The Syndicate

If nobody else volunteers to run this I maybe would but I'm not entirely sure how it's been set up in the past?

nutella wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2017 6:53 pm If nobody else volunteers to run this I maybe would but I'm not entirely sure how it's been set up in the past?

Figure out who is participating.

Assign each participant another participant (protip: Give yourself the richest person).

Profit.

OK, guess I'm doing this now. Sent out a pm.

Coming up with food to include is going to be tough. Some of PA's most recognizable brand names are already distributed nationally (Hershey's, Peeps, Tastykake, Heinz) and others are even distributed to just about half of the country (Utz, Herr's, Snyder's). I'm not sure how well shoofly pie, scrapple, Lebanon bologna, or apple butter travel.

For whoever gets me, please know that:
-I do not drink tea.
-I do not drink coffee.
-I am not a hot sauce connoisseur.
-I wear a size XL shirt.
-My favorite colors are green and blue.
-I'm not very picky.
-I have two children who excel at breaking things.
-I don't really need stuff, so food and/or a letter would do just fine.
-Our mailman will bend, fold, or squash anything you send in an attempt to get it into our mailbox rather than walk it up to the house.

[mention]G-Man[/mention] , you're not picky at all.

Bump

Reminder to pm me by Sunday evening if you want in on this!!

Sending match info shortly!

I am totally pumped for this! I hope the person who gets my gifts gets as excited about receiving them as I am about giving them.

I got plans to go gift shopping this weekend :3

I've already been gift shopping yesterday and today! I'm waiting on a couple things I ordered online too, then I'll send it out early cos I'm terrified of international shipments on the busiest shipping holiday of the year (usually takes 10-12 days though) so....if you get it early, save it for Christmas!

dunya wrote: ↑Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:04 am I've already been gift shopping yesterday and today! I'm waiting on a couple things I ordered online too, then I'll send it out early cos I'm terrified of international shipments on the busiest shipping holiday of the year (usually takes 10-12 days though) so....if you get it early, save it for Christmas!

Sounds like someone is getting an adult bath tub.

Hey! No spoilers, Daisy!

[mention]nutella[/mention] If it's okay for me to ask, how many secret santas opted in this year?

There are 12 participants

My gift has (only hours ago) now been dispatched. Unlike last year, I've left nothing to chance and can to the best of knowledge assure its recipient that it WILL arrive before Christmas.

Note to GGR (Glorf Gift Recipient): Just a warning - you should probably expect something a little, well... 'unconventional' and it would of course be well for you to remember that it IS (after all) the thought that counts. Given that it will arrive before Christmas, I don't believe there is anything perishable in there so I'd hope that you can resist the temptation to open it before Christmas Day

Glorfindel wrote: ↑Mon Dec 11, 2017 10:40 pm My gift has (only hours ago) now been dispatched. Unlike last year, I've left nothing to chance and can to the best of knowledge assure its recipient that it WILL arrive before Christmas.

Note to GGR (Glorf Gift Recipient): Just a warning - you should probably expect something a little, well... 'unconventional' and it would of course be well for you to remember that it IS (after all) the thought that counts. Given that it will arrive before Christmas, I don't believe there is anything perishable in there so I'd hope that you can resist the temptation to open it before Christmas Day

I sent mine 5 days ago and just tracked to see where it's at and IT'S STILL IN ANOTHER CITY IN SWEDEN (STOCKHOLM) HOLY HELL WHAT IS THIS IF I WALKED TO STOCKHOLM IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FASTER!

I am now officially excited about this.

me too. If anyone thinks I am saving it for Christmas if I get it early, then hahahaaaa, you clearly don't know me.

Mine was sent like a week ago. It was a fun weekend of shopping. I can't wait to see thread reactions! (And to give my own)

I got a package in the mail today! I don't even know what inspired me to look on the front porch, but I did...and there is was! Perhaps I was inspired after reading that our town has a package thief on the loose. She is a young blond girl stealing packages from front porches and has stolen from two neighborhoods so far, one being the neighborhood we used to live in. No surprise there.

Are we waiting until Christmas to post about our gifts and giver? I don't want to spoil anything.

Also, I have yet to mail mine out even though it's ready to go. It will get into the mail soon though, promise!

Yeah, I'm not saving my reactions. Because I got a package from Speedchuck the other day, and I'm delighted!



All sourced from Lowe Mill in North Alabama (what an election, btw), the treats included truffles, a bag of coffee, and cheese straws. Of which there were significantly more than two before I realized I should take a picture. Thanks so much!

mmmmmm truffles and coffee. <3 <3

Awesome. I'll go second then. I got a wonderful package from Nutella with treats from Portland, OR.

A sweet card, chocolate covered blueberries, tea and coffee (which I drink both of, unlike G), a salted hazelnut chocolate bar, and some marionberry preserves. I can't wait to dig in. Thank you so much, Nutella!

oh wow. That's awesome! Y'know, I was almost sure nutella was my secret santa...

btw I didn't get the memo these had to be mostly food stuff. I kinda suck at this

Boomslang wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 6:49 pm Yeah, I'm not saving my reactions. Because I got a package from Speedchuck the other day, and I'm delighted!

Spoiler: show

All sourced from Lowe Mill in North Alabama (what an election, btw), the treats included truffles, a bag of coffee, and cheese straws. Of which there were significantly more than two before I realized I should take a picture. Thanks so much!

