2013 Gift Exchange

I just sent out the invites for the 6th Annual Hogwarts Express Gift Exchange! Anyone who's participated in the past was sent an invitation. I have the drawing set to occur on November 16th, which gives us about a week and a half to get responses. I also tentatively set the exchange for December 21st, though I'll most likely send out a Doodle poll once we know who's participating.

For anyone new to the group who might be interested, here's what you need to know:

*We use Elfster.com to draw the names.
*There's a $15 gift limit, which does not include shipping
*The only people who will see your address are me (because I'm the admin) and the person who draws your name.
*If you are under 18, I need permission from your parent or guardian to participate
*We will have a "party" (at a time TBD) in our chatroom/via Google+ to open our gifts. It's often crazy and hilarious. One year the chatroom was broken and we did it on the boards, so if you want to see what it looks like you can read this.
*If you want to participate, send me a Private Message with your email address and I'll get an invitation out to you. Last day to get added is November 15th

Man, I should probably just create an FAQ post I can refer people to, huh?

Woohoo! I will go check my email and accept the invite!

I'm in. Some people might think we are a bit odd buying gifts for people we don't know but its sooo much fun!

Almost forgot to RSVP in time, but I'm in!

I'm sad I have to miss out this year, but I look forward to following the fun!

Looking forward :)

Looks like it's going to be a relatively small crew this year. This is the last day to join up!

I have to work the day of the exchange. I help backstage for the community theatre and am assigned to work both the matinee and evening shows. I may be able to join, briefly, but won't know until I see the full run of the show and when it ends. I am thinking I may be able to bring my iPad and go upstairs to the costume shop to check in. We shall see. I love working backstage so much I would do it for free. Oh, wait, I am doing it for free.

I'm excited! I love getting things for my people! I just always have a hard time keeping it a secret. My gift is almost ready to send!

I beg to differ with my friend Polly--we may not have met face to face, but with all we've shared over the years, plus what you can tell about people from browsing their libraries, we know each other!

#10 -- Hear, hear!

# 10 :)

I'm pretty late on this, but if you're participating in the gift exchange, please take a quick minute to visit this link and choose the times you'd be able to party! http://doodle.com/6x6zibrqrgqncpdt

Oh, dear -- if we might be having it this weekend, I might need to get my gift ready and in the mail!

This weekend??? I thought we had another week! Aaack!

Oh no! Mine's not mailed off yet either. It's ready, but I haven't been able to get to town since last Wednesday to mail.

Eep! Same!

Me, too, I just got part of it to send, thought I had another week!

Sorry about that everyone! My brain was telling me I'd originally planned for this weekend and was giving people the option of more time! If you can't get it done by this weekend, the easy solution is to say so in the poll!

I have two concerts this weekend, so that's a no-go for me.

This weekend is a bit soon and busy for me as well. I've taken the poll. My laptop still doesn't like the chat room, but I have other means of trying to reach it. I'll test them before the exchange.

Based on responses to the poll, I'm going to go ahead and call it. The party will be Saturday the 21st at 5 PM EST. I'll send an email update from elfster as well. I'm hoping to open a Google Hangout like last year, but we'll also have the chatroom going as there's a limit to the number of people who can hangout.

Okay, maybe I'm not going to send an email from Elfster. For some reason it will let me send messages to those who declined and/or those from whom I'm awaiting reply, but not to those who are participating. This seems dumb.

My gift came!!! Thank you Elfster! My daughter has put it away where I can't be tempted to peek. :oP

I am beyond bummed and disappointed that the gifts I ordered from Amazon on the 9th have still not been delivered to me, so there's no way they'll reach my giftee in time for the party. I guess Amazon does need to start that instant drone delivery service . . . :-(

I'm in two secret santas this year, and one of the packages has arrived. I don't know which it's from. I can't open to check, but there's still a chance I'll be able to figure it out when the next one arrives. ^^;

I'm in two secret santa exchanges this year as well. This one's much more fun than the other.

I think I may be missing the exchange this afternoon.  I'm in a carpool for this concert, so I leave when everyone else is ready.  I hope everyone has a good time!  I'll behave and wait until later to open my gift.  Just let me know who to thank. :)

Hmm....I also just got a message from JP that she won't be able to make it on time. I seem to have a touch of food poisoning and was just working with foggi to have her run things. I supposed, people should login to chat if they can, but we'll definitely need to get a thread going for follow up since it's looking to be a pretty small party.

*gasp* *pant* okay, I am here. I will run the exchange if Bib is not feeling well enough, and I'll start the thread after the party. Off to Elfster to see if I am able to see the draw now . . .

I know this might be late in the day to suggest . . . but should we consider rescheduling this? I'm willing and flexible if others are . . .

I'm okay with rescheduling also.

theres a possibility, perhaps that can be worked out in chat?

I am good to go with Elfster, though still working on updating Java to get into the chat room. I would be okay with rescheduling if that is what everyone wants, though I'm honestly not sure we would be able to find a better time.

Just throwing out this idea: one week from today, same time, Saturday the 28th. Open to other thoughts.

I am now in the chat room, though not always looking at that window, so if you come in and I am unresponsive, that's why.

A week from today I may be doing other stuff. I'll be visiting extended family, and we haven't firmed up our plans yet, but it's likely we'll be doing something. But if it works for everyone else, then we should go with it -- it's unlikely we would be able to find a time that suits everyone.

I wouldn't be able to do the 28th :/

I'm open to nearly any day/time: the 26th, or New Year's Eve, or New Year's Day, or the Orthodox Christmas on the 7th of January . . .

I'm open any day at this time too. I don't know if my giftee has gotten their gift yet. I sent it a week ago, so it may not have arrived.

There are three of us in chat so far. . .

Java doesn't like my device and won't let me join in the chat!

oh dear!

I am wondering if it would be better to just do the exchange on a thread this year, with people posting as they have time to do so. I know it's not as much fun that way, but so far there are only three of us in chat, and it's 5:16.

Update: those of us in chat decided it would probably be best to do the exchange out on a thread this year. Everyone can just open their gifts and post about them, but we won't try to do them in order. I will start a new thread now, so watch here for a link momentarily...

Here's the link to the official gift-opening thread -- see you all there!