Secret Quonsar thank-you thread!

December 6, 2012 8:36 AM

Secret Quonsar thank-you thread!

Thank you sooooooo much Secret Quonsar! I got the out-of-print sequel (well, not exactly sequel, more of a similar story along the same lines - I've never read it) to a favorite childhood book! When the Dolls Woke by Marjorie Filley Stover. The first book, which I absolutely adore, is Midnight in the Dollhouse.

posted by IndigoRain to MetaFilter-Related at 8:36 AM (353 comments total)

zennie, thank you for the wonderful jams and card and the hilarious box!
posted by griphus at 8:43 AM on December 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

Oh my god, I loved both of those books!
posted by ChuraChura at 9:05 AM on December 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

I got some nice notecards from Masha Falkov. thanks!
posted by ejaned8 at 9:10 AM on December 6, 2012

Thanks so much for the Kinder Hippo thing, eyeshadow, Jammy Dodgers, and the other lovely British treats! I was kind of having a bad day yesterday, so when I saw the box with the return address of "The Internet," I cheered right up!

Also, don't worry about the packaging-- it's all the more easier for me to savor my yummy foods!
posted by bookwibble at 9:24 AM on December 6, 2012

I just opened my secret quonsar package about 10 minutes ago, and I can't even begin to express how delighted I am! It's possible my quonsar has revealed him or herself in the delightfully coded note, but I'm still woozy from cough medicine and haven't cracked it yet, so I wanted to get out my gushing praise before I pass out again.

The only thing that made me squeal louder than the adorable owl card and "Monsters of the Sea" book were the little octopus and squid stickers, but the real piece de resistance were the Loteria cards and the little Mexican candies/snacks. Seriously, those hit my nostalgia buttons harder than you would believe was even possible for a Japanese-American gal, but trust me when I say I am going to nom the hell out of those Lucas treats!

I'm truly flabbergasted and delighted by each every little detail that went into this package, and I promise, once my head stops swimming, I will crack the note and then all the secrets of the universe will be mine! Muahahahaha...*cough hack wheeze*! But seriously, secret quonsar, thank you so, so much. You made a lousy sick day into a truly awesome one!
posted by Diagonalize at 10:07 AM on December 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

I got a package in the mail that *may* have been from my Secret Quonsar. No wrapping, no note, and shipped directly from an Etsy seller. But if it was you who bought me this adorable little Snitch necklace, thank you!
posted by MsMolly at 10:34 AM on December 6, 2012

I got mine yesterday...a copy of Munchkin from theichibun and like he said "it was like shopping for me"

So thank you so much theichibun!

and mine should be going out this weekend...
posted by ShawnString at 11:05 AM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

You guys, I got quonsed so hard by NikitaNikita. Not only did I get these beautiful lil guys, I also got a pretty paper ornament, a city neighborhood print of Washington DC AND the profits from her purchases went to a local charity! Not to mention all the adorable little hand-written notes. Damn, girl knows how to quonse!
posted by moons in june at 11:19 AM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

MsMolly, your link goes to a google sign-in page and I would really, really like to see that necklace if what you're talking about is a Harry Potter thing.
posted by cooker girl at 11:31 AM on December 6, 2012

I just got the most wonderful present from peagood! The most adorable bear and happy pill writing supplies, a beautiful notebook, awesome-smelling tea, a really cute "guide to grooming," postcards and puzzle cards, and Soma chocolates (it's pretty much the best chocolate company in Toronto; I am going to nom these with delight)! Plus homemade things! Delicate felt acorns and a Christmas pickle ornament, which is the best. I'm going to take it down to Florida to hang on the fiance's family Christmas tree. So much care went into the wrapping; I bow before peagood's Quonsaring prowess (which sounds like an Amazon.com payphrase).

Many thanks, peagood! This was so great to get in the mail today. I hope to see you again at the next Toronto meetup. :D
posted by ilana at 11:55 AM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

My gift is shipped. Let's see how long it takes to get there.
posted by deezil at 12:48 PM on December 6, 2012

Hurrah! I received two mystery books by Kerry Greenwood from t0astie. I read the first one in one setting and it was just great.

I hope my gift will get there in a timely fashion. I mailed it the day after US Thanksgiving, but it was to the UK.
posted by francesca too at 1:10 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

YAY QUONSMAS! I got a package directly from Amazon today. We recently adopted kittens, and thus have been getting packages of kitten-related things every day. So, I was unsurprised to see an Amazon package, though I didn't know what was inside.

So I opened the outer box, and saw a wrapped box with a note and thought, QUONSMAS! And it was several boxes of my favorite tea of all time, which is kind of spendy so I never buy it for myself, YAY! It's even perfect-er, because I've been making an extra effort to be more hydrated lately, and I find plain water kind of boring, so I'm doing herbal tea or sparkling water with stuff in it.

So yay, thank you dorian!
posted by insectosaurus at 1:13 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I have been quonsed. Well-quonsed. And just as I was leaving my house this morning-- made today filled with *so much joy*.

So now I sit here with a half- constructed "japanese castle" on my desk, Metafilter-colored socks (Socks!) on my feet, and a new use for the word skittle. I'd thank my quonsar but I don't know their handle. So thanks, quonsar!
posted by nat at 1:43 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

I have been most excellently quonsed. Thanks for the pretty pens and notebook, kimberussell! Gonna hold onto these guys and not let any of my classmates/housemates make off with them!
posted by ActionPopulated at 2:45 PM on December 6, 2012

My quonsarer has chosen to remain mysterious, but thank you so much for the Star Trek Voyager cards, the adorable erasers and highlighters, the kitty pencil case and the shopping bag. But most of all, the earphone reels shaped like Japanese cartoon animals. I was complaining about my earbud cords being tangled literally moments before I opened the box.

Perfect!
posted by jeoc at 3:02 PM on December 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

Mine was delivered to my quonsee yesterday (according the tracking), so no more wondering if it got there. I haven't gotten mine yet, but I'm waiting anxiously. I love Quonsmas!
posted by patheral at 4:51 PM on December 6, 2012

Dangit, I posted this in the old thread:

As of this moment in time, 1 in 7 participants have received their gifts. This number is based on mentions in MeTa, Twitter, MeMail, and eMail, and so it is probably a conservative number.
posted by julen at 5:28 PM on December 6, 2012 [3 favorites]

I have been happily quonsed. Thank you so much for the wooden cookie stamp mold. Now I must do something neat with it for the cookie swap. To my future quonsee, I am mailing tomorrow!
posted by jadepearl at 5:29 PM on December 6, 2012

I'll finish my thanks in this thread - now that I'm pretty sure I'm not going to taste it twice, I've had my first few bites of my dark chocolate chipotle almond bark and it's amazing! I am just going to figure out which adult beverage goes with it (Chocolate stout? Bourbon?) and maybe have a little with a drink while I watch a movie later tonight.* And more tea before bed. Thanks again, truly excellent quonsaring! A+++ would secret quonsar again!



*And by "a little" I mean "the rest of it.
posted by peagood at 5:35 PM on December 6, 2012

TigerMoth sent me the auxiliary brain I've desperately needed at work. It is now on my desk and ready to be deployed as needed...and given my workplace, it will indeed be needed.
posted by smirkette at 6:12 PM on December 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

I have been well-quonsed and am now the proud owner of a Screaming Scream! Thank you, SisterHavana!
posted by shiny blue object at 6:14 PM on December 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

still_wears_a_hat sent me a pair of curious corkscrew no-tying-necessary shoelaces and a lovely set of fridge magnets with Steinlen cat designs. Thank you!
posted by Orinda at 6:25 PM on December 6, 2012

Thank you to my secret quonsar, who gave me a partridge tree ornament (and very pear-y partridge it is, too!), and a tin of bacon mints!
posted by LN at 6:28 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Aha! Thanks for the extra thank-you griphus! Also thanks for the pictures. It's great to see my gift in situ! :)
posted by zennie at 7:24 PM on December 6, 2012

I posted my gushing thanks in the old thread, but Elsie the Eel did such a kind and generous and wonderful job with my presents, she deserves another thank you! So thank you so much Elsie! Even the card you got me was perfect. (Hooray for chicken owners!) Hope you have a wonderful holiday! You have definitely made mine brighter :)
posted by silverstatue at 8:42 PM on December 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Glad you like it, shiny blue object. It just epitomized the spirit of Quonsmus to me. : )
posted by SisterHavana at 9:10 PM on December 6, 2012

I already sent a MeMail to my quonsar amelliferae who got me comfy Christmas socks (because you can never have too many pairs) and a nifty clock that synchs to the atomic one wirelessly and when you hit the snooze button, it projects the time on the ceiling! Best of all, he/she/they shopped at a brick-and-mortar small business that's local to them which was hit by Sandy, so they also contributed to their local economy, which is also something that's important to me.

I shipped my quonsar package out at the beginning of this week; hope it gets there okay and that the person likes it.
posted by TrishaLynn at 5:03 AM on December 7, 2012

Oh man, PhoBWanKenobi sent me the most super awesome quonsar presents with a robot matryoshka and teeeeeny tiny little Japanese food and glittery unicorns! It totally made my week and I've been super stressed with my thesis deadline so it was extra wonderful to get such fun things. Thank you thank you!
posted by brilliantine at 9:50 AM on December 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Here's a working photo link of the Harry Potter snitch necklace, cooker girl!
posted by MsMolly at 10:08 AM on December 7, 2012 [4 favorites]

Whoa! Turns out the Harry Potter necklace wasn't from my Quonsar at all, because the mailman just delivered a package and I got quonsed SO HARD by gygesringtone. He sent this amazing bird windchime, a jar of homemade jam, and this box of packing paper for my cats. (The last part may have been unintentional.) Thank you so much!
posted by MsMolly at 10:33 AM on December 7, 2012 [6 favorites]

brilliantine: "teeeeeny tiny little Japanese food "

REMENT? I require pictures!
posted by IndigoRain at 11:29 AM on December 7, 2012

I'm not sure who it's from, but I got a dinosaur. Not just any dinosaur, but a "Help support a museum so other people can learn about dinosaurs" dinosaur. How cool is that?

Despite the label, I don't think my kitties are in danger. That might change when my little guy grows though. Although somebody tried to take a nap in his crate...

Right now he's guarding my popcorn.
posted by theichibun at 11:45 AM on December 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'm glad you liked it MsMolly, that chime was just too cool not to buy somebody, and almost everybody that gets a gift from me gets home-made jam, because jam rocks.
posted by Gygesringtone at 12:09 PM on December 7, 2012 [2 favorites]

Thanks to ActionPopulated, my cats are seriously drunk on catnip and I have tea and purple socks. Purple socks that *fit*. I can now die happy--or survive finals, one or the other.

(No pictures because, due to finals, my apartment is currently a travesty.)
posted by gracedissolved at 1:44 PM on December 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

My secret quonsar gifted me with the most thoughtful present I have received in a long time, and it made me cry! I'm really touched.

It was also wrapped in the best wrapping paper I've ever seen, BTW. Think awesome superheroes on a shiny background! And it came with a postcard that had their well-wishes on one side and a wonderfully cheeky (& sexy librarian!) sentiment on the front. It was promptly hung up on the wall, of course.

Thank you thank you, quonsar. <3
posted by rocketing at 2:19 PM on December 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Quonsar bought me a hip flask. With a vespa scooter on it.

Quonsar *rocks*
posted by eriko at 2:41 PM on December 7, 2012 [2 favorites]

I do door to door sales. I just came home from working 9 hours in the cold, not dressed properly, freezing my ass off, exhausted. I come home and the Fed Ex guy is sitting outside my house with his lights off. I pull in and he gets out of the truck. Great, I think, I'm being served.

... I get inside, open the box, and it's gift wrapped! It's coffee! I jump up and down out of excitement. But wait, there's more! My Quonsar got me a handmade coffee cup AND a coffee cozy! And some tea! This is the best gift I could ask for! Cheered me right up! Thank you Quansar!!!
posted by Autumn at 2:50 PM on December 7, 2012 [5 favorites]

Oh man, PhoBWanKenobi sent me the most super awesome quonsar presents with a robot matryoshka and teeeeeny tiny little Japanese food and glittery unicorns! It totally made my week and I've been super stressed with my thesis deadline so it was extra wonderful to get such fun things. Thank you thank you!

Oh yay! So glad you like. I had to so resist the urge to open the tiny Japanese food and play with it (especially the one with the tiny squid tentacle. Tiny!) Maybe you can get the robots to finish your thesis for you? Let's hope!
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:55 PM on December 7, 2012

REMENT? I require pictures!

Iwako, actually, but now I know what rement is and my life is 1000% better.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 3:03 PM on December 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

I am sitting here noshing on HOMEMADE GINGER COOKIES that came all the way from Seattle courtesy of saeculorum and his girlfriend, esoterrica. They are delicious, and perfectly fresh, despite their cross country trek. I also got comfy socks! And note cards! Huzzah! Thank you both!
posted by ocherdraco at 3:12 PM on December 7, 2012 [2 favorites]

My awesome present came from St. Louis! As if the fabulously tasty gooey butter cake and a really really good peanut butter and chocolate one weren't enough, there was a gorgeous blue cased glass ewer. Applied handle, smoothed bottom, charming little spout. It's a gorgeous peacocky divided by turquoise color, and looks great mingling with my other glass. Thank you!

Quonsarmas really is the happiest time of the year.
posted by julen at 4:13 PM on December 7, 2012

My secret quonsar gift arrived in the mail yesterday with a package "for mom" and a package "for baby". It was lovely! Thank you sheprime!
posted by machine at 5:34 PM on December 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you, aaanastasia, for my gift! I plugged my kettle in as soon as I smelled the delicious White Christmas tea. I'm currently sipping my second mug and resisting the urge to start the Icelander until after my finals next week!
posted by MaritaCov at 5:35 PM on December 7, 2012

Hooray! moons in june, I am very glad you liked it!

and just when I was all, "ah! really TIS better to given than receive, i don't even care if mine comes i--"... pow! checked my mail, super awesome gifts from my quonsar! i "yayyyy!"ed at every item, even the (santa octopus) card! (i love octopi). Check out my awesome cube robot! he's a robot! he's a puzzle! he's awesome! yayyyy!

thank you so much jessypie! i love the penguin post-its and animal origami too! so great and totally up my alley!

happy secret quonsar to all!
posted by NikitaNikita at 6:29 PM on December 7, 2012

Steinlen cats

WANT
posted by caryatid at 7:32 PM on December 7, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you Richrad for the fabulous lip gloss. Even more impressive since I figure it must be tough for a non-lipgloss wearer (I'm assuming of course...no offense intended if you love the gloss) to wade through all the options...even I find it daunting.

