

Ill hold my hands up to being one who doesnt post pictures the last two years Ive had to work on christmas day so makes it very difficult to try and get them before having to rush out, I have however found my pics from when Angie was my SS LOL!!!  I havent had any problems so ill be continuing to participate :)

I remember sending you a picture of the lovely Speck as a hint to my identity. 

I believe if you at first you don't succeed, try, try again. My job is the perfect example. I have been there 12 years this month and have posted for promotion after promotion only to see it go to someone else. They would stay a few months and then leave again. But I was like a dog with a bone. I was very persistent! If I wasn't, I wouldn't have gotten my dream promotion in February. And that one hadn't had a posting for about 8 years. I absolutely love this job. The pay isn't what I would have liked, but it is hourly and not per call.

That being said, I will still participate in SS. And I did love the stuff I got this year from CATTYBIRD even though I wasn't able to post pictures this year. LOL real life got in the way.