Portia has some fun bits, too.

I just got a package from my old address, saying it was from the "Ghost of Suzi W." It was filled with goodies to remind me of what I left behind. So cool!!!!

• Some "Halloween Craziness" pencils (spiderwebs and bats, oh my).
  
• A couple of SF magnets - the GG bridge and Alcatraz (these are going to work).
  
• Some fancy Extra-Bitter Chocolate Sause (can't wait to try it).
  
• A tin of Organic Earl Red Tea (this stuff sounds so nummy - again, can't wait to brew a cuppa).
  
• Three goodies from LUSH (ahhhhhhhh...will be perfect for my after karate baths).
  
• A CD chock full of SF related songs (a bunch of these are new to me - will be loading to my iTunes tonight).

The card and notes were all typed, as if I would recognize handwriting...so I have no idea who my Secret Santa is. I think I have a theory. It could be midgets...

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Each item made me grin bigger and bigger. THANK YOU, oh Secret Santa!!!

I'm still all bouncy. Here is a picture of all my goodies.

Happy Holidays!!!! Thank you, Secret Santa, for kicking mine off with such a bang.

Ya know, I have to admit that I'd been working so hard to figure out what to get my giftee that I kinda forgot that I'd be on the receiving end too. Yes, I'm a dork, but it made it that much more of a lovely surprise.

I actually always wanted to play Lady MacBeth, but I do well playing the angry evil types, and I enjoy it a lot, since I am covering up a lot of angry evil in real life. Unfortunately, I usually get cast as nice and sweet.

Although it is only Christmas and not New Year, I think I am ready to say goodbye to 2008, which has been a strange year for me.

The Good:

• I got a lovely little old lady cat from a student who could no longer keep her in the dorms.
• I paid off a shit-ton of debt so far, and have been on top of things (for me) financially (thanks msbelle!!)
• I still have a job, and I learned a lot about what I am capable of doing and deciding without guidance or backup (I think I might be a grown-up now)
• My BFF's husband has gone to AA and seems like a different person. She can actually leave the kids with him and we can do stuff.
• Theatre was really light work this year, and I got paid the same amount.

The Bad:

• My BFF's husband has a drunk driving car accident, was in rehab twice and generally caused quite a ruckus within the family this year.
• My work life was a roller coaster- my boss was let go, then my big!boss, and then I got my boss back.
• I hurt the heck out of my hip, which continues to haunt me still and makes riding the bus difficult when I need to carry something.
• I have really no personal life to speak of and although I do not need much, a couple of people to talk to would be good!
• My mom lost both her cats and is generally extremely cranky and annoying to me, and persists in thinking that she should move out of her house to be further away from the area where I live, in which not only I live, but her best friend, my best friend, and my best friend's mom. I wish she would just let me tell her what to do!

I am wayyyy too superstitious to bid goodbye to 2008 until it is good and gone...and I have a terrible feeling about January and the things it may yet hold. But I'll wait on that one.

And Dear My Secret Santee: I'm sorry. Snowpocalypse and a few other things (aka I am lazy and should've been a Slacker Santa like I was the past many year) mean your present will be late. But I promise, you'll get it. Hopefully before Epiphany. Maybe. Depending on the postal service, and the length of Snowpocalypse, and when I can actually venture out to go get stuff.

After being sorely tempted all week, I finally opened my Secret Santa presents, which included a lovely ring/earring set and a Moleskine city notebook for Paris, both of which I’ve wanted forever but couldn’t really justify buying. And I still can’t figure out if you had secret information that revealed I collect Anne Taintor magnets (“bitter woman” magnets I call them) or if I’m just that obvious, but I love my calendar—as much as Barb loves her cabana boys.

Of course, you also unknowingly participated in one of the funniest Amazon wish list fiascos, in that I ended up receiving 3 Wine Snob dictionaries. Usually, only my brother-in-law uses my list, but this year my sister did too. Great minds think alike I guess. One of them will make a lovely partner for my Film Snob’s dictionary and the rest will make a great excuse to visit my local bookstore and get more books. So it’s a win-win!

What fun! I’m so glad I finally decided to do Secret Santa, especially since I’m on my own this year. It’s great to be able to fill out the presents underneath the tree and such a nice surprise to get the package and try to guess who sent it. I'm assuming it's Gud, since the package came from Kansas, but regardless, thank you so much for your generosity!

I'm sorry I couldn't participate in Secret Santa this year. It is a wonderful institution. But, my life is too up-in-the-air right now, and I don't know where I'll be when.

Buffista gifts are always the best!

I'm so glad you liked the Anne Taintor calendar! I had just ordered Retro Mama for me and thought I would take a chance. I had my son address the package so handwriting would be completely thrown off. I've been so excited for you to open your package ever since you said it arrived. I'm so glad you are pleased!

I'm planning to start shopping for my Slacker Santa gift tomorrow.

Next year I totally need to do Secret Santa.

Wait. That doesn't sound right.