Quoted from grantopia:Well, I continue to be amazed and thankful as a THIRD secret santa package showed up today full of Pintastic swag! I figured I already opened the first two so why not! Very generous SS, whoever you are! The gifts I received last year made me up my game this year, and now I'm inspired to raise the bar next year again!
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Love that t shirt!!!!
Quoted from Saltimbanco:Yeah, but do you like Star Wars? Lol
Quoted from FatPanda:Wait...this is in your house and not at a retail store?!
Lol...
Yeah, I got back into Star Wars when the special edition stuff came out in the 90s, before all the newer movies.
I had more disposable income for little stuff back then and went a little nuts buying a couple every week.
Decided to put some pegboard up on a wall in spare room and dig them all out of the boxes.
Meant to trim it out nicer, but never got to it.
I thought it was fun and different to display that way. 
Quoted from guitarded:2XL!
There's one on the shelf in my basement. Nobody sings Charlie Daniel's Greatest Hits like 2XL.
Now thats funny!
Oh boy oh boy oh boy it's here!
Family went out for a bit so when they get back I'll let them decide if I should open it or wait. I suspect my wife will want me to wait, since she says I've been hard to shop for and doesn't have too much for me to open on Christmas. I don't hear or smell any chinchillas so that might be ok.
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Quoted from guitarded:Nipple Clamps are the gift that keeps giving. Your Santa (also) rules.
And now we know who the Pinside kinksters are.
So after checking this thread for the third time today I decided to do research on chinchillas. Pet Smart sells them for about $150 plus all of the things that you would need to take care of it. If someone actually did receive a chinchilla that would be a very extravagant gift.
Quoted from SkyKing2301:Oh boy oh boy oh boy it's here!
Family went out for a bit so when they get back I'll let them decide if I should open it or wait. I suspect my wife will want me to wait, since she says I've been hard to shop for and doesn't have too much for me to open on Christmas. I don't hear or smell any chinchillas so that might be ok.
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That's the thing, a chinchilla would keep quiet in a corner of that box, just waiting for its moment..plus, they keep really clean from the dust baths, so you won't smell a thing until it's too late..I would open right away, but stay clear of it and protect your family! It will be piss mad from that USPS trip!
Waiting at the door when I got home this afternoon.
I unboxed, as per instructed and inside I found ... well, a cornucopia of presents.
Surely someone went the extra mile and it is greatly appreciated by this Pinsider.
Thanks, Santa!
**I might have to open one for Hanukkah - Night 2 : Secret Santa Boogaloo
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I had a few packages delayed until today, should be a handful of ppl getting theirs today!
These gifts are so awesome! It’s exciting to see everyone opening them.
Quoted from Saltimbanco:That's the thing, a chinchilla would keep quiet in a corner of that box, just waiting for its moment..plus, they keep really clean from the dust baths, so you won't smell a thing until it's too late..I would open right away, but stay clear of it and protect your family! It will be piss mad from that USPS trip!
Valid points -- and the family concurred with opening tonight -- so here we have it!
An awesome Jurassic Park t-shirt, some fresh hardware for my DE JP (a fresh set of balls, nice black flippers with my choice of transparent red or black rubbers), a cup holder, and a cool LED message fan!
Thanks so much, Santa, these will get put to good use!
20201211_183740 (resized).jpgIt's here!!!!!!!!!!
And it's a BIG box! This is crazy. Secret Santas are definitely going big this year!
Now it's time to decide... Open the box ? Leave like this for now ? Is it one big thing ? Plenty of small things ? Are the small things wrapped ?
And as you can see on the pic, I'm not the only one wondering what's inside!
Definitely too heavy for toilet paper rolls... maybe a big chunk of coal ? To be continued. I love this thread.
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Quoted from matiou:And as you can see on the pic, I'm not the only one wondering what's inside!
I bet it's a Chinchilla Colony.