To my secret Quonsar recipient - Don't despair! I have your gift and will send it out on Monday.
posted by victoriab at 9:36 AM on December 8, 2012

QUONSARMAS HAS COME IN THE FORM OF A DIY CHEESE KIT

IT IS PERFECT AND GLORIOUS AND WONDERFUL
posted by The Whelk at 10:16 AM on December 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

ALSO EVERYTHING CAME IN ATTRACTIVE BUTCHER PAPER AND TISSUE WRAP
posted by The Whelk at 10:19 AM on December 8, 2012

Whelk, you forgot to start that exuberant cri de coeur with, "CHECK IT OUT, MY [ten] BATCHES!"
posted by wenestvedt at 5:18 PM on December 8, 2012

Oooh oooh oooh I am so excited, my Quonsarmus present is here, with a return address from ThinkGeek
(I am even appropriately dressed with MF T-shirt, although by accident)

I CANNOT WAIT to try these MIRACLE FRUIT TABLETS!

Thank you, Secret Quonsar!
This awesome gift rocks. It is something I would never in a million years have thought to buy for myself, NEVER. And I am so excited to try them (still oddly stuffed from lunch, but I have a LEMON at the ready!) So, perfect. And, so perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
(btw, I am new to using flickr, I'm trying to send the photos, let's see how it goes!)

Happy Quonsmas to everyone!
posted by bebrave! at 5:42 PM on December 8, 2012 [1 favorite]

oops yeah no I don't know what I'm doing but oh well!
Thanks again, SQ!
posted by bebrave! at 5:44 PM on December 8, 2012

ha this is the best thing ever
I just ate a WHOLE LEMON and IT WORKS GREAT
TY again, SQ!!!
posted by bebrave! at 8:33 PM on December 8, 2012 [2 favorites]

hahaha just tried white vinegar and dry mustard. SWEET!
(sorry to keep posting but so funny!)
Hot wings for dinner next!
posted by bebrave! at 8:46 PM on December 8, 2012

My secret quonsar sent 2 lovely skeins of cotton yarn - how did you know that almost the only thing I crochet is cotton dishrags?!? You picked the perfect yarn for me. I will enjoy making more bright and pretty patterns for kitchens.

AND also 4 strings of beautiful beads! I love the tiny bright orange ones, and the dark blue have a lovely weight and feel to them. Thank you! I'll have fun finding good crafting projects for them all.

Happy quonsmas to you!
posted by dorey_oh at 9:54 PM on December 8, 2012

And thank you again to Madamina for the amazing art print of the tiny pencil alphabet and the PERFECT calendar by Kate Beaton!! Love them both!
posted by exceptinsects at 11:47 PM on December 8, 2012

Thank you S. M. for my awesome gift of a proper Canadian tea mug, earrings, and a SURPRISE EGG full of Kinder chocolate goodness! It was totally fun to open (and the cat really enjoyed it as well!) The gift came at such a perfect time, so thank you Sister from the Frozen North!
posted by kinsey at 4:21 AM on December 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yay, MaritaCov, I'm glad that you like the tea! That book is my favorite thing to read in the winter (should be relaxing after finals!!).
posted by aaanastasia at 4:42 AM on December 9, 2012

Today was a really rough morning - sleep issues kept me awake until around 7AM, I crashed for a few hours and then had to be up again. I blearily dragged myself outside for coffee and then slightly-less-blearily dragged myself back - only to see a little box waiting at the entranceway of my building. Was it for me? My partner orders so many things from Amazon I was expecting it to be one of them, but no!

It was my lovely gift from moons in june, a bounty of delicious chocolate hazelnut crinkle cookies! How did you know hazelnut is my favorite thing ever in every form? Thank you so much! This definitely made my day.

...and um, no, I didn't eat cookies for breakfast.... *shifty eyes* *nomnomnomcrunch*
posted by corb at 10:45 AM on December 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

Haha, the cookies from my secret quonsar were lunch, dinner, and breakfast. No shame!
posted by ocherdraco at 10:52 AM on December 9, 2012 [5 favorites]

Thank you easternblot for the great book on lefthandedness. It was very sweet to say that I could exchange it if necessary, but I didn't already have it so will be keeping it for sure. Thanks again.
posted by plonkee at 11:43 AM on December 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hi Kinsey - glad you liked it. I was a little worried that the Kinder Egg would set off alarms at the border! Happy Quonsmas.
posted by caroo at 1:33 PM on December 9, 2012

Dear lyra4, THANK YOU!!! I feel loved and understood. :)

I love, love, love the ribbons, and the fat quarter patterns make me so happy! Chosen perfectly! I already know what I'm going to do with some of it. Plus, next time I have some NYC time I will definitely be checking out some of the markets in the great book of NYC markets! And one of those holiday chocolate bars is going to be dessert for us tonight. Thanks! Here are pictures (experimenting with the photobucket 'stories' thing).
posted by zennie at 2:26 PM on December 9, 2012

I'm disappointed in myself. I'm staying anonymous to my giftee this year because I did not have a clue what to get, and I don't want to be outed if the gift is disappointing.

But, bloody hell, it is SO HARD to choose something for someone with a minimal Mefi history and a very vague description in the this-is-what-I'm-into field. Please please please give us something solid to go on when you sign up! We want to thrill you with something perfect, not take a stab in the dark.

If you want me, I'll be sitting in the corner, sucking my thumb.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 3:12 PM on December 9, 2012 [4 favorites]

I dunno, malibustacy9999, it's pretty thrilling just to get a surprise gift that tells you a tiny something about the person who sent it. I know that I [jokingly] threatened people with re-gifts in the signup thread for not giving clues, but if someone doesn't provide clues I just assume they'd be happy to get a complete surprise.
posted by zennie at 4:03 PM on December 9, 2012 [3 favorites]

I got these great AntBots from angiep. I had so much fun teasing the dog with the red one that I got a noise complaint from my downstairs neighbours. The blue one is awaiting hijinx at work.
I never got a Quonsmas present that was not dead on perfect!
posted by Freyja at 4:15 PM on December 9, 2012

Hooray! I'm glad you enjoyed the crafty bits. :o) I'm always excited to have a reason to go poke around MJ Trim. You also have the most patient kitty ever to sit in his smashing purple rose boa!
posted by lyra4 at 5:17 PM on December 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh malibustacey9999, it really ISN'T the 'quality', for lack of a better word, of the gift: it really is the thought..... that "Yay! I got a surprise package, just for me!" giddy feeling of being a kid again. I can pretty well guarentee you that whatever you sent, your Quonsee will be thrilled.

(Although I've gotta say, my own SQ? Wooo doggies, what a box of deliciousness *I* got!)
posted by easily confused at 5:43 PM on December 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

I am so grateful to the internet. I came home from a rather dispiriting trip , to a fed-ex box sitting on the table, containing.... this wine , one of my favorite ever, and one which I cant find nearby anymore. I love SQ, and sincerely thank my (still anon) quonsar, because I will completely enjoy drinking this on friday night....
posted by darsh at 6:02 PM on December 9, 2012

I'm disappointed in myself. I'm staying anonymous to my giftee this year because I did not have a clue what to get, and I don't want to be outed if the gift is disappointing.

But, bloody hell, it is SO HARD to choose something for someone with a minimal Mefi history and a very vague description in the this-is-what-I'm-into field. Please please please give us something solid to go on when you sign up! We want to thrill you with something perfect, not take a stab in the dark.

If you want me, I'll be sitting in the corner, sucking my thumb.

I'll sit in that corner with you. I felt the same way.
posted by patheral at 6:08 PM on December 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hello, ActionPopulated! Glad you liked the pens and notebook! I was going to try some regional gifts until I realized...your region is my region too. Warm wishes from right across the Delaware River!
posted by kimberussell at 7:38 PM on December 9, 2012

Thank you Secret Quonsee! The candle/lip balm/sticker/pins/lotion/keychain/soap/ is awesome! I love it! So wonderful!
posted by oflinkey at 7:43 PM on December 9, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you to thomas j wise who sent me a delightful hand-picked array of local goodies from NY! It reminded me so much of my college years in the northeast. There is a card on its way to you. :)

To my Quonsee: never fear -- you shall be Quonsed on Dec 12, if the USPS is to be trusted.
posted by trunk muffins at 8:22 PM on December 9, 2012

Thanks jeoc! While the cookies are long gone, the pancake mix and coffee is surely soon to follow this week. All 3 are a great Quonsmas treat!

(it came last week, but I hadn't had the chance to get this in here until then.)

Thanks!
posted by lampshade at 6:42 AM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

pace e salute to my anonymous quonsar, not to mention many, many thanks and a happy quonsmas!

what a wonderful shock to get to the post office this morning, only to find a package all the way from Japan!

2 kinds of cha mix, an assortment of 8(!) teas, and 2 packages of delicious looking senbei (小山煎餅, in fact. one with pecans and one with pistachios. my favorites!). it all looks too fancy to even open...

ありがとうでござる
posted by dorian at 7:21 AM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

DrMew, thank you so much! I got both of the things on my secret quonsar list this year! Most excellent- now my pages will never be disjointed, and my exterior temperatures no longer a mystery.
posted by jenkinsEar at 7:54 AM on December 10, 2012

My SQ package should be going out in the next day or two. My Quonsee asked for something local - I've got one thing, but would like to throw something else fun in with it. Hang on, it's coming!
posted by owtytrof at 8:53 AM on December 10, 2012

Oooooh! I had mentioned in my suggestions that I recently got a new office and was looking for interesting but not-too-ridiculous accoutrements. And atomicstone did a great job indeed! Today I received the most adorable Marimo aquarium.

This is a perfect gift for someone who likes lovely things but kills most plants just by looking at them. In what can only be considered a good omen, the blown glass terrarium did not break in transit from its origin to my office -- NOR, I am pleased to report, did it break on the journey between the office sink and my desk.

I actually have a teeny dry terrarium at home that I got from my quasi-SIL last year, and a bunch of wacky little pirate bits and bobs, so this may well start a decorating revolution up in here.

Thank you so, so much!
posted by Madamina at 12:00 PM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

quonsed!!! thank you secret quonsar - the bib is super cute and it will match her scandinavian heritage.... ;-D
posted by treehorn+bunny at 12:44 PM on December 10, 2012

Please take a moment to see if you have an email from secretquonsarswap lurking about in the murky corners of your email account (spam, junk, accidentally sorted someplace odd) -- we have quite a few outstanding questions out to folks that we (and their sqs!)'d like answers to.
posted by julen at 1:03 PM on December 10, 2012

I would like to thank Phire for the lovely gift. It is a joyously nerdy journal, and in our house we live and die by written lists and journals. It is beyond perfect and shall join my other journals in my purse. Now to choose a sufficiently perfect pen to match...

(Side story, last night I was hinting pretty heavily for a ring from the same company as my quonsar journal shipped from. So today there's the return address in my mailbox, but addressed to me. Surely they couldn't have mistakenly shipped my hinted for ring to me? Commence great shaking and fondling of package. Of _course_ I couldn't wait for M to come home to check if it was a ring or not. Too flat. Not jangly enough. And damn it, I didn't care. It could be my QUONSAR GIFT!!! Commence packaging shredding and much joyous scampering. And cat frightening. So thank you. Thank you thank you!)
posted by librarianamy at 1:38 PM on December 10, 2012

Quonsmas came today! Thank you so much Elerina for my awesome bookmark, library-themed notepad, and Dr. Bronner's Lavender soap! (I love Dr. Bronner's but had only ever used the liquid version, so I was utterly charmed to unwrap the bar and find it embossed with ALL-ONE!)
posted by Daily Alice at 2:12 PM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

ok, the pecan senbei are basically devoured down to crumbs.

who knew that a lasting tradition could ever be built on smocks, fishpants, or elephant emissions?

quonsar 2005 bus-shelter vandalism, of the prestigious nyc racist-dunk-tank-clown era...
posted by dorian at 2:17 PM on December 10, 2012

I have not gone mod-spelunking to see if I know who my SQ is so I just want to thank them publicly for these wooly gloves (in just my colors) and these delicious chocolate bars and the cute-as-a-bug's-ear gold star which, yes, I am wearing as I am modding. Picture to follow at some point. This was lovely and I was and am very touched by it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:24 PM on December 10, 2012 [3 favorites]

Oh, hurray! I'm so relieved you liked it, librarianamy. There is one other tiny thing winging its way to you, but I'm very glad the journal arrived first, haha.
posted by Phire at 2:34 PM on December 10, 2012

I just came home and found a box waiting for me. Thank you to vegartanipla for the bag -o- rice (Creole Rose Popcorn Rice, which is one of my favorite foods that smells like another of my favorite foods) and some chocolate, which, you know, is chocolate.

I am happy!
posted by bondcliff at 3:50 PM on December 10, 2012

I received my awesome quonsar gift on Friday, but I had left my shoes at work! So I am only finally getting to lace them up with my new shoe laces and show them off. They are very pretty purple butterfly shoe laces and they fit so well with my shoes. I am going to have to figure out the best way to lace them up that will show them off the best. I like creative lacing, so this adds more style to my laces.
posted by Jaelma24 at 4:24 PM on December 10, 2012

A Galileo thermometer! Something I never knew I always wanted! Thanks Quonsar!
posted by Rock Steady at 4:46 PM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I now know my SQ's real name, but not her meta-name. Or maybe the return address is a lie. Anyway, she's awesome, because she searched my history, found this question and sent me two books that aren't on the list, but she thinks make great additions. And I can't wait to like! Last final is Thursday night. Then it's new books here I come!
posted by atomicstone at 4:49 PM on December 10, 2012

You're welcome, trunk muffins!
posted by thomas j wise at 5:07 PM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I received a package today from who I can only guess is my secret quonsar. I mentioned that I'd just taken up knitting so they sent me this nifty knitting drum. Now I can work on my wedding skirt without my new dog chewing it up (he has a taste for yarn). Not only that, but I got a really nice book from what looks like the sixties on how to knit. I love these things.

Thanks so much secret qonsar!
posted by patheral at 5:32 PM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh darsh I'm so glad you're happy with the wine! They froze my credit card for a couple hours the next day, haha, apparently visa thinks ordering wine in a different country is a no-no, who knew! :)
posted by addelburgh at 6:13 PM on December 10, 2012

dreamyshade, what a fantastic quonsarmas gift! Thank you so much! The tea, the strange nutella, the CD, the seasoning, and the amazing Stagger Lee graphic novel, it's all perfect. I'm having that loving quonsarmas time of the year feeling!
posted by jasper411 at 7:24 PM on December 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you for the spicy gifts, JLM! The Secret Aardvark sauce is particularly appropriate for the occasion and is awesome on potatoes.
posted by saeculorum at 7:58 PM on December 10, 2012

Thank you, secret quonsar (okay, not-so-secret...thank you jadepearl!) for the fancy pens and rice paper sketch pad! I did not realize I must be a closeted pen person too, since I opened the package 5 minutes ago and have already tried them all out several times! And the gray-tones ones...LOVE them.
posted by janerica at 8:11 PM on December 10, 2012

I got a lovely e-mail from my Quonsee* thanking me for the gift.