Glad you liked it, Boomslang! Shopping was fun.

linki: It doesn't have to be food stuff, [mention]dunya[/mention]. I'm just not good enough at figuring out other gifts that everyone will enjoy.

me neither, but I took a risk basing it on my victim's favorite colors mostly tbh.

Aww Eloh you're welcome! Glad it arrived safely and great picture.

nutella wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2017 8:19 pm Aww Eloh you're welcome! Glad it arrived safely and great picture.

Gal hated coffee until six months ago. Now she's a damn addict.

I know. I was talking to wpi when I opened the box and I smelled the coffee first and got very excited.

NOTE TO SELF:

Christmas 2018 Secret Santa Naughty List

• 1. 2017 Syndicateers with no discipline or self-restraint

a package came from Australia!!!

[mention]Glorfindel[/mention]

Spacedaisy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2017 8:38 pm a package came from Australia!!!

@Glorfindel

Yes, t'is true - I lucked out this year! Not only did I get TWO Syndicateers for the price of one for my secret Santa recipient/s, I got a really good friend into the bargain

Alex told me by text while I was at work that a package came with my name on it from Australia and I knew immediately it was you, I was so excited!

Ahhhhh I just made cowboy coffee with fresh grounds from Speedchuck's stuff and it's SO FRIGGIN GOOD! Just thought you'd like to know.

Boomslang wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:56 am Ahhhhh I just made cowboy coffee with fresh grounds from Speedchuck's stuff and it's SO FRIGGIN GOOD! Just thought you'd like to know.

Boomslang wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:56 am Ahhhhh I just made cowboy coffee with fresh grounds from Speedchuck's stuff and it's SO FRIGGIN GOOD! Just thought you'd like to know.

I can confirm the deliciousness of this coffee

Spacedaisy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 16, 2017 11:37 pm Alex told me by text while I was at work that a package came with my name on it from Australia and I knew immediately it was you, I was so excited!

Is it bad that I find the image of you sitting there staring intently at at that package under your tree so amusing?

Seriously, though - I do hope you like it, my dear friend

Just sent my care package out today. We’ll see how fast the post office works.

I sent mine a couple days ago. The tracking info with USPS isn't so great as it just says that the package is "in transit to the destination". Haha...thanks USPS. Great job as always.

Yeah the two packages we sent are worrying me. The last thing the one says is that it departed San Antonio distribution center on12/19 and the other one says it is in the TN distribution center, but it isn't supposed to be going to TN... hope they get their shit together!

Just checked the tracking number. It's already at the appropriate distribution center. Estimated delivery date is Tuesday. That's better than I expected. *golf clap*

Well MP's goodie package is showing through tracking that it has been delivered to the front door. I hope to hear soon that his recipient has it or else I'm going to worry it got stolen. Anxious!

Spacedaisy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2017 1:00 am Well MP's goodie package is showing through tracking that it has been delivered to the front door. I hope to hear soon that his recipient has it or else I'm going to worry it got stolen. Anxious!

I'mma take a random guess...

I got a package today, just as I was about to leave and visit family! We opened it in the car. No pics now, as I am just home and it is Late with a capital T, but I got some really cool stuff from my secret Santa! Beautifully wrapped bottles of spices and hot sauces, unique tastes that I haven't tried before, and other unique snacks from the (I think, I'm very tired) Texas area!

ALSO COFFEE! My wife squeed over that. I'll update (with pics maybe) once I've actually tried some of the stuff, but I'm about to collapse on my keyboard. Merry Christmas to my secret Santa, and thank you so much!

Oh thank goodness! I'm heading into work now but later I will post some info/a recipe for the bottled items.

speedchuck wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2017 1:55 am

Spacedaisy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 23, 2017 1:00 am Well MP's goodie package is showing through tracking that it has been delivered to the front door. I hope to hear soon that his recipient has it or else I'm going to worry it got stolen. Anxious!

I'mma take a random guess...

I got a package today, just as I was about to leave and visit family! We opened it in the car. No pics now, as I am just home and it is Late with a capital T, but I got some really cool stuff from my secret Santa! Beautifully wrapped bottles of spices and hot sauces, unique tastes that I haven't tried before, and other unique snacks from the (I think, I'm very tired) Texas area!

ALSO COFFEE! My wife squeed over that. I'll update (with pics maybe) once I've actually tried some of the stuff, but I'm about to collapse on my keyboard. Merry Christmas to my secret Santa, and thank you so much!

Yay!

Ok so the chamoy and the tajin seasoning I sent so you could make yourself mangonadas. I couldn't just send you a mangonada because they are a blended iced drink. Here is a link to the recipe. If you so desire you can make it boozy with some tequila.

The michelada mix goes in a beer, for authenticity you could try to use it in a Mexican beer, but I don't think it's required. Not sure if you all are beer drinkers, but if not feel free to pass it along to someone who is. I'm not so I've never had one myself but micheladas are huge here in San Antonio. And I love mangonadas, something I had never had before I moved here, but again a big thing here. Nearly every Mexican joint or even shaved ice places will serve mangonadas.

Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks to both of you! We'll definitely try everything!

The package I sent vis the postal service reached a distribution center in the same city as the delivery address. Instead of routing it from there to its destination, it got sent to another distribution center two states away.

This is why the US postal service is failing, folks.