FOFC 2015 Secret Santa - 11 yrs running! (So Far 10 participating, would love more!)

[MacroGuru]

It's that time of year again! I have had several people reach out to me already and ask me if I was going to run this again and of course! Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. We are now going on our 11th year of the FOFC Secret Santa.


We will be using elfster (http://www.elfster.com)again, and we will keep all the rules the same.

For those who do not know, the rules, keep the gifts under $30 (I think it's been $25 in the past, but I think $30 is solid). Try and get the gifts there before christmas and most of all....have fun! If you are on elfster and have participated in the past, I will be sending you an invite. If you haven't, just PM your email addy you signed up on Elfster with and I will get you added. Close date will be the 5th of Dec.

Those who are interested, post it here..also include if you are elfster or not. If you do not know elfster, head on over to elfster.com (http://www.elfster.com) and sign up. It's free.

The past events are here:

2014 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=89585&highlight=%22Secret+Santa%22)
2013 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=87857&highlight=%22Secret+Santa%22)
2012 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=85883&highlight=%22Secret+Santa%22)
2011 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=82800&highlight=%22Secret+Santa%22)
2010 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=79858&highlight=%22Secret+Santa%22)
2009 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=75608&highlight=%22Secret+Santa%22)
2008 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=69407)
2007 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=62054)
2006 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=54504)
2005 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=45115)
2004 Secret Santa (http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=33507)

[MacroGuru]

Elfster invites to past participants have been sent.

[Dodgerchick]

Yesss!

[JPhillips]

I'm in.

Thanks, Dennis.

[MacroGuru]

We have the following participating:

MacroGuru
Izulde
Dodgerchick
Jphillips
Cartman
PilotMan
EagleFan
Jon
MBBF
ISiddiqui

[cartman]

Why the hell not. Count me in!

[MacroGuru]

Why the hell not. Count me in!

Awesome, PM me the email you use to sign up for elfster.

[MacroGuru]

Bump

[JPhillips]

This is a great time. Come on and sign up!!!

[EagleFan]

In

[Dodgerchick]

You're the bomb diggity for running Secret Santa again, MacroGuru. Thank you.

[Jon]

In

[MacroGuru]

Awesome, I will update lists tomorrow afternoon. I'm not in front of a computer and won't be until then.

[PilotMan]

I'm in again.

[MacroGuru]

List has been updated. We are at 8...more can join, let's have fun!

[JPhillips]

Let's get to double digits you damn Grinches!

[PilotMan]

I agree guys. I know some of you are on the fence about this, but it's really a nice opportunity for our FOFC group to bond a little more. This will only be the third year that I've done it and the best part is clearly the shopping.

[CrimsonFox]

maybe...what's the limit?

[JPhillips]

I think we're generally around 30$, but a well thought out gift that costs less is still appreciated.

[MacroGuru]

$30 or less, and to me, it is all about the shopping, research for the person.

I know elfster has the wishlist feature, but I still prefer researching and finding out more about the person.

[MacroGuru]

Hey everyone, it's a daily bump.

Get signed up! Let's break double digits and get this party started right!

[PilotMan]

C'mon guys! We need some more people. There's 8 of us participating, but the more the merrier. It's worth it!

[MacroGuru]

Bump!

Still sitting at 8...would love to hit double digits. Deadline is the 5th.

This is an amazing event that has been going on for a while and every time people have participated they have loved it.

[MacroGuru]

Bump...we are at 9 as MBBF has signed up. I am just waiting for him to accept the Elfster invite.

Tomorrow after Midnight Elfster will draw the names. It is also set to not have past exchange matchups from Elfster. Meaning since we have used elfster, you won't get the same person as before.

Anyways, sign up...have fun, this is truly one of my favorite parts of Christmas...and being a member of this board.

[MacroGuru]

Bump...multiple bumps today as the deadline is tonight.

[ISiddiqui]

I'll jump in again! (I think I did it 2 or so years ago)

[MacroGuru]

I'll jump in again! (I think I did it 2 or so years ago)

Awesome! Sent you a message on Elfster. You should also have an invite in your email from Elfster and the exchange.