*In what I assume was a Quonsar Miracle, I drew the name of a friend from another e-realm!
posted by Room 641-A at 9:22 PM on December 10, 2012

So there was this package full of tasty candy and the cutest little baking cups waiting for me. Thanks insectosaurus! Now I just have to think of something delicious to put in them!
posted by HFSH at 10:39 PM on December 10, 2012

Aaaah thank you so much anthropoid for the anchor and spyglass. They arrived this weekend, but I couldn't get them until last night. I carry the spyglass on my keychain now and I think my husband might divorce me if I yell YARRRR AVAST LANDLUBBER anymore but I just can't help it!
posted by specialagentwebb at 5:27 AM on December 11, 2012 [4 favorites]

addleburg, how on earth did you know I loved this wine.... and now i know where I can buy it again (my prior source went out of business) - you gave me the gift that keeps on giving :)
posted by darsh at 6:46 AM on December 11, 2012

We were wonderfully Quonsared yesterday- thank you to "lino" who appears to have been our SQ. :) Husband greatly enjoyed his bonus present, and how did you know that I love the Peanuts Xmas special so much?
I did have a slight conundrum coming up from the mailroom as the package was labeled "not to be opened until Quonsmas.". Hmmm... what date is Quonsmas, exactly? I decided that Quonsmas in our household was to be celebrated on Dec 10 & opened it up. ;)
posted by lyra4 at 6:48 AM on December 11, 2012

BEST THING EVER! I'm glad you liked it Oflinkey!

I had fun picking it. YAY QUONSMAS!!!
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:28 AM on December 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Still waiting for my gift... is there a way to check in on whether it's been sent?
posted by spitefulcrow at 9:13 AM on December 11, 2012

If you want to check in on your gift, please mail our gmail account, secretquonsarswap. If we don't know anything (we have status on 39 gifts that haven't arrived yet that we've gleaned from MeTa, emaill, memail, twitter, etc), we'll ping your quonsar and find out what's up.

If you want us to reassure your quonsee it is coming, we'd be happy to do that, too. Same email address.

We expect the gifts to arrive throughout the month. In addition to people who are making their presents and running a little late, there have been a number of slow-sending vendors and other vendors who have tried to insert a little grinchiness into quonsartime, some folks totally blanked on the send by date, and finally, we're hearing scattered reports of the USPS sending gifts off on a little vacation before they arrive (some sit in intermediate waystations for several days; others go to sorting facilities that are not at all on the route to the sender for a few days before arriving). Delays of 2 to 5 days are not unknown. It's weird, but if that's the weirdest thing that happens this year, I will totally take it!

Right now, we know the status of 145 gifts (106 arrivals, 39 reports of shipping dates or reassurances that it is coming). I would bet that there have been at least 50 private thank yous and acknowledgements that we haven't been privy to.
posted by julen at 12:35 PM on December 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you so much, Texan But Otherwise Anonymous Secret Quonsar! Hand-dyed yarn! I'm not sure my knitting will do it justice, but I'll give it my best. And the elephant bags are great! They and the yarn are coming with me to knitting group tonight so I can show them all off, with my lovely soft hands. Not really, but softer than earlier today. The hand cream is very nice, and it's that time of year when my hands need all the help they can get. Many thanks again - great Quonsaring.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 1:46 PM on December 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Growing concerned...my PO said my gift would arrive last Friday, but so far no sign of it being recieved. Hope there are no problems.
posted by Miko at 1:50 PM on December 11, 2012

Mailed mine 11 days ago, haven't heard anything.
Haven't received anything yet, despite my eyes boring a hole in the mailbox.
posted by chococat at 1:59 PM on December 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

wow.... I just got Reverse-Quonsed by my Quonsee! Thank you for making it a very special Quonsmas, Lino!
posted by easily confused at 2:08 PM on December 11, 2012

I received my gift on Friday from someone in the UK. Thank you for the lovely pins. I wish I knew who to thank. I plan on doing some investigative work, but busy at work, busy at home and busy wit hthe non-profit stuff.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH SECRET QUONSAR.
posted by readery at 2:13 PM on December 11, 2012

I win Secret Quonsar!! Mochapickle sent me the BEST package!!! A gorgeous blanket, hand-made ornament, local jelly, key ring and lots of info about where she lives.... Everything was wrapped so nicely, my family had the best time opening our gifts!! It made our day!!! Thank you so much mochapickle!! When it is picnic weather, I'll send you pics of us using your blanket!!
posted by pearlybob at 2:28 PM on December 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Mailed mine 8 days ago, haven't heard from the recipient, and forgot to track the package, oops. But a little stalking tells me that my recipient hasn't been on mefi since I sent it anyway.
posted by gaspode at 3:29 PM on December 11, 2012

Haven't received mine, either, actually.
posted by gaspode at 3:30 PM on December 11, 2012

So glad you got it, specialagentwebb! I felt drawn to both of those things for you, I don't know why. Happy Quonsmas!
posted by anthropoid at 4:02 PM on December 11, 2012

ZOMG SQUEE!

Came home from a shitshow of a day to find an adorable (jingling!) package and card from Maryr. It was chock full of the requested "weird stuff" including a cat-shaped massager, zombie candy, iron-on patches, a book on creepy stuff, a holiday flask (!), and Hello Kitty pens, notebook, and Band-Aids!

Such a bonanza! Thanks so much, Maryr!
posted by JoanArkham at 4:04 PM on December 11, 2012

According to UPS, the gift I sent my quonsee is just 50 miles away and will be delivered tomorrow. I hope they love it because I think it's perfect... THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME! GO UPS GO!
posted by youngergirl44 at 5:50 PM on December 11, 2012 [2 favorites]

Oh Julen, since you're keeping track, yes, my giftee contacted me privately that his was received. :)
posted by IndigoRain at 7:48 PM on December 11, 2012

Hmm. I haven't gotten quonsed yet, and just found a bunch of UPS "unable to deliver" messages in my SPAM filter, but it's hard to tell if they're really UPS or really SPAM. Hope that's nothing to do with SQ. I mean, if it were real they'd have left a sticky note, I'm sure.
posted by Miko at 9:02 PM on December 11, 2012

Dear Quonsee, you don't have to post in this thread if you don't want to, but I'd love to know that you got your package in one piece!
posted by topoisomerase at 9:39 PM on December 11, 2012

Miko, I have it on good authority that your SQ was shipped USPS. Unless I was drunk earlier today, and went to UPS instead of the post office.
posted by mollymayhem at 9:44 PM on December 11, 2012

Glad you like everything, JoanArkham - I had to restrain myself on the Sanrio front. I included jingle bells specifically to a) throw off any guesses that one might have by shaking the package and b) mess with your postal deliverer.

While I am here, I want to send a delayed thank you to wiskunde, who Quonsed me well with an assortment of delights from the international section of the grocery store. I'm especially looking forward to the beautiful little Dutch gingerbread houses and the sesame crackers. I woiuld have thanked you earlier, but I kept forgetting your meta-name. Your real name, while mildly generic, was way easier for me to remember.
posted by maryr at 9:51 PM on December 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Julen, I got a private thank you too. I mentioned it in the thread so you could keep track. I haven't received mine yet, though.
posted by Room 641-A at 9:56 PM on December 11, 2012

I also got a private thank you from my Quonsee.
posted by maurice at 4:31 AM on December 12, 2012

Whew! Finally made it to the post this morning. Both my and rubydoom's quonsees should receive their gifts within the week, assuming USPS moves their collective ass. She's already received her package and privately thanked her quonsar; I'm awaiting mine.

Protip: if you need to visit USPS this time of year, be there right when they open.
posted by owtytrof at 8:06 AM on December 12, 2012

(Im)Patiently waiting. But USPS is notoriously... WEIRD here.
posted by bibliogrrl at 8:25 AM on December 12, 2012

Oh, thank you ever so, SQ, for the unbelievably clever and compact Knitting Tool and excellent knitting book. My love of gadgets and recent foray back into knitting were so thoughtfully addressed by you! I also loved the "Quonsar loves you" note. *snorts again*

Have a very wonderful Quonsmas, SQ.
posted by bearwife at 9:10 AM on December 12, 2012

Thank you, Darsh, for the sweetest Quonsar package. I love all of it- the chocolates lasted about 5 minutes before ingesting,the mini candles are cuteness candleified, the postcards will be wending their way around the world to friends and the necklace is absolutely beautiful-I am wearing it today to a LunchBeat dance !! This all came at a time when I really needed a pick me up, so thank you thank you thank you !!! Have a wonderful Quonsar, Darsh.
posted by Isadorady at 9:39 AM on December 12, 2012

A million thanks to schleppo for gifting me this amazing-ass thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MGOkGLMekA&list=UUJJ3LF24L9WoGGK1POpdPag&index=1

Everyone I show it to LOVES it and I'll admit that when I am alone and no one is looking I will feed it quarters and laugh to myself every time.

And to victoriab, I'm glad you liked it! I consulted my most makeup-knowledgeable friend and she assured me it would be a Good Choice.
posted by richrad at 10:11 AM on December 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

You're welcome, richrad! I hope that panda keeps taking your quarters for years to come!
posted by schleppo at 11:21 AM on December 12, 2012

My day ended with a bang (as in a minor car accident) so it was nice to come home to a present from Metroid Baby (who I quonsar-ed a few years ago!)

She sent me this cool pincushion, candy from the country's oldest candy maker (delicious peppermint!), chocolate chai and some very useful produce bags.
posted by vespabelle at 12:20 PM on December 12, 2012

Thank you, AnnaRat, for the lovely Singapore sketch book - and it made it on time and everything!
posted by palindromic at 1:38 PM on December 12, 2012

I received a small wooden spoon, some Sichuan peppercorn salt (perfect! yum!), and some very peaceful socks! I plan on spending the holidays with a numb, tingly tongue and warm feet. Thank you secret quonsar!

(And I hope the beers you got stuck with are treating you well!)
posted by Serf at 2:18 PM on December 12, 2012

Oh, wait, Darsh! I was just looking through my Quonsar stash again and found the matching earrings!!! I love earrings and I love them. Thanks some more!
posted by Isadorady at 3:36 PM on December 12, 2012

Like so many before me, I was having a tough week. Yesterday I got a note from the apartment complex's office that i had a package - but the office was closed. So today, I rushed home in between meetings at work hoping that I got my Quonsmas gift. AND I DID! ancillary got me Star Wars sandwich cutters in a Star Wars lunch box (which I may keep hidden from my 6 year old to keep for myself), handmade pear jam (yum!), a cool-looking book called Jam (do I see a pattern?) and a very cool flipclip of Arnold Scharzenegger and cows. It was such a great and thoughtful gift and it really raised my spirits. Thank you, ancillary! (Now to eat some jam, read some Jam and see about getting some of my kid's videos on flipclips... A wonderful Quonsmas, indeed!
posted by nightwood at 6:18 PM on December 12, 2012

After a little snafu involving our broken apartment mailbox (grrr, landlords!) and the USPS with some expert moderation by julen, I came home to find a box on my keyboard.

k8lin!! You quonsed me to perfection! The book is awesome and I can't wait to read it. And I can't stop playing with the color changing beads! Thank you for your thoughtfulness! I can't stop with the exclamation points!!

Happy Quonsar, MetaFilter!!
posted by kimberussell at 6:19 PM on December 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you samthemander! The bridge magnet and postcard were put on the fridge immediately and I can't wait to try out Bang!
posted by Nolechick11 at 6:22 PM on December 12, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yay, you're welcome! And thanks to julen, too, for facilitating a safe arrival. :)
posted by k8lin at 7:59 PM on December 12, 2012

Thank you Secret Quonsarer! I know your real name but not your username. Your package lifted my spirits on a stressful night in a stressful week (finals, cold, upgrading to CS6). Thank you for the delightful card, the postcard of the Diego Rivera mural, the bottle stopper, the falciparum sporozoite cross stitch, and the carefully wrapped baggie of ultra-potent homegrown loose green herb, which was very relaxing...for my cat.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:52 PM on December 12, 2012

I was mysteriously quonsed with two vintage pamphlets involving magic tricks and choirs - thankyou!
posted by memebake at 6:12 AM on December 13, 2012

A TARDIS and Dalek salt-and-pepper set are battling for supremacy on my kitchen table! Thanks, cozenedindigo!
posted by sheprime at 9:42 AM on December 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yay! Glad you liked it sheprime!
posted by cozenedindigo at 10:58 AM on December 13, 2012

My Quonsee should have gotten theirs a couple days ago, according to delivery confirmation. I won't start worrying for another day or two...
posted by rhiannonstone at 11:51 AM on December 13, 2012

POO! My SQ sent me real elephant POO! Sorry for bragging, you other guys, but I'm sure I'm the winner! Yes, and it's made into paper! POO! Also, a little note pad with an African animal print on the cover, a starry magnet, and The Best Chocolate: cranberry orange toffee with a beautiful salt sprinkle. Yum! Did I mention your charming Ugandan chicken note card? Let's see... animals? Check. Paper? Check. Chocolate? Check. lholloday, You Rock!
posted by probably not that Karen Blair at 11:57 AM on December 13, 2012 [2 favorites]

As far as I can tell, my Quonsee's package is still sitting in a NY sorting facility (since the 5th). I don't know when I should start to worry that it's officially lost.
posted by MsVader at 12:00 PM on December 13, 2012

I wish people got that excited when they received packages of feces from me.
posted by griphus at 12:11 PM on December 13, 2012 [5 favorites]

Surely perseverance can only pay off, griphus.
posted by Lou Stuells at 12:14 PM on December 13, 2012 [2 favorites]

That's not what the Postal Inspection Service police said :(
posted by griphus at 12:16 PM on December 13, 2012 [4 favorites]

You guys you guys you guys I got back with the very last bit of things for my Secret Quonsar gift (SORRY!!!) to find a package with AMAZING TEAS and a beautiful tea container!!! I have plans to make THE BEST CHAI EVER happen later tonight, and a huge thanks to Wordwoman!
posted by jetlagaddict at 4:03 PM on December 13, 2012

As you may have gleaned, there are a lot of secret quonsar gifts that were or are being sent late. When combined with postal service pokiness (seriously, people who have tracking are reporting 2, 3, 4, 5 days of packages sitting in various sorting facilities) and occasional vendor crudditude ... well, we're advising patience.

That is not to say we won't find out what's going on with the gift if you'd like us to. If you'd like us to find out what a gift's status is, we'd be glad to do it amongst other semi-random status queries.

If you are sending late, we encourage you to ask us to send a "It's coming" message to your quonsee.
posted by julen at 5:15 PM on December 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

My gift is supposedly out for delivery today. I've refreshed the tracking page on USPS.com so often I'm surprised the site hasn't crashed. *bites nails*
posted by trunk muffins at 6:02 PM on December 13, 2012

Uh, yeah.
This crew is freakin' awesome.

That is not to say we won't find out what's going on with the gift if you'd like us to. If you'd like us to find out what a gift's status is, we'd be glad to do it amongst other semi-random status queries.

Yup! Praise and Applause to julen, phunniemee and articseal!!

Hark! The Herald Angels Quonse
Fah-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!

