fifbrindacier Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Hi, welcome to the 2023 Secret Santa party ! A sunny Secret Santa that begins here, today, in France, with an outsider temperature of 33° Celsius ! We're in summer ! 2 1 "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 (edited) 36 degrees here, slightly warmer than usual for the time of year. Hi, Sophie! Secret Santa is back! Edited October 5, 2023 by Tidgy's Dad 2 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieLynn Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 Today is the first day in over 80 days it's not been nearly 100 degrees F (that's 38 C to y'all "Europeans"). I am READY for some cool weather! And also Ready for Secret Santa Shenanigans! 2 2 www.fossil-quest.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Trilo Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 A cool 19 C here! But still sunny. Glad to see Secret Santa 2023 has started! 2 “If fossils are not "boggling" your mind then you are simply not doing it right” -Ken (digit) "No fossil is garbage, it´s just not completely preserved” -Franz (FranzBernhard) "With hammer in hand, the open horizon of time, and dear friends by my side, what can we not accomplish together?" -Kane (Kane) "We are in a way conquering time, reuniting members of a long lost family" -Quincy (Opabinia Blues) "I loved reading the trip reports, I loved the sharing, I loved the educational aspect, I loved the humor. It felt like home. It still does" -Mike (Pagurus) “The best deal I ever got was getting accepted as a member on The Fossil Forum. Not only got an invaluable pool of knowledge, but gained a loving family as well.” -Doren (caldigger) "it really is nice, to visit the oasis that is TFF" -Tim (fossildude19) "Life's Good! -Adam (Tidgy's Dad) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 (edited) I'm glad you're here guys. The rules and recommandations are the same than last year. You enter your name into a pool and i match you with another player to send a gift, while another Santa sends you a surprise full of fossils and goodies ! We try to keep the gifts to close to a $35 value, so no one is sending too extravagant a gift nor a too minor one. This exchange is built on trust. All participants are putting in decent items that they have either found, purchased or been gifted in the hope that the other players have done the same. So please play fair, do not send a box of trash rocks. The better way is, while making your selection on what to send is to ask yourself if you would I be happy receiving this and your gift will reflect that. ALL ARE WELCOME TO PLAY AS LONG AS ADHERING TO THE FOLLOWING RULES : This is a Secret Santa Exchange. Your recipient won't know who is sending the gift or what it will be until it is received. Your name will in turn be chosen for a different Santa to send you a gift. It goes without saying that the real Santa will be watching and it is crucial that the identity of whom the gift is coming from be kept totally unknown, so that the real Santa gets all the thanks. So, please, don't post hints or contact who you are sending to ! If you have any doubts, contact me. One Item of Note This exchange is built on trust. All participants are putting in decent items that they have either found, purchased or been gifted in the hope that the other players have done the same. So please play fair, do not send a box of trash rocks. The better way is, while making your selection on what to send is to ask yourself if you would I be happy receiving this and your gift will reflect that. ALL ARE WELCOME TO PLAY AS LONG AS ADHERING TO THE FOLLOWING RULES : This is a Secret Santa Exchange. Your recipient won't know who is sending the gift or what it will be until it is received. Your name will in turn be chosen for a different Santa to send you a gift. It goes without saying that the real Santa will be watching and it is crucial that the identity of whom the gift is coming from be kept totally unknown, so that the real Santa gets all the thanks. So, please, don't post hints or contact who you are sending to ! If you have any doubts, contact me. One Item of Note - This exchange is for established members of the Forum. New members will have to wait until next year to participate. While it is rare, we have had a very few issues with new members not sending fossils, only receiving. As a result, you must have an established presence here on the Forum to participate. Any who may attempt to scam the system will be banned from the Forum, for life. Signing up for this fun annual event will begin immediately and entries will be accepted until the cut off for entry on the 31th of October at midnight your time. You will then be matched with your exchange partner and the names and addresses will be sent out in the following days. Please PM me, @fifbrindacier with your full name, postal address and tell me from what area or state you are. There are three choices you can make for your exchange recipient. 1. US domestic only. (includes Canada) 2. European only. (includes Morocco) 3. International. (iincluing Antarctica or Mount Everest) Some countries may ship by sea only which will take a lot longer, so, please ship your parcels as soon as possible. For the international cut off, sending until the second week in November is ideal. Post as soon as you can even for US domestic or European postage because during this period, the postal services are overwhelmed. International post can be cripplingly expensive, so please check before sending a heavy package. A few handy tips that we have learned from past exchanges that may help the shipping transactions run more smoothly and prevent any unnecessary hold-ups : 1. Make sure your items are cleared of dust and dirt as best as you can. Most foreign customs services frown upon having a load of foreign dirt entering their country. 2. Check the box on your customs form as "Gift." This gives a better indication that the contents are not being brought in for commercial resale. 3. In the past, when writing the description on the customs' declaration, it has been found that something very simple like "Geological Specimens for Educational Purposes." or "Study Grade Fossils for Educational Purposes - No Commercial Value." works well. You don't want your gift to incur taxes if the tax office thinks they're going to be sold on. 4. For the contents value box on the form, make sure you have a low valuation, say $10, no matter how high the value of the actual contents may be. Many customs departments will charge the recipient an additional charge based on the supposed value of the package's contents as declared on the form when entering the country. As it's a gift, we don't want any of our friends to have to pay to get it released from customs! 