November SS-

Thanks to my SS for the package I received today (Jeannierides - are you my SS?). I loved everything in it, especially the cue sheet clip!!! I've been wanting to get one forever and never got around to it. Usually for our century rides, DH and I both forget to bring some kind of clip and end up searching the car to find one of those clips you get from work - but only one, so the other person has to keep their cue sheet in their back pocket and invariably one person goes off course (sometimes if one of us is feeling stronger, that person goes ahead and we meet up at the food station). So now I will always have a clip for my bike! And everything else is great - I can't wait to eat the bike pasta! And the Gu and powerbar gels and clif blocks are always needed. Oh, and the cute socks. Definitely worth the wait. Thanks so much! This is so much fun!!

Ok, I have been sick since the day before Thanksgiving, so I was extremely happy to find my SS gift had arrived today. Some lovely socks, a candle, a Bike ornament--which will be used in the newly created 'bike room' during the non-holiday time--and a picture frame & a keychain rounded out my lot.

Great stuff & I'm guessing my SS is NJBikeGal!

Yep, it's me... you are certainly welcome!:)

Nice guess, Paigette!! I guess with so many of us residing in Oaklyn, NJ it was a tough one to figure out! I hope you enjoy everything..always fun to send out little boxes o'goodies! :)

When I arrived from my Thanksgiving vacation I found a nice surprise in my box. A laughing round santa smile, candie's, appointment book, first aid kit and fabulous Christmas ornament that is waiting for our tree.

SS. I will be sending the package out on Friday.


Thank you....

Becky

Umm...i'm worried that the package I sent to my SS in the Eastern US is lost in the thanksgiving mail...Sure hope US customs wasn't hungry...

So, if you're a SS in the Eastern US awaiting a package, one's on it's way and someone hasn;t forgotten about you. :)

c

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Umm...i'm worried that the package I sent to my SS in the Eastern US is lost in the thanksgiving mail...Sure hope US customs wasn't hungry...

So, if you're a SS in the Eastern US awaiting a package, one's on it's way and someone hasn;t forgotten about you. :)

c

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CC-do not worry, yet. Whe you sent a box to me, it was open, gone through and resealed with bright green tape. I had never had a box opened before, so it could just be tied up in cutoms/border security.

My poor SS--I just mailed your package out yesterday. But remember--good things come to those who wait! :o :D

Juju- she's not as poor as my SS...

But I got my November gifts, and I love them! Nice of the PO to leave it on the front steps where we never go- so hopefully it wasn't out there long.

She did her research and sent frog and lizard-related items! And a pack of Scabs- which I love and need! And a Polar bottle in a color I didn't have (and if you could see my other two- which got forgotten about in the cooler since November 8th!!) and a key chain and a bottle holder thingy and FOOD! I love raspberry Clif Shot Bloks since they have vitamin C(affeinne) in them! Will be using that Saturday!

Thank you so much,

Nanci

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Originally Posted by Nanci

And a pack of Scabs- which I love and need!

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Either this is something other than what it sounds like or.....it's grounds for a big eeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww! :eek: Please enlighten me!

I am sooo excited...Christmas came to my house and it is only November! I opened my packages and there was a cool Christmas ornament to hang on the wall, with a Santa and it says ho ho ho and has bells!! also socks, tire levers and tire patch, a small stocking with bath confetti..I can't wait to take a bath! Also a water bottle and Sol sunguard. I am sooo lucky.. Thank you Secret Sister :) :)

Well I certainly must say that I must get the BEST SS's ever!

This month I got so many cool things in my package but I am having a hard time deciding which is cooler of 2 of them-->the crossword puzzle book (which means that my SS did enough digging to find out that I love crossword puzzles) OR the fact that she got my babies doggie bones.....

Either way, I love it ALL and I just want to give a very sincere thank you to my SS - hhhmmm..... based only on the zipcode as my sis was very secretive, I am guessing Bluetree????

Thanks to my awesome SS in Sacramento. Not only do we have the same first name, but we have the same taste in gifts! I have ordered all of those items as gifts too...and have always had a hard time sending them off because I wanted to keep them for myself!

The headband is the same color as my winter cycling coat and will coordinate nicely!

Thank you!

Did you send me that nice package?

I'll be in Sacramento in March. Maybe I'll get a chance to thank you in person!

Ha. Yes, that was me! Glad you liked it!

Why do some things affect us and others don't? :cool:

I suppose I am disappointed for two reasons, firstly have not received my SS package but am really hoping it is on it's way.

Secondly..................OK, this is going to sound pathetic but after taking a fair time choosing something for my SS and spending more than a reasonable amount, plus postage of over $11, I guess I was a little surprised at not receiving a PM, at least that way we could have exchanged a few words.

Call me stupid but I was so excited when I received and sent my October SS and it was so good communicating with these two people who live on the other side of the world.

I don't expect or even want any comments to what I have written, it is just my way of expressing how I feel, albeit somewhat stupid. :(

Sally

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Originally Posted by ClockworkOrange

Why do some things affect us and others don't? :cool:

I suppose I am disappointed for two reasons, firstly have not received my SS package but am really hoping it is on it's way.

Secondly..................OK, this is going to sound pathetic but after taking a fair time choosing something for my SS and spending more than a reasonable amount, plus postage of over $11, I guess I was a little surprised at not receiving a PM, at least that way we could have exchanged a few words.

Call me stupid but I was so excited when I received and sent my October SS and it was so good communicating with these two people who live on the other side of the world.

I don't expect or even want any comments to what I have written, it is just my way of expressing how I feel, albeit somewhat stupid. :(

Sally

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Clock, you and I are in the same boat. The first lady I sent something to never told me who she was on line. So it was a black hole.
YOU were great, easy to buy for and lots of communication.. Now I am waiting, like you, for a November gift. At least the gal I sent the November package to had enough class to let me know she got it and appreciated what i sent her.
As for your most recent recipient, sheesh, if i got a package all the way from GB I would be thrilled!

I guess I'm confused. I thought the "Secret" was an important part of the whole Secret Sister thing. That is, I didn't realize we were supposed to identify ourselves here in the forums. I can understand offering a general thanks here in this thread, so hopefully your SS will read it, and of course if she wants to identify herself, that's great. But is there a procedure that I'm not aware of, where we DO identify ourselves after the gift is sent?

I'm fine with it either way--just wondering what most people do.

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Originally Posted by Bad JuJu

I guess I'm confused. I thought the "Secret" was an important part of the whole Secret Sister thing. That is, I didn't realize we were supposed to identify ourselves here in the forums.

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The main thing, I think, is that we all want our SS to post on the board to at least acknowledge they've received our gift (smail mail paranoia). Beyond that, I don't think there's any rule. Some folks are comfortable id'ing each other on the boards, some do it by PM and I'm sure some never reveal themselves.

I, for one, like to know who sent me neat stuff - sometimes my SS gives me her name, sometimes I'm left to guess. Either way's fine to me. When I send out SS packages, I don't use my screen name, but I try to leave clues to my identity in my note (darn CyclChyk figured it out way too easily ;) ). If my SS doesn't figure out who I am, I eventually PM her and fess up. It prolongs the fun for me.

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Originally Posted by laughlaugh18

The main thing, I think, is that we all want our SS to post on the board to at least acknowledge they've received our gift (smail mail paranoia). Beyond that, I don't think there's any rule. Some folks are comfortable id'ing each other on the boards, some do it by PM and I'm sure some never reveal themselves.

I, for one, like to know who sent me neat stuff - sometimes my SS gives me her name, sometimes I'm left to guess. Either way's fine to me. When I send out SS packages, I don't use my screen name, but I try to leave clues to my identity in my note (darn CyclChyk figured it out way too easily ;) ). If my SS doesn't figure out who I am, I eventually PM her and fess up. It prolongs the fun for me.

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ah, but you eventually tell. that makes sense to me.

I would like to say thanks to my SS-I think it's Im4smiley? Just notice you're in turner falls so it might be you.

Thank you for the cool multi tool-Ian took one look at it and said "you may not see that in the morning...", the keychain!!! the peeps-I'm still trying to eat the ones Jennifer sent me!!! The socks..now i have a reason to buy a blue jersey...!!! The powergels will come in v handy this weekend at the 12hr.

Thanks again for taking the time to send it down this way!

Is MA Massachusetts?

c

The first month I participated in Secret Sister I did not even think about posting a thank you which was thoughtless. I am not sure why I did not. I make sure to say a thank you in a thread so that the person who sent it knows I appreciate what they have sent and to let them know I have received it. I do not sent a personal email but maybe that is a good idea.

I cannot believe I did not do this the first month.

I get the idea of acknowledging gifts received--that makes sense to me.

I keep telling my brother and his wife to teach their kids to write thank-you notes (or at least thank-you emails) for that reason--certainly they need to learn to thank people for their generosity, but if nothing else, gift-givers who live far away just want to know that everything arrives as it's supposed to.

I like the idea of including little clues to identity--that sounds like fun!

OK, first and foremost, I did not make it clear in my above post that my SS did say thank you.

Please don't all shout at me, it was just one of those days and.........................and I felt, I dunno what I even felt.

Sheeeeesh, wanted to come on this site today and just delete what I had written but this is not fair to all the responses.

I suppose it is still fascinating to me, to be able to get in contact with people so very far away, obviously, different culture and very often we even use different words for things but no, I am in the wrong, why should I expect anybody to send me a PM, my SS did the correct thing, she thanked me on this thread. As Bad JuJu mentioned, it is meant to be 'Secret'.

I put my hand up on this one, I screwed up, sorry folks. :(

I look forward to receiving my SS gift, guess I am just impatient.

Sally

Dear S.S. I am sending out the package today. Becky

Hey Sally, don't feel bad! You really didn't say anything so terrible. We all word things in ways sometimes that might have been worded better- it's ok!
I hope your SS package arrives to you soon! :)

Sally, you didn't say anything wrong. I did thank my SS, but I must be bad at figuring out who mine is. I haven't figured it out the last two times and I would love for my SS to 'fess up so I can get to know her better (hint, hint;) ). Getting a gift is great any day, but getting to make a friend is even better in my book.

Sally I personally don't think you said anything wrong you were simply voicing a level of frustration some (this has included myself) who participate in the SS exchanges have felt at one time or another. I think, this of course if my personal opinion, that if you know your package is going to be late a short note to the organizer stating just that would help a lot. They, the organizer, could in turn PM the person who is wondering about the whereabouts of their package so they did not become frustrated and feel left out of the exchange. I know several people, including myself, have posted notes that a package was on the way or a package was going to be late but in reality the SS has no earthly idea if that message is for them or for someone else who is participating. Again, I think it is important to let this person know they have not been forgotten and brief PM would do the job and relieve all tension, worry and frustration.

I also think that once a gift is received a note of thanks should be posted or a PM sent so the sender knows that their package made it safely to its destination. You may not know who you SS is but they did take time and spend some $ to make your day a little brighter so everyone should take a moment to say "THANK YOU" but again that is how I was raised and I realize not everyone shares my views.

Take about a surprise when I walked through the front door!! A package full of goodies from down under!! Thank you for sending me a piece of Australia, complete with fabulous chocolate, notepad, t-shirt, blinking light, fantastic smelling soaps, did I mention the chocolate :D , and other assorted goodies. I appreciate it. Great chocolate......

Happy Holidays Mate

Toni

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Originally Posted by makbike

Sally I personally don't think you said anything wrong you were simply voicing a level of frustration some (this has included myself) who participate in the SS exchanges have felt at one time or another. I think, this of course if my personal opinion, that if you know your package is going to be late a short note to the organizer stating just that would help a lot. They, the organizer, could in turn PM the person who is wondering about the whereabouts of their package so they did not become frustrated and feel left out of the exchange. I know several people, including myself, have posted notes that a package was on the way or a package was going to be late but in reality the SS has no earthly idea if that message is for them or for someone else who is participating. Again, I think it is important to let this person know they have not been forgotten and brief PM would do the job and relieve all tension, worry and frustration.

I also think that once a gift is received a note of thanks should be posted or a PM sent so the sender knows that their package made it safely to its destination. You may not know who you SS is but they did take time and spend some $ to make your day a little brighter so everyone should take a moment to say "THANK YOU" but again that is how I was raised and I realize not everyone shares my views.

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Exactly Marcie. the secrecy should not trump good manners!

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Originally Posted by Toni

Take about a surprise when I walked through the front door!! A package full of goodies from down under!! Thank you for sending me a piece of Australia, complete with fabulous chocolate, notepad, t-shirt, blinking light, fantastic smelling soaps, did I mention the chocolate :D , and other assorted goodies. I appreciate it. Great chocolate......

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Man, that's a whole lotta stuff!!! :eek: I hope it's still "ok" to send 2 or 3 items for around $20?...

I was almost dreading coming on this site again, feeling really stupid but you guys have cheered me up so much.

So, I won't thank you individually in case I miss anybody out, but a BIG thanx for the encouraging words.

Sally

This is what I have taken from this whole SS thing. And its in FOUR parts.

1. I fell joy in reading about the SS I have been assigned; finding out what she likes and her interests. Then picking out things that I think will make her smile. And that makes ME smile.
2. RECEIVING a gift - from someone I have never met. And KNOWING from the items in my package that she took the time to read my many posts, or even NOTICE my posts, enough to know what I like and get me things to make me smile.
3. POSTING a thank you to my SS for my wonderful gift. Hoping that my post of thanks will make her smile as much as her gift made me smile.
4. And the forth, the final part to this whole SS thing, is seeing the person that I purchased for, HAPPY about the items I sent. And only being able to know she is happy because she took the time to post a thankyou.

THAT is what I think CLOCK was alluding to. And that is what I think this whole SS thing is about. Don't tell me who you are. I don't care. I just care that you took the time.............

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Originally Posted by CyclChyk

This is what I have taken from this whole SS thing. And its in FOUR parts.

1. I fell joy in reading about the SS I have been assigned; finding out what she likes and her interests. Then picking out things that I think will make her smile. And that makes ME smile.
2. RECEIVING a gift - from someone I have never met. And KNOWING from the items in my package that she took the time to read my many posts, or even NOTICE my posts, enough to know what I like and get me things to make me smile.
3. POSTING a thank you to my SS for my wonderful gift. Hoping that my post of thanks will make her smile as much as her gift made me smile.
4. And the forth, the final part to this whole SS thing, is seeing the person that I purchased for, HAPPY about the items I sent. And only being able to know she is happy because she took the time to post a thankyou.

THAT is what I think CLOCK was alluding to. And that is what I think this whole SS thing is about. Don't tell me who you are. I don't care. I just care that you took the time.............

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<<<what she said :cool:

I, too, don't think you said anything wrong, Sally. But I hope I didn't! Just trying to figure it all out.

I DO like Mimi's take: that secrecy shouldn't trump good manners. That'll be my SS mantra from now on.:)

Hope your package arrives soon, Sally, and everybody else who hasn't gotten theirs yet!

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Originally Posted by CyclChyk

This is what I have taken from this whole SS thing. And its in FOUR parts.

1. I fell joy in reading about the SS I have been assigned; finding out what she likes and her interests. Then picking out things that I think will make her smile. And that makes ME smile.
2. RECEIVING a gift - from someone I have never met. And KNOWING from the items in my package that she took the time to read my many posts, or even NOTICE my posts, enough to know what I like and get me things to make me smile.
3. POSTING a thank you to my SS for my wonderful gift. Hoping that my post of thanks will make her smile as much as her gift made me smile.
4. And the forth, the final part to this whole SS thing, is seeing the person that I purchased for, HAPPY about the items I sent. And only being able to know she is happy because she took the time to post a thankyou.

THAT is what I think CLOCK was alluding to. And that is what I think this whole SS thing is about. Don't tell me who you are. I don't care. I just care that you took the time.............

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Hi CyclChyk

I was going to say you got it in one..................but you got it in four! ;)

You have summed it all up very eloquently.

Sally

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

I would like to say thanks to my SS-I think it's Im4smiley? Just notice you're in turner falls so it might be you.

Thank you for the cool multi tool-Ian took one look at it and said "you may not see that in the morning...", the keychain!!! the peeps-I'm still trying to eat the ones Jennifer sent me!!! The socks..now i have a reason to buy a blue jersey...!!! The powergels will come in v handy this weekend at the 12hr.

Thanks again for taking the time to send it down this way!

Is MA Massachusetts?

c

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yes it is me :) and yes MA is Massachusetts I am glad you are happy..enjoy

Hey Lisa-I normally send a bit extra as i'm sending it overseas & want to make it special. People don't get tim tams & other items from Western Australia everyday!

I try to limit the items but sometimes it's hard as i want to ensure someone out there appreciates the package!

c

It's a bit like ultrasound when you're pregnant. You sort of want to know and you sort of want to be surprised.
(What is the point of all that birth if you know what/who is coming?)

My Oct SS I still haven't figured but to know someone comes from a place called Silver Spring has enough of a "wow!" factor.When my Nov ss uforgot posted the picture of my wee prezzie I was just blown away. And my Aug ss re-sent a tea-pot that got broken in the post.
It is impossible to remain a-nony-mouse when you are the only one in your country. Right iFKA? CWR? But that is ok too because it has a certain cachet - pretty stamps, exotic things.
I like to tell people a bit about me and where I live. I think the "secret" is when you get her name and then when she gets your parcel. Then she opens it and thinks "Oh, so that's who she is" - again a bit like having a baby.

Total : $0.02

So after all the recent postings on this thread, I had forgotten about my SS gift.

Then this morning, the postman produces this rather big box. Let me just mention the WOW factor was at it's highest! My boyfriend was in another room and kept asking me what all the 'oooooing and ahhhhing was all for!

Everything was smashing but why is it always silly things that we love so much. One of the items was a tacky glitzy little snowstorm scene of Las Vegas but I genuinely love it, it really is so cute. My SS also popped in two chips from a casino in Las Vegas, one of these will now bring me good luck wherever I go!

My Christmas tree will look great when I hang my lovely pewter bike on it, so unusual.

The coolest thing I have seen that came all packed in it's own small tin was Mountain Bike Joe Bender, this awesome little figure that is magnetic, I have mine positioned so he is doing a wheelie.

I could not mention everything cos others might get a bit fed up with me going on, so I had to attach these pics, unfortunately I was unable to use PaintShop Pro, seems to be a problem, so I could not crop these pics:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...pdragen002.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...pdragen004.jpg

I knew my SS came from San Jose because of the Customs Declaration, so now I had to search Team Estrogen postings!

I think I have come up with the right person SNAPDRAGEN?

Just want to say the biggest thank you for all my lovely pressies, even the way everything was wrapped in the red and green tissue paper.

Sally .....goes off to hide cute Snowmen marshmallows. Yum! :D

PS You see for me the fascination is looking on the internet about where SS comes from, have now decided San Jose looks a very cool place to live