I still haven't gotten my gift either, and I also still haven't sent my gift.

I am ND, except I'll send mine by the end of the week. Cross my heart.

You know, I was thinking about my overdue Santee and I was wondering if it would be permissible into looking into trading MY GIFTEE with someone else's GIFTEE, because I'm just not coming up with enough Cool Stuff to justify the long wait. If I traded off with another gift giver, I wouldn't have the load of guilt that's paralyzing me -- instead I could get all excited because I'm sort of swooping in to the rescue and go on a buying/making things spree that would result in someone, somewhere, getting cool prezzies.

(Note that this is NOT because of any enmity I have towards my giftee. It's just my guilt at not being good enough to come up with great prezzies for their particular persona.)

Would any other belated gift-giver be interested? Would any belated giftee mind?

At this point, I'm wondering how many pairs of ungifted givers and givees we have left. I think it's down to two or three. Some of the wait might be eliminated with a little backchannel, third party input. If so, I was not a participant in either gift exchange last year, and hereby offer up my services as a neutral problem solver/gifter poker.

I have received wonderful international gifts from Brenda's world travels! There was a pretty gift bag bursting with bright colorful tissue paper on my hotel bed when I arrived at the Hotel Monaco, containing many treats: risotto from Amalfi, lemon cookies from er, um, someplace cool (I'm not at home! they're packed away in my car!), a huge bath bomb, a Greek olive masque, and I hope I'm not forgetting something (see above, not at home). We almost made the risotto in our campsite on the camp stove last night but then elected something easier/quicker to cook, all the better for more for me when I get home. I think I will use the cookies as a crust for an ice cream cake. They look to be perfect. Thank you very much, Brenda (who, I might add, looks really great).

I am ungifted. Hmm, I think I was supposed to get gifted at the F2F, but forgot all about it in the excitment. Ha!

I did hear a rumour to that effect, Vortex.

Thanks, Baltimore Sekrit Santa!(Was it LisaH?) Part one, a very cool shirt like one on "The Wire" got here today.

Not last year, but the year before, as part of my SS package, I got sourdough starter powder. I finally felt able to keep it fed and whatnot (it's like a pet!), so I started it last night. I need not have worried that it was dead, as it was bubbling like crazy this morning, so I decided to go ahead and make a loaf before I put the starter in the fridge. It is currently rising, but looks good. I'll report back on the loaf when it finishes.

Vortex, your slackerist of slacker Santas reports that s/he has your gift and just needs to mail it. This person is very sorry for the delay.

No problem. I'm looking forward to it!