HO, HO, HO!

It's close enough to Halloween and this year has pretty much sucked, so let's officially set our sights on Christmas again and with that comes the 4TH ANNUAL PINSIDE SECRET SANTA PROGRAM! The first year we had 61 participants, then 113 in 2018 and 147 in 2019. I'm almost scared to see where this year ends up, I think a lot of people could use a little bit more cheer in their lives this year! People have fun with it, get to be a big kid again and some really go the extra mile to be creative in finding out what to get their person. Because of all that, let's give it a another go this year and see if we can put even more smiles on people's faces come Christmas morning...just going to have to pull all the masks down so we can see them. I'll keep the Secret Santa sign up open until Saturday night, November 14th. So shout it from the rooftops...tell your friends, neighbors, co-workers over Zoom...we don't want anyone to miss out that wants in. After the November 14th I really have to close it down so I can match up participants, send out Secret Santa information and people can start buying their gifts. Once the sign up period has ended, I will create a new thread for all the participants and link to it in this thread as always.

If you are totally unfamiliar with what this SS Program entails, here is a quick synopsis:

Everyone who chooses to participate sends me the information requested below via private message and is put on the Secret Santa list. After registration is closed on Nov. 14th, I will randomly choose recipients for each Santa. Every Santa will receive the Pinsider name, list of ideas/information (if any were sent to me) and address of their recipient. They then do some investigation into their recipient's games and likes, they locate/purchase gift(s) and send to their recipient. Everyone who participates will send a gift(s) and receive a gift(s) to open whenever they choose this holiday season to hopefully help end this year on a good note.

If you want to check out the complete details and/or you just want to relive all the joy we had in previous years, here are the Secret Santa threads from the past...

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/official-2019-pinside-secret-santa-participants-thread
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/official-2018-pinside-secret-santa-participants-thread
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/official-2017-pinside-secret-santa-participants-thread

If you want to participate here is what I need from you via private message...

Your full name and mailing address

Your email address

Your shirt size

Suggestions: I suggest providing a list of ideas to help your Santa out, but ultimately your Santa will decide what to get you. Not required, but if you update your collection on Pinside, include a list of your current games in the PM to me and/or mention that you also like arcade games and/or things like pop culture for instance, that could also help give your Santa ideas and direction. Please don't come into this with huge expectations, or have hard feelings if it's not anything on your list, just enjoy what's received. Remember, this is as fun of an experience as you make it!

I think that's everything. I'll update usernames as I can from PMs as they come in in this thread as well, so everyone knows I got their message and that they are included. Feel free to post in this thread that you are participating or share past stories and encourage others to do so as well if you want. The more the merrier!

2020 Secret Santas: (Updated 11/15 - 1:55pm)

1 2Kaulitz
2 67cutlass
3 acitti
4 action76
5 Aflacjack
6 alexmogil
7 amkoepfer
8 Apinjunkie
9 Arcade
10 ArcadeTechNerd
11 Atari_Daze
12 atrainn
13 Axaios
14 balt
15 bbriese
16 BertoDRINK1
17 bicyclenut
18 Blitzburgh99
19 BlueIrocGuy
20 bowtech
21 bowz
22 BubbaBeast
23 Captainhook
24 Charliew65
25 Cheberha
26 ChrisPINk25
27 chubtoad13
28 Coindork
29 Colsond3
30 Coz
31 Daditude
32 davidldennis
33 dc2010
34 Dee-Bow
35 Devilsmuse
36 dnapac
37 docquest
38 drbrain
39 EasternBloc
40 easye9901
41 Ericc123
42 FatPanda
43 Fezmid
44 fiberdude120
45 fosaisu
46 gentrsa
47 Gexchange
48 gliebig
49 Gogojohnnyquack
50 grantopia
51 Gritty
52 groffdaddy
53 guitarded
54 Hayfarmer
55 HighVoltage
56 hogbog
57 homegameroom
58 hool10
59 hupchallenge
60 icanswim70
61 Insane
62 Isochronic_Frost
63 j_m
64 Jaeg
65 Jason_Jehosaphat
66 Jawa
67 jellikit
68 Jenniebear
69 jesperpark
70 Jimmyhonda
71 joefox22
72 jp1985
73 JRBBRJ
74 KingPinGames
75 Kwaheltrut
76 LesManley
77 Liftserv
78 lowbeau67
79 luckycreature
80 mandelbloom
81 matiou
82 Mcrorin
83 merccat
84 Metaluna
85 mickey
86 Miguel351
87 Mitoska
88 Mitoska (Son)
89 Mjonesproperty
90 Mr_Tantrum
91 MrMikeman
92 MrsPin
93 Mtg381
94 Murphdom
95 Muskie82
96 NeilMcRae
97 newovad
98 northerndude
99 northvibe
100 Number41
101 pacmanretro
102 PappaDubz
103 paulbaptise
104 Pdxmonkey
105 Penguideity
106 Percula
107 Phat_Jay
108 pin2d
109 pinballj
110 Pinballlew
111 pinballphotos
112 pingod
113 Pinmasher
114 Pin-Pilot
115 Pinsterwmass
116 Pintor
117 PokerJake
118 Ponzie
119 Propsnsports
120 RCA1
121 rodcom
122 Saltimbanco
123 SarverSystems
124 Secret Santa
125 SeeDeeS
126 SevenEightyRacer
127 SKWilson
128 SkyKing2301
129 Soapman
130 Stosel
131 swinks
132 TakingupSpace
133 the96stang
134 TiltDis
135 TommyGavin
136 TonyScoots
137 TrixTrix
138 troxel
139 Twilight1
140 undrdog
141 wesh
142 Westbury
143 Wolfmarsh
144 WonderMellon
145 ZEN
146 zenbone

Absolutely you can participate. Lots of our maple syrup loving, hockey playing, canoe paddling, poutine eating friends to north participate every year. International Pinsiders can join in the fun too, that just gets a little more tricky, but we make it work.

This is true, so actually the more the better!

At first glance tonight looks to be about 36 more e-mails I have to go through, so with the people from before we are pushing 50 participants after 2 days. I'll be adding everyone who sent me a PM with their information to the participant list, so make sure to check there for your username to make sure you are in. Thanks!

SS listed updated. Good to see so many familiar pinsiders from years past, plus a healthy mix of new pinsiders to the program!

List is now updated again with anyone I have gotten a private message with info from.

I've seen a few people post that they are in or wanted in, but I haven't gotten a PM from them. If you want in, please shoot me a message with your info so I can add you even if you have participated before. I don't just want to assume your information from a previous year is still correct and have a package or e-mail end up somewhere you won't see them. Thanks!

List should be fully updated again. Up to...

76 (resized).jpg

List updated again. Up to 85 now. Lots more Canucks and first timers just opted in on the fun!

We've crossed the century mark. 4 days left to go to get in.

101 (resized).jpg

I haven't, only because I wanted to make sure that participants were Pinsider members and not just random pinball enthusiasts. I think it would potentially be much harder to keep track of and keep random strangers honest off of Pinside.

Note to self: pair balt up with fiberdude120.

You'd be the bell of the ball anywhere you went in outfits like those.

134 now and climbing...just over a day left for signing up...

The time has come to enter everyone to the Secret Santa Super Computer so it can process all the information and get everyone matched up! I'm going to shut it down here and create a new thread for all participants to follow to keep things clean and simple. That thread is...

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/official-2020-pinside-secret-santa-participants-thread

If you are still late to the game or know someone else who is, you still have a chance to get it before everyone is matched up. Just shoot me a message. Other than that, Moderators robin please shut down this thread since registration is now closed. Thanks again!

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