BOTNS Secret Santa!! Join us!

[Amanda]

I want to play!

[Jennifer]

Ooo! Me too! Me too!

[Shona]

Yay! I'm in...what a fun idea. I'm in Okinawa BUT since I have a military address it doesn't cost extra to send here....takes a little longer, but it's better than paying overseas postage.

[Kathy]

The Elfster signup process didn't ask for much information...in fact, just the bare minimum to allow contact and delivery of a package. How refreshing!

[Kate]

Great idea! Looking forward to giving and receiving!

[Carol]

I'm glad I finally read this...I'm in. No one ever buys me book stuff cause they think I've seen it all :)!

[Kats]

In the end I just couldn't resist..... giving and receiving books is just one of the best pleasures in life, so I'm in!! I hope I will draw someone whose profile on GR is accessible, so I can roughly work out their reading taste. Or else you'll get assaulted with a Swiss author - ha!

[Ann]

Kats (and everyone),
Once the Secret Santa assignments go out, you will be able to communicate anonymously with your giftee through the Elfster site. Also, people can put books on a wishlist there, or list in text form their categories of preference, etc. It's pretty cool.

[BAM who is Beth Anne]

Nothing like getting a surprise book in the mail, I'm in...

[Stacie]

I'm in. Up to now I've been a quiet lurker on this site but this sounds too good to pass up. Maybe Booktopia in Bellingham next?!?!

[Laura]

BOTN is my favorite podcast...I look forward to "meeting" someone else who loves books. Thanks, anne!

[Katie]

Love this idea! I'm in!

[nancy]

Me too..I'll play anything with linda, Ann and a flock of readers.

[nancy]

Ann,
Did I miss it...or have you not talked about Ian McEwan's new book,
Sweet Tooth? I know he's one of your favorites.
You might be wondering why I asked on this discussion thread..
just didn't know where else to put it.and if you loved it..I'll put it on my secret santa wish list.

[Ann]

Wow, we've got 80 people sign up so far! Thank you!
Just a reminder to please update your Elfster profile to include your mailing address, if you haven't already. I will use that info to match up the Secret Santas, so that those who can't mail internationally get the appropriate partner. Only your Secret Santa and I will see that info.

For those of you on the fence, there are 5 more days to signup, and then the fun begins!

[Jan]

Just to make sure--My mailing address is entered. Trust you can see it? Really want to play!

[Ann]

If you entered it, then I'm sure it's there. Thanks!

[Michael]

Okay, Ann says there's no fun in using the wish list feature on Elfster, but a couple people are already following my wish list. So, should I add some books to it? Honestly, I'll be happy with whatever I get, but there are a few books I particularly want.....

[Ann]

I was wondering the same thing ... though once our Secret Santas have been chosen, there is a cool anonymous messaging feature whereby our Secret Santas can actually "work" for ideas by asking questions, etc...

[Michael]

Ann wrote: "once our Secret Santas have been chosen, there is a cool anonymous messaging feature whereby our Secret Santas can actually "work" for ideas by asking questions, etc... "

That's cool. I look forward to asking questions of my chosen recipient!

[Trish]

Does anyone have any idea about the rankings and badges on Elfster? I spent too much time trying to figure it all out yesterday and was still confused about it all when I finished. Ann, when did you say you were going to assign partners? Is that how it works? Reason is, I saw someone wanting a book that I can send (rather than buy) and I'd like that :)

[Ann]

The Secret Santa assignments happen automatically, and I'm going to press the button on December 1st. I can eliminate people from the pairing (for instance, Michael and I are eliminated from being paired), but I can't assign specific people.

I have no idea about the badges. I don't think they have any relevance to the gift exchange.

[Ann]

Wow, 86 signed up so far!
Just a reminder that Friday night at 11:59pm is the deadline to sign up. I'll draw the names on December 1st and you'll be notified shortly after ( I hope -- I guess I need to figure out how that works).

[Ann]

OK, I made a slight mistake, so I had to draw the names twice. I'm sorry that you received 2 emails. Please go with the 2nd email. In order to double-check, your partner's name should be on your Elfster home page somewhere.

There was some kind of hiccup -- I don't think it was my fault -- but Elfster said I signed up late so I couldn't be paired up :(

Therefore, I can't really direct you how to see your partner, as I have none. :( Nor can I help you with figuring out how to send anonymous messages, etc. :( Maybe someone else can. All I got was coal/ :(

[Ann]

Oh, you guys are so sweet. I've just received messages from people offering to be my secret santa. As I said to one, it's the "secret" part that's fun, and the giving as much as the receiving, so it's not quite the same. But thank you for your offers. I'll get over it. I bought myself a book yesterday, and will probably by myself another before the holiday season is over.!

[Ann]

Hey, everyone, IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

I was able to fix the problem with Elfster leaving me out. However, that means I had to undo and re-draw the names.

