Secret quonsar 2013: Relatively Earlier This Year! November 9, 2013 10:54 PM Subscribe

It's secret quonsar time again! The randomized draw will be on Friday, November 22, and the send by (or on) date is Saturday, December 7. Please sign up by 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, November 20. The spending guideline: $10-20.

secret quonsar (wiki) is the MeFi holiday-adjacent gift swap. Each participant sends a gift to an awesome Mefite; each participant receives a gift from an awesome Mefite. Awesomeness and gifts abound. You will note that the signup deadlines and draw dates fall the week before American Thanksgiving this year; we did this to ensure more time for research, gift acquisition, and shipping.

Signing Up
There will be a link at the end of this post. Follow it. We need a MeFi handle, an email address you check, your name & mailing address, and some good guidance for the person who draws your name.

You will get a confirmation email within 24 hours of signing up that will show you the information you submitted. Please check your spam/junk mail folder. If you do not get this confirmation within 48 hours, send me a memail. If you have not gotten a confirmation email, you may not be signed up or you entered the wrong email address. We can fix that. Fun Fact: Every year, several people accidentally typo their own email addresses, which leads to confusion and consternation, and sometimes no gift for someone until late in the season.

You will get your draw via email. It will contain key information about the person you will be gifting: MeFi name, real name, mailing address, and hopefully helpful guidance from the person you drew. It should allow you get off to a running start.

If you are having trouble putting together your guidance section, otherdraco put together a list of questions last year to help you focus. You don't have to answer all (or any of) the questions, but this is a good place to start if you are stumped by the Guidance section.

We will not share, abuse, sell, or spindle your email address. The person who draws your name will not get your email address. We will delete all emails sent and received at the end of the sq season.

The Rules
If you failed to send your giftee a gift last year (without working it out with me), don't even bother signing up. You've been banned from this year's festivities. If you do try to sign up, your name will be yoinked from the swap. You can try again next year, but two strikes and you will be out. If you don't send a gift this year, you will be banned next year. You will get only one second chance. If you sign up anyway, you will be removed from the list and you will hear from me.

If you find that you can't participate after signing up but before the draw, after all, then send me a MeMail or an email to the address below. I'll remove your entry. If you find that you can't participate after all after the draw, please send an email to that same gmail account as soon as possible so we can contact the folks who drew you and whom you drew and redirect or reassign as appropriate.

If you do not think you can mail a gift in a reasonable amount of time, please do not participate. It's not OK to plan now on finding and sending your gift after your life calms down in January or late December or on Valentines Day.

The Swap
You will be notified which mefite you have drawn on November 22, 2013.

Hey! You have a question!
We're happy to serve as anonymizing middlemen if you have a question for your recipient, to send messages to your recipient on your behalf, to find out if a package has been sent or has been received. Send us an email at our google address (see below), and we'll see what we can find out for you.

A Note About the Swap Groups
The list has changed slightly from last year. If we do not get enough people to do a swap in a group, I will contact folks in the underpopulated swap groups to see what can be done before the swap.

A Note about International Swapping
I STRONGLY recommend mailing as early as possible if you are going to send anything internationally, especially if the US is involved. Customs holds up lots of packages for varying amounts of time (with some, it seems forever.) If you sign up for the International/Anywhere option, please be aware that shipping times may stretch out longer than you'd prefer.

Communicating with us
Unless you need to contact us specifically about one of the organizers, please use our gmail account secretquonsarswap. This will help us make sure we don't overlook anything and can be as efficient as possible.

Who we are
This year, I will be helped by Arcticseal (anonymizing phase, early shipping period), Megami (January), and Lampshade (February, if necessary). Contact Arcticseal if you drew my name and have anonymous questions; contact me if you drew his.

The signup link
Sign Up Here.

posted by julen to MetaFilter-Related at 10:54 PM (311 comments total) 24 users marked this as a favorite

I am entered and so so so so excited!
posted by mollymayhem at 11:20 PM on November 9, 2013

yay! once I figure out my guidance I will sign up for this year! :)
posted by Jaelma24 at 11:38 PM on November 9, 2013

Thanks again julen for bringing the quonsar cheer!
posted by rouftop at 11:44 PM on November 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

Over the course of this year I think I have threatened to sq out an arty teatowel and some 'used food'. So I need to make good on that - I'm definitely in.
posted by biffa at 12:56 AM on November 10, 2013

I love this so much, it is always the best fun .... signed up again :-)
posted by Lesium at 2:16 AM on November 10, 2013

I'm gonna be visiting my parents for practically the whole draw through send period. I hope my Quonsee is ready for some ridiculous Texan tchotchkes!
posted by Mizu at 2:19 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

I have my moustache and sunglasses ready for anonymizing. Tis I, LeClerc!
posted by arcticseal at 2:43 AM on November 10, 2013 [4 favorites]

I may completely fail at holiday gift giving for my family and friends, but do not fear O quonsee, your gift will be forthcoming!
posted by sciencegeek at 5:14 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh goody! I'm all signed up and looking forward to my first Quonsmas exchange.
posted by Songdog at 5:32 AM on November 10, 2013

I'm in. I'm able to send out random oddity-type things from Japan, though I won't actually be here during Christmas (I've just realized that, I hope it won't be a problem) so feel free to send it a bit late.

I really hadn't thought about that. I'll be out of Japan from 12/19-12/27. Is that going to be problematic? I can do my sending before I leave, so that's not a problem.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:40 AM on November 10, 2013

Excited and I can't wait to start scheming! ocherdraco's questions were super helpful and hopefully made my soon-to-be quonsar's job a little easier.
posted by carbide at 6:12 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Also, thank you julen, Arcticseal, Megami, and Lampshade for making orderly magic happen!
posted by carbide at 6:14 AM on November 10, 2013

Signed up! Thanks for doing this again!
posted by bondcliff at 6:15 AM on November 10, 2013

Once again, it is the most Quonsical time of the year!
posted by deezil at 6:19 AM on November 10, 2013

Signed up! My first year.
posted by ian1977 at 6:48 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Sent! Hurray!
posted by cozenedindigo at 6:53 AM on November 10, 2013

First year in! Don't let me down, bastards!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:06 AM on November 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

I really hadn't thought about that. I'll be out of Japan from 12/19-12/27. Is that going to be problematic? I can do my sending before I leave, so that's not a problem.

Ghidorah, I put a note in the guidance box about my holiday travel plans, so my SQ can give me a heads up if their package arrives while I'm out of town, so I can have a friend pick it up for me. You could ask your SQ to send early as possible or after the holidays.

I'm all signed up! Hurray!

on preview: TPS, is there going to be a MF charity toy drive this year? I've loved that in previous years.
posted by donajo at 7:09 AM on November 10, 2013

Yes indeed! The wonderful houseofdanie has taken over the organizational reigns this year; letters have been requested and she will post once they come (generally around American Thanksgiving).
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:14 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yay! Signed up!

(And not to be a bother, but it's ocherdraco, like the color ocher, not otherdraco.)
posted by ocherdraco at 7:17 AM on November 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

First timer signed up! I am very excited and so pleased I remembered to watch for this! I haven't done anything like this since I had a pen pal in elementary school.
posted by Anitanola at 7:20 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Thank you, ocherdraco, for the question list--I'd never have been able to do this without it!
posted by Anitanola at 7:23 AM on November 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

You're welcome!
posted by ocherdraco at 7:25 AM on November 10, 2013

Ghidorah: "I'm in. I'm able to send out random oddity-type things from Japan, though I won't actually be here during Christmas (I've just realized that, I hope it won't be a problem) so feel free to send it a bit late.

I really hadn't thought about that. I'll be out of Japan from 12/19-12/27. Is that going to be problematic? I can do my sending before I leave, so that's not a problem. "

As long as you have someone to collect/hold your mail so that if it does arrive in that timeframe it isn't sent back, you are good to go.

ocherdraco: "Yay! Signed up!

(And not to be a bother, but it's ocherdraco, like the color ocher, not otherdraco.)"

eep! I am so sorry. I should have caught that.
posted by julen at 7:28 AM on November 10, 2013

I just sent out the first batch of confirmations; if you've signed up already, you should have an email outline confirming you are in and showing you the information you signed up with. Please read it over and make sure you put in the address you meant to put in, didn't accidentally say that you wanted a box full of stinkbugs for the holiday, and are generally OK with your information.
posted by julen at 7:35 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Also, thank you julen, Arcticseal, Megami, and Lampshade for making orderly magic happen!

Yes, very much so, this is a nice MeFi tradition.

stinkbugs!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:38 AM on November 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

I am so excite!
posted by Tesseractive at 8:29 AM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yay! I'm all signed up! I hope the short novel I wrote in the guidance section is helpful. Thanks to ocherdraco for the suggested questions!

Also, thank you julen, Arcticseal, Megami, and Lampshade for making orderly magic happen!

Yes, thank you very much!
posted by wiskunde at 8:39 AM on November 10, 2013

Also, thank you julen, Arcticseal, Megami, and Lampshade for making orderly magic happen!

I was reluctant to join in last year because I'm not a frequent MeFi participant. I did, and it was an awesome experience -- both the gift part and keeping track of everyone's squee replies on the followup threads. So even if you're the lurkiest of lurkers, toss your name in. It's easy and fun. :)
posted by kimberussell at 8:48 AM on November 10, 2013 [6 favorites]

Signed up! Ocherdraco, that list of suggestions was very helpful.
posted by Secretariat at 9:18 AM on November 10, 2013

Woo hoo! In for this year! Bring on the quonsee!
posted by LN at 9:25 AM on November 10, 2013

Thanks for putting this together y'all.

Also, I remember last year there being a list of back-up gift-givers. Is there such a list this year?
posted by griphus at 9:35 AM on November 10, 2013

Thanks for keeping this going!

I've signed up! Never had a disappointing moment from secret quonsar.
posted by xingcat at 9:41 AM on November 10, 2013

I'm signed up.

