Reading Current Events

Come on people, I think we can do better than that!

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

(If people on NAO know your first name and that bugs you, just abbreviate it.)

That aint the problem, but: I'd have to abbreviate my complete name, because many people know my family name. And that probably would take the fun out of this.

cu, w0lf.

Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign for a diseased mind!

Okay, so this is how we'll do it:

• December 3 (next Saturday) is the registration deadline. Please join us!

• After the deadline, the computer will do the "random address out of the hat" trick. The addresses will not yet be distributed, but everybody will be informed whether their target person is male or female.

• Everybody buys the present and prepares their little packet.

• On December 6, everybody gets the address of their target person, scribbles it onto the waiting packet and hands the whole thing over to their local postal service.

Next year we can do it in a way that makes cheating impossible, but for now this'll have to do. (But hey, the whole thing's still pretty cool!)

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

So we can't have our name available? Just has to be gender, mailing address, and our alias? I'm in, just need to know what info to offer before registering. :)

I should be ashamed of myself.

Well the idea is:

• You enter the stuff that's asked on the registration page.

• A magical PHP script does the rest.

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

It says enter the address, in most cases, at least in the US, the name is part of the address. Should I, or shouldn't I, include my name?

I should be ashamed of myself.

Well, I mean, I did include my name, because it is obviously mandatory you have a name to send the package to :P At least here in Italy things work like this ;) I don't know if in the other countries, you can just write the address, but lol come on, how could that be possible?

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

Should I, or shouldn't I, include my name?

Well here in Europe the name is part of the address too, so, yes please!

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

I'll have to wait till next year and hope the finances are better. lol Sucks to be out of something that is this cool and idea. (in terms of finances, let's just say that the fact that I have gas in my car right now is a blessing)

I know I'm dead on the surface But I'm screaming underneath

Alright, I'm in. There were 7 people signed up, so I had to even it out. :P

To the whole name debate thing... personally, i think the fun is not knowing who has sent you the gift. i dont really mind whether or not we know who you are sending a gift to.
but, yes, come on people! Let's get some more involvement!

Look at me! I'm a prostitute robot from the future!

i think the fun is not knowing who has sent you the gift.

And I thought that was part of the fun, but apparently not. :(

There, signed up!

I should be ashamed of myself.

This post was edited by Aynjell on Dec 02, 2005.

Ladies and gentlemen,

thank you all for joining! :-)

The first of two e-mails has been sent and should have arrived in your inbox in the meantime. It'll inform you about the gender of your target person and any additional comments they might have left. If you've joined but didn't receive an e-mail as of now, please let me know ASAP!

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

Yep, received the e-mail right today. I can't wait to know where to send the package :) Boy this is so exciting. I am sure that this whole thing will be repeated next year, and hopefully we'll have more people up for it :D 11 people is still a good number to start with, and hey at the 30th gift exchange thingie we'll be able to say that we were the ones who participated to it since the very first one. :)

Okay, guys. Now I guess that the only last question is... which way are we supposed to send the package? Air mail maybe? That should make it so that the gift can be on the other side of the globe in 10-15 days most.

It's definitely one of the most exciting ideas that we've had in a while, don't you all think so too?

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

It's definitely one of the most exciting ideas that we've had in a while, don't you all think so too?

Well, I aim to please ;)

-Mel

Look at me! I'm a prostitute robot from the future!

The second e-mail (the one with the postal address) should be sitting in your inbox by now.

On a side note, there will quite probably be a few intercontinental packets. This means that unless everybody spends a small fortune on super-express delivery, a few packets might arrive a few days after X-Mess. To those who receive their packet after the party is over, don't be sad: we'll start the whole thing earlier next year, and in many countries New Year's presents are much more common than Christmas presents anyway. It's been fun nevertheless, hasn't it?

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

This post was edited by null on Dec 06, 2005.

I suggest that people post anonymously to let others know if they're package will arrive late.

Ie, maybe leave the comment the person left and and estimate on how long that gift will take to arrive?