So you probably have a different partner. I apologize. I hope you made a new friend in the last few hours, but please do check your Elfster home page to see who your FINAL Secret Santa recipient is. Thanks!

My apologies

[[deleted user]]

OK, I didn't get any e-mails; so I checked the elfster homepage and sent off an anonymous question to the person I had drawn... Ooops, now it's someone different! Hopefully the old question will be voided!

[Ann]

Yeah, sorry, Tanya. It was a bit messy. My fault.

[[deleted user]]

Ann wrote: "Yeah, sorry, Tanya. It was a bit messy. My fault."

Oh, no, I wasn't looking to emphasize the glitch. I'm just hoping the question I sent to my "first" Secret Santa was taken out so there won't be too much confusion!

But I am a little concerned that I didn't get any e-mails. I checked the account to make sure I entered the right address and it's all good so I'm not sure why I didn't get the notifications. Hopefully, it's show up eventually!

[Vera]

Ann wrote: "Hey, everyone, IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

I was able to fix the problem with Elfster leaving me out. However, that means I had to undo and re-draw the names.

So you probably have a different partner. I a..."


It's all good! This is so much fun! It really adds to the fun of the season!

[melodie]

ann sweet warm ann can you send me my santa buddy again i loseher thank

[Tina]

Tonya wrote: "I can't do it this year but hope that you will do it next year it sounds like great fun."

I also hope you will do this again next year. Somehow, I missed the notice about this post. The suggestion & deadline escaped me. I can't explain how I missed it when I have been online. Nevertheless, I want to wish everyone a joyful experience with their matches.

[Ann]

Hi everyone,
I hope you've been having fun with the exchange. If you haven't already, please try to touch base with your gift recipient by Wednesday, so that we know everyone has received the emails, etc. Ask a few questions, tease them a bit, or just say Hi. It's not that much fun to wonder if you actually have a Secret Santa. Also, please do let me know if there are any problems. Thanks!

Also, please note that on the Elfster activity page (where everyone is adding to their wishlists, etc.), there are tabs for "Posts" -- which are these types of announcements, "Q&A" - questions to/from Secret Santas -- so that you can filter out some of that wishlist noise.

[Chris]

Hi Ann!
Since I've never done anything like this before, quick question. Are we to continue to be anonymous elves when we send the package, or can we identify ourselves, or is it up to us? Thanks for putting this together, am excited to hit the bookstore with my list! :-)

[Ann]

Yes, please identify yourself when you send your package -- either in the package itself, or when the package is received.

[Sue]

Is it to late... to join.. I just found this

[Ann]

Yes, Sue, sorry. All of the names have been drawn. Next year!

[Sue]

no prob

[Helen]

I got my gift today! Super fun and Thank you to Lisa K. Are you here - we need to be goodreads friends now!

[Linda]

Hi, Helen! Yes, I'm here. This was a fun idea and a great way to make new friends. :-).

I haven't read Cloud Atlas yet so you will have to let me know what you think. I've heard it is much better than the movie which I haven't seen yet either. Great premise though, so I'm anxious to hear what you think.

[melodie]

i send mine out but have heard nothing from mine i hope what i pick is a good choice

[melodie]

i send mine out but have heard nothing from mine i hope what i pick is a good choice

[Victoria]

I got my wonderful package from Helen (and just sent you a friend request). Here's what I got - I know you will all be jealous!
and .

Now if I can just get through the 4 books I'm currently reading, I can start these!

[Helen]

No wonder I couldn't find you, I was looking for Lisa not Linda! I've thought about reading Cloud Atlas dozens of times but always skip it because it seems to hard to tackle on the short lending period at the library. I know a lot of people love it, so I hope to count myself among them.

[Jana]

Helen wrote: "No wonder I couldn't find you, I was looking for Lisa not Linda! I've thought about reading Cloud Atlas dozens of times but always skip it because it seems to hard to tackle on the short lending p..."

I wish I could read it again for the first time. It's a favorite of mine! Enjoy. And unless I go to the movie before Friday I guess it will be DVD for me as it's leaving the city apparently. But I'm scared to see it! Isn't that silly? I don't want it to ruin my own private movie and I'm afraid it will.

ALSO: Wrapping up my package today to send to one of you good little girls. HINT it's someone who is actively posting here! It's so fun to be a secret Santa.

EDIT: Girls OR Boys. Don't want to be sexist. Sorry Michael and any other good little boys here!

[Janet]

I just can't see the movie until I read the book (Cloud Atlas or anything else for that matter). My best movie-going buddy gets very frustrated with me because every movie she suggests, I say "can't see it, have to read the book first" and then of course, I don't have time to read all the books. Is it just my imagination or has the original screenplay become a thing of the past?!

[Lara]

I so agree Janet!

[Gnoe]

Aw, I'm too late! shucks :(

[melodie]

I have send my book I know they have receive it 2 days ago don't know what to do next

[Stacie]

I'm away for a couple of days so if you are my secret Santa, I will open soon as I return.