This is a great thing, and everyone involved is a great person, but the people who organize this festival of making the world a slightly better place are especially awesome. Thanks.
posted by Gygesringtone at 9:44 AM on November 10, 2013

griphus: "Thanks for putting this together y'all.

Also, I remember last year there being a list of back-up gift-givers. Is there such a list this year?"

Yes! Send me a memail or an email to the secretquonsarswap gmail account, and I will add folks to the list.

For those of you new to the game, our second chancers are folks who volunteer to send a gift in January to someone who has not received one. They are awesome, and we hope we never have to use them.
posted by julen at 9:49 AM on November 10, 2013

In for the quonsing!
posted by graymouser at 10:11 AM on November 10, 2013

This is great - I randomly thought to myself, "Self, don't forget to keep an eye on metatalk so that you can actually sign up for SecretQuonsar this year." So I hopped on over and this was the most recent post.

So I just self high-fived myself and signed up.
posted by firei at 10:28 AM on November 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

Signed up! I did this for the 1st time last year & it was great.
posted by thomas j wise at 10:29 AM on November 10, 2013

♫ It's most fi-i-ishpants time of the year. ♬ La la la La la la La la la La la la La la la La la la, and much mistle-toe-ing, ♫ and la la good cheer. ♪ My givers have been very good to me. My recipients have been, well, probably puzzled, but c'mon, who doesn't need and love a singing bass wearing a santa hat?
posted by theora55 at 10:48 AM on November 10, 2013 [4 favorites]

You know what would be cool? If you had my "wishlist" on file from last year. Because I'm too lazy to think. But apparently not too lazy to write this comment.
posted by theichibun at 11:12 AM on November 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

IT'S BEGINNING TO SMELL A LOT LIKE QUONSMAS!

firei: Woo! High five!
posted by rmd1023 at 11:13 AM on November 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

You know what would be cool? If you had my "wishlist" on file from last year. Because I'm too lazy to think. But apparently not too lazy to write this comment.

It's included in your confirmation email from last year. If you archive your mail, you already have it on file.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:42 AM on November 10, 2013 [5 favorites]

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee--

*deep breath*

--eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
posted by Madamina at 11:56 AM on November 10, 2013 [4 favorites]

I'm in! Hopefully my hints are...helpful?
posted by RainyJay at 12:54 PM on November 10, 2013

This is seriously one of the best MetaFiltery things I can think of. I've been thinking about it nearly every day since, like, Labor Day. Yay!

To whoever gets me: No pressure, dude. I'll probably be happy with whatever not-food/alcohol/etc. thing you send. I just like being thorough and specific when asked a question like "give them some guidelines," and I lack self-control when it comes to answering things (cf my entire AskMe history.)
posted by SMPA at 1:15 PM on November 10, 2013

I'm signed up! Quonstastic!
posted by initapplette at 1:23 PM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Unlike SMPA I have a hard time with guidelines (in general, i.e., in life, and in specific, i.e., w/r/t me), so last year when Vectorcon Systems posted the following in the SQ thread I thought it was perfect:

Introduce me to something you love and tell me why you love it!

I loved it so much I stole it last year and I'm stealing it again this year. You can too!
posted by hapax_legomenon at 1:30 PM on November 10, 2013 [8 favorites]

Wow, this will be my seventh quonsmas. In case anyone isn't convinced to join in yet, it's delightfully fun to scour a person's comments and Twitter/website/Flickr/everything to plot a surprise for them, like a hunt for clues. It also doesn't have the social awkwardness that can go along with more ordinary gift-giving (worrying about what level of gift is appropriate, feeling obligated, trying to come up with something new for a person you've been giving gifts to for 10 years, etc.), and pretty much anything you send will be exciting to your recipient since it comes with the novelty of being a secret quonsar gift!
posted by dreamyshade at 1:35 PM on November 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

This was so much fun last year! I figured I could either be silly and think about whether I wanted to sign up again, and debate the pros and cons, and see if it worked with my timeline, and click the "sign up" button 10 times and chicken out and then finally do it, or just sign up. By my calculations, I have saved enough time by doing the latter that participation should be no problem. Plus I've just moved, so getting a package at my new address will be super exciting (though once I get it home I may not be able to find it among the boxes). Thanks for this awesome thing that I get to do!
posted by ilana at 3:26 PM on November 10, 2013

Signed up. Possibly twice (sorry julen!) Cannot wait to choose and send my SQ package.
posted by bearwife at 3:26 PM on November 10, 2013

I sent out the 152nd confirmation about 10 minutes ago.

Thanks for the heads up Bearwife! As you will have guessed from the two confirmations you just got, you were in twice. I've removed one.
posted by julen at 3:35 PM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

tempting to register twice, for extra Quonsmas excitement. hmm, username Theora McPuppet is available, also Socky55.
posted by theora55 at 4:16 PM on November 10, 2013

Sorry! One quonsing per participant.
posted by julen at 4:20 PM on November 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

Yeah!!! I've signed up! Thank you magic elves of Quonsmas for setting up this wonderful event.
posted by amelliferae at 4:35 PM on November 10, 2013

Just signed up. Now to buy, as soon as I can, Christmas gifts for the people I know, since it's that time of year.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 4:48 PM on November 10, 2013

I derive more pleasure in shopping for a quansor gift than for my relatives. It is an adventure of discovery; a mystery being parsed from electronic trails and ephemera.
posted by jadepearl at 4:55 PM on November 10, 2013 [5 favorites]

I signed up~
Thank you julen!
posted by stoneandstar at 5:00 PM on November 10, 2013

I sent out the 152nd confirmation about 10 minutes ago.

Thanks Julen. Once again, it is going to be fun.
posted by lampshade at 5:11 PM on November 10, 2013

Signed up! SUPER JAZZED.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 5:57 PM on November 10, 2013

I'm in.
posted by chazlarson at 5:59 PM on November 10, 2013

I haven't been active here, because it's been a rough few months - so I am joining in again as a present to myself. It's great fun to try to find good things for my Quonsee, and I'm looking forward to a fun, distracting challenge. And I've had the best luck with my own Secret Quonsars, so there's another thing to look forward to. Thanks, everyone!
posted by peagood at 6:33 PM on November 10, 2013 [6 favorites]

Last year I gave tea-based items to a librarian and got tea from another librarian and it was perfect-- if you are hesitating, don't! Sign up! It's so fun! Especially if you work in a library and like tea, apparently.
posted by jetlagaddict at 7:00 PM on November 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Ah, a legitimate excuse to shop for knick-knacks and snacks and maybe some stationery. Very in.
posted by maryr at 7:16 PM on November 10, 2013

I signed up! I never did gifts or holidays as a (poor) kid so I'm super excited to give things now!
posted by easy, lucky, free at 7:44 PM on November 10, 2013 [2 favorites]

Woo-hoo! All signed up!

Last year my giftee had a very specific request, but this time I'm really hoping I'll be able to do some digging around to find something that will really be a surprise.

Earlier today I hunted down the cookie recipes I'll be making for this year's swap and started thinking about fun ways to wrap them upi, so yeah, I'm pretty excited about sending you guys stuff.
posted by Room 641-A at 7:52 PM on November 10, 2013

SO FUCKING IN. Hooray!!!!!
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:53 PM on November 10, 2013

Yay! In in in in in in. In. Can't wait to find out who my quonsee is. SQ is the best thing ever, and julen, arcticseal, megami, and lampshade are the best interwebs people ever.

Whee!
posted by angiep at 8:38 PM on November 10, 2013

Second year.
I'm in!
posted by bebrave! at 8:48 PM on November 10, 2013

First timer here....have been thinking about it since I saw the followup email and everybody's post-Quonsar enthusiasm last year. I was even inspired to finally link up my Pinterest profile so my SQ can see the real me. Or at least the version of me that I keep in Pinterest.
posted by Tandem Affinity at 9:08 PM on November 10, 2013 [3 favorites]

Wheeeeee! Signed up and ready to stalk my Quonsee!

Thanks so much Julen and Quonsar-elves!
posted by faineant at 10:05 PM on November 10, 2013

In like Flynn and ready to quons! This is one of my favorite things all year!
posted by Diagonalize at 4:40 AM on November 11, 2013

I've signed up for my first Quonsar! Very exciting!

(Although the form went blank after I hit submit, so hopefully it actually submitted. *worried face*)
posted by halcyonday at 5:07 AM on November 11, 2013

This is awesome. It's my favorite time of the year. Best holiday ever!!!
posted by Nackt at 5:13 AM on November 11, 2013

halcyonday: (Although the form went blank after I hit submit, so hopefully it actually submitted. *worried face*)

I got a screen that said:

Thanks! You should get a confirmation of your signup within the next 24 hours. If you have not gotten a confirmation in 24 hours, send julen a MeMail. If we find any issues, you'll get an additional email from secretquonsarswap@gmail.com, or a memail from julen if your email address doesn't work. You will receive your swap information via email ... at the email address you provided.

You might want to MeMail julen if you don't get a confirmation.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:08 AM on November 11, 2013

Signed up and so excited! Thanks to all the organizers for their great work :) eeeeeee!
posted by brilliantine at 6:24 AM on November 11, 2013

Signed up and looking forward to this most Quonsical time of year!
posted by schleppo at 6:57 AM on November 11, 2013

Quonsar time, Quonsar time, Quonsar all the way
Oh what fun it is to do, and make a stranger's day
posted by greenish at 7:14 AM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

I signed up! First time! I put a bunch of useless info about myself! I realize now that I put some food dislikes that no one would ever mail and left out ones that are totally in holiday gift type things like cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice. Derp. More concerned about the possiblity of Festive Holiday Bell Peppers than about actual Standard Christmas Cookies.
posted by artychoke at 7:21 AM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]

[Last year's wishlist] included in your confirmation email from last year. If you archive your mail, you already have it on file.

No WAY.