You guys ROCK
Thanks again
posted by bebrave! at 6:16 PM on December 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

Also If I left anyone out SORRY!
Praise and Applause to all, even all non-Herald Angels.
Happy Quonsmas to all!
posted by bebrave! at 6:25 PM on December 13, 2012

Today my mailbox was full of magical Quonsical wondrousness from exotic far-off Canada! I am proudly sporting a not only comfy but also flattering shirt that has a very cool graphic on it, wrought by chococat's own mighty hand using the mysterious alchemy of screen-printing. I have to get a picture when it's bright out, cos it is rad and he made it especially in colors I love! Also, true to his name he very kindly sent me chocolate - Canadian Smarties to be exact, which are nothing like the American version because CHOCOLATE. Now this is pretty awesome because we do inexplicably get some Canadian sorts of candy around here - Toffifay, Coffee Crisp, sometimes Aero - but never ever have I seen these. I'm not getting into them yet but I am looking forward to them. I might give Mr Stuells ONE. Maybe. And chococat this is silly but what did you wash the shirt in because it smells amazing. You are an awesome Quonsar and I had great big smiles all day because of you! Thank you!
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:25 PM on December 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

THIS! Except mine is lady-shaped, on light blue with red ink! It is awesome and you are jealous.
posted by Lou Stuells at 6:28 PM on December 13, 2012

MsVader, fear not. Your package just arrived!

And may I take this opportunity to say that it is absolutely the most completely fabulous awesome incredible present, ever. I mean, I'm sure that everyone else got perfectly acceptable gifts but seriously, nothing in the entire universe beats a UFO lunchbox. I'm sitting here with my jaw hanging open and I opened the package a good 30 minutes ago. Plus an awesome mix CD! And dozens of styrofoam googlies! You rock.

Thank you thank you thank you!
posted by googly at 6:40 PM on December 13, 2012

Is it a lunchbox made out of elephant poo though?
posted by arcticseal at 6:45 PM on December 13, 2012

Super secret Quonsar person, did you send me a poster?

If that was you, then thank you! :)

It fits right in and now I can pretend to be a movie snob.
posted by topoisomerase at 7:22 PM on December 13, 2012

Hurray Lou Stuells! I'm so glad you like it and that the shirt fits okay because I was really nervous about getting the wrong style or shape. Girls' stuff is hard!
I thought the colours looked awesome and I'd have never thought of doing that combo myself but it rocks.
Glad the shirt smells good! You have to wash 'em before you screen 'em; then I hang them to dry. I think I used...this?...because we have about 6 jugs of it sitting by the washing machine...I guess my wife bought a bunch when they were on sale.
Also glad you hadn't had the Smarties before. I was trying to think of chocolate you can't get down there but it's getting harder and harder these days.
posted by chococat at 7:30 PM on December 13, 2012

Lou Stuells - the best thing about the Smarties is that on Halloween you can tape the box to your pants and go as a "Smarty pants'" - at least one teacher at our school does this every year, and it's always good for snickers.

I am really, really liking reading all of the sincere, thoughtfully composed and genuinely nice thank-yous in the Secret Quonsar threads. Hopefully everyone gets not just their gift, but wonderful expressions of joy at what was sent as well - they're my favourite part of this. Well, after my own wonderful tea, which I'm about to make a cup of now, and the memory of my fantastic and now long-gone chocolate...
posted by peagood at 8:00 PM on December 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

Is the USPS website reliable? According to it, my gift to someone-who-shall-not-be-named has been delivered today.

The suspense is killing me.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 8:23 PM on December 13, 2012 [1 favorite]

malibustacey9999, the SQ elves have dropped a note to your Quonsee asking them to drop a note in the thread or email us so we can put you out of your misery.
posted by arcticseal at 8:35 PM on December 13, 2012

The secret Quonsar gift has arrived! (And mine should be in the mail.) Is there a procedure for thanking them personally, or is this the place to do it?
posted by Kevin Street at 9:25 PM on December 13, 2012

Kevin, here is good or if you prefer, you can send an email via the SQ email address and we'll pass it on.
posted by arcticseal at 9:37 PM on December 13, 2012

Thanks, arcticseal.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 10:30 PM on December 13, 2012

googly, you have no idea how stressed out I was about finding the perfect gift. And then I was even more stressed thinking that it got lost in the mail. I am SO glad that you finally got it and that you like it. It's a Quonsmas miracle!
posted by MsVader at 11:50 PM on December 13, 2012

Quick SQ update: we currently have 142 Quonsees reporting that they have received their packages, 217 are still pending. So if you haven' received yours yet, don't worry you are not in the minority.

We are hearing about delays from various shipping companies/vendors so if you do know there's a delay, please contact us on the SQ hotline so we can calm nervous Quonsees. By the same token, if you have received your SQ present, please either update this thread or send us an email as I think the SQ's are even more nervous with "Did it get there?" or "OMG, they HATED it! I am a bad SQ!" fears.

Happy Quonsing y'all!
posted by arcticseal at 7:33 AM on December 14, 2012

I just looked at the tracking info for the things I had sent, supposedly all delivered by Dec 4th. Hope they weren't swiped or something.
posted by Lou Stuells at 7:41 AM on December 14, 2012

Whoops, sorry Arcticseal - I didn't see your most recent post.
posted by Lou Stuells at 7:43 AM on December 14, 2012

My stuff is boxed and addressed and I'm heading to the post office. I think I'm ahead of last year so I'm feeling pretty good. Quonsee, I hope you like it!
posted by Cuke at 7:44 AM on December 14, 2012

In addition to arcticseal's excellent update, we have a status on 61 other packages, which means 163 packages are a mystery to us (as compared to the 203 we know something about).

We'll spend the next two weeks sending out semi-random status requests and user-directed status requests, processing joyous "It's here!" statuses, and helping people troubleshoot issues.

After Christmas, we'll get super-serious and send a "Did you get it!?!?" email to folks who have not received gifts according to our spreadsheet. That will net a lot of "Yes I did!"s and narrow the list of the waiting down.

In the beginning of January, we'll contact the second chancer volunteers, make sure they can still volunteer, and get that list in order. Our dream is that the second chancers will go unused, their gifting instincts blunted, their kindness banked. Realistically, that's probably not going to happen. By that time, we will have identified folks who have been stiffed, whose package has been lost in transit (and whose senders can't send a replacement gift, for a variety of good reasons), or are otherwise ungifted. Then we'll match them up and set second chancers loose.
posted by julen at 8:20 AM on December 14, 2012

Yay! Coffeemate sent me a lovely chalkboard picture frame, chalk, a groovy bag and notecard as well as a nice holiday card. I'm delighted. Thanks, Coffeemate!

Also, thanks to julen and the quonsar staff!
posted by dragonplayer at 12:53 PM on December 14, 2012

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the entire ShawnString family! I love the purpley yarn and pendant. I plan to watch Sherlock this weekend while wrapping gifts for that other, secondary December holiday. And I can't quite decide whether to save the cookies to share with my boyfriend, who also loves local foods. (They are stamped Dec 19, so that means I should probably eat them soon, right?) Thanks again, this was awesome!

And thanks to julen and phunniemae and arcticseal and any other SQ elves for everything you do.
posted by donajo at 1:36 PM on December 14, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yayyy! I got a handmade (all the way from raw wool) headband to wear under my helmet when I ride my bike. Keeps the ears nice and warm. Sadly, I had to go and get hit by a car last night so I won't be riding again for a while…

Happy Quonsmas!
posted by spitefulcrow at 3:31 PM on December 14, 2012

Thank you Quonsar, for the wonderful box of homemade savory treats from Brooklyn, NY. I must have the recipe for the little shortbreads, they are divine! What a treat and a bright spot in a difficult week. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
posted by bonheur at 4:23 PM on December 14, 2012

Thank you Quannsee. I have a wonderful portrait of New Jersey to hang over the radiator by the stockings. Just the perfect decoration as I get settled in my first house.
posted by Nackt at 5:17 PM on December 14, 2012

YOU GUYS I'M PRETTY SURE YOUNGERGIRL44 IS A MAGICAL PSYCHIC QUONSMAS WIZARD. BECAUSE MY AMAZING FANTASTIC BEAUTIFUL QUONSMAS GIFTS ARE NOT ONLY DELIGHTFUL, BUT CLEVERLY RELEVANT TO MY INTERESTS AS VAGUELY EXPRESSED IN MY COMMENT HISTORY.

Seriously, first of all, I have eleventy billion bottles of vegan nailpolish (which is a very specific collection), yet she sent me a bottle of my favorite brand in a magnificent glittery magenta that I DO NOT ALREADY OWN! HOW DID SHE KNOW, YOU GUYS?! Secondly, she sent a true crime book that looks awesome and well-written (there are plenty of trashy true crime books, but oh so few good ones and yet I will read them all), and I HAVE NOT READ IT YET BUT I CAN'T WAIT! Finally, bestly, most spectacularly, A BEAUTIFUL PAINTING OF A PURPLE ANGLERFISH, INCLUDING GLITTER AND SEQUINS AND MY FAVORITE AND LIFE-SAVING POEM. It is a beautiful reminder of how awesome life can be and also that MetaFilter is full of wonderful, thoughtful, caring people WHO I LOVE SO MUCH SERIOUSLY YOU GUYS! SO MANY QUONSMAS FEELS!
posted by Fui Non Sum at 5:27 PM on December 14, 2012 [2 favorites]

rubydoom:
Thank you so much for the lovely soaps, the handmade bracelet and this awesome TARDIS watercolor...BEST QUONSMAS EVAR!
posted by Dr. Zira at 5:37 PM on December 14, 2012

eep, Spitefulcrow! EEP! Hope you are OK!
posted by julen at 5:44 PM on December 14, 2012

Donajo...the Berger cookies will be good awhile but trust me once you try them they won't last :)
posted by ShawnString at 6:16 PM on December 14, 2012

Dr. Zira:
I'm so glad you like your gifts and super happy you like the TARDIS! Happy Quonsmas!
posted by RubyDoom at 6:43 PM on December 14, 2012

Quonsar arrived with heady scents from Maine today! Maine smells of evergreen forests, goats frolicking in lupine meadows, and whereas our cabin smells of mothballs, mildew, and dead mice, Maine cabins smell like hippies!
posted by drlith at 7:14 PM on December 14, 2012 [4 favorites]

Dear My Quonsar-wo-man-person!

Just wanted to let you know that I won't even be back in town till Dec. 24th, so technically you have something like an extra week :-P This also means that I'll probably be unwrapping it on the actual big holiday that comes around in December and won't be able to thank you properly till festivities are all over!
posted by mittenedsex at 10:43 PM on December 14, 2012

Only just thought to check this thread to see if plonkee's gift arrived safely. Yay! Glad you like the book - I was taking a while to decide in the bookstore, and then I saw it and thought "THAT ONE!"

(Still waiting for my own secret quonsar present to arrive, but I'll be patient. The mail has been entirely unpredictable these past weeks.)
posted by easternblot at 3:52 AM on December 15, 2012

Oooh, Quonsar dug two and a half years into my posting history and sent me The Mysterious Cities of Gold on DVD! Time to call my sister; I smell a marathon coming up. Thank you, Secret Quonsar!!
posted by Hal Mumkin at 6:06 AM on December 15, 2012

My Quonsar got me a selection of wonderful comic books and a cookbook. Right up my alley!
posted by jedicus at 8:27 AM on December 15, 2012

Yay, jedicus, that was me! I'm so relieved they got to you in time. Hope you enjoy them.
posted by catch as catch can at 8:30 AM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Please post a picture of your Secret Quonsar gift folks! A vague description is insufficient.
posted by Daddy-O at 8:39 AM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

My quonsar got me books from a couple of webcomics and a great little book that baby graymouser really seemed to enjoy. Thanks!
posted by graymouser at 9:00 AM on December 15, 2012

Ah! I have received a package from Islington, laden with new-to-me British sci-fi! I love sci-fi, and British things, and British sci-fi things! Happy goldurn Quonsmas, quonsarer! Happy Quonsmas, Metafilter!
posted by ormondsacker at 9:21 AM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

I just contacted the Quonsar Hotline; my quonsee has a P.O. box, and package tracking says "delivery attempted."

My quonsar's gift has arrived, and I told her that I was saving it for December 25. (Told her with thanks.) Meanwhile, the wrapping paper is beautiful and will be carefully saved.
posted by jgirl at 9:51 AM on December 15, 2012 [2 favorites]

I totally probably got mine (pretty sure, anyway, as I have no idea who this person is otherwise,) and it's awesome and mysterious, and I will so be opening it on Christmas Day with all my other gifts (child of divorce, it's a big tradition with me to always wait.)

Waiting for the delivery confirmation on the one I sent... I'm hoping for Monday. I refuse to do the calculation on delivery estimates from Zone whatever I am to Zone whichever they are, because I will go mad.
posted by SMPA at 11:04 AM on December 15, 2012

I got mine! Thanks so much introp!!! Hopefully the gift I sent out reaches its destination soon!
posted by d13t_p3ps1 at 11:32 AM on December 15, 2012

Cheese Monster! Thank you so much!

Guys, I got a package from Australia with vegemite and tim tams and (per my request) cheesy fridge magnets. So very awesome.

And Cheese Monster? What you didn't know is that although I live in the USA, I'm a New Zealander. So you made me homesick :) (and the warning about the vegemite was very sweet. And perfect timing because I ran out a few weeks ago).
posted by gaspode at 11:51 AM on December 15, 2012 [3 favorites]

Got my present all the way from Osaka!
posted by Nomyte at 12:25 PM on December 15, 2012

Quonsar stopped by with a package containing a lovely soft crocheted blankie, a knitted handcloth and SOCKS wrapped up to look like a CUPCAKE! Thanks, FJT!
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 12:48 PM on December 15, 2012

Well, a little bird told me that Quonsar has been so busy delivering all the wonderful gifts described in this thread that I'm going to have to wait a touch longer. However, the very same bird assured me that Quonsar is headed my way, and that a little bit of patience will be well-rewarded.

I can't wait to share with you all whatever mysterious wonder is delivered unto my doorstep this year!
posted by owtytrof at 1:18 PM on December 15, 2012

Wow, a truly awesome collection of things from Isadorady! Thanks!
posted by Runes at 1:28 PM on December 15, 2012

Please post a picture of your Secret Quonsar gift folks!

Here is a photo of my gold star and my gloves. You will have to trust me that the chocolate bars existed at one point. They did not last long.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:29 PM on December 15, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you so much, Secret Quonsar, who happens to be Deathalicious, who made me the most AWESOME mouse snuggie. I have just the mouse model for it, and I will send a photo on Monday. Pins, gum, chinese leek flower seeds, some curry powder (oooOOoooo), and of all the things, mochi-wrapped taro. This will test my axiom that anything wrapped in mochi has to be yummy.

I realize you didn't have a lot to go on, but you did great, and I really enjoyed my package today.

Thanks again!