I got my package today and screw the waiting till Christmas 
Novas, microfiber cloths, p21s, a multimeter and last but not least, a GnR Not in This Lifetime shirt from the Louisville, KY concert! I know what I will be wearing when my GNR LE arrives 
20201211_195058 (resized).jpgOh my gawd! Now I’ll openly admit to checking the mail every night when I get home for my Piside Secret Santa gift. Like a lot of us here other people find me hard to shop for because of the things that I like so my Pinside gift each year is really my only/best surprise. I cannot stress this enough to my Santa 10/10, amazing, your packaging was unreal and the presents were so spot on my wife thinks I know you personally. Everything from official pinball lip balm, to the comics, the gift cards and the translite were so perfect you made my holiday. God bless you and have a merry Christmas!
5B015302-F171-45B5-A9DE-94D90DD9ACB2 (resized).jpeg5E694A96-2198-4CC7-BE7D-F3A1BFD9F053 (resized).jpegD66A9865-861D-4581-AAA1-0C0078643445 (resized).jpegEE4D70E2-D5FF-4AC9-9029-3B1001A17BC5 (resized).jpegF21F10BE-19CF-40DE-BEBA-77F45955C7C3 (resized).jpegF5409AA8-BDD7-4436-A20C-A06BEC30AAD6 (resized).jpegI got some Medisinyl mods for ehoh. They were lost in Florida for a week, then once they got to Wa, took another week. Post office is horribly run. Wish they would privatize. But they won't
Quoted from Ericc123:Oh my gawd! Now I’ll openly admit to checking the mail every night when I get home for my Piside Secret Santa gift. Like a lot of us here other people find me hard to shop for because of the things that I like so my Pinside gift each year is really my only/best surprise. I cannot stress this enough to my Santa 10/10, amazing, your packaging was unreal and the presents were so spot on my wife thinks I know you personally. Everything from official pinball lip balm, to the comics, the gift cards and the translite were so perfect you made my holiday. God bless you and have a merry Christmas!
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Never seen that translite lighted up before, nice!!
Quoted from Hayfarmer:I got some Medisinyl mods for ehoh. They were lost in Florida for a week, then once they got to Wa, took another week. Post office is horribly run. Wish they would privatize. But they won't
USPS sucks!!!! I will not be using them for a long time! Have had several issues over the past few months.
Ah, the quiet of the morning when this thread isn’t ‘on fire’ and us mere mortals who aren’t Pinside verified can post. My gifts have started the long journey and I have to admit I must not ship things as often as I thought, because those rates are WAY higher than I remember. Not that it would have changed my plans, but it was surprising! A $500 charge to ship a pin cross-country suddenly seemed more reasonable.
Before joining this year I had read through the previous years posts which certainly made this sound fun. But experiencing it real time, reading everyone’s excitement as the gifts arrive, and having the anticipation of when the gifts I sent will be opened makes this even better. I also realize that I was reading the previous years posts without paying attention to the dates things were posted, and now I see that many people will pretend they have will power but know they won’t make it 5 minutes before opening their gift.....guessing I may join that elite club when my time comes.
Quoted from Liftserv:I don’t know about you guys, but I’m set for the holidays, Just in time for the COVID lockdown in PA! Cheers to my Secret Santa! I’m going to try and wait until Christmas, but Who knows?
Thank you Secret Santa! [quoted image]
You think the chinchillas started drinking the vodka to make the journey easier? 
Quoted from northvibe:You think the chinchillas started drinking the vodka to make the journey easier?
Probably did cause they are extra quiet, I also don’t think they’re interested in taking their dust bath! Might not be a pretty sight when they see the light on Christmas, vodka hangover bright lights, noise from the grandchildren, and the pups!
Quoted from TakingupSpace:Ah, the quiet of the morning when this thread isn’t ‘on fire’ and us mere mortals who aren’t Pinside verified can post. My gifts have started the long journey and I have to admit I must not ship things as often as I thought, because those rates are WAY higher than I remember. Not that it would have changed my plans, but it was surprising! A $500 charge to ship a pin cross-country suddenly seemed more reasonable.