How did you know I save all my email for all time?! Damn, you people are the best!
posted by wenestvedt at 7:23 AM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

yay!!! my first one!
posted by chasles at 7:47 AM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

wenestvedt: How did you know I save all my email for all time?! Damn, you people are the best!

It is the magic and the power of Gmail. When people delete (instead of archive) email I get this face.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:58 AM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]

Never done this before, though I love the CD swaps. Usually this time of year my finances are stretched to the breaking point, but I got a raise this year and now I have juuuust enough money to mail a stranger a present! Yay!
posted by showbiz_liz at 7:58 AM on November 11, 2013

I sent out a new set of confirmations 10 minutes ago (Halcyonday, you are good to go!).

We are at 212 signups - including the 2 who signed up just after this latest batch of confirmations went out.

If you would like us to update your information (guidance, swap group, address) just reply to the email confirmation.
posted by julen at 8:01 AM on November 11, 2013

I've never done this before but I'd really love to! Signing up now.
posted by capricorn at 8:16 AM on November 11, 2013

Julen, phew! Glad to hear that! I have just fished my confirmation out of my spam filter (urgh, gmail, why are you spam-filtering 50% of my incoming mail? >.<>
Thank you for wrangling all of this!
posted by halcyonday at 8:29 AM on November 11, 2013

Signed up! I love Secret Quonsar! Thanks for doing this!
posted by mochapickle at 8:45 AM on November 11, 2013

I'd also like to suggest that Quonsers, especially folks who don't have a great deal of MeFi participation, add links to the "Also On" section of their profile. It's easy to do, has just about every website you can be a member of as an option, and can offer tons of insight into what you might like as a gift. You can always remove them after the Quonsing, if you are not comfortable with them being there all year.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:47 AM on November 11, 2013 [8 favorites]

I just signed up. I probably provided too much random information about what I do and don't want (> 1K words).

This is going to be great!
posted by oceanjesse at 9:31 AM on November 11, 2013

I'm in!!
posted by wenestvedt at 10:00 AM on November 11, 2013

My first year! So excited to have a legitimate reason to stalk a MeFite!
posted by antonymous at 10:10 AM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh! I just signed up! I'm all a-flutter with anticipation!
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 10:52 AM on November 11, 2013

I did this for the first time last year and loved everything about the experience. I can't wait to do it again!

A++++++++ Would quonse again!!!!1!!!!
posted by MsVader at 12:10 PM on November 11, 2013

Eeeep! Looking forward to My First Quonsmas!
posted by dumdidumdum at 1:04 PM on November 11, 2013

How much do I pay to get cortex.
posted by four panels at 1:07 PM on November 11, 2013

How much do I pay to get cortex.
posted by four panels

$20 same as in town
posted by ShawnString at 1:09 PM on November 11, 2013 [12 favorites]

After missing the sign-up for the past couple of years, I have thrown my elf hat back into the ring. I KEEP TRYING TO GET OUT, BUT QUONSAR KEEPS PULLING ME BACK IN!

Future quonsar: if my crazy guidance list is overwhelming, feel free to disregard it and follow hapax_legomenon's suggestion.
posted by scody at 1:35 PM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]

my summarized guideline was:

I should be able to eat it, wear it, or scare my husband with it.
posted by research monkey at 2:01 PM on November 11, 2013 [6 favorites]

research monkey: I should be able to eat it, wear it, or scare my husband with it.

I came up with a fairly disturbing item that could be all three, but I will leave it as an exercise for the reader.
posted by Rock Steady at 2:05 PM on November 11, 2013

In, and now stricken with anxiety about it. I had a combination of nervous-babble and legitimate enjoyment of answering questions, so I answered OcherDraco's entire question list. At, um, some length. Sorry, future quonsar. Please don't hate me I swear I'm nice.
posted by MeghanC at 3:06 PM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

When people delete (instead of archive) email I get this face.

There are some emails I never want to see again.
posted by maryr at 3:06 PM on November 11, 2013

Well, what the heck. Here goes my first Quonsmas!
posted by Liesl at 3:41 PM on November 11, 2013

I'm in and really excited for my 4th time around the Quonsmas...whatever we are metaphorically around.
posted by Miko at 3:44 PM on November 11, 2013

This will be my second Quonsmas and I am just as excited (if not more!) as the first time around! Woo-hoo!
posted by meggan at 4:49 PM on November 11, 2013

whatever we are metaphorically around.

Beanpole?
posted by maryr at 5:11 PM on November 11, 2013 [2 favorites]

The Quansmas pants, naturally.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:32 PM on November 11, 2013

Yay yay yay yay! I particularly like how I wasn't paying attention to MetaTalk and I got an email anyway telling me it was time to sign up! The future is wonderful.
posted by jeoc at 7:30 PM on November 11, 2013

I came up with a fairly disturbing item that could be all three, but I will leave it as an exercise for the reader.

It's a meat helmet and I'm outing you as Dr Evil.
posted by arcticseal at 7:46 PM on November 11, 2013 [1 favorite]

Signed up for Quonsmas #2. Super excited, last year was great!
posted by Fig at 7:54 PM on November 11, 2013

ThePinkSuperhero mentioned this was happening to me, and since I was planning on participating in another online Secret Santa thing I figured I should also do the Metafilter one for kicks, so I'm all signed up.
posted by kkokkodalk at 8:09 PM on November 11, 2013

I just sent out another round of confirmations. If you signed up before 11:30 Eastern US Time (7 minutes ago), you should have received a confirmation.

Also, I'm happy to update your entry if you would like to fix a name, address, bit o' guidance, swap group selection... Just replay to your confirmation email.
posted by julen at 8:37 PM on November 11, 2013

Just signed up!!! I am super excited. I am also willing to be a back-up quonser if need be!
posted by Sophie1 at 7:08 AM on November 12, 2013

I signed up! Giving gifts is probably my favorite thing about life other than getting to hang out with dogs, so I am extremely excited.
posted by divined by radio at 9:19 AM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

So fun! Just signed up for the first time! Thanks to the coordinators and to ocherdraco for the questions!
posted by pointystick at 11:44 AM on November 12, 2013

In like Flinn. Love this!
posted by patheral at 12:48 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

Second Quonsmas for me :D. Big thanks to everyone who's making this happen. It really is a shining light in a dark part of the year, and it was so nice last year to go in to work and find magic presents from my imaginary friend from the internet. Maybe especially since that happened after all the holiday hooha and travel and stomach flu and all were behind me, and it was like a quiet moment of tranquility, an introvert's/misanthrope's/exhausted person's perfect holiday - me alone in a room opening a box of delights from someone I'd never met.

I get so much from metafilter all the time. Really important lessons in how to be human, and how to be with humans in a constructive and positive way, and answers to interesting questions and advice on problems I have but never asked about, and music and ideas and cool stuff and cute stuff and conversations that make me laugh my ass off, but it was really … I'm not finding the word, but powerfully happymaking to have a tangible … sort of totem? manifestation? of what this place means to me. I was like a proud two year old with my presents last year, all LOOK MY SECRET QUONSAR SENT ME THIS.

I mostly lurk, and I'm shy enough that I felt too awkward to even add my congratulations to Griphus's recent happy news (congratulations and much joy to both of you!), but metafilter makes my world a better place and thank you all and Happy Quonsmas and I'll be quiet now.

(not that picking out presents isn't also part of the joy because it is but that part is less tangible although in my case my quonsee quonsed me back which might have caused a freak wormhole to open in the fabric of the space-time continuum)
posted by you must supply a verb at 12:59 PM on November 12, 2013 [13 favorites]

Am trying to get more out of Christmas than in past years, so I'm in.
posted by JanetLand at 1:02 PM on November 12, 2013 [1 favorite]

The latest batch of confirmations just went out. As always, please look it over, make sure the information in it is what you want it to say, and if it isn't right, respond to the email with any corrections you want to make.
posted by julen at 6:35 PM on November 12, 2013

it's always hard to pick out a gift, but people in the past have sent such nice gifts it's been a treat. I hope people liked the gifts I sent as much as I liked the ones I received.
posted by GuyZero at 6:51 PM on November 12, 2013

I was counting off gifts in my head today - Davis Square for Mizu, alpacas for dreamyshade (I hope that wasn't too weird), Hello Kitty in ice skates for JoanArkham (and I received a set of chocolate treats, a package of individually wrapped grocery store treats, and stationary/pens) - and I realized this is my 4th Quonsar. Holy carp. How did that happen?
posted by maryr at 7:09 PM on November 12, 2013

PS: Dearest quonsars, sorry not to credit you by username, but I could cheat and check email for my giftees while at least one of my gifters remained sadly anonymous. Please know that I have very much enjoyed all of your packages. The chocolates were weirdly perfect, I still use the pens (to send Christmas cards, no less!), and the Phineas and Ferb bandaids prevented me from bleeding on everyone at work.
posted by maryr at 7:13 PM on November 12, 2013

Thank you, verb!
posted by griphus at 7:17 PM on November 12, 2013

I'm signing up again and am very excited.

And as someone who has had the misfortune of having had two deadbeat quonsars in a row, I want to say a special thank you to the second-chance gift givers. You are the absolute best, and you saved my Quonsmas two years running!
posted by yellowcandy at 12:01 AM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'm all signed up and ready to go!

It's such a lovely weather for a Quonsar together with you~~
posted by koucha at 6:41 AM on November 13, 2013

Random internet presents have become my favorite part of the holidays. Thanks for organising, Julen!
posted by Freyja at 8:02 AM on November 13, 2013

heyho: "Hey, julen... is it possible to see a list of previous-years secret quonsar matches? Not a public one, since some people take the "secret" part more seriously than others, but by request or something, a la cortex's word-counts?"

Sadly, no. Even if we saved swap information from year to year, we don't have anyway of knowing who wants their gifting to be truly anonymous and who would be OK with sharing more without asking them. It gets more complex if people are taking a break from the site or have been banned or are unable to respond.

