Update: Everything you are about to read is a complete fabrication. Well, not everything, but the part about Chris being my Secret Santa. Word has come to me from the North Pole. Or at least from one of his elves in Louisiana, that this was just an early gift from Chris and that my True Secret Santa has not yet been revealed!!! So, to my ACTUAL Secret Santa, sorry for the confusion. But believe me, you’ll be getting a post of your very own just like this one very, very soon!!! I’m so tickled!!!
Recently Nymeth had the brilliant idea of hosting a blogger Christmas Exchange, Secret Santa style. It was a wonderful idea and thank you Nymeth for hosting it and taking care of all the details that hosting entails. Anyway, I had great fun planning, picking out and wrapping up the presents for my Secret Santa recipient and I’m happy to say that, prior to the upcoming deadline, my package went off today Priority Mail and should be arriving tomorrow or the next day. I’m all aquiver with excitement.
So, imagine how my excitement grew when I came home today to see this:
(Disclaimer: Some images may be staged for effect. Thank you. -The Management)
What, oh what could it be?!?!?
(I look so handsome after a long, sweaty dog-walking session)
Ah ha, a mystery no more! The excitement grows.
Looks like that snowman has his arms open just inviting me to tear him to bits, doesn’t it? That’s the way I’m interpreting it! Adios, Frosty!
Oh my! Chris picked a winner with the card. My fondness for trees is represented right there! And, although it certainly won’t look this way to anyone else, it evokes images of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree to me.
The inside of the card says many nice things, *blushes*, thank you Chris, same to you! Then it mentions smoking and the fact that I don’t smoke.
Allow me to confess here (close your eyes, Mother and shut granny in the closet)…on rare, very rare, occasions I actually do smoke a cigar, even more rarely I may have a cigarette. This usually involves a trip to a bar and those almost never happen. (Okay mom, really I’m just kidding, this is all for dramatic effect….Mom?)
I’m intrigued!
How cool is that?!?! And how appropriate! What Chris doesn’t know is that I’ve seen things like this online off and on for years with various images on them that I really like and I have always wanted to buy one but never did. I’m so glad I didn’t because that makes this even more special.
Wow, this is great! And the Poppets can use it to practice being on What Not to Wear.
I’m a little disappointed this wasn’t filled with cigarillos rolled on the thighs of beautiful Cuban women, but shhh…don’t tell Chris. π
Awesome! Another bit of serendipity: I was in Borders this afternoon and was holding the new Orson Scott Card short Christmas story set in this universe and it was all I could do to put it down and walk away. It is not good to be tempted to buy yourself stuff this close to Christmas.
I know for sure one of the things I will be reading for January’s Sci Fi Experience: the rest of Ender’s Game and then this!
Isn’t that John Harris cover awesome?!?! Go ahead and click on that image above for a better look. The Card covers by Harris have always been among my favorites of his work.
All in all that is one fine haul and a great way to begin the Christmas season. Thank you so very, very much Chris. I am thrilled beyond words (sure didn’t seem that way to me!) and am all aglow!
ΓΒ’Γ’βΒ¬Γ
βThe greatest gift is a portion of thyself.ΓΒ’Γ’βΒ¬ΓΒ
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
You certainly gave me that, Chris and although you didn’t need to get me anything, you not being my secret santa after all, I am still very grateful and pleased that you thought of me. You’ve demonstrated the true spirit of the season. THANK YOU!!!
____________________
That should be enough for one post, but I cannot let this opportunity pass without wishing the newest member of our family, Charlie, a Happy First Birthday! Yep, Charlie turned one year old today. To celebrate I took him for a long walk, played with him in the yard, and then tortured him:
ΓΒ’Γ’βΒ¬Γ
βThe great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.ΓΒ’Γ’βΒ¬ΓΒ
~Samuel Butler
Ain’t life grand?!?!
Chris really has you pegged, doesn’t he? This is a mighty fine haul!
It is going to be fun visiting blogs and seeing the loot! I didn’t participate, but I love living vicariously.
How wonderful! I haven’t sent my secret santa their stuff yet… I suck. haha. Weird for you to be all organized, though… I mean, what am I saying, you are very organized. hehe.
Happy Birthday Charlie!
Touche, Kailana! Ha! You have me pegged as well!
I love living vicariously as well, JenClair, that is one of the reasons why I love reading blogs so much.
Glad you liked them Carl, but guess what? You’re still getting another gift, cuz I’m not you’re secret santa, LOL!! These were just for all the kindness you’ve shown over the past year. I had NO IDEA it would arrive so fast as I sent it yesterday thinking it would take at least a week to get there. So sit back and wait patiently for your real secret santa gift to arrive. You’ve surely confused someone now π haha!
Holy crap! Life just gets better and better!!! Thank you even more!!!
I have updated the beginning of this post so as to not throw my true Secret Santa for a loop, and I may just be able to take a shower before I do my post when my actual secret santa gift comes so I won’t look so mussed up.
I am even more excited than a kid at…er…Christmas time. Just the knowledge that another package with who knows what is coming my way from someone secret has got me giddy and giggling!