PS: My gift went out to my Quonsee on Monday of this week. Patience, I suppose!
posted by marmot at 4:36 PM on December 15, 2012

Thanks for the kind words, marmot! Unfortunately either I missed it in the package or they chose not to share their identity, but I want to thank *my* quonsar, whoever it was, who sent me some lovely items, especially the hand sewn journal and handmade clay birds.
posted by Deathalicious at 5:43 PM on December 15, 2012

Yay, I got my SQ gift today! I got a fun, eclectic package containing CD of Back Porch Music from WUNC (North Carolina Public Radio), a jar of some yummy-looking hot BBQ sauce, a stress ball, and a cozy from what seems to be UNC's library school, with the awesome logo of the Fightin' Librarian with a Dewey hat (Shouldn't it be LoC?) Oh, and a paper-bag puppet!

I love this fun mix of stuff, and I'm super excited to listen to the CD. (And if I were to get TOO excited, I could hyperventilate into the bag puppet, I guess ;-)) Thank you, Quonar (who didn't include a name/username)! I love it!

Picture of the stuff!
posted by JMOZ at 6:48 PM on December 15, 2012

Shoot! When did SILS start selling those drink cosies? Maybe I should read the alumni mag more often, because that would look awesome around a beverage of my choice.
posted by julen at 7:58 PM on December 15, 2012

The scents of Maine (including cabin that smells like hippies)! (For reference, our cabin in Pennsylvania that smells like mothballs, mildew, and dead mice).
posted by drlith at 6:32 AM on December 16, 2012

Koucha sent me some amazing tea that rocks my world and a favorite book by a favorite author -- a book I'd been missing for years and I had been days away from buying for myself to read this Christmas! I'm convinced Koucha is more than a tiny bit psychic! Also, a local newspaper, which is such a clever idea and a cool introduction to that town and I'm totally going to do that next year. Thank you, Koucha, for your overwhelming thoughtfulness, loveliness, awesomeness, and Quonsmas-ness! You are the best! ❤
posted by mochapickle at 8:30 AM on December 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

You are very welcome, Fui Non Sum. I'm ecstatic that you liked them as much as I hoped you would, if not more. :D
posted by youngergirl44 at 10:37 AM on December 16, 2012

On a related note, Fui Non Sum sent me alphabet animal postcards, the greatest rocket ship tea infuser known to man, and a Superman comic featuring Dr. Neil Tyson (using astrophysics to help Superman learn about the fate of Krypton, as opposed to being a generic "Mad Scientist" villain using radiation to take over the world -_-). I was so happy to see physicists portrayed in such a positive light that I literally cried!

Thank you so very very much Fui Non Sum! You are a very kind and thoughtful person!
posted by Shouraku at 4:02 PM on December 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

I am actually really afraid about the quonsar gift I sent. My person loves bicycles, but I'm from Detroit, the land of "Bikes? What? Why don't you just take a car?". Thus I ended up sending him a movie shot in Detroit and some candy/popcorn since he specified that he wanted to know about my home town.

Delivered on the 4th, no word from him. I'm freaking out........

I really hope that car movies aren't somehow offensive to dedicated cyclists. I didn’t even consider that until after I had already sent the gift.
posted by Shouraku at 4:22 PM on December 16, 2012

My present arrived! I'm not sure if it's from DC (probably not?) or DU or someone with the initials of DC or DU who is from Indiana! My boyfriend opened it for me because I am not home, and it apparently had a small Louisville Slugger, small boxing gloves, a cool wooden clip of some sort, Field Notebooks, and Field Notebook Pencils! I'm so excited to get back to Ohio to see it in person :-)

My gift is still en route, traveling to far-off Australia! If you are an Australian mefite, don't lose hope...
posted by ChuraChura at 4:37 PM on December 16, 2012 [2 favorites]

I got Quonsed yesterday! The demon who lives in the air sent me a gorgeous skein of hand-dyed sock yarn in a color scheme that will go perfectly with my new winter coat. And it was made my a fiber artist near her, so double points! I love, love, love it and am enthusiastic about finishing my Christmas knitting so I can start something lovely and self-indulgent, because isn't that what Quonsmas is all about?

(I am one of those awful gifters who totally blew the deadline, and when I attempted to mail my package yesterday I discovered that my local post office now has reduced hours on Saturdays and that their mail-it-yourself machine was jammed. It goes out in the morning without fail, and I'm confident it will still make it in time, since I could drive it there myself in a few hours!)
posted by SeedStitch at 5:15 PM on December 16, 2012

I was just quonsed! Thanks very much to the mefite who sent me the cute cat basket from etsy! My cats have inspected it and deemed it purrrrfect!
My quonsar gift is winging its way to its quonsee tomorrow a.m.!
Exclamation!
posted by xiaolongbao at 8:17 PM on December 16, 2012

Kensch promptly sent me a book I'm looking forward to reading, and caramel corn, which is easy to eat without making a book all grotty. Thanks! and Merry Fishpants!

I did send my seekrit quonsarmas gift, but late, so don't give up hope, those of you who haven't gotten your package yet.
posted by theora55 at 9:53 PM on December 16, 2012

Delivered on the 4th, no word from him. I'm freaking out........

I really hope that car movies aren't somehow offensive to dedicated cyclists. I didn’t even consider that until after I had already sent the gift.
posted by Shouraku at 6:22 PM on December 16 [+] [!]


Don't freak out! Some people are just really really bad at sending thank you notes (or posts). Your quonsee could have gotten your gift, loved it, and just didn't think to post about it here. I'm sure your gift was well received.

That's what I keep telling myself anyway.
posted by patheral at 10:14 PM on December 16, 2012

That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

God, I hope so. I sent a second-chance gift last year and never heard a word back. I've worried more than once that maybe it was an awful gift and she hated it and it was all wrong and I suck. But maybe she never got it. Or it was stolen. Or. All my other SQ recipients have been really sweet in confirming, though.
posted by mochapickle at 10:34 PM on December 16, 2012

Thank you Churachura for the myriad gifts including super-duper word book and koala print and Ohio card. I will cherish them exceedingly!
posted by t0astie at 11:13 PM on December 16, 2012 [1 favorite]

I think I've been Quonsed! A package arrived today - but as I have done all my Christmas shopping online, I figured it was another thing I'd ordered. But then.. I couldn't think what I had ordered that would be that size and shape. I opened it to discover a fabulous Hario coffee funnel with filter papers!! I did put in my instructions that I like coffee, so an option for decent coffee making that will work at home, the office or even be put in the suitcase for travels is wonderful. I had a brief inspection of the package, and couldn't find anyone to thank, but I will look again tomorrow (the packaging is still at my desk at work).
posted by AnnaRat at 12:24 AM on December 17, 2012

Someone should be getting something from me. I hope they let me know, as it's important that the items I sent are used safely and I failed to provide adequate explanations in the packaging.

Also, they just shut the post office I sent from, so if it's gone awry...
posted by davemee at 5:21 AM on December 17, 2012

I'm another late-sender (it went out yesterday) - which gives y'all another reason not to feel sad if nothing interesting has appeared in your mailbox yet!
posted by VioletU at 6:07 AM on December 17, 2012

Dear secret quonsar- Your gift of a finger piano made from half a coconut, decorated with honu and the word "Maui" created quite a stir. It came from an island, where, coincidentally, a very large portion of my family lives and where my mom was raised. So when it came I didn't think "thanks secret quonsar" but instead wondered "which cousin or uncle or auntie sent me this and didn't even sign their name?" I set out to contact some of them and started picking through my address book to match the return address but found no answers. It took a note to the SQ organizers to confirm that my mystery package was not from a family member (or maybe you are a family member?) but from my secret quonsar.

So thanks for the package, but more than that thanks for prompting me to connect with family, find out about what they are doing, and wonder about the strange ways the internet works some times. It's been many years since I've been able to visit Mau'i -- this means a lot!
posted by cubby at 7:28 AM on December 17, 2012 [6 favorites]

I came back from a very long business trip to find the wonderful gift from wenestvedt. The handmade cards are awesome. Thank you so much!
posted by gagoumot at 8:25 AM on December 17, 2012

My secret quonsar gift is on its way to its recipient and is supposed to be delivered this week.
posted by graymouser at 1:52 PM on December 17, 2012

Dear still secret quonsatorix, since I left the gift suggestion area pretty much blank I'm wondering how you new of my twin addictions to sour patch kids and iTunes, but you're marvelous for having fed them. Thank you so much!
posted by villanelles at dawn at 2:21 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

We have passed the 50% mark in SQ present delivery! Good work to everyone who managed to get their shipments out amid the festive rush.

We've received updates on shipment status from a lot of the pending present deliveries, but if you know your present is going to be tardy, please drop the SQ elves a note so we can let your Quonsee know to stop bugging the mailman. Happy Quonsing!
posted by arcticseal at 2:39 PM on December 17, 2012

I got home after a super long day at work only to find a Quonsmas gift at my door. Thank you xingcat for the gifts! The bracelet is beautiful, and I can't wait to try some of the tea!
posted by aaanastasia at 3:17 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you Quonsar! I got my cookies today. They are delicious!

The chocolate chips taste just like the ones I once made with my mother. We tried and tried but could never duplicate that recipe again.

And the nail glitter is so pretty, I love it. I can't wait to use them!

Thank you! This really made my day. I was feeling down and the gifts cheered me up.

Merry Quonsmas!!
posted by royalsong at 3:29 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

I got some Magic: The Gathering cards and a card storage box from d13t_p3ps1. I love it so so very much! Thank you!
posted by deezil at 4:15 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

There are about 100 gifts about whose status we know nothing about: were they delivered? Are they in transit? Did the USPS treat them to a side trip to the Oklahoma panhandle before delivering them? Did they get returned for insufficient postage? Were they eaten by a bear? Did the local post office secretly open it to remove the packets of pop rocks? Was the recipient so overcome with delight they forgot how to type? Is the package sitting at a backdoor while you are sitting at your mom's kitchen table 3 states away? These are the questions that drift through our minds in that stretch of time just before we fall asleep.
posted by julen at 4:47 PM on December 17, 2012 [3 favorites]

I have been quonsed! I said in my sign-up that I liked comic books and yarn, and my quonsar gave me a comic book about yarn and knitting! They didn't leave their mefi name but thank you quonsar!
posted by Tesseractive at 5:03 PM on December 17, 2012

Oh me oh my dorey_oh you outdid yourself! My Quonsmas has been so bright!! Thank you thank you thank you. *happy dance*

For Quonsmas, I received:

Around My French Table by Dorie Greenspan. It is a wonderful book and I'm already making things out of it and loving every bite and every minute.

And then today Quonsmas came again!! A parcel full of home made goodies arrived from dorey_oh! Beautiful hand-knit dish towels! Homemade cinnamon apple caramels with sea salt! Spiced pickled grapes! And lemon pesto! I DID NOT EVEN KNOW ANY OF THOSE THINGS EXISTED LET ALONE HOW MUCH BRIGHTER MY LIFE WOULD BE WITH THEM!!! I... I... I...

I may have eaten one too many of the caramels and now I'm keyed up. Wheeeeee!

But seriously, dorey_oh, thank you for wonderful gifts! And a Happy Quonsmas to you!
posted by jph at 5:45 PM on December 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you secret quonsarar....I had someone open my gift that arrived today. She described a very cute replica of the Mayflower. I can't wait to see it when I return.
posted by cairnoflore at 6:15 PM on December 17, 2012

The Great Quons has Spoken! Thank you, Vespabelle. A beautiful Japanese Knitting book, all wrapped up in a beautiful japanese fabric bag and a bonus sticker and pretty blue yarn! Very lovely and I'm going to save the book for a quiet afternoon when I can really enjoy it. It is awesome and I love it and Quonsar, you are very mighty. I believe!
posted by caroo at 6:37 PM on December 17, 2012

Quonsed! Hurrah! We, by which I mean my fridge and I, are both very pleased and very thankful to hapax_legomenon for the beautiful San Franciscan fridge magnets. Thank you!!

(Meanwhile, I feel like a bit of a heel because I mailed mine so late. Fingers crossed for speed from Canada Post!)
posted by snorkmaiden at 6:51 PM on December 17, 2012

Dear still secret quonsatorix

Oh whoops. Now I realize that signature was an internet name and not an earth name (obviously it might be your Earth name as well). Thanks meggan!
posted by villanelles at dawn at 7:27 PM on December 17, 2012

You are very welcome, villanelles at dawn! It was a very lucky guess on both counts. :)

I belatedly realized that I didn't indicate whether or not the name I signed was an internet name or earth name, but it is, in fact, both. So very glad you liked your gift!

I'm still waiting on Quonsar to arrive at my house, but I have faith that it will end up here eventually!
posted by meggan at 9:35 PM on December 17, 2012

Thanks to my secret quonsarer.

My quonsar gift has brightened an otherwise gloomy tuesday. I arrived at work to find a rather good collection of JG Ballard short stories (that I shall have to resist reading instead of writing the funding bid I should be doing). There is also (and for me this is the best bit) a beautiful and interesting silkscreen of a spider, a handmade zine, and a David handy postcard.

It's a mixture of the handmade, the interesting, the surprising, and the interesting. PistachioRoux is an inspiring gift giver.
posted by Gilgongo at 1:34 AM on December 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hi Tom!

Thanks for the awesome yarns, project bag, and card. Unusual skeins from local yarn stores in different cities are like the knitter's version of a postcard (but more awesome). I've already cast on from the multi-fabric ball, and it's super fun to knit up.

I'm certain the mighty Quonsar smiles his dark smile upon you for enacting his will in a most Quonsiful way. xoxo, neda
posted by neda at 5:23 AM on December 18, 2012

Yup, still haven't heard that my quonsee received the gift I mailed on 12/01. Eeesh!
posted by gaspode at 6:14 AM on December 18, 2012

Ooh, it's my Quonsmas! I found an intriguing box outside from "The Internet" and am quite excited. Will have to wait 'til this evening to enjoy the moment of opening because I was late for work ...but it has arrived, so check my name off the mystery list! Can't wait for the surprise...
posted by Miko at 7:32 AM on December 18, 2012

I GOT QUONSED! Thank you SweetTeaAndABiscuit for the awesome chocolates (how did you know those are two of my favorite flavors?!) and the gorgeous beetle cards! You are awesome!


The funny thing was looking at the postmark, and realizing that my secret quonsar lives mere miles from me. Looking forward to meeting you at the next Triangle meetup.
posted by msali at 9:23 AM on December 18, 2012

I have been Quonsed! My loot includes a My Little Pony (Twilight Sparkle, the smart and organized one!), a bottle of Judge Wapner root beer which ignignokt and I promptly drank, a feathered cat toy which Bonus Cat absolutely loves, and a Dunkin' Donuts gift card (DD coffee being the foundation of my personal food pyramid). So much Quonsmas thanks to Lemmy Caution!
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:59 AM on December 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yay! A crappy week was brightened by the Quonsmas package. Thank you! Such fun stuff! I don't know who to thank, so my appreciation is noted publicly. It was awesome - and my daughter has already staked claim to the Hello Kitty doll included. Thank you!