The downside of this is that when I sanity-check the swap before notifying everyone I have no way of determining if someone has drawn the same match as in the previous year. That actually happened last year! Randomness! (We ended up swapping out that user's recipient for someone new to them.)
posted by julen at 10:52 AM on November 13, 2013

Signed up! My first Quonsmas! I am so excited!
posted by quaking fajita at 11:40 AM on November 13, 2013

Just signed up as a first timer. Eeek!
posted by peripathetic at 2:07 PM on November 13, 2013

I'm also a first timer and giddy - GIDDY I tell you - with excitement! This is a damn hoot and all I've done so far is fill out a form. Imagine my enthrallment when I get paired with another human. Woo!
posted by but no cigar at 5:39 PM on November 13, 2013 [2 favorites]

I almost wish I'd waited a little longer to sign up, because now the wait for my quonsee feels soooo looong.
posted by ActionPopulated at 6:13 AM on November 14, 2013 [2 favorites]

Children, gather round, and listen to the story of the 1st Quonsmas. Father Quonsar is the Guardian Spirit of Quonsmas. He is cranky, weird and lovable. Accept no substitutes. If you are a good MeFite, you'll send a random gift to a stranger from the Internet. An invisible friend, or your your husband (it happens) will MeFi-stalk you, spending whole minutes wondering what you might like, and spend other minutes on Amazon, getting it done. Or will shop carefully, but package poorly, and your gift might not be intact. Or will correctly discern that which you will love, or at least like, and send it to you, With Kind Thoughts. Soon, hundreds of packages fly across the US, even across the rest of this amazing planet, delighting and confusing MeFites and postal workers everywhere. That's the magical, wonderful, weirdness of Quonsmas.

If you are a good MeFite, and, let's face it, even if you're not, one day it will arrive - a package or envelope, large or small, from an unfamiliar address. And inside is your very own portion of Quonsmas goodness. It doesn't matter if you have enough socks already, you always have room for socks From The Internet. A cheap paperback or an expensive hardcover, a badly hand-crocheted star for your fishpants wreath, flavored popcorn from far-off Cincitucky in colors that will astound you, an unimaginative mug from the dollar store, or the soldering iron you've been hankering after - embrace the randomness; it's what Quonsmas is made of.

Like Miss America, if you are unable to complete your Quonsmas duties for any reason, you must let Julen know. Julen will appoint a Quonsmas delegate who will earn Karmic bonus points by stepping up to send a gift in your stead. If you Fuck Up, and Do Not Send A Gift, my MeFites, if you do this Terrible Thing, there will be a sad, empty spot in someone's Quonsmas Fishpants. For some, and they know who they are, it will be an even sadder and emptier spot in someone's already gloomy, Eeeyore-ish existence, exacerbated by the often devastating holiday season. Don't be an asshole.* I know, time passed, and now you feel like a jerk, so you put it off some more, and Cut It The Fuck Out. Go out, choose something, send cheese, or a book, or the best damn ice scraper of all time to someone in Key West. Just Get 'Er Done! or contact Julen, who is a Quonsmas Miracle of a person, and will not be mean to you.

Merry Quonsmas, double posts, Merry Quonsmas, mods, flamers, and pious windbags, Merry Quonsmas, you wonderful old Metafilter.

* If you haven't figured it out yet, this is a Rule For Life. I'm wrrking on it, myself.
posted by theora55 at 10:09 AM on November 14, 2013 [12 favorites]

I've had a few questions outside the thread whose answers might be of use to everyone.

Can I change my swap group?

Yes! If you would like to change your swap group, drop me an email to let me know if you want to go International, US Only, UK Only, Canada Only, Australia/NZ, or Europe instead of your current choice.

I mostly lurk on Metafilter (or I mostly do AskMe or I am not in the MeFi Mainstream or I am notorious for an opinion most folks here seem not to share) - can/should I participate?

Yes! ABSOLUTELY. You may not be a prolific poster or MeFi Famous or MeFi's Own, but you are still awesome. This is for ALL members of the community - the lurkers, the blurters, the opiners, the suggesters, the anecdote-toting, the rational, the emotional, the reserved, the contrarians, the posters, the commenters, the askers, the answerers, the people who read, the people who favorite, the people who bookmark, the people who obsessively follow certain threads, the people who never read more than the first 5 comments, the devil's advocates, the experts, the amateurs, the enthusiasts, the curious, the shy, and the creative.

If you don't have much of a MeFi history for your Quonsar to explore, please provide some good guidance, link to wishlists, and/or links to other social media.
posted by julen at 7:12 PM on November 14, 2013 [9 favorites]

Done, first time signing up. Forgot to say that insects are cool. (Maybe not live spiders)
posted by annsunny at 9:10 PM on November 14, 2013 [2 favorites]

the lurkers, the blurters, the opiners, the suggesters, the anecdote-toting, the rational, the emotional, the reserved, the contrarians, the posters, the commenters, the askers, the answerers, the people who read, the people who favorite, the people who bookmark, the people who obsessively follow certain threads, the people who never read more than the first 5 comments, the devil's advocates, the experts, the amateurs, the enthusiasts, the curious, the shy, and the creative.

You forgot The Damned.
posted by JanetLand at 5:52 AM on November 15, 2013 [3 favorites]

Yeah, that would fall into the same category as the people who never read more than the first five comments.
posted by mochapickle at 6:34 AM on November 15, 2013

I am signed up as a first-timer. Can't wait! I love this kind of thing. I hope my guidance will be guiding.

I sent an email after signing up requesting that I not get my husband as my quonsee... That would feel like cheating, somehow.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 8:11 AM on November 15, 2013

I am extremely in favor of lurkers and occasional users signing up. One of the coolest things about SQ is learning about new MeFites who you might not have known before.
posted by Miko at 11:09 AM on November 15, 2013 [7 favorites]

Signed up already, great thing blah blah blah.... But something I was thinking about was has has anyone gotten a "MeFi's Own" as a recipient? I would think it would put added pressure on the whole "crap I hope I give them something they like" thing.

I mean I would be scared if I got Adam Savage for example (not that he would sign up)
posted by ShawnString at 4:13 AM on November 16, 2013

I don't think I'd see that as anything different. It'd be fun, and there is a lot of information available about those people's tastes.

And if you ended up getting them something they didn't like, they could just throw it away and enjoy the hundreds of gifts they got from their hordes of cringing sycophants instead, or grab a handful from the money pile they sleep on to order something they really like. .
posted by Miko at 6:49 AM on November 16, 2013 [5 favorites]

Plus you could send them your screenplay.
posted by maryr at 9:48 PM on November 16, 2013 [6 favorites]

There is something very cool and touching about the whole idea of this. I look forward to the plotting and scheming!

PS: if there aren't enough Aussies to go round I'm ok being in the international group.

BTW is it mutual? I mean, does the person you get as your SQ get you as their SQ? Or is it a chain rather than a series of loops? (I did read the FAQ but it wasn't clear to me. I am a newbie!)
posted by Athanassiel at 8:17 PM on November 17, 2013

Athanassiel: "
BTW is it mutual? I mean, does the person you get as your SQ get you as their SQ? Or is it a chain rather than a series of loops? (I did read the FAQ but it wasn't clear to me. I am a newbie!)"

The draw is random and theoretically a chain in that sense. It's rare that you get the person you drew, although it can happen. You can't draw yourself.
posted by julen at 8:47 PM on November 17, 2013

Cool, thank you!
posted by Athanassiel at 8:51 PM on November 17, 2013

There are almost exactly 48 hours left to sign up for Secret Quonsar.

If you have signed up already, there are 2 days left to check your confirmation message to make sure the info looks A-OK. You have those same 2 days to send me any corrections, especially if you would like to change or update your mailing address or swap group. I'm also happy to answer quonsar-related questions and concerns at the email address if you've got 'em.

If you signed up but did not get a confirmation message (check your spam/junk mail), you'll want to contact us before that deadline. We might have the wrong email address or it didn't go through. It's best to get that resolved before we send out swap info.
posted by julen at 8:59 PM on November 17, 2013

Woo hoo! I am in! Let the Quonsing begin!
posted by SisterHavana at 6:23 PM on November 18, 2013

I'm in! Thanks to the organizers!
posted by Sublimity at 6:33 PM on November 18, 2013

Oooh, it's almost Quansination Eve! That's the best part! Leaving a bottle of hard liquor and pork rinds out for The Spirit of Quansmas to come and collect. The spirit then pairs you up with someone who left out the same variety of booze! And then eats the pork rinds because travelling around the world takes a lot out of a spirit.
posted by Ghidorah at 11:45 PM on November 18, 2013 [3 favorites]

Oh, ohh, ohhhh, just got the secret quonsar swap extra secret confirmation email! THANK YOU julen for organizing and all your good work!

Only 3 more days until the randomized draw - so exited!
posted by travelwithcats at 5:29 AM on November 19, 2013

It's looking like another depressing and family-drama-stacked holiday season chez C, so I'm in! I want to have something to look forward to this year, and someone whose primary hobbies aren't hunting and football to shop for.

SO QUONSMAS SPIRIT WOW
posted by Sara C. at 10:04 AM on November 19, 2013

Oh no

Did I miss the deadline

Pout?
posted by Sara C. at 10:05 AM on November 19, 2013

Did I miss the deadline

No.

"Please sign up by 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, November 20."

Go sign up.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:15 AM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Rats, I didn't see this until now. Scooted in under the deadline, hopefully!

Edit: Durrr, reading comprehension is a fail.
posted by timetoevolve at 10:16 AM on November 19, 2013

Whew! I already signed up! Thanks, jessamyn!

I got scared reading a couple comments above mine, dated 9PM 11/17, stating that only 48 hours remain.

Also I am completely incapable of doing even the most rudimentary math.
posted by Sara C. at 10:22 AM on November 19, 2013

And thanks, Quonsmas Organizers! This is an amazing tradition of which I am excited to finally be a part!
posted by Sara C. at 10:23 AM on November 19, 2013

We've had a mini-rush today of folks signing up. Yay!