Look at me! I'm a prostitute robot from the future!

Mel, your package might be a few days late.

Pizza-loving-Canadian's present will be a few days late.

I think we'll start the whole thing a bit earlier next year, yes?

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

Jael, sorry to say so, but your package mightbe late. We're having some problems here with the post offices lately, because of an event that is gonna take place, and so there might be a little traffic in the in and outgoing mail. Sorry about that.

We're having some problems here with the post offices lately, because of an event that is gonna take place, and so there might be a little traffic in the in and outgoing mail. Sorry about that.

You mean some event called 'Christmas' or the US Feds misplacing your package for a bomb? :D

cu, w0lf.

Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign for a diseased mind!

We're having some problems here with the post offices lately, because of an event that is gonna take place, and so there might be a little traffic in the in and outgoing mail. Sorry about that.

You mean some event called 'Christmas' or the US Feds misplacing your package for a bomb? :D

Actually I am referring to another event which will happen after Xmas :P I am sure that all the Naoiies who live close to me can think of what that is, since they are talking so much about it, and doing so much about it, but I can't tell more because otherwise I will disclose my identity :P All I can say is that it is an event which will take place in my city and in the places all around it.

Ginsterbusch,

Because so many people write down about when the present will arrive and so, I felt that I have to inform you, too, just not to break ranks ;)

Well, I'm about to bring your present to the post office tomorrow. I except it to be on time if there are no problems.

I hope you like it. It might not be a load of a gift but I hope it tastes yummy :)

Sorry not to send something typical for my country. There isn't a lot of typical things that would fit in a package ;)

Thats okay =)

It's fun waiting, makes you appreciate the present a whole lot more!

And thankkk youu!!! (I'll figure you out when i get the present)

Pizza-loving canadian (bunk??) I am sad to say that today your gift arrrived at my door as return-to-sender for no apparent reason. rest assured that i shall be abusing local postal office, but now the added bonus is that i can see how dodgy your gift is. So to make up for this, I shall go shopping and get you a better gift which shall be posted in the next two days and should arrive early January. Thus you will be the proud recipient of NAO's first ever New Years gift.

So sorry about all this.

You don't have to go out of your way... No worries. Don't spend anything extra.

P.S.: not bunk

Thus you will be the proud recipient of NAO's first ever New Years gift.

Maybe .. but maybe not. My parcel didnt make it even over the border of my country. Dont know why they did return it - paid enough for getting this sent. Mayb X-Mas craze or something. Dunno. At least it wasnt broken or anything.

So Elena: your parcel will arrive some time around the New Years Eve :D

So Elena: your parcel will arrive some time around the New Years Eve :D

Heh now you got me curious as to what it is, and who are you, sender :P It hasn't arrived here yet, but I think it is also due to the fact that Italian post offices are having a pretty hectic time with the Winter Olympic Games and everything, and all of this olympic stuff being sent all over the place.

I ordered something from Amazon.co.uk and it arrived later than what it was expected... not by much, only a week, but still. So, anonymous sender, don't worry :P I shall be patient and wait on you :D

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

Orchid,

Your present should be arriving on time unless the estimated delivery time turns out to be more than 200% too quickly.

Baexcell, I hope you like green things. =)

It might be there already. You're just across the Rockies from here.

Null, due to some problems with the post office you'll get it slightly late, but it should get to you soon =)

Yes, I did get quite a good laugh when the package arrived. 'Twas definitely not what I had expected.

Thanks for keeping the holidays interesting.

Hey, but you already opened the present?? Shouldn't we wait until Christmas day to do so? :D Heh I guess that if baexcell opened his, I will be authorized to open mine as soon as it gets here ;)

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

Shucks! I was hoping to get together with everyone on Christmas Eve and open them. :D Oh well.

But seriously Melmel, this was a great idea.

By the way, mine hasn't arrived yet. Hint hint.

Please contiune to vote AND post.

Sorry, Charlie, yours is going to be late for sure. I would've posted sooner, but I've been alternating between a laptop with no internet and a desktop with no keyboard.