I also feel guilted participating more often here.
posted by schnee at 10:56 AM on December 18, 2012

OMG, Secret Quonsar, I love you! Thanks for doing some detective work and checking my previous postings. You clearly understand that I adore all things astronomical and somehow know that I have been in the market for a telescope; hence the book on The Planets (which I've been eyeing for several months at the local bookstore), the Cosmic sky observation device, a classy notepad, a handmade card, and DARK CHOCOLATE! Thank you, Jessamyn! (I just noticed the teeny-tiny letters on the card)
posted by Atrahasis at 12:14 PM on December 18, 2012 [2 favorites]

I think I said "Thank you" in the wrong thread, but I'll say it again here! Thank you, villanelles at dawn for the scented soaps! They go into my shower as soon as the Christmas-scented soap is retired!!
posted by xingcat at 12:18 PM on December 18, 2012

Thank you so much, ilana! I just got this awesome journal, handmade from recycled library book discards, with the most beautiful pictures, poems, and music included, picked out especially for me because of the classical music connection. It's exactly the sort of treat I would have picked out but not bought for myself. A wonderful Quonsmas gift that is already loved and will be used with delight. Thank you, thank you!!
posted by angiep at 12:18 PM on December 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

snorkmaiden, you are welcome! I was happy to have a good reason to send those magnets to someone: I love the style of that artwork, and in fact, have posters of those same pieces hanging in my kitchen! Happy Quonsmas!
posted by hapax_legomenon at 1:52 PM on December 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you to Readery, especially for somehow knowing that I love honey and bee-related things since my dad was a beekeeper for years when I was young.

MERRY QUONSMAS, EVERYONE
posted by greenish at 2:45 PM on December 18, 2012

I have been Quonsed! (It was my first time. I'm so excited.)

Thank you victoriab, for the "little gifts" of Penzey's "Sunny Paris" seasoning, English Toffee tea, and little candies (I already ate the chocolate ones). I am slightly mystified by the chunk of amber-colored candy on a stick (does it go with the tea?) but I love mysteries too.

I can't wait to try the seasoning - I think I'll make a salad dressing with it and my homemade yogurt for dinner tonight.

It goes without saying that you made my day, but I will say it anyway: You made my day.

I love Quonsmas and I wish it came more often than once a year. I'd do it once a month if I could. Thank you!
posted by caryatid at 2:52 PM on December 18, 2012

Caryatid - Yay! It's total luck that I just happened to check this thread and I'm so glad you got your package. What a relief :) The amber stuff is honey on a stick that you can use to stir your tea. I was excited that the Sunny Paris combined your love of cooking and all things French...I actually bought some for myself and it's really yummy. Enjoy and Happy Quonsmas!
posted by victoriab at 2:59 PM on December 18, 2012

I have been quonsed!

Cuke, the bowls are lovely! But sadly only one made it to my door intact. I blame Canada Post! But I shall thoroughly enjoy the remaining one :)

And tell your daughter the drawing is wonderful! Thank you.
posted by cozenedindigo at 4:07 PM on December 18, 2012

I got mine today. The Bronx T-shirt. Perfect for me. Thanks a ton, whoever you might be.
posted by DigDoug at 4:56 PM on December 18, 2012

jph has quonsed me in most spectacular style. I have no idea how he knew that I wanted new cufflinks. Not only are they styling, but they are from Texas and naturally bigger than any other cufflink I may own - a great reminder of our old home in the South. Thank you so much!
posted by arcticseal at 7:10 PM on December 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

I have been successfully Quonsed! Thank you, googly! My home was sorely lacking in smashy robot figures. I'll have to post a picture once I assemble the model.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:44 AM on December 19, 2012

My pleasure! I hope it does justice to the cover art...
posted by googly at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2012

Dear Secret Quonsar,
Thank you for the package! The earl gray shortbreads are delicious. The owl mug is awesome. I really appreciate the lack of allergens in the package. The best part, though, was the "library rate" stamps on everything. You are a wonderful quonsar, and you've made the quonsar season very special.
Love,
Me
posted by bryghtrose at 9:06 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

arcticseal: "jph has quonsed me in most spectacular style. I have no idea how he knew that I wanted new cufflinks. Not only are they styling, but they are from Texas and naturally bigger than any other cufflink I may own - a great reminder of our old home in the South. Thank you so much!"

I'm sure you've simply forgotten that your tweets are protected, but I think if there was an Internet Miss Manners she'd probably tell you that it's in bad form to link to something that requires other people to sign up for a service and/or follow you.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:20 AM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

googly: "My pleasure! I hope it does justice to the cover art..."

If it doesn't, the blame will fall entirely on myself.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:44 AM on December 19, 2012

Oh, Molly-Quonsar, these are the most beautiful earrings EVER. I love love love them. They're sparkly and the colour is gorgeous. Thank you SO much!!!
posted by VioletU at 2:10 PM on December 19, 2012

I did send my seekrit quonsarmas gift, but late, so don't give up hope, those of you who haven't gotten your package yet.
posted by theora55

Got it yesterday and it was worth the wait! Awesome chili pepper light set (gonna be a spicy holiday season in the schleppo household) and this scifi graphic novel that looks really intriguing. Thank you so much, theora55!
posted by schleppo at 4:48 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Every day I come home and climb the stairs with anticipation. Sadly, my porch remains unquonsed. Unless my SQ sent me these two phone books.

Sounds like my giftee got her package, though, which makes me happy!
posted by mollymayhem at 5:25 PM on December 19, 2012

Oh, I have the best Secret Quonsar in tatiana131! I can't wait to try the tea and chocolates and soap and butter and OMG maple syrup!

It came on a day I really needed some Quonsmas cheer, and wow, so much cheer! Thank you!
posted by asperity at 5:57 PM on December 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

I am still waiting on both counts. But hope remains.
posted by Glinn at 6:11 PM on December 19, 2012

I'm not sure who to thank exactly (the enclosed note was signed from "the Internets"), but I got the most delicate and beautiful wooden snowflake ornaments in the mail today (from Turkey even!). Once I figure out a proper method of hanging them, they're going up on the tree for real. Thank you thank you thank you, Secret Quonsar!
posted by MsVader at 6:24 PM on December 19, 2012

Also, schleppo, I just finished reading that graphic novel and really enjoyed it. I can't wait for the next installment.
posted by MsVader at 6:27 PM on December 19, 2012

if there was an Internet Miss Manners she'd probably tell you that it's in bad form to link to something that requires other people to sign up

Deathalicious, I am truly ashamed, my mother taught me better than that. I'll try and upload a working link later.
posted by arcticseal at 8:25 PM on December 19, 2012 [2 favorites]

Thank you Trunk Muffins for the local soaps, the lavender salt, the handmade scarf and the happy Quonsmas card! Honestly you made my day by sending me such a thoughtful and well-put-together gift. Each piece that I opened made me grin wider and wider. Thank you!!!
posted by samthemander at 2:21 AM on December 20, 2012

For bookkeeping purposes for julen, because I already thanked my quonsan in the Secret Quonsar organizing thread and have now consumed all chocolate containing items: I got a lovely quonsmas gift from dragonplayer.

And I'm seeing here that my secret quonsee has received the item sent.

yay!
posted by sciencegeek at 6:11 AM on December 20, 2012

My DIY molding plastic and USB charger came in the mail yesterday. My gadgets thank you lizjohn! (also my cat thanks you for the box)
posted by burnmp3s at 7:44 AM on December 20, 2012

according to usps tracking, my secret quonsee's gift was delivered (yesterday)!

i will now be compulsively refreshing this thread every 3 seconds in hopes of finding quonsee's confirmation & approval.
posted by xiaolongbao at 7:45 AM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

My quonsee has received their gift, but I have not yet been quonsed. I remain cheerfully sanguine.
posted by usonian at 9:55 AM on December 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

I got home from a chilly bike ride wishing for nothing more than hot cocoa with a ridiculous amount of whipped cream, and what should I find but a package from Quonsar containing some amazing looking hot cocoa and a giant mug with plenty of room for ridiculous amounts of whipped cream! Also I think I saw chocolate-covered pretzel rods, but as soon as I said, "Hey, cool, chocolate-covered pretzel rods!" they somehow disappeared. My partner's lips are now suspiciously chocolatey.

Thanks, Secret Quonsar!
posted by rhiannonstone at 10:12 AM on December 20, 2012

My quonsee has received their gift, but I have not yet been quonsed. I remain cheerfully sanguine.
posted by usonian

Have no fear! I too was in the same boat - but! - I have been quonsed! And it was worth the wait for my gift to travel over sea and land from merry ol' England to get to me. My fabulous quonser got me little ducky push pins, star shaped paper clips, a pac man shaped notepad, a British kawaii pen, and loads of little cute stickers. Thank you Secret Quonsar for all of the darling desk accessories that are just perfect. I'm excited to put these into good use. Thank you British mefite for brightening my day, and my desk!
posted by sweetmarie at 1:04 PM on December 20, 2012

Thanks to Petrot: I got my books (and I am a total bibliophile!) and they are very cool - things I am into but didn't have. Way to go - since I was pretty vague on my info. Science and Art - done, and done well

Well done organizers too - fun fun... till next year.
posted by PistachioRoux at 1:18 PM on December 20, 2012

It's Quonsmas! Tesseractive gifted me a book about drink that has been languishing on my Amazon wish list for a year and a half. How appropriate for the season!
posted by maurice at 2:40 PM on December 20, 2012

My Netherlandic Quons-giver has remained anonymous, but I can report that their generosity is awesome - including a large chocolate alphabet letter (Q of course!), a bottle of Bols jennever (which I have never tried, so am chilling it with anticipation), a bag of little sinter klaus decorations that my kids excitedly hung, stickers, maps, papers and a local shopping bag so the folk around here can wonder just which dutch store I am doing my grocery shopping in.
Plus a Groningen fridge magnet, adding to my collection of destinations I have yet to visit and mystifying guests to my kitchen.
So thank-you secret quonsar, and know my children ate their vegetables in record time knowing they could open the present from the internet after dinner.
posted by bystander at 3:31 PM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Still waiting on both accounts here too. According to the USPS, my gift was delivered last week. I hope nothing went awry.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 4:06 PM on December 20, 2012

We have a bunch of emails out awaiting responses, so please check your email after you check your mail boxes!

That said, we are happy to follow up with folks to make sure the packages that were delivered were actually delivered to the right person. Send us an email, and we'll find out if the gift arrived (or when it should arrive if you are asking after your quonsar).
posted by julen at 4:28 PM on December 20, 2012 [2 favorites]

I GOT QUONSED!

maxwelton sent me a package with a locally-made raspberry-honey-mustard dip(that I can't wait to try at our ugly sweater party Saturday), a locally-made lavender-scented cleanser(that is of particular interest to me because my wife and I make soap from scratch at home), and a bird magnet that my wife adores(she's a bird fanatic, aesthetically speaking). Well done, many thanks, and Happy Quonsmas!
posted by owtytrof at 6:41 PM on December 20, 2012

Thanks vkxmai! Present received in time :)
Now to see if I can get my family to play Cards Against Humanity with me over the holidays...
posted by easternblot at 3:18 AM on December 21, 2012

Thank you MysticMCJ for the exciting package filled with local goodies from Louisville! There's a pound of locally-roasted coffee, some notepads (which I had mentioned using in a comment on the Blue just that morning!) and local reading, but I just flipped over this Brown Sugar Pecan Bark, which I can only describe as scrumtrilescent. Merry Quonsar to all!
posted by Room 641-A at 7:46 AM on December 21, 2012

To my mystery/secret Qounsar-er: the scarf is gorgeous, the hand-crocheted bookmark delightful, and those awesome stamps - my post office does not carry those! thank you!
posted by anthropoid at 9:16 AM on December 21, 2012

Thank you Secret Quonsar from New Haven, Connecticut!

This gift was over-the-top fabulous! I think she sent me ALL of my suggestions instead of just one: TWO beautiful scarves, and lots of college-life supplies from Yale University (sure to impress my fellow community college students and instructors!) I'm using my new favorite Yale coffee mug at this very moment! Thank you so much again, and Happy Quonsmas to ALL.
posted by in the methow at 9:57 AM on December 21, 2012

Thank you so much, SeedStitch! My gift arrived today, which was just perfect because it showed up right when I needed a pick-me-up. I have already started on the chocolate chili bar, and the Red Gold hot sauce will be on my eggs tomorrow morning. And Meat Sauce?! I have never heard of it but it's kind of crazy and I am super excited to try it (this one waits until my BF can try it with me). Thank you! (and for the note as well, written on a gorgeous little card) Merry Quonsmas!
posted by mrs. taters at 10:37 AM on December 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

mynameisluka got me this, which is just absolutely right on! Would accept gifts from again ++++ (Thank you!)
posted by heyho at 11:43 AM on December 21, 2012

Thank you, Go Banana! What a beautiful, soft, festive scarf! I am wearing it right this second!
posted by small_ruminant at 12:04 PM on December 21, 2012

Dear Ms Foam Pants - you are a shining Quon-STAR! I am delighted to report that your wonderful box of marvels has made it safely all the way from Alaska to London just in time for Quonsmas. I absolutely love the photograph of Old Douglas Bridge (and your home), which is going to take pride of place on my living room wall, gazing out at Canary Wharf, the Gherkin and the Shard; Chef Stef's Peppermint Chocolate Wafers are stellar, and not much longer for the world; and the fireweed-engraved earrings are dangling from my lobes as I type. I was utterly chuffed with the Evon Zerbetz card, too, and for all the fascinating facts contained therein - that really was so thoughtful of you. My knowledge of Alaskan folklore (admittedly previously more or less non-existent) has increased a hundred-fold. Juneau looks like a beautiful place and I'd love to go there one day... Anyway THANK YOU so much, and three cheers for Quonsmas!
posted by HandfulOfDust at 12:19 PM on December 21, 2012

Luckyseven~ gave me a bottle of Cold House Vodka. Which is very good, although it took about three tries to make sure I wasn't just overcome by the joy of surprise booze. Now I need to restock my vermouth and olive supply.
posted by Gygesringtone at 12:27 PM on December 21, 2012

Big thanks to The Whelk, who got me a gorgeous ceramic replica of the NY-icon greek design paper coffee cup. I am looking forward to showing it off in my coffee- and travel-obsessed workplace in the new year!
posted by Cheese Monster at 3:07 PM on December 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yay ya ya ya! I was worried it wouldn't survive the antipodal trip!

Wheee quonsar magic is in the air!
posted by The Whelk at 3:09 PM on December 21, 2012

Thank you heyho! What a fun gifty goodness of laser fingers, a top, and a wood robot! I was eying laser fingers at a store and lo and behold you quonsed me with them! Thanks!
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 4:12 PM on December 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh WOW !!!

I just received a fabulous grey cotton scarf with a moose printed on it (gosh it's so cute - and how did you know that I love that shade of grey!?!?) from a secret Anony (Moose?) Quonsar in Montreal.

And I also discovered that there are many Moose(s) (or is it meece?) here on Metafilter, so I am incapable of properly thanking my generous donor. I totally LOVE this scarf and am so happy to have received it today. thank you, happy holidays and all the best in the new year!!

THANK YOU SECRET QUONSAR !!!

PS - zenthreads @ etsy doesn't like Canada much, or perhaps it's Canada Post and US Mail playing their seasonal shenanigans, but the parcel was shipped on Dec 3 and it only arrived today, the 21st. Yowza!

PPS - a small package was sent to Winnipeg from Vancouver a number of weeks ago and I still have not heard about it here. Hope it got there okay, and I hope that my quonsee liked it...
posted by seawallrunner at 5:52 PM on December 21, 2012

Oh, oh, the moose is me!
I'm so happy you like it. It was a lot of fun profiling you from your online presence, not to mention a nonstop treat for the eyes what with all the wonderful photography.
posted by Freyja at 6:02 PM on December 21, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you again Freyja!!!
posted by seawallrunner at 7:13 PM on December 21, 2012

Today I got a box of cookies and a note that my SQ gift suffered a freak coffee tragedy, and was being rebuilt betterfasterstronger. Woohoo cookies! My SQ is awesome. And I have cookies!
posted by mollymayhem at 7:21 PM on December 21, 2012

My SQ completely outdid himself, gifting me with not only an amazing handmade journal, beautiful colored pencils, and a super-cool bison notecard but ALSO with gorgeous bison yarn (knowing my love for bison, art in general, and fiber art specifically). I looooove my gift!! Thank you secret quonsar! :)
posted by hansbrough at 9:39 PM on December 21, 2012

Update!!! My SQ also got me a bunch of MP3s off my Amazon wishlist! Thank you soooo much again, The Elusive Architeuthis, now that I know your name! And she said there's one more little thing coming by mail! Wow, I am feeling so loved!! :D :D :D
posted by IndigoRain at 10:10 PM on December 21, 2012

My awesome SQ made me feel so cared for this year and turned Quonsmas into a lovely multi-day extravaganza. Day one, a really cool pincushion made of fabric printed with an old school phrenology drawing of a human head, which also informed its shape. I was delighted! Then, to my complete surprise, day two brought a really gorgeous charm package of terrific Moda fabrics in vibrant prints, which I shall incorporate into a quilt as soon as the holidays end. I could not believe my good fortune, so I was astounded when Day Three brought yet another box, this one filled with sweet treats, like chocolate dipped biscotti and the best turtle I've ever had. I wish I knew my SQ's identity so I could properly thank him/her. So THANKS!!
posted by carmicha at 8:02 AM on December 22, 2012 [1 favorite]

YAY carmicha I am glad you like your stuff! I had heaps of fun scouring Etsy.com, I was a bit trepidatious having things sent sight-unseen, so I am relieved it was good goodies!
posted by Lou Stuells at 9:15 AM on December 22, 2012

divabat - I owe you a thank you for the great book; I've read it, but didn't have a copy, so this is a nice addition to my library.
I also owe you an apology - I haven't sent your gift yet. I was busy finding a new job, which I succeeded at yesterday (yay!)! I'll get your package in the mail on Monday - so you'll have Quonsmas after Christmas.
Thanks again
posted by dbmcd at 11:38 AM on December 22, 2012

State of the Quonsar (so far!)

• 56 of the 369 package statuses are a mystery to us. Some were probably delivered. Some probably were not (yet).
• 239 (66%, or 2 of every 3 people) participants have received their package.
• 63 packages have reported a package status to us but we do not have confirmation of delivery other than tracking (yet).
• 1 package was returned to the sender (and is being re-sent)
• 1 broken mailbox was foiled and gift successfully acquired.
• 3 packages have been held at the post office.
• 3 addresses have been fixed after the send deadline.
• 1 person drew the same name as last year; we swapped his pick out for novelty's sake.
• 2 of the 3 (so far - we have one more volunteer who will work the post-Christmas shift) organizers sent their gifts after the deadline (see pokey online vendors below, also the perfidity of the unnotified backorder)
• 3 participants (that I know of) are also participating in the Reddit Secret Santa which has added a bit of mystery to their packages from the internet.
• 16 people are interested in being a second chancer this year (more are welcome, although we hope we will use none of you. We do try to make reasonable geographic matches with the second chancers)
• 14+ people should check their spam folders and respond to our random and semi-random and not-random-at-all status checkins.

In general, people have been great about reporting status to us; we know far more this year at this point than we did last year. Unscientifically, I've noticed a couple of trends (I didn't save any data from last year, so take these with an iceberg-sized grain of salt): more people are sending late this year, but they feel guiltier about it than last year. The USPS is pokier this year. The average quonsee guidance for the sender increased by 300% (thanks go largely to otherdraco for her excellent questionare!). Online sellers have been pokier this year. There should be more pictures of what people got. Customs has caused fewer known issues at this point in the quonsaring than they did last year. More people have told us this year they are patient and we shouldn't bug their quonsars than last year.

At the end of the month, we will do a formal check-in with folks whom we do not know for sure that their gift arrived (this includes folks for whom tracking has said it is arrived, but the quonsee has not acknowledged actually having it), and follow up appropriately (cheer! boo! mail unto the gift senders! reassign to second chancers! drink questionably old egg nog and convince ourselves that cookie withdrawl is not a good reason to make up a batch of chocolate chip cookies!)
posted by julen at 11:40 AM on December 22, 2012 [2 favorites]

I got my gift (thank you again, anonymous Texan), I sent my gift (and have been thanked, twice), but just realized I never thanked the organizers, who made this all possible. Thanks, organizers! Great job! This was a lot of fun - I can't wait until next year.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 11:55 AM on December 22, 2012 [5 favorites]

O Happy Quonsmas! Thank you, MollyMayhem, for being an out-of-this-world Secret Quonsar! I am beyond thrilled with the homemade foodie goodness - an assortment of incredible and homemade jams and jellies, maple (my fave!) granola, hot peppers and a truly incredible beautiful leather flower pin that's going right on my winter hat. I feel very lucky and grateful. What fun! Thanks so much, MM, and Happy Holidays!
posted by Miko at 6:45 AM on December 23, 2012

Just noticed the request for more photos, so here you go - jellies in the sunlight, yay! Also note cute robot card.
posted by Miko at 6:57 AM on December 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

dbmcd - I was not your Secret Qounsar! I hope you liked the book anyway ;)
posted by divabat at 9:03 PM on December 23, 2012

My anonymous Quonsar has utterly delighted me.

Not one, not two, but six (!) pairs of gorgeous glittery glitzy earrings. Plus the cutest little squishy winking marshmallow keyring.

And a shot glass with THE SPACE NEEDLE EMBEDDED IN IT AND STICKING OUT THE TOP! (My kids are already taking bets on how long it will take me to poke my eye out.)

Consider me quonsed, and thrilled beyond belief. Thank you so much, Seattle resident!
posted by malibustacey9999 at 9:47 PM on December 23, 2012

Hi everybody. Is this thing on? (tap tap)

So. My no-longer-secret quonsar is a guy named bondcliff.

Bondcliff saw my "go nuts" note, took a look at my profile, and decided I might like a musical instrument.

"But, rouftop, most musical instruments cost well north of $20!" you say, while envisioning a box of penny whistles and kazoos.

But you see, Bondcliff had other ideas. After all, he had an old broken guitar lying around, plenty of power tools, and some spare wood left over from a kitchen remodel.

You see where I'm going with this.

Bondcliff built me a cigar box ukelele. With an honest to god PICKUP.

You can imagine my response to receiving this in a giant box from a stranger. I basically turned into a gibbering idiot for 24 hours or so.

After overcoming the brunt of the shock -- to be honest, I haven't fully recovered -- I realized that there was no way in hell a little thank you note in a comment thread would be remotely appropriate. So I wrote a thank you song instead.

Great! But the best I could conjure for a recording was singing sotto voce at an iPad in the middle of the night while my family slept. That would not do. So I kicked it back to metafilter. And the gods of MeFi Music heard my plea and put me in touch with an amazing local mefite musician (scottandrew) who invited me into his home recording studio to lay it down, became my sound engineer and jumped right in on the instruments I couldn't play. (This was an amazing gift in and of itself. Thank you Scott! Everybody come see him perform!)

So without further ado, I present: Brand New Ukelelelele [sic]: A Song for Bondcliff.

Oh, one more thing. He also bought me a dough hook. Because my profile mentions that I like to bake bread. And presumably because he thought maybe I wouldn't like the ukelele. Words fail.

THANK YOU, YOU ARE UNBELIEVABLE, THANK YOU, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH HOTEL SOAPS
~ rouftop
posted by rouftop at 10:47 PM on December 23, 2012 [71 favorites]

Glad you enjoyed it, rouftop. I scoured your history looking for clues that you played some stringed instruments, for all I knew you were the sexy sax dude in the band, so I wasn't really sure if this gift would go over too well. I figured ukes are easy enough to learn the basics on though and at the very least you'd have a pretty wooden thing to look at. I was happy with how it came out though even now I'm thinking "if only I had made the headstock bigger I wouldn't have had to put that aluminum thing below the nut..." but whatever.

It was weird building something and letting it go like that. I literally finished it, tuned it, strummed it to make sure it was playable, and shipped it. I've never built anything for anybody before. I liked the experience though. I love building things but for me it's the challenge of building; I never actually use the things I make.

Now that I think of it, it is sort of silly that I build a four stringed instrument out of scrap wood and then purchased a stick with a piece of bent wire on the end. Still, I like my dough whisk and hope you like yours.

I also love the connections that are being made thought the SQ swap. Merry Quansmas!
posted by bondcliff at 7:25 AM on December 24, 2012 [23 favorites]

Rouftop, not rooftop. If only there was a twenty minute edit window after the first edit window was finished.
posted by bondcliff at 7:51 AM on December 24, 2012

This. is. awesome. Happy quonsmas to both of you.
posted by not_on_display at 8:14 AM on December 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

IT'S AN ADMIN EDIT ABUSE XMAS MIRACLE
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:27 AM on December 24, 2012 [18 favorites]

Wow, this makes my day. You guys are both awesome!
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:34 AM on December 24, 2012

1 person drew the same name as last year; we swapped his pick out for novelty's sake.

Thanks, by the way. At least part of the gift I sent this year was the same as last year.. and what was Captain Science gonna do with *2* tiny Louisville Slugger bats? (Nun chuks.)
posted by DigDoug at 9:20 AM on December 24, 2012

I got WTF'd this morning, not expecting a parcel in the mail, especially from Winnipeg? who the hell do I know in Winnipeg? so I open it up and I don't know what is this? have I been ordering stuff in my sleep or more interestingly while on cold meds? but what is it? a back scratcher? a pin-on button with a very strange interchange? a wristband? Aha-- there is a card? who the devil sends me a card from Winnipeg? am certain I know no one in Winnipeg? oho it is a magical singing and flashing card with holiday themed bears on it (bears may be a theme? is that what it is? I wonder if, aha, yes, Winnipeg has the Bears, and there is this with the "Bear Claw" back scratcher and the bear paw/talons shaped interchange, and the wristband from downtown Winnipeg that has the Bears [and there was a bear named Winnipeg also]), and what is this, there is writing inside the card, maybe that will explain what all of this is about?

AHA THERE IS EXPLAIN!

IT IS QUONSMAS! Woo hoo!

And, yes, I do like bears. (scratch scratch scratch.)

(Honestly the 45 seconds of pure zen WTF before I understood what was going on this morning were breathtaking.) Thanks Quonsar!
posted by seanmpuckett at 9:51 AM on December 24, 2012

Love that my package was waiting for me this morning after I braved the mall for incredibly last minute Christmas shopping. Wonderful LN quonsed me with chocolate, ginger chews in a cute tin, some damn good-looking tea, and a purple cow snack pocket that fits on the side of a bowl. Thank you, thank you!
posted by book 'em dano at 11:48 AM on December 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

purple cow snack pocket

I know what all these words mean separately...
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:50 AM on December 24, 2012 [9 favorites]

I got my Secret Quonsar gifts a few days ago. Put together the Lego Architecture Willis Tower set pretty much as soon as I got it. Also got a T-Shirt and a couple of awesome buttons from the famous Billy Goat Tavern down in Chicago. Found out there's also an old SNL skit that references the staff there (and the t-shirt references the skit), so got some trivia knowledge too. Never visited Chicago, but now at least I will always know a couple places to go if I end up there!

So a Happy Quonsmas to all, especially Lampshade for the great gifts!
posted by FJT at 12:27 PM on December 24, 2012 [2 favorites]

Purple cow snack pocket. Of course, I poured out the salsa before realizing that I'm out of tortilla chips. So now it's a lonely purple cow snack pocket.
posted by book 'em dano at 12:45 PM on December 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

Hooray! I have just received the most wonderful Quonsar presents from Zem. Vermont maple syrup in a cabin-shaped bottle! (Yay, pancakes!) Homemade hand cream, made by Zem! Three brightly colored Uniball pens! And a charming holiday note. Thank you so much, Zem! You've made my day!
posted by Wordwoman at 1:42 PM on December 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

Thank you semisophos for the pretty yarn!! It's made of CORN and is really cool. It was exactly what I wanted, and was made locally and is just super rad!

YAY! Surprises from the Internet are one of the best things!
posted by bibliogrrl at 1:54 PM on December 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

Wow. Impressive box from Bettys Cakes turned up yesterday. I am refraining from unboxing it till tomorrow, which I will document and fully post here. There's no indication of a sender, but thank you, just the box alone looks delightful - it's a window into a gentler time of teahouses and Yorkshire!

And no idea who it came from. Unless that's inside...
posted by davemee at 2:16 PM on December 24, 2012

There's one teensy tiny little problem with posting gift pictures, oh thou Great and Mighty Julen, Queen of The Quonsmas Gifts: some of us can't, for, um, 'technical reasons'.


(anyway, that's my excuse for no photos of a now-empty box of awesome chocolates!)
posted by easily confused at 8:01 PM on December 24, 2012

Those are challenging circumstances, indeed!
posted by julen at 8:26 PM on December 24, 2012

Just crawling out from under Christmas (the family left an hour ago! Yay!) but yesterday as we were leaving the house to head to the wife's family's place for dinner, I noticed a stuffed looking envelope sticking out of the mailbox! On Christmas Eve! And it was from jolly old England!
So asok sent me TWO CDs of British weirdness from these guys which I am currently listening to (I'm loving this song at the moment) as well as some buttons (are they called 'badges' over there?) and cutouts and a lovely handmade card.
Thanks a million!
posted by chococat at 6:46 PM on December 25, 2012

I just picked up my mail, where I found a package from my unknown benefactor in San Francisco! I squeed with glee at this awesome Death Star ice mold, which is already in my freezer. Thanks, Secret Quonsar!
posted by gemmy at 10:05 AM on December 26, 2012

I was a good Quonsee and waited 'till xmas to open mine. Thanks to my secret Quonsar for the cute MetaFilter-couloured puzzle, toy and distraction therapy.

[[[ CubeBot Online, acquiring nearby target: NikitaNikita's PuzzleBot... ]]]
posted by Hardcore Poser at 10:13 AM on December 26, 2012 [1 favorite]

Captain Science quonsed me with a lovely 2013 Literary Pin-Up calendar illustrated by Lee Moyer and saved me from having to brave the post holiday crowds this weekend! Score, Captain Science! Thank you very much!
posted by LuckySeven~ at 4:10 PM on December 26, 2012

A belated thanks, but holy cow did AdvicePig ever hit the nail on the head! I got a beautiful Helvetica specimen poster in the mail, and I totally loves it.

I'm also sad, because I haven't actually seen AdvicePig in like, two years. Despite us being alums of the same small college and living in the same city. Boo for us!
posted by SemiSophos at 5:48 PM on December 26, 2012

I am away from home at the moment, but I have heard that I have been quonsed! Excited and can't wait to get home to open my package!!!
posted by OolooKitty at 5:50 PM on December 26, 2012

ocherdraco: Did you see this comment about my love for secret compartments, or were you able to find such an excellent present in any case?

I had one of these hollowed-out books as a child, except it was rather the styrofoam package of a flashlight, which looked like a book. Of course it didn't blend in at all with the real books on the shelf, so a friend found and opened it while I was away to the bathroom. Inside he discovered 25 cm of optical fiber, my greatest treasure at the time.

Optical fiber is a commodity for me nowadays, but since I don't have a bed with knobs, the book has a good purpose to serve - it lives inconspicuously in the pile on my bedside table. Thanks a million!
posted by springload at 7:01 AM on December 27, 2012

I'm glad it arrived safely! I tried to find some cheap legos to build you a secret compartment with, but I was unsuccessful. So I went for the book box instead. I'm glad you like it!
posted by ocherdraco at 7:37 AM on December 27, 2012

(And yes, I figured out that it might be a good gift based on that comment!)
posted by ocherdraco at 7:39 AM on December 27, 2012

Holy crap, I was anonymously sauced from Manchester, UK! So, my package was delayed because mail to Alaska is always slow as molasses. Also, the package was roughed up by those burly Alaskan mailpersons. They handed me the package in a plastic bag, weeping a viscous fluid that smelled like some sort of wonderful steak. I couldn't wait to open it, so, I tore into it at the post office, smearing brown goo everywhere. Screw you, mailpersons! I found four bottles; one tomato ketchup, one brown sauce, a squat bottle of Marmite, and a broken bottle of what once was (get this) MUSHROOM KETCHUP in the coolest looking bottle. It looks like one of those old-fashioned patent medicine bottles. I was so bummed it was broken! There was also broken glass glued to all parts of the Marmite bottle so we had to chuck that, too. However, the tomato ketchup and brown sauce look super-exciting, so I washed them off in the snow and brought them home. Apparently, Some guy named Wilkin and his sons made it. They are made in Tiptree, Essex, England. And some poor, underpaid dude named Louise "finished" it, or so it says on the bottle. I had no idea what that even entails but I am assuming it means it's quality. I also have NO IDEA what to do with brown sauce but, while I eat it, I am going to listen to Joy Division/New Order and call my dog a "right cuuuunt!" in some sort of accent that I assume is Mancunian.
posted by Foam Pants at 8:45 PM on December 27, 2012 [1 favorite]

I received my Secret Quonsar package on Christmas Eve but did not open it until Christmas Day - at which time my mind was promptly thoroughly blown; springload made me this. It is a stunningly beautiful and well crafted little brass box with a clever pin-based combination lock. He designed and machined the box, and sent it to me in San Francisco all the way from Sweden.

I'm still at an utter loss in terms of how to adequately and accurately describe how I felt when I opened the package, saw the box and read his lovely letter. I was not at all expecting someone to take the time and make the effort to send a complete Internet stranger (MeFite brothers and sisters though we may be) something that clearly had so much care and thought put into it.

I was so moved that when my Christmas dinner guests arrived I made all 12 of them sit in a circle while I read springload's letter aloud and demonstrated how to lock and unlock the box. Every single person demanded to see it and play with it, and it was unanimously declared "the absolute coolest thing ever."

Thank you, thank you, thank you, springload, for such an enchanting little contraption. You made my Christmas truly feel like Christmas again.
posted by hapax_legomenon at 10:45 PM on December 27, 2012 [9 favorites]

I was out of town for Christmas when snorkmaiden's package arrived, so I didn't get to open it until tonight. A beautifully wrapped duo of a book and an apple confiture from snowy Quebec. It's a heart warming and thoughtful gift, and I look forward to enjoying both in the next few days. Thank you!
posted by tatiana131 at 11:33 PM on December 27, 2012 [1 favorite]

Dear guspode--

You absolutely made my Quonsar this year with the NYC subway socks and robot salt and pepper shakers. Guspode sent the package early, but I waited until our regularly scheduled family opening (hence my delay on this thread). They were among the best pressies I got this season. I'm on my feet all day, so I have to wear Very Sensible Shoes, but I love to wear amazing socks. And now, my family can have our salt and pepper valeted to us by robots! We are the luckiest family in Ohio!

Love,
rumposinc
posted by rumposinc at 3:53 AM on December 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

hapax_legomenon: I'm moved by your nice thank-you-note! That box was a lot of fun to make, and you don't know how happy I am to learn that it was appreciated.
posted by springload at 7:42 AM on December 28, 2012 [2 favorites]

Dear SQ - I'm not sure how you knew that my old moleskine notebook was ready for retirement, but you did. And gifted me with this absolutely delightful Lego themed moleskine, complete with stickers. I will be transferring my Martin Straka rookie card to the back pocket and happily using it in the new year to come. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 5:02 PM on December 28, 2012

hapax_legomenon and springload, that is crazy amazing. And Hapax, I know a little how you felt - in the first Secret Quonsar, I got a hand-sewn rainbow kitty cat from annaramma that I named Prism, and took to work the next day to show off, and still keep on my besisde table and treasure. <3
posted by IndigoRain at 11:33 PM on December 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

My partner went and picked a package from the post office on Friday in the hopes that it was Christmas presents that he ordered me that haven't arrived yet, but instead it was my SQ gift from Glinn :).

I'm not sure how she managed to do it, but she combined my hints of Japan, cats and a desk ornament and bought me an awesome Maneki Neko. I also got couple of her amazing postcards (how did you know I wanted to buy some?) and a cat Christmas tree ornament which will hang off my car's rear view mirror until such time as a Christmas tree is acquired.

Thank you so much! :)

PS: The cats had fun with the tissue paper too.
posted by poxandplague at 4:52 PM on December 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

I am pleased to be able to say that we know that roughly 3 out of every 4 gifts (or 266 out of 359 gifts) have arrived at their recipient. That leaves 93 presents whose arrival we have not confirmed. Of those 93 gifts, we have an intermediate status for 49 presents (~53% of unconfirmed gifts), which include dates sent, the occasional tracking number, estimated dates of arrival (some passed), and promises of send dates.

People for whom we do not have gift confirmations will be getting an email on or about January 1st (or the 2nd, depending on how our NYEs are) asking for a formal status updates. If you haven't mentioned that you got your gift on MeTa, in MeMail or eMail to us, or on Twitter, we don't know that you've gotten it.

We will also be contacting our second chancers around that time to make sure they're still available for gifting. Our second chancers are an awesome group of people. I'm glad to say that we only used about 75% of our volunteers last year, and I'm hoping for fewer this year.
posted by julen at 11:16 PM on December 29, 2012

I stopped by my post office on the way home tonight and I'm here to say that small_ruminant rocks. What a great way to start off New Year's Eve. Thank you!
posted by Currer Belfry at 2:03 PM on December 31, 2012

Wonderful gifts from Greenish received today, right after a long day of travel and work. Thank you so very much for the tea, hot cocoa/marshmallows, and the star ornament with bells (the cat is fascinated...fascinated, and keeps patting it gently where I've hung it on my tree), the magnet, and the lovely note.

And how did you know that for the first time in my life I have a proper teapot for tea and that I've been just itching to try it out? I found a vintage 2-cup brown betty at a thrift store a few weeks back and I've been waiting for the right tea to test it. :)
posted by Uniformitarianism Now! at 5:44 PM on December 31, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ah, foam pants, so glad it made it! So rushed at dispatch I didn't get a chance to add a card or adequately pack it - sorry about the mushroom relish explosion, I can see this in hindsight.

So in the UK, there's this thing, HP sauce, which is a robust, steaky sauce, widely known as a 'brown sauce'. The reason people can eat watery cabbage, boiled potatoes, and general english food is because of Brown Sauce. It makes anything amazing. Bacon, sausages, steaks, but also cheese dishes, or even just toast. It so happens that the brown sauce I sent is the finest I have tasted (as well as the tomato sauce by the same guys). The mushroom ketchup is a great shot of vegan umami for cooking, and I'll happily despatch another.

Marmite is the interesting one. It's edible brewers' yeast. You will either despise it or love it, there is no middle ground. It's good on toast, particularly if it's already buttery. Smear it thinly or you'll explode. It is excellent with cheese sandwiches and cucumber sandwiches, or as a stock enhancer.

Mefite slyrabbit has drawn many of these iconic british food items here

This has reminded me that I failed to pack some anchovy relish and a dense christmas pudding that would have tipped postage into silly amounts.

For full manc vocalisation, can I recommend 'y'aright our kid', which is a form of greeting reserved for those you are already familiar with. The first few seasons of Channel 4's 'Shameless' are basically a documentary about the place.
posted by davemee at 7:56 AM on January 1, 2013

On the marmite question, check out #8 (SLBuzzfeed)
posted by arcticseal at 8:23 AM on January 1, 2013

I have the Beatles! My Quonsar sent me several vintage Florida postcards, and a set of four Beatles glasses so I can re-create the Abbey Road cover - all I need is a tablecloth that looks like a crosswalk. Thank you, Secret Quonsar!
posted by rmd1023 at 2:31 PM on January 1, 2013

We just sent out our annual "Did You Get It?" email to those folks (numbering 90) whose entry on our spreadsheet o' status is anything but a "Yes" or a "Yes - [source]". I am looking forward to the cascade of Yeses.
posted by julen at 2:34 PM on January 1, 2013 [3 favorites]

Thank you, thank you, Secret Quonsar! I LOVE the homemade "Zwicky" button; as you must have discovered via my post, I have been saving up for that poster forever, and I LOVE the button; it's even more awesome that you made it!

I am also thrilled with the tea, the notebook with all the book covers on it, the bookplates and the incredibly useful bag from your local library; I love the colors too, and since I haul books around pretty constantly, it will be put into use immediately!

A really thoughtful, useful and fun bunch of gifts -- and I love that you wrapped them all separately so that I got to unwrap multiple Quonsmass gifts. Thank you so much! What a fun package to come home to.
posted by OolooKitty at 10:03 PM on January 1, 2013 [1 favorite]

I've been quonsed (again!), or more accurately my cat has! I received this morning the most awesome catnip rattlesnake. Ticky was immediately taken with it and much snorting ensued. My crappy BB camera was slow loading so the photo missed him rolling on his back and bucking it. I left him batting it down the stairs as I went to work.

Quonsmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. Thank you jph! I have been twice quonsed and feel doubly blessed.

Also, Deathlicious, I've unblocked my twitter feed so you can see the wonderous Texas cufflinks.
posted by arcticseal at 7:35 AM on January 3, 2013

We just sent an email to our second chance volunteers. If you'd like to be a second chancer and didn't get an email, drop us an email or memail, and we will make it possibly happen (we're hoping demand is low)

Here's where we are:

Has the Present Arrived?

Yes 308 (85.79%)
No 28 (7.79%)
No Response 23 (6.41%)

Of the Nos, at least 4 are lost or stolen. More than half were sent very very very late. The rest are awaiting a response from the sender to see if they were lost, late, returned to sender, or never sent.
posted by julen at 8:27 AM on January 3, 2013

While we're thanking, BIG THANKS to julen and phunnieme (and others?) for managing this massive undertaking and keeping such great track of every detail. It's a real gift to the community and you do it WAY better than Elfster ever did! THanks for making it happen and taking such good care of everybody along the way.
posted by Miko at 7:21 PM on January 3, 2013 [11 favorites]

Don't forget arcticseal who has been super-awesome tracking down people and presents! and is sticking around to get us through this bulge of responses and non-responses.

And behind the scenes, lampshade has give me some excellent advice and information I'd have had to do a lot of research into and guessing about otherwise.

I would add to the counts above that there are 3 presents that are stuck somewhere in various mail services (1 has "been on the truck for delivery" since 12/24 with no actual delivery!) which is the most frustrating thing in the world because the hope they will be magically unstuck gets foiled with depressing reality.
posted by julen at 8:16 PM on January 3, 2013 [6 favorites]

Yay, my super awesome gift arrived! Thank you so much, bookwibble! I absolutely love the guitar-shaped cookie cutter (and plan to put it to good use for my little cousin's birthday party this weekend!) and can't wait to try the strawberry hard candy! The card was adorable, too!
posted by Defying Gravity at 12:31 AM on January 4, 2013

Big thanks to Carmicha! I swear she's a psychic (because this isn't on any of my MeFi history as far as I can tell)! Out of all the meals I get homesick the most for since moving to Hong Kong has been breakfast and she sent me PANCAKE MIX, WISCONSIN MAPLE SYRUP, AND RAW HONEY! The only thing I'm bummed about is that I'm going camping this weekend and can't dig into these delicious goodies right away!

I also got a pair of green (!!!) Injinji toe socks. YES! How did you know I like nice socks? Seriously...psychic.
posted by astapasta24 at 5:11 AM on January 4, 2013 [1 favorite]

SUPER HUGE thank you to all organizers, volunteers, trackers and advice givers! My slightly belated package has also arrived! It contains two lovely Moleskin journals, in emerald green and oxide green. Also, a carved cat sitting atop a pencil! This cat is adorable yet sad, so I am already looking into maybe one of those sunlight devices or possibly a puppet show to cheer her up.

Thank you secret quonsar!
posted by Glinn at 3:27 PM on January 5, 2013

Happy Quonsmas! My USPS mail got kind of messed up over the holidays, but I received my (lovely, thoughtful, awesome) necklace and LOVE it. Thanks so much, Quons.
posted by mynameisluka at 4:08 PM on January 5, 2013

arcticseal: "Also, Deathlicious, I've unblocked my twitter feed so you can see the wonderous Texas cufflinks.
"

Still locked. :(
posted by Deathalicious at 9:19 PM on January 5, 2013

Miko: "you do it WAY better than Elfster ever did"

At first I thought Elfster was the username of a MeFite and I was thinking, "boy that's mean!"
posted by Deathalicious at 9:22 PM on January 5, 2013 [3 favorites]