Man, now I feel bad. I think I'll send a bunch of cards in the spring to the folks I have addresses for and would otherwise have sent Christmas cards to. In fact, anyone I don't have an addreess for right now, feel free to e me and you'll be in the group. I'm figuring mid-Feb, when the X-mas glow has worn off and people need a pick-me-up.

Brenda, my deal is, I send a handwritten note to anyone who sent us holiday cards...sometime after New Year's. Which have been as late as... oh, Easter? Unexpected, right?

Reminds me, to everyone who sent me a card, please to forgive me not doing cards, myself. Thing is, the list got out of hand to the point where, just signing them, I used the small amount of non-MS impacted flesh i've still got, and was pretty much unable to use a keyboard for a few days afterward.

I will, however, be doing leisurely baking and sending. AFTER the holidays.

ita, I think the flowers may have been sent instead of a goat. Guesswork, but it's sound reasoning....

w00t!!! I have been Secret Santa-d, and but good!

AmyLiz sent a box full of treasures, each with a sparkly tag: scented candles (one "snow" so I'll have some this year, one "cookies" which is yum), cookie-scented lip balm, wonderful-smelling orange and patchouli body scrub and a loofah mitt (made by Bathery, which made me think Elizabeth Bathory, but that's probably just me).

But wait, there's more! She read my mind somehow - I had just rearranged and cleaned my office, probably the first time it's been cleaned in 20 years, and 4 different people came through and said "That's what this place needed: a woman's touch!" Yeah, I got your woman's touch right here, pal. But I actually did want something a little feminine for my desk space. AmyLiz provided wonderful post-its, large and tiny, with colorful gerber daisies on them...AND a pink CD holder. Which is more mind-reading, as I have a stereo in my office, but no small case to carry CDs in.

Then, just to make it all perfectly sweet, she included a CD of Christmas music in the CD case (good choices too!), and two tiny friends for Mallory - a puppy and a kitty that are just the right size for him.

And the centerpiece was Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns" which I have been wanting to read forever!

AmyLiz, you indeed rock like a rocking thing. Thank you so much!

I can't believe it got there in time, Raq! So glad it did, and that it made you so happy -- I had so much fun putting it together. Being a secret Santa is a very good thing. You're very welcome!

Yay, SailAweigh! I'm so glad it arrived (I mailed it the same day that my Secret Santa gift arrived. Embarrassing. But it did arrive in time, so I can continue with my procrastinating ways.

I'm happy that you're enjoying the gifts. May your holiday be full of joy (and chocolate).

I am overwhelm-ed by the generosity of my fabulous Secret Santa Teppy, thanks to whom I am right now drinking Peppermint Patty peppermint cocoa and listening to one of two fantastic Christmas CD mixes, while admiring Serenity/FF swag, including the much-coveted-by-me Serenity keychain (!)

A few minutes ago, I was happily arranging adorable little glass bubble magnets with different pictures (sort of retro) and words (and a monkey!) on my fridge while munching on some peppermint bark. Later today, I'll be drinking some lovely Earl Grey tea after having showered with Villainess Sudz amazing-smelling soap, while chatting with the gold devil rubber ducky that will be sitting on the ledge. And everyone will be nice to me, because they'll have read my "Don't make me get my flying monkeys" sticker. Ha!!

Many of these things were packed in a v. cute snowman box. All of these things are making me smile. There may even be bouncing. There is definitely singing along to the music. Thank you so very much, Steph! For the card, the gifts, and the thoughtfulness that went into making this stupendous Secret Santa box of goodies. Did I mention how much I love the CD mixes? Because I do.

Peppermint Patty peppermint cocoa

That sounds so yum!

Oh, yay! You got it in time for Christmas! I was hoping you would, so that the CDs would still be timely. You are VERY welcome!

The Villainess soap choices were based on what you said in your Deena-facilitated questionnaire -- even though the one is called "Sweat," it was described as melon-ish, and "Pangaea" sounds like a hodgepodge of scents, but it sounded like something you might like, according to the all-powerful questionnaire. (Which is also where I obtained the seekrit knowledge about the peppermint bark and the tea.)

including the much-coveted-by-me Serenity keychain (!)

Oh, yay! I was afraid that maybe you might have had one already. I got it at the preview showing, along with the other little bits of FF swag -- the magnets/stickers were made by (I think) the southern Ohio Browncoats, and handed out at the preview in goodie bags.

The magnets are my one Martha Stewart-esque craft-creating skill. A *lot* of people on my list are getting magnets this year. (A certain UmFriend got one that says "dildos." It made him chortle with disturbing glee.)

I can testify to Teppy doing superb magnets. I have a bunch of them on my fridge.