Andromacha!

Thank you!! :D I got the cutest, softest little thing *meeep*

Kinda makes you feel special when you get a christmas present from across the globe.

Yay I am glad you liked it :) For the record, I sent your package the same day I sent it to my in-laws who live in the USA, and they haven't gotten it yet!!

Did you like the earrings also? I wondered if you had your ears pierced, but then I thought that the majority of girls have even more than one pierce in their ears (if not nose, eyebrows, chin.. *shudders*), and then of course I tried to find a neat color. That one is fashionable here this year (don't ask me why), so I went for it.

As for the other thing, well I am a big fan of those cute little (or bigger too) things, and I found those in that box, and I thought it was a nice idea, also because you could keep the box to put in something too (provided it is small enough heh).

I am glad it went well in the end :)

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

BTW. I forgot to mention, I do think that Mel has had a wonderful idea. I mean, afterall it doesn't take a "big" gift to be happy. To me it is nice enough to know that a person is thinking of you, with little tokens. Afterall, didn't they say that the thought is what matters? A gift is still nice tho ;)

Un bacio è un'apostrofo rosa scritto tra le parole "ti amo".

This post was edited by andromacha on Dec 22, 2005.

Yes! Thank you, I loved the earings (I have 4 piercings by the way - two on each ear) infact (and believe me this is true) my sister was just telling me i should get more colourful things particularily in pink! I only own ONE pink item, now its two! yay!

and gosh I mean when you get the card and see some one else's handwriting on it, that you've only seen text on screen from just makes it all the more real, if I'm making any sense.

Seriously when I go back to Aussieland I'm buying melmel a BIG ice cream. =D

*grins*

I'm glad it's a success...

however, i still think people should post photographs of gifts! Share the love y'all!

*hugs all round*

-MelMel

Look at me! I'm a prostitute robot from the future!

When I came home today, very unexpectedly, because we (me + my beloved one) got a ride back home earlier than expected, I've found this nice small present on my bed: some chocolate inside and some sweeties.

To answer the question written on top of the big envelope: "Abs.: Rate mal! Das Kris-Kind!" - erm, on the other side, you obviously had to write down what the mini-parcel contained so the officials wouldnt have to open it (and accidently eat its content }:->) - my brain is still working quite good, so: according to this light-green sticker, it must be - tadaaa:

Orchid

who sent me the Kris-Kringle.

And thanks a lot, it really was a nice surprise ;)

cu, w0lf.

Multiple exclamation marks are a sure sign for a diseased mind!

You weapon of mass deduction you ;)

Look at me! I'm a prostitute robot from the future!

Hey, I'm glad to hear you liked your present :)

Did it really arrive so late? I brought it to the post office like two weeks before x-mas. Hmm... :/

Anyway, I ought to thank somebody, too: baexcell!
The present was very nice :)

But to send presents all over the world has a big disadvantage: It's no surprise anymore. You have to write down the adress and you have to write down the content. That's really stupid. What a kill-joy :(

"Sie wollen nichts anderes. Sie wollen kämpfen! Sie sind Soldaten! Fucking Wahnsinnige!" - Noel G.

Null, this is very very weird, I checked on the parcel today and its definatly out of my country and supposed to reach yours by yesterday but it hasn't.

I'm gonna wait for 2 more days until i go back to the post office and decide to yell at everyone there and demand all the money back.

and supposed to reach yours by yesterday but it hasn't.

Hmm, the postal people probably only count workdays and thus the packet just stood around for a couple of days. Let's see what happens tomorrow or on Monday.
In any case, thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to it :-)

"*sigh* Some men are really hard to manipulate!" - Orchid

Not sure who I had to get a gift for, but mine was rushed... working the way I do, I barely had time to make it to teh store...

I should be ashamed of myself.

Why hasnt your post got to whoever yet i would beat him up who runs the post office

hi this is cheekycatgirl thanks for the email i will try to reply soon seya laters love ya

I am very glad to hear that you liked it.