Before joining this year I had read through the previous years posts which certainly made this sound fun. But experiencing it real time, reading everyone’s excitement as the gifts arrive, and having the anticipation of when the gifts I sent will be opened makes this even better. I also realize that I was reading the previous years posts without paying attention to the dates things were posted, and now I see that many people will pretend they have will power but know they won’t make it 5 minutes before opening their gift.....guessing I may join that elite club when my time comes.
Yeah, I forgot the number fedex told me when I was there, but I think it was 5% increase in ship cost every year, however they also add a surcharge during the holidays.
Yeah, this thread, the people, the spirit and gifts really make this year not suck. So great to read and look at pictures of people opening presents and how unique gifts are. Gives you ideas on the things you need to order for yourself
Quoted from TakingupSpace:won’t make it 5 minutes before opening their gift
Me.
Packaged shipped out yesterday USPS, will be interesting to see how long it takes to get to it's destination!
Quoted from matiou:Box is now open and gifts deployed under the tree... Secret Santa took the time to wrap individually each gift... And with different paper! Thank you so much! Am I going to resist until Christmas day? I don't think so... Not sure my daughter can wait anyway
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She must be just vibrating wanting to open some!!
First off, thank you to my Santa for the delicious sounding ciders. I have been holding off posting until I “opened” them (waiting til Christmas lol but it’s getting harder to wait every time I open the fridge), but now another box has arrived. This one I’m keeping a mystery (the other was marked perishable on the box). Photos to come at Christmas!
so Les told me a few packages are on their way, the first one arrived and its truly epic! thank you for the research. I have a fantastic place for it in the game room right next TOM.
Quoted from NeilMcRae:so Les told me a few packages are on their way, the first one arrived and its truly epic! thank you for the research. I have a fantastic place for it in the game room right next TOM.
SANDA really went all out so far!
Just checked the package i sent out on monday.... hasnt left the state yet 
$23 for priority and they cant get it out the state in 5 full days....
Quoted from Phat_Jay:Just checked the package i sent out on monday.... hasnt left the state yet
$23 for priority and they cant get it out the state in 5 full days....
USPS woes
I got an incredibly thoughtful and well-researched Secret Santa gift today, which makes me feel a little bad with my current trend of lurking! Not a lot of posts for them to go on, but they nailed it! Thank you Secret Santa!
I'll be adding a picture later to the cats of pinball thread of Franklin enjoying his treats, and I'm definitely installing those decals ASAP too!
The letter was 2 pages and really thoughtful as well. I love Pinside!
IMG_0305.jpegQuoted from Phat_Jay:$23 for priority and they cant get it out the state in 5 full days....
You ask for a Miracle...
I give you the USPS
Quoted from Phat_Jay:Just checked the package i sent out on monday.... hasnt left the state yet
$23 for priority and they cant get it out the state in 5 full days....
We sent a bunch of packages from MN to your area (family), via UPS ground, and they were all delivered 24 hours later. Post office is floundering.
Quoted from Fezmid:We sent a bunch of packages from MN to your area (family), via UPS ground, and they were all delivered 24 hours later. Post office is floundering.
Sent my SS gifts via FedEX. I will NOT be using the USPS until they figure out how to deliver packages once again, A rather Novel Idea. LOL
since no one has received any chinchillas (yet), I took it upon myself to order a pair. they will make their debut close to xmas and become next year's gift exchange mascots.
Quoted from j_m_:since no one has received any chinchillas (yet), I took it upon myself to order a pair. they will make their debut close to xmas and become next year's gift exchange mascots.
Well, not everybody's received their gift, so it may yet happen. Also we cannot be sure that some did not escape while in transit. The mail was slow in some cases, and centuries of breading has made chinchillas the perfect survivor and predator, so they would have escape given the chance..
No my friend, so far we've just been lucky that a brother or sister Pinsider has not been attacked, or worse.. 
Quoted from northerndude:She must be just vibrating wanting to open some!!
Ok... so I decided (under pressure) to start opening gifts before Christmas... but only one every other day, to make things last!
First box was................ a colourful "pinball wizard" metal sign. Nice! This one directly goes into the game room! Thanks!
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