There are 8 hours and 20ish minutes left to sign up for secret quonsar. (do it. doooooo. iiiiiiiiiit.)
posted by julen at 12:42 PM on November 19, 2013 [3 favorites]

I'm suddenly wondering just what exactly my person will think of me based on my posting history.... eek
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:51 PM on November 19, 2013 [3 favorites]

Ummm well I'm in the middle of an intense discussion of alien currency in Star Trek, so your posting history can't possibly be worse than mine.

(I hope my Quonsar gives me a cross-stitch that says IVE GOT THE LOBES FOR PROFIT)
posted by Sara C. at 1:39 PM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh dear I can't believe I went and signed up for the first time. I'm already tense and stressed out. Secret Quonsar giftee, what shall I gift you?

"crap I hope I give them something they like"

Exactly.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:21 PM on November 19, 2013

I call dibs on Sarah C. for my Secret Quonsee.
posted by artychoke at 5:09 PM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

I already signed up so no biggie but

"There are 8 hours and 20ish minutes left to sign up for secret quonsar" confused me.... Isn't it open till after 11 pm Wednesday? Did I miss Wednesday?
posted by Tandem Affinity at 7:23 PM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Nope! Signups close tonight at Midnight, my time. That is in 90 minutes. That is the midnight between Tuesday and Wednesday here on the East Coast of the US. I think my attempt at cleverness in stating time relatively resulted in a big pile of confusion. Pfeh.
posted by julen at 7:32 PM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

I am also confused. It says right at the top:
"Please sign up by 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, November 20".
We have now 10:42 PM EST on Tuesday, November 19.
posted by travelwithcats at 7:42 PM on November 19, 2013

D'oh!

OK. I'll hold off on closing signups for another 25 hour and 15 minutes. The swap info will still go out on the stated day still.

*making notes on my What To Fix For Next Year log: don't make last minute changes to long swaths of text, check dates before posting, make Homer your profile picture*
posted by julen at 7:46 PM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Thanks, julen. Hope it is not too frustrating. No, no way we can wait longer than the 22nd for the swap info! I am already pretty excited, but trying not to think about gifts yet. Curious what hints & info my quonsee left for me.
Hoping for another last minute rush, though. I want a person from euroland for sure. Hurry people, sign up!
posted by travelwithcats at 7:58 PM on November 19, 2013

These are (relatively) minor frustrations. Not huge. I just need to make sure I do better in the future!
posted by julen at 8:40 PM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

Julen, thanks for being so flexible! You rock & the more the merrier!

Can't wait until the 22nd. It's funny, but Quonsmas kind of feels like the lottery! Lots of anticipation about who you will draw, and then hunting through their comments and figuring out what to get them, and will it arrive on time and in one piece, and will it go over well... And then getting a wonderful surprise, too! I'm so glad Mefi does this.
posted by mochapickle at 8:42 PM on November 19, 2013 [1 favorite]

After much hemming and hawing, just signed up as a first-timer! It's the most Quonderful time of the year!

I kind of felt like a Squooge for choosing USA-quonly, but I fill out so many quostoms forms for work that I decided to give myself a quoliday from them.

My only regret is that all the Quonsmas filk that can possibly be written has probably already been written.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:19 AM on November 20, 2013 [1 favorite]

RedOrGreen: Oh dear I can't believe I went and signed up for the first time. I'm already tense and stressed out. Secret Quonsar giftee, what shall I gift you?

No-one should be stressed at Quonsmas!

Gift suggestions for the nervous quonsee:

- home-made treats
- a copy of the last book/film you read/watched and loved
- a keyring with their username on it

I can guarantee* you that these will not fail to bring Quonsmas cheer.

*not legally binding in a court of law
posted by greenish at 9:20 AM on November 20, 2013 [2 favorites]

No one should feel bad for picking any of the swap groups... well, unless you choose Mars Only but get your mail on Venus. Then you should make cookies for everyone, and we'll all forgive you.

Right now, only 44% of people have chosen to go International, which the rest scattered amongst the regional or national swap groups.

There are many good reasons to choose a more localized swap group, but my favorite is because you secretly want Statue of Liberty Oven Mitts or Tasmanian Devil costumes for your cat or a Berlusconi Rocks! t-shirt.
posted by julen at 9:54 AM on November 20, 2013 [1 favorite]

Wow, let's compare with 2012 (thank you julen, love the stats!)

"359 Participants
4 Swap Groups
181 International Participants (50%)
161 USA Only Participants (45%)
6 UK Only Participants (2%)
11 Canada Only Participants (3%)"
[source]
posted by travelwithcats at 10:09 AM on November 20, 2013

I just wanted to thank the volunteers who do this. It would be just as easy not to, and this is one of those projects that looks simple enough but takes large amounts of time and caring to pull off. It's a really special gift to the community and I'm grateful you make it happen year after year, julen & Quonsmas elves!
posted by Miko at 12:45 PM on November 20, 2013 [2 favorites]

I'll post this year's stats while my cats are doing the randomiza--- I mean, while the mysterious magical randomization process is undertaken.

Also, this might be relevant to US Folks' interests:

US Shipping Cutoff Dates
posted by julen at 12:45 PM on November 20, 2013 [3 favorites]

OK. Signups have closed.

Here's what will happen next:

I'll do a sanity check of the information people submitted (checking for duplicates, incomplete names, etc). I'll split everyone into their selected pools. There will be randomization. I'll double check that no-one drew themselves. I'll put together some stats. Then sometime on Friday, you will receive your swap info. I'll post here so you know to look to make sure you get it.
posted by julen at 9:31 PM on November 20, 2013 [8 favorites]

I'M EXCITED WOOHOO
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:14 AM on November 21, 2013

QUONSE ME, BABY!

YES!

YES!!

YESSSSSSSSS!!!
posted by Madamina at 9:09 AM on November 21, 2013

I'll do a sanity check of the information people submitted

Uh-oh...
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:26 AM on November 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

You must be this insane to participate ... *vague hand waving around elbow-height*

Mostly, I'm just looking for people to be in the regions they selected, if fields are half-complete, if I think there's something in a name or address that customs might get prickly about, etc. So far, everyone I've contacted has been super-fast about getting back to me, which is wonderful!
posted by julen at 10:22 AM on November 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

I have my hat ready. Has a plaque on it saying "Julen's little helper".
posted by arcticseal at 10:28 AM on November 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

pix plz
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:31 AM on November 21, 2013 [3 favorites]

Will take a pic when I'm home, we're in Vegas for our wedding anniversary. We ate all the buffet, may need to check myself in as excess baggage.
posted by arcticseal at 12:25 PM on November 21, 2013 [2 favorites]

Keep an eye out your windows, kids. If you look really hard, you might see Quonsar's blue nose in the sky.

I left my plate of beans out. I should probably get to bed or he'll never show up.
posted by MsVader at 7:43 PM on November 21, 2013 [4 favorites]

Here are some stats to tide you over until the swap info goes out.

There are 368 participants from 15 Countries and 6 Continents.

163 people are in the International Swap Group (44%)
175 people are in the US Swap Group
30 people are distributed amongst the other swaps:
UK, Canada, Europe, and Australia/NZ groups.

34 People used the phrase "go nuts" in their guidance.
2 People provided guidance that only said "go nuts" with no additional commentary/elucidation.*
2 People provided guidance that was as brief, open-ended, and precise as "go nuts" but not in those words.
4 People were accidentally entered twice.
3 People had to withdraw from the swap, but were awesome and proactive enough to let me know before the swapping notifications went out.
2 People ARE matched with each other.

*I was sorely tempted to cheat and assign one of them to me so I could paste some goggly eyes on various nuts, make tiny hats for the nuts, use pipe cleaners for arms, and mount them on a base re-enacting various scenes from The Jerry Springer show. No! Maury. Definitely The Maury Show. Can you imagine the little paternity tests? Or Oprah! Or that which I can only assume will be a talk show in 2015: The Guy Fieri Show.
posted by julen at 8:26 PM on November 21, 2013 [8 favorites]

I just sent out the swap info.

If you did not get your swap, check your spam/junk mail. If it is still not there, we'll be glad to make sure you get the information you need.

Have fun storming the castle.
posted by julen at 9:13 PM on November 21, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh god, I missed sign-up by 13 minutes. I'm sending you guys a memail right now. Please let me participate!
posted by silverstatue at 9:13 PM on November 21, 2013

And we're off!
posted by Secretariat at 9:14 PM on November 21, 2013

Ah, actually I missed it by 24 HOURS and 13 minutes. Alas. I am the saddest mefite :(
posted by silverstatue at 9:18 PM on November 21, 2013

I has a quonsbabby

much stalk

very presents
posted by Sara C. at 10:08 PM on November 21, 2013 [5 favorites]

Gift has been ordered! Hope he likes it.
posted by obol at 11:31 PM on November 21, 2013

WOO HOO! I got a quonsee with a unisex name, the mystery continues! Quonsmas cheer my dears!
posted by travelwithcats at 3:31 AM on November 22, 2013

And the hunt is on!
posted by ocherdraco at 3:32 AM on November 22, 2013

Oh boy, now I looked up their profile and kind of know their gender. Looking through their posting history, turns out they are awesome. Indeed they are the most perfect quonsee I could have gotten. I know what gift to send them. I have like 10 ideas. Need to focus. And make it. What a ride.
posted by travelwithcats at 4:01 AM on November 22, 2013

Wow. I think that's the fastest I've ever quonsed.
posted by ocherdraco at 4:08 AM on November 22, 2013

omg let the legitimised stalking commence - I am THRILLED!!
posted by billiebee at 4:10 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

My quonsee is going to be surprised to have a gift on time (or even a day early? I forget quick) for Quonsukkah. I hope he'll like it....
posted by JMOZ at 6:12 AM on November 22, 2013

I AM SO SO EXCITE ABOUT MY QUONSEE.
posted by bibliogrrl at 6:37 AM on November 22, 2013 [3 favorites]

Introduce me to something you love and tell me why you love it!