5. DO NOT PUT ZERO (0$) on the valuation section either. This automatically raises a red flag to customs. 6. Please, please, please package your items with lots of packaging material. Your parcel will get tossed by strong arms, jumbled, have heavier parcels placed on top, get turned upside down, etc... You can never have too much padding, especially when you parcel is travelling halfway around the world. If you can feel the slightest movement in your box, assume it will break. Pad every item individually and the spaces that surround them. You may open your parcels whenever you wish but take photos of your goodies as soon as they are out of the box and share them with us on this thread. And there's a game to be played guessing who sent which parcel of fossils with points to be won! So, don't mention your Santa by name until it has been worked out by others. Edited October 5, 2023 by fifbrindacier 1 1 "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Trilo Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 I'm in! 1 “If fossils are not "boggling" your mind then you are simply not doing it right” -Ken (digit) "No fossil is garbage, it´s just not completely preserved” -Franz (FranzBernhard) "With hammer in hand, the open horizon of time, and dear friends by my side, what can we not accomplish together?" -Kane (Kane) "We are in a way conquering time, reuniting members of a long lost family" -Quincy (Opabinia Blues) "I loved reading the trip reports, I loved the sharing, I loved the educational aspect, I loved the humor. It felt like home. It still does" -Mike (Pagurus) “The best deal I ever got was getting accepted as a member on The Fossil Forum. Not only got an invaluable pool of knowledge, but gained a loving family as well.” -Doren (caldigger) "it really is nice, to visit the oasis that is TFF" -Tim (fossildude19) "Life's Good! -Adam (Tidgy's Dad) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 OK for me. Coco 2 ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 Frost and a little snow flurries are expected here the next few days. I will take that over the record breaking 90s we had last week. I am in! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 (edited) I hope we'll be more numerous than last year. Edited October 8, 2023 by fifbrindacier "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted October 8, 2023 Author Share Posted October 8, 2023 I invite the ancient participants to reenlist. @Meganeura @Paleorunner @Rhiguita @ClearLake @Notidanodon @connorp @mr.cheese @Brett Breakin' Rocks @Fossilis Willis @IsaacTheFossilMan @Crusty_Crab @Clint08 @Sjfriend @Herb @snolly50 @I_gotta_rock @RandyB @Darktooth @badeend @KompsFossilsNMinerals @Scylla @marguy @Nimravis @OwlEyes @MSirmon @PFOOLEY @Pagurus @Kasia @kirkjeremiah23 @Dimitris @Adam86cucv @Nanosaurus @sixgill pete @PaleoNoel @nala @val horn @Praefectus @Vieira @ziggycardon @Monica @GallinaPinta @stats @sharkdoctor 1 "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 Hi Sophie, I am in for U.S. 1 I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleoNoel Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 Count me in for international! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snolly50 Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 2 hours ago, fifbrindacier said: ancient participant Hey! Just because my birthday was yesterday; that's no reason to belabor the obvious! 2 Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fin Lover Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 4 minutes ago, snolly50 said: Hey! Just because my birthday was yesterday; that's no reason to belabor the obvious! Happy birthday! 1 Fin Lover My favorite things about fossil hunting: getting out of my own head, getting into nature and, if I’m lucky, finding some cool souvenirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 20 minutes ago, snolly50 said: my birthday was yesterday @snolly50 a very happy belated B-day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanosaurus Posted October 8, 2023 Share Posted October 8, 2023 I am happy to do US again as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 I am in for the US of A 1 "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stats Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Count me in for the US. Cheers, Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 @fifbrindacier Hi Sophie. You didn't think to notify me along with the other ancient ones, so I guess I'm not as old as I thought I was PM on the way. 1 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted October 9, 2023 Author Share Posted October 9, 2023 6 minutes ago, Ludwigia said: @fifbrindacier Hi Sophie. You didn't think to notify me along with the other ancient ones, so I guess I'm not as old as I thought I was PM on the way. That's because you're you're exceptionnel my friend. 2 "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fifbrindacier Posted October 9, 2023 Author Share Posted October 9, 2023 9 hours ago, snolly50 said: Hey! Just because my birthday was yesterday; that's no reason to belabor the obvious! Happy birthday. 1 "On ne voit bien que par le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) "We only well see with the heart, the essential is invisible for the eyes." In memory of Doren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badeend Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 Great, in for world, again, great initiative! Thanks! Greetings Walter 1 “If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vieira Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 I'm IN for International 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggycardon Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 PM send, I've already been putting fossils aside from recent hunting trips for my package 1 Interested in all things paleontology, geology, zoology, evolution, natural history and science! Professional exotic pet keeper, huge fantasy geek, explorer of the microfossil realm, member of the BVP (Belgian Association for Paleontology), Volunteer prepper at Oertijdmuseum Boxtel. View my collection topic here: The Growing Collection of Ziggycardon My animal collection at the "Members pet" topic Ziggycardon's exploration of the microfossil realm Trips to Eben Emael (Maastrichtian of Belgium) