Okay, I gotta ask: you silly, wonderful people with the Sekrit Santa nerves -- is this your first year in the exchange? I ask that because what I found, after the first time I was in it, was that just getting prezzies from an invisible internet friend -- and in some cases, an invisible internet friend who you haven't actually MET in person -- is so damn cool.

It doesn't have to be that one supercool gift -- there is NO one supercool gift. Getting stuff from other Buffistas, knowing they put a lot of thought and care into it even if they don't know a whole lot about you, encompasses a lot of what Christmas is about (for me). It's a Buffista thang.

So calm your frayed nerves!

2004 included some of the biggest mistakes I ever did make. Which is probably why it was also really fun in places. I was also kind of a jerk a lot, which is less good. But I could play the On The Other Hand game back and forth for an entire thread, so I'll leave give it the grade-school report treatment.

2004 was a year of contrasts.

I've never gotten a gift from a Buffista that didn't absolutely rock my socks.

Hee! It is my first year. But I will say that my excitement in putting it together and in the mail far overshadowed any nervousness. So much so that my mom commented on the work and glee I was putting into it as opposed to my, say, buying the first presumptuous thing I saw for The Nana.

I loved getting a prezzie for a Buffista. Somehow, when I wasn't looking, it's like y'all became a collective hivemind best friend. Which, I suppose, is the first thing I'll say about 2004.

I think I had more fun buying my first sekrit giftee present than anything I received or gave that year. It was such fun!! Ditto the following year, too. Now that the big "ends in a zero" party I threw last Sunday is over, I'm going to get into the holiday spirit this year, I swear!

And..... SUPER duper slacker seekrit santa giftee assignments have been sent.

Sometimes a gift can be as simple as something on someone's Amazon wish list. Which is what I got from Susan W! Susan got me one of the Simpsons episode guide books I was wanting. Thanks Susan!!!

You're welcome! I'm glad you like it. I'd hoped to do something a little more personalized, but that's one of those things that fell by the wayside in life in a family with a new baby, and one where at least one member of the family has had a cold, ear infection, or sinus infection at every point since mid-November or so.

New baby? Colds? Infections? Likely excuses!

Seriously, it's great!

Theodosia -- what an excellent present!

Theodosia, I'm really pleased at how well that worked out. I still can't believe I got that lucky on eBay.