[ISiddiqui]

Cool! Will get on it later today! :D

[MacroGuru]

Bump! Get signed up...we are still at 10..would love to have more join.

[JPhillips]

We'll take you international guys as well!

[MacroGuru]

Draw has been made! Names have been assigned...

Merry Christmas!

[CrimsonFox]

man I've been so busy lately I forgot about this.

[JPhillips]

Ordered and set.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

USPS.com says someone just got a Secret Santa surprise delivered to their door!

[PilotMan]

Someone is guaranteed to get their (2) packages by Christmas.

[MacroGuru]

Oooh!

Do you guys want me to start a separate reveal thread or do you want to use this thread?

[EagleFan]

Pending shipping but it says they should arrive by the end of next week.

[PilotMan]

Oooh!

Do you guys want me to start a separate reveal thread or do you want to use this thread?

Whatever we've done in the past. I think this thread is fine.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Wondering if my present went to the right place! :D

[MacroGuru]

I just realized my address was out of date, I just updated it. If my santa did send me a gift Render would let me know.

[MacroGuru]

BTW don't hesitate to post your reveals..

[EagleFan]

Thank you Santa.

[EagleFan]

I have two guesses in mind.

[PilotMan]

I got a good chuckle out of my Santa gift.

<a href="http://s224.photobucket.com/user/grbaviator/media/20151215_164919.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/grbaviator/20151215_164919.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20151215_164919.jpg"/></a>

Thanks Santa J.

[JPhillips]

I got a good chuckle out of my Santa gift.

<a href="http://s224.photobucket.com/user/grbaviator/media/20151215_164919.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd39/grbaviator/20151215_164919.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20151215_164919.jpg"/></a>

Thanks Santa J.

There are other players and accessories that you can get to expand.

Merry Christmas.

[JPhillips]

I got my gift today, a couple books and some yummy BBQ sauce from Cincy.

I have no good guess as to who sent it, so I'll hold off for now.

Thanks mystery Santa!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'm thinking I may have seen to an outdated address. My gift has been there for a week with no posts. Uh oh.

[MacroGuru]

Alright Secret Santa's, I need to know...who here is playing FM.

[PilotMan]

Alright Secret Santa's, I need to know...who here is playing FM.

Aww you know I do!

[MacroGuru]

And sorry to the person receiving my gift, I just sent it. I am hoping it will arrive before Christmas, but with the chocolate business launching, I have been working non stop between the real job and the business.

[Jon]

Thank you Santa for the awesome air hockey table. It will make work more enjoyable.

(And I apologize for not posting sooner, I've been dealing with some major health problems the last few weeks and haven't been able to post)

[Izulde]

So, funny thing about my Secret Santa... got to my parents' and my mom says there's two boxes waiting for me. Okay, cool. First gift is the Exploding Kittens card game, which looks hilariously fun, and will be great for my Magic/Cards Against Humanity/Munchkin crowd I hang out with.

Then I look at the second box, and see two VistaPrint boxes. I'm thinking work somehow found out my parents' address and sent my business cards to me (Mine was supposed to be in the initial order, but there was a mixup and they never arrived).

Imagine my hilarity when it says "Izulde Jestor (Note: it said my actual name, but in the interests of privacy and all that) - That Guy - Writer, Professor, Public Relations Director - Not A Comedian - and then my personal email address below.

I laughed my ass off for a good 20 minutes. Those are *awesome*. I've already given my parents each one, and thank you to whichever of my FOFC Facebook friends is my Secret Santa, because one of y'all are the only ones who could have spotted that Not A Comedian line to include. Can't wait to show the coworkers them. :D

[Izulde]

dola,

Apologies to the person I'm SS for. Things were so hectic the last few weeks, that I literally did not get time to even sit down and devise something today. Your gift will come in three separate packages - one before Christmas, one before New Year's, and the last TBD due to backorder status, but all three gifts go together. :)

[MacroGuru]

And I got my SS gift last night. FOF7 from Steam. I haven't upgraded, never saw the need with me traveling and not having time. Now I am home, I have the time, it's gonna get used!