LOL, you’re welcome! By the way, I highly recommend War of Gifts, the new Card novella. It’s an excellent Christmas story and it’s presented nicely!
And Charlie looks great π We like to torture Buddy at Christmas time too!
wow.. and you still have a few weeks until christmas!
Happy b’day Charlie!..
I think the “thought bubble” over his head should say, “did I really sign up for this?”
They seem like the perfect presents for you, Carl, and as anyone knows that is an extremely hard thing to do: find the right gift for the right person. I’d say you have a good blogship/friendship!
He was definitely thinking that, Deslily, as it took multiple attempts to get any sort of picture with him and the hat in close proximity with one another!
Bellezza, I’ve beaten Chris over the head with Stainless Steel Rat stuff for so long I think its finally sinking in!
I think I am going to have to check out this Stainless Steel Rat. Maybe for your sci-fi challenge…. Like I need anymore books.
And, Chris, can you stop sending people that Orson Scott Card book, it makes mine look so unpretty in comparision and then I want to buy a better copy! You are a bad influence. π
Cool gifts! I love the dramatic pictures, honey.
Isn’t Charlie cute in his hat? The only problem is that you don’t get the full effect of his lovely “Rat Terrier” ears!
Bellezza, He has indeed beaten me silly with the Stainless Steel Rat…there are bruises…I’ll be reading the rest of the books for this Sci-fi Experience thingy!
Kailana, I don’t even have a copy that nice! LOL..you’d think I’d have a nice copy of my favorite book, but mine’s a beaten up, read many times, mass market paperback
And Mary, I love dog ears! It’s strange, but that’s my favorite thing about them!
What a great haul. Aren’t surprises wonderful! It makes me want to run to borders and get myself a present. Have fun, which I am very sure you will/are.
Ah, how nice! And you even get more stuff?? Man. You are one lucky Rat!!
Well, Chris, now I do not feel so bad!
I was thumbing through Speaker before I went to bed last night, smelling the ink and paper…love that new book smell, and I found myself thinking just how much I love that size of trade paperback. It is really a nice sized book to read. Seeing as how particular I am with books, I will no doubt find a way to read it and still have it looking shiny and new. I’m such a goof.
Isn’t that Chris fellow one nice guy?!! Hey…just like you!
What a wonderful pile of goodies! And to think you’ve got more coming…wahoo!
I haven’t yet sent my secret Santa gift…been waiting for one thing to arrive that I ordered. But I’m starting to get a bit panicky here. If it doesn’t arrive today, I guess I’ll be hitting the bookstore to “replace” missing item. Gee, and wouldn’t that just be a shame to have to go to the bookstore? Of course, I have to get there anyway, because you reminded me that I wanted to get that Ender Christmas book for Annie’s stocking. I really need to get my act together here!
Happy, happy, happy birthday, Charlie!!! You sure make one cute little elf!
Chris, some guys need a little extra beating to get the point. But, I’m sure you only needed one or two. π
It almost makes me wish I was a Sci-fi fan myself.
Am I allowed to say that on this blog?
You are Bellezza. I would say that I hope you try out some science fiction during the upcoming Sci Fi Experience, but as I haven’t joined your Japanese challenge yet, that would be a bit rude. π
Debi: going to the bookstore is indeed not a bad thing. Unless of course you are an addict, like we all are. I’m thinking I may have to have that Ender book as well. Time to leave a VERY STRONG hint for the wife.
that is brilliant! what nice gifts. and as you said, its particularly nice how personal they are!
and i love the photos! hahaha
oh, it feels all christmassy…!
I love the picture of Charlie and what a great quote to boot under it as well.
Those are wonderful gifts. Carl you are one lucky man and Chris you are one great guy!
I’m really feeling the holiday spirit now!
Happy Birthday Charlie!! Sorry this birthday wish is a day late! You look so darling in your Santa hat!
lol! I bet your real Secret Santa got really confused for a moment or two π
Anyway… this is incredibly sweet of Chris, and you totally deserve it. yay for friendship π
No more confused than I was Nymeth! Wasn’t expecting a gift that wasn’t from S.S. Yay for me!
Lucky, lucky! What a haul!
I don’t think you look too dishevelled – the first photo I ever posted to my blog was taken right after my first 5K run. I was purple!
It’s nice to see what you look like, anyway.
I’d be dead if I tried to run a 5K. Ha!
You mean you haven’t seen me in my picture with the tiara? You’re missing out!
Cute puppy! And awesome cigarette case…vintage book covers make great decoration on accessories, I feel.
Not that I smoke or anything, but they’re cool.
What marvelous Christmas gifts! It warms my heart to see such generosity amongst bloggers. Yes, life is grand. And that’s one cute pup! Happy belated birthday, Charlie. December’s a great month for birthdays. Today’s my daughter’s 24th and mine (the big 4-6) is Thursday.
Happy birthday to your daughter Les and Happy early Birthday to you!!!
Thanks, Carl. I plan to treat myself to a book or two on Thursday. Ah, the benefits of an employee discount at B&N. π
I tremendously miss working at a bookstore and have thought on many an occasion that I should get a different second job and do it at a bookstore…however I would end up spending much, much more than I make, so maybe that isn’t a good thing!