HOPE YOU LIKE SHOWTUNES, QUAONSEE
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:39 AM on November 22, 2013 [4 favorites]

Senior Quonsers,
do you reveal your identity? Why, or why not?
posted by travelwithcats at 7:12 AM on November 22, 2013

do you reveal your identity? Why, or why not?

I do, because it's a way to potentially connect with someone. Also, I won't lie, I like to get credit for stuff.

The main reason though is that I really hate not knowing who sent ME something. A couple years ago I got stiffed and the replacement Quanser sent me some amazing barbecue sauce from Virginia. To this day I have no idea who sent it so I can't ask them where I can get more of it. I also can't thank them, though I've done so in more than one thread so I assume by now they know the gift was appreciated.

My recipient this year told me not to stress about it and I am already stressed about it.
posted by bondcliff at 7:25 AM on November 22, 2013 [3 favorites]

travelwithcats: do you reveal your identity? Why, or why not?

Yeah, I totally do. I like meeting new people and being able to say Hi and all that good stuff.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:27 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

So my quonsee could basically be the man I live with if she wasn't a woman from another country. I'm very tempted to go way over the "spending" limit just to get some stuff out of the house, and my biggest concern is that if I buy something neat, I'll have to buy two.

(This is very exciting for me.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:28 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

I see it just the way bondcliff does. It's a way to make a new connection with someone, and it seems more personal. I also like to know who sent me something - it's a very cool window into someone else's tastes and ideas!
posted by Miko at 7:28 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Prepare to be Quonsed, suckah.
posted by griphus at 7:41 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Also I am extra-excited because my quonsee this year is a person with whom I've actually had extended interaction on the site which makes it even more fun! Not that y'all previous quonsees weren't a blast to find a fun gift for, of course.

Oh, and I reveal my identity because ~~I am a notorious praisehound~~ fun.
posted by griphus at 7:43 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Damn gifted is so open ended. I'd have fun with it if I wasn't in job search frantic mode

This is line shopping for my wife except fewer clues and no feedback.
posted by theichibun at 7:44 AM on November 22, 2013

Somehow my default PayPal language is French, so I missed the option to enter a different ship-to address and gift message... I think I just accidentally Quonsed myself.
(Worst-case scenario, the package will make a stop at Casa de Fig, where I can put in a little handmade item and note.)

I'm excited about this, my Giftee sounds a lot like myself as well, so it was pretty easy.

Is it bad that I like Quonsmas more than Thanksgiving and Christmas put together?
posted by Fig at 7:57 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Oh I am super excited about my Quonsee!!! She is going to get the AWESOME!!!
posted by Sophie1 at 8:03 AM on November 22, 2013

This is gonna be fun. My giftee can use something a friend of mine makes in bulk, so good stuff for way non expensive. Schweeeet!
posted by Mooski at 8:11 AM on November 22, 2013

My quonsee did not provide a whole lot of guidance, so the stalking begins!

Also, to reiterate what others have said, I like to reveal myself because of the whole connection thing. And getting a gushing thank you message from my quonsee was one of the highlights of my holiday season last year. Plus, I didn't find out who quonsed me last year, and I felt sad that I couldn't properly thank them.
posted by MsVader at 8:12 AM on November 22, 2013

If you don't reveal your name to your quonsee, you will miss out on the possibility of later meeting up with them, getting to hug their great dog, and drinking delightful beverages in their home. (Seriously, making new friends via Secret Quonsar is the best! Also: Chattanooga mefites are awesome.)
posted by ocherdraco at 8:24 AM on November 22, 2013 [3 favorites]

I got a very open-ended request, which is both fun and stressful as it leaves open more of a possibility that the person will hate whatever I send them!
posted by showbiz_liz at 8:29 AM on November 22, 2013

I am very excited about my Quonsignment! However, I must now do some research w/r/t the legality of sending certain items by post.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:31 AM on November 22, 2013

Based on the three things My New Best Quonsee told me, I have three ideas I like! Just have to wait for my new bank account and card to get sorted out in the next day or so before I can order one of them if it's the choice. It's quon!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:35 AM on November 22, 2013

And so it begins, the ~~stalking~~ research phase...

Looking back at my history, I feel bad for my Quonser. Don't be stressed like I am, Quonser - I'll be very pleased with whatever you get me.

(My Quonsee actually provided useful guidance, and maybe I'll color within the lines this time. Maybe.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:45 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Dear Quonser: I am sorry that all I asked for was A LIFE-SIZE SCULPTURE OF PAUL WELLER MADE OUT OF BUTTER. I should have clarified that a larger-than-life size would also be acceptable. I didn't mean to be difficult.
posted by scody at 8:57 AM on November 22, 2013 [12 favorites]

BUTTER. I should have clarified

I saw what you did there.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:04 AM on November 22, 2013 [14 favorites]

Fuck yes! I have a gift idea for my Quonsee that, improbably, hinges on their handedness, and I trawled through their history to find that they mentioned their handedness in a comment once!
posted by Rock Steady at 9:06 AM on November 22, 2013 [6 favorites]

Quonsle bell, Quonsle bell, Quonsle bell rock;
Quonsle bells stalk and Quonsle bells Talk.
Baling and mailing out bushels of fun -
Now the Quonaring has begun!

Quonsle bell, Quonsle bell, Quonsle bell rock;
Quonsle bells strike with likes and dislikes.
Stranger exchangers are gifting unseen,
All across the Green!

What a bright time! It's the right time
To meet your new Quonsee
Quonsle bell time is a swell time
To calculate the shipping overseas!

Quonsle bell, Quonsle bell, pick up the beat;
Jingle around the clock
You can just go nuts or you can stalk all their tweets:
That's the Quonsle bell rock!

That's the Quonsle bell,
Postal lines are hell,
Customs personnel
Seized my caramel,
Why’s my package smell?
It’s not packed so well,
And my name’s misspelled,
Don’t mail mackerel,
‘Cause the cat can tell,
That's the Quonsle bell rock!
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:19 AM on November 22, 2013 [9 favorites]

The first year, I got stiffed. But it didn't embitter me to Quonsar. The second year made up for it because I got a gift that was so awesome it made me cry. Last year I got some beautiful yarn.

I am super super super exited about my quonsee as it is someone awesome and completely and utterly relevant to my interests and I'm so excited I'm annoying myself.
posted by bibliogrrl at 9:41 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm excited because I think my quonsbabby would actually like something I could knit. Possibly a couple somethings. And I don't say that in that annoying knitter "I have found a loophole in this situation that would allow me to knit you a gift" sort of way. I really think knitting is called for in this situation.
posted by Sara C. at 9:44 AM on November 22, 2013 [7 favorites]

This is my 5th Quonsar, and I'm so excited.
"who's that present for?"
"the internets."
posted by sweetmarie at 9:46 AM on November 22, 2013 [2 favorites]

I should seriously have my family send me their names anonymously through the Internet because it would make is so much easier to shop for them.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 9:47 AM on November 22, 2013 [7 favorites]

2 People ARE matched with each other.

EVERYONE LISTEN

OKAY

Everyone get the other person either a fancy watch chain or a set of combs. Hang onto it.

Then everyone shave your heads and sell all your watches that would require a watch chain. If you do not have a watch that requires a watch chain, buy one for as long as it takes to get to like it, then sell it. If you do not have hair figure it out whatever

When things are at their peak of emotional complexity, mail the gifts and make sure to contact the other person IMMEDIATELY when you receive yours.

Then let the Great O.-Henry-Quansmas Begin of 2013 begin!
posted by griphus at 9:51 AM on November 22, 2013 [16 favorites]

Thank you all very much for your wisdom, Senior Quonsers!
Writing a letter to my quonsee. By hand. On real paper.
Not sending hair, though.
posted by travelwithcats at 10:42 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

Then let the Great O.-Henry-Quansmas Begin of 2013 begin!

The Gift of the MeFi.
posted by wintrymix at 10:46 AM on November 22, 2013 [9 favorites]

I love how excited people get for the gifting.

If you missed the deadline, or never got a confirmation/swap, please memail or email me today or tomorrow. It looks like we are putting together an add-on mini-swap for folks who thought the deadline was later or for whom the submission never made it through. This is your last chance.
posted by julen at 10:57 AM on November 22, 2013 [2 favorites]

Also re: 2 People ARE matched with each other.

when can we expect the next mefi baby?
posted by travelwithcats at 11:21 AM on November 22, 2013 [3 favorites]

Mine has very little to go on…this should be fun.
posted by ShawnString at 11:26 AM on November 22, 2013

Maybe latecomers can exchange gifts on Three Kens Day
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:30 AM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

The wonderful weirdness of Quonsmas: my quonsee's username is a variant of my rather unusual middle name. Thus I can say with some relevance that secret quonsar is my middle name!

(Note: my middle name isn't actually Secret Quonsar. That would be a spoiler.)
posted by ilana at 11:30 AM on November 22, 2013

My Quonsee likes/wants some things that I can get locally, so I foresee an exciting day-long shopping excursion!
posted by Pizzarina Sbarro at 12:34 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm excited, because my Quonsee and I have very similar tastes as me, to the point where they had an almost identical phrase as part of their guidelines as I did.

Actually, scratch that, I'm just excited because this is a cool thing to be a part of. The getting someone with similar tastes is just an added bonus (although, I'd probably enjoy it the same if they had completely different taste).
posted by Gygesringtone at 2:12 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

BUTTER. I should have clarified

I saw what you did there.

Ghee, how clever!
posted by maryr at 2:13 PM on November 22, 2013 [4 favorites]

I should seriously have my family send me their names anonymously through the Internet because it would make is so much easier to shop for them.

How does that work?
posted by maryr at 2:15 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

The insomnia last night really helped with stalking my quonsee to get more ideas for presents.
posted by Margalo Epps at 2:34 PM on November 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

My Quonsee is internet famous.