Thanks Secret Santa!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Thanks for the Mizzou pint glasses, Secret Santa!!!!!

[PilotMan]

So, funny thing about my Secret Santa... got to my parents' and my mom says there's two boxes waiting for me. Okay, cool. First gift is the Exploding Kittens card game, which looks hilariously fun, and will be great for my Magic/Cards Against Humanity/Munchkin crowd I hang out with.

Then I look at the second box, and see two VistaPrint boxes. I'm thinking work somehow found out my parents' address and sent my business cards to me (Mine was supposed to be in the initial order, but there was a mixup and they never arrived).

Imagine my hilarity when it says "Izulde Jestor (Note: it said my actual name, but in the interests of privacy and all that) - That Guy - Writer, Professor, Public Relations Director - Not A Comedian - and then my personal email address below.

I laughed my ass off for a good 20 minutes. Those are *awesome*. I've already given my parents each one, and thank you to whichever of my FOFC Facebook friends is my Secret Santa, because one of y'all are the only ones who could have spotted that Not A Comedian line to include. Can't wait to show the coworkers them. :D

Hey, it says, "The Guy".

:cool:

Seriously, though. I was so excited to see what you thought of it I couldn't wait for you to get it. I'm so happy you like it. I want to keep hearing how you are using them and what reaction you get to them.

[Dodgerchick]

From my Secret Santa, thanks!!

[Dodgerchick]

Oh and thanks for the 2nd coloring book Secret Santa!

[Dodgerchick]

Thanks for the Mizzou pint glasses, Secret Santa!!!!!

You're welcome! Bottoms up :)

[Dodgerchick]

Colored Pencils! Most unexpected, thanks SS!
Now who the hell are you? ��

[Izulde]

Yeaaaah. The colored pencils were backordered forever, because of how popular adult coloring books were this holiday season. (I got one of my BFFs one too, after she posted about wanting one for dead time at work - then discovered she didn't have the patience for them :D)

But I thought it'd be kind of cool anyway to have three part gifts, given two were backordered. Hope y'all have been enjoying them. :)

[MacroGuru]

To my giftee....I was just informed of the severely back order of the item and the chances are it will be a while before they will have it in stock.

They are refunding me my money and I will be getting you something else.

[ISiddiqui]

To my giftee....I was just informed of the severely back order of the item and the chances are it will be a while before they will have it in stock.

They are refunding me my money and I will be getting you something else.

No worries, my friend! The book you got me looks like it'll be a great read! :)

Back orders happen. You are more than good!

[img]http://www.eerdmans.com/Handlers/ResizeImageHandler.ashx?ImageUrl=~%2fContent%2fSite146%2fProductImages%2f9780802868404.jpg&Width=235[/img[

[ISiddiqui]

To my giftee....I was just informed of the severely back order of the item and the chances are it will be a while before they will have it in stock.

They are refunding me my money and I will be getting you something else.

No worries, my friend! The book you got me looks like it'll be a great read! :)

Back orders happen. You are more than good!

http://www.eerdmans.com/Handlers/ResizeImageHandler.ashx?ImageUrl=~%2fContent%2fSite146%2fProductImages%2f9780802868404.jpg&Width=235

In this provocative book Theo Hobson addresses the current crisis of liberal Christianity. In past years liberal Christianity challenged centuries of authoritarian tradition and had great political influence. It played a major role in the founding of the United States and gave rise to the secular liberalism that we take for granted. But liberal Christianity today is widely dismissed as a watering-down of the faith, and more conservative forms of Christianity are increasingly dominant. Can the liberal Christian tradition recover its influence?

Hobson puts forth a bold theory about why liberal Christianity collapsed and how it can be reinvented. He argues that a simple revival is not possible, because liberal Christianity consists of two traditions -- a good tradition that must be salvaged and a bad tradition that must be repudiated. Reinventing Liberal Christianity untangles these two traditions with a fascinating survey of Christian thought from the Reformation to the present and, further, aims to transform liberal Christianity through the rediscovery of faith and ritual.

Seriously interesting stuff, which I have been asking myself. So, also, very timely indeed!