Not nervous at all.
posted by sparklemotion at 7:52 PM on November 22, 2013 [6 favorites]

I intend to reveal myself when I send the gift. I hope that's not too weird. I have ThePinkSuperhero stationery (gift from Mom!), and it seems wrong not to use it in this situation.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:19 PM on November 22, 2013 [3 favorites]

My guess is that 50-65% of people reveal their identity with the gift, and 10-20% after the gift has arrived. I'm pulling those numbers out the quonsar-scented ether, so don't take 'em as gospel.
posted by julen at 8:27 PM on November 22, 2013

So quickly, even before midnight here, practically as soon as the shuffling stopped, I received an email with my secret quonsee's name! Thank you to Julen and company. It was so exciting. I stayed up late getting to work on it and now, two days later, think I have made a little progress. There is still some sleuthing to do but I have begun to formulate a plan! This is fun. I hope I can pull it together. Although I signed up for the international group, I didn't get an international name. Probably there weren't enough to go around and that's doubtless a good thing as the timing is so tight for shipping, I'd have been really stressed about the time it would take to arrive.

To the person who has my name: Please accept my apology for gushing TMI and feel free to do whatever you kinda wanted to do in the first place. I meant to make it easier for you to think of something, not to complicate Quonsar. But I seemed to embarrass myself by snow flaking on until I had responded completely to every. single. question.

Let Quonsar begin throughout the planet!
posted by Anitanola at 4:21 AM on November 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

I hope my Quonsee lets me know who they are so I can thank them properly.

I'm going to out my name in a sealed envelope with the pressie. I will instruct them to open it if they think I have given good Quons. If they think I have sent a pile of crap (which is possible, I don't have much to go on!) they will be asked to throw the envelope on the fire and never speak of it again.
posted by billiebee at 4:28 AM on November 23, 2013 [2 favorites]

That question is very easy for me, since my username is my first name and the first letter of my last name. So I will be outing myself, whether I want to or not. (That said, I will clarify in my note that, 'tis I, The Sara C. From The Internet, and not just some other Mefite who coincidentally is named Sara C(etc).

Also I wanted to say that I'm a little bit sad that I didn't draw a comic book geek. Due to my work I get huge discounts on swag related to the DC universe. Sorry, DC fan quonsers. But yay for my actual quonsbabby who is completely not like that and is getting snuggly cozy handcrafted PNW-approved winter goodness! And totally NOT Batman pajamas that are on sale in the employee store right now.

(Keeping those for myself.)
posted by Sara C. at 11:11 AM on November 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

If you're looking for a home for those Batman pyjamas...
posted by arcticseal at 2:11 PM on November 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

C. Cretquon, Czar.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:43 PM on November 23, 2013 [6 favorites]

When I asked the seasoned quonsers among us if they do or don't out themselves, I was thinking about their mefi ID. But you certainly could also put a fake return address on the package, like: Secreta Quonsky or something. In most cases no one would check that at the post office. I am not sure if fake return addresses are advisable, though.

What? I thought that was the point of it, connecting with MeFites across the globe. I smile a little whenever I see a post on the Green or Blue from former Quonsars and Quonsees from years past -- it's the gift that keeps giving! To each her own, but at least for me, knowing which MeFite a gift came from is 99% of the fun. (And I don't care if they don't reveal their real life identity.)
posted by Wordwoman at 4:46 PM on November 23, 2013 [3 favorites]

Hi! We'd like to ask folks to keep an eye on their mailboxes in particular over the next few days - your quonsars might have a question for you. We've a number of emails out to folks asking for elucidation, enlightment, and clarification right now.

If you have questions for your quonsee, we'll be glad to ask them on your behalf - send us an email.
posted by julen at 8:26 PM on November 23, 2013 [1 favorite]

I plan to get my quonsee's gift today. I'm so excited, and I'm not even the one getting it. Prepare to be amazed, quonsee!
posted by bookwibble at 5:53 AM on November 24, 2013

My shopping is done! Fingers crossed that my quonsee enjoys their gifts as much as I enjoyed picking them out.

I haven't shipped anything internationally in ages, and was super-bummed to re-discover that customs requires you to list exactly what's in your package before mailing. You can't even try to be vague, you have to specify very precisely: not "clothing" but "new cotton t-shirt." Bleh.

Dear international quonsees, please do your level best to ignore the customs lists -- they'll ruin the surprise!
posted by divined by radio at 6:28 AM on November 24, 2013

I think I probably also freaked out my quonser with my extended remix description of what I like and don't. I'm really just happy to get something nice--I swear.
posted by yellowcandy at 9:15 AM on November 24, 2013

I think I probably also freaked out my quonser with my extended remix description of what I like and don't.

I appreciated my quonsee taking the time to say a lot of things that she liked and didn't like. I ended up with four or five ideas of what could make a good present, and then when I got to the store, ended up finding one of them and a little one to go with it. So I think that's perfect. Otherwise I might have had the one perfect idea which I couldn't actually find for sale somewhere. (It also makes a better surprise -- if she had only asked for one thing I would either have gotten it or disappointed her.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:59 AM on November 24, 2013

Yellowcandy, I did the same thing. My biggest fear, though, is getting pair with someone who's like, "Yes!" and has no other guidance. Which is a thing that has happened to me in other exchanges. So I err on the side of way, waaaaaaay too much information, and am always super grateful when the person I'm matched with writes me a novel about themselves.
posted by MeghanC at 2:01 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

I did my shopping today too! I read my quonsee's description and I was like, "This is a problem that has a solution somewhere on Etsy." So, I got to patronize someone doing neat work, and, there's a random artist in LA who just learned about metafilter and secret quonsar.

Also, I spent some time this morning admiring a lingering quonsar gift--a couple years ago someone gifted me face stickers that let you put faces on anything. Which I promptly put on all the appliances in my kitchen, and the stove hood, and some lamps. It made my electric kettle look like a chicken wearing glasses. The warmth of quonsmas echoes through the year.
posted by Tesseractive at 2:27 PM on November 24, 2013 [2 favorites]

My giftee turned out to be in LA while I am in the Bay Area, so I'm thinking... all Giants gear. That should go over well.
posted by GuyZero at 4:53 PM on November 24, 2013 [3 favorites]

am always super grateful when the person I'm matched with writes me a novel about themselves.

I did not write a novel. Sorry to whomever got me.
posted by GuyZero at 4:53 PM on November 24, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure that I wrote a novel, but it probably qualifies as a short story. If whoever got me is addled by choice and overwhelmed by detail: I like hideous fridge magnets.
posted by Mizu at 9:45 PM on November 24, 2013

I got my shopping done too! Whew! Now if only I can get it in the mail by the deadline. I'm really bad about that.
posted by patheral at 10:18 PM on November 24, 2013

May I make a suggestion regarding the thank you thread for this year's secret quonsar? I think it might be a good idea to select the "meetup" thread type in MetaTalk, because meetup threads stay open for six months—that way we'll be certain that all thanking activity can fit in one thread, even with re-gifting.

We'd need to get mod approval beforehand, of course, since it would technically not be a meetup (and those go in IRL now anyway), but I think it might be nice.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:41 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

An elfin message arrived to say that my quons-benefactor's gift has been sent. So excited!!!!

I had promised myself that I would not open it until Christmas Day, but now I'm not sure I can wait! When is actual Quonsmas anyway? (I'm in the U.S. so American Quonsmas.)
posted by erloteiel at 6:14 AM on November 25, 2013

We'd need to get mod approval beforehand

Yeah that's totally fine.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:01 AM on November 25, 2013 [2 favorites]

Yeah, what is "the deadline"?

My assumption is that we're all aiming for our gifts to be delivered in time for actual honest to baby Jesus 12/25 Christmas, right?

Or is there some earlier deadline that folks are racing for? I only ask because it seems awfully early for people who've already shopped for their gift to be worried that it will arrive by the deadline.
posted by Sara C. at 8:38 AM on November 25, 2013

AAAAAAAAAAH Just re-read the wiki with a fine-tooth comb and discovered that the shipping deadline is first week of December.
posted by Sara C. at 8:39 AM on November 25, 2013

The SHIPPING deadline is December 7. It doesn't have to be there by December 7. It'd be great if the gift arrived by mid-December or even late-mid December or early-mid-late December or late mid early December or late mid late December, but we have no control over various customs services or shipping services. So the best we can do is send it by the shipping deadline and hope our package isn't the right size for a footrest or lumbar support for the hard-working customs officers of the worlds.
posted by julen at 9:44 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

But when do we get to open them? (The wrong answer is we wait until everyone has received a gift and all open them at once.)
posted by erloteiel at 9:56 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

My quonsee can open his/hers right away. Of course, none of you know if you're my quonsee, so you'll have to open yours to check.
posted by JMOZ at 10:05 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

You open the presents when you want to open them! If you do choose to stick it under a Christmas Tree (or Festivus Pole or with the other presents your elderly aunts sent you for a late-December birthday), it would be nice if you sent us a message to send to your quonsar that it arrived, thank you, and you are waiting to open it.
posted by julen at 10:05 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

My present is to be opened on the Winter Solstice, at the exact stroke of midnight, GMT.

If it is not, I can neither guarantee the contents nor the safety of person opening the gift.
posted by griphus at 10:08 AM on November 25, 2013 [5 favorites]

If choose to open it on Festivus, does that come before or after the Airing of Grievances?
posted by Area Man at 10:25 AM on November 25, 2013 [2 favorites]

If choose to open it on Festivus, does that come before or after the Airing of Grievances?

Better make it before, in case you end up having a grievance about the present. "That wrapping gave me a paper cut!"
posted by The Underpants Monster at 11:32 AM on November 25, 2013

I once sent my brother a package and he cut himself opening the package, but I had presciently put Batman bandaids at the top of the package, so he had immediate first aid available.

So to avoid grievances, please include a bandaid in your package.
posted by maryr at 11:55 AM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

package package package package.
posted by maryr at 11:55 AM on November 25, 2013 [5 favorites]

I always open my Quonsmas present on Quonsmas, which I define as the moment the Quonsmas present arrives.
posted by Wordwoman at 12:05 PM on November 25, 2013 [10 favorites]

I got Quonsed! I think I'll wait to open it until I've actually purchased my Quonsee's gift, but thank you, early bird Quonsar! Can one of Quonsar's Little Helpers forward a message to my Quonsar that their gift has arrived safe and sound?
posted by Rock Steady at 12:30 PM on November 25, 2013 [2 favorites]

Sent my Quonsmas package today! Thanks to good guidance from my quonsee I was early this year.
posted by cozenedindigo at 1:57 PM on November 25, 2013 [1 favorite]

Rock Steady: "I got Quonsed! I think I'll wait to open it until I've actually purchased my Quonsee's gift, but thank you, early bird Quonsar! Can one of Quonsar's Little Helpers forward a message to my Quonsar that their gift has arrived safe and sound?"

Done.
posted by julen at 4:13 PM on November 25, 2013 [2 favorites]

Part way done my shopping: I went to the package store.

Only Masshole kids will get this!
posted by maryr at 7:46 PM on November 25, 2013 [10 favorites]

I'm sending my little helper (mr. patheral) to the post office tomorrow to mail my package out to my quonsee! Sit tight, secret quonsee, you'll get yours soon.
posted by patheral at 8:21 PM on November 25, 2013

The shopping is complete. I am expecting arrival within the next two days so that I can package it with other fine goodies and ship it off to my lovely quonsee on Monday or Tuesday! Yay quonsmas!
posted by Sophie1 at 7:01 AM on November 26, 2013

Part way done my shopping: I went to the package store.

Only Masshole kids will get this!

Hey now -- some of us from other states are fans of alcohol enough to be able to translate -- including, Google apparently.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:22 AM on November 26, 2013 [1 favorite]

My quonsee did not provide a ton of guidance, so I did some MetaFilter stalking and found in the Etsyverse something I hope will suffice! This is too exciting.
posted by coppermoss at 1:02 PM on November 26, 2013

I feel extra bad about my stupidly long guidance after seeing my quonsee's very succinct couple of sentences, which were helpful and very fun to shop for. As soon as I've a chance to get to the post office, my package will be on its way!
posted by carbide at 4:40 AM on November 27, 2013

Still wrestling between the relative merits and flaws of options A and B.

Hi, my name's The Underpants Monster, and I'm a recovering perfectionist.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:56 AM on November 27, 2013

I feel extra bad about my stupidly long guidance after seeing my quonsee's very succinct couple of sentences, which were helpful and very fun to shop for.

Oh god, me too. I think I morphed back into Online Dating Mode with my description. SORRY, BELOVED QUONSER! I am truly not a picky brat.
posted by scody at 11:15 AM on November 27, 2013 [2 favorites]

Yes, I am glad to not be alone in regretting the amount of information disclosed. My soul shouted "no", but my brain convinced me it would be "helpful." It was meant only to be used if SQ so desired. Ignoring it is a totally valid option.
posted by wintrymix at 11:56 AM on November 27, 2013

Meanwhile, I feel bad because I could have circumvented the novel I wrote and just said:

- get me a hilarious touristy bumper sticker from your neck of the woods

or

- get me a hilarious geek/fandom related Etsy thing

or

- get me a cup holder for my bike

and been done with it.

The novel was more fun, though, and I actually enjoy giving lots of vague direction and getting surprised with my Quonsmaster's inevitably fantastic choice.
posted by Sara C. at 12:19 PM on November 27, 2013

Only Masshole kids will get this!

We also called it the package store in NJ. And then in CT, of course, the "packy."
posted by Miko at 2:21 PM on November 27, 2013

awk-ward homo-phones *clap, clap, clap clap clap*
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 2:31 PM on November 27, 2013 [1 favorite]

My gift this year wasn't especially inspired, but I hope my quonsee likes it, nonetheless. He should have received it this past Monday or Tuesday.
posted by JMOZ at 2:22 PM on November 29, 2013

pix plz

Don't judge me.
posted by arcticseal at 3:03 PM on November 30, 2013 [8 favorites]

Love it!

is that judging?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 6:56 PM on November 30, 2013 [1 favorite]

Depends, are you holding up large scorecards and wearing a sparkly tuxedo?
posted by arcticseal at 7:33 PM on November 30, 2013

Or sparkly Depends?

On second thought, don't answer that.
posted by maryr at 10:50 PM on November 30, 2013

MetaFilter: on second thought, don't answer that.
posted by arcticseal at 8:04 AM on December 1, 2013 [4 favorites]

My Quonsmas recipient is getting something from the factory down the street.

Hopefully they won't judge me too hard for the ridiculous spelling mistake that I only noticed when it was too late to change anything.
posted by the latin mouse at 11:28 AM on December 2, 2013

MERRY QUONSFACE
posted by griphus at 11:29 AM on December 2, 2013

All packaged up and ready to go out in the mail tomorrow! I sure had fun making/finding the stuff I put in the box.
posted by AllieTessKipp at 7:19 PM on December 3, 2013

This thread will close in a little under a week. There is a Thank You! thread open; the mods have graciously allowed us to mark it as a gathering, which means the thread will be open for more than a month -- it will stay open all throughout the thanking period.

You still have several days to get your present in the mail! Shop wisely.

I'll be posting reminders, updated stats, envy over there. Please feel free to join us and marvel at the awesome things we're sending each other.
posted by julen at 9:17 PM on December 3, 2013

I was pretty much stumped as to what to get my Quansee, stressing about it way more than anyone should stress about such things, when it hit me that another awesome MeFite makes and sells things that would probably work.

So now I am a MeFite buying stuff from another MeFite to send to a Mefite. There's a song here somewhere.
posted by bondcliff at 6:29 AM on December 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

99 mefites and a gift for one?

99 mefites giving gifts for fun?
posted by ocherdraco at 6:58 AM on December 4, 2013

I got 99 problems, but Quonsmas ain't one of them.
posted by arcticseal at 8:15 AM on December 4, 2013

Aw man I missed it.
posted by kbennett289 at 4:18 PM on December 4, 2013

If you'd like to be notified each year when secret quonsar sign-ups go live, we have a sign-up form: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dG93UGFuR3ZZbkstQ2JpNU5Hb0FTb2c6MQ#gid=0

Signing up for this does not sign you up for secret quonsar - just to be notified when you can sign up for secret quonsar.
posted by julen at 4:38 PM on December 4, 2013

Can I just say that while I have part one of my Quonsmas gift for my Quonsee, I am very excited that I'll be purchasing part two later this week while shopping in a yurt? If I knew my Quonsee in person, I'd hand it over and say "Hi Quonsee. This came from a pop-up in a yurt."

For all you folk discussing outing/not outing yourselves to your Quonsee: Do you mean you are/aren't going to put a name and return address on the package, or that you are/aren't going to reveal your MeFi identity?
posted by The Underpants Monster at 2:07 PM on November 23 [+] [!]

I leave clues that make it easy to figure out it's me. It's no fun to tell someone outright, but leaving a trail of breadcrumbs is part of the SECRET part of the Secret Quonsar part, for me.
posted by peagood at 7:38 PM on December 4, 2013

So you're sending your quonsee some peas?
posted by Sara C. at 7:40 PM on December 4, 2013 [2 favorites]

I always miss this until I hear it mentioned after-the-fact. It sounds like fun to me and I'd love to participate.
posted by Goofyy at 11:59 PM on December 4, 2013

So now I am a MeFite buying stuff from another MeFite to send to a Mefite.

Me too! I didn't have much to go on at all and I was getting really stressed. Then I took a little trip to the MeFi mall and saw something lovely that hopefully they will like. I feel a bit guilty for not actually laying hands on it first, but it would never have got to me in time to send it on. (That's my defense anyway. It's nothing to do with my interminable procrastination, which would have meant it sitting in my house until at least next February...)
posted by billiebee at 11:51 AM on December 5, 2013

Fear not, esteemed but still secret recipient! Your gifts are procured and will be in the mail tomorrow!
posted by Sublimity at 1:00 PM on December 6, 2013

Gifts are in my hands. However, there's no way I'll be able to mail them out before the deadline. Please forgive me, dear quonsee, if I'm a few days late in sending out the goods.
posted by MsVader at 3:09 PM on December 6, 2013

Ditto. I have the gifts; I just have to mail them. I doubt I'll get them sent today. Tomorrow, probably. Many apologies to Quonsee and julen.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 12:13 PM on December 7, 2013

For all you folk discussing outing/not outing yourselves to your Quonsee: Do you mean you are/aren't going to put a name and return address on the package, or that you are/aren't going to reveal your MeFi identity?

I shipped my USPS from the States to Australia - I had to give them so much information that the only thing left for my Quonsee to guess is my blood type.
posted by dotgirl at 12:17 PM on December 7, 2013 [2 favorites]

My Secret Quonsar gift arrived, and IT! IS! AWESOME! In my profile, I asked that if the Secret Quonsar had ever published a book or music, I'd be delighted to know about it. Well, it turns out that he really HAS published a book, and it's hilarious and thought-provoking.

Now I'm embarrassed, because I don't have anything nearly as personal to present to my Quonsee, but I'll do my best. Fear not, Secret Quonsee, I have your gift, and I'll get it out shortly.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 8:34 PM on December 7, 2013 [1 favorite]

Me too! Didn't make it to the post office yet. Apologies to my quonsee and the Quonsmas organizers!
posted by travelwithcats at 8:38 PM on December 7, 2013

Quick note: the current Quonsmas thread is here. If you're going to be delayed, please drop us elves a note on the Quonsmas email so we can update the tracker and fend off anxious Quonsees.
posted by arcticseal at 8:45 AM on December 8, 2013

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Secret quonsar 2013: Relatively Earlier This Year! November 9, 2013 10:54 PM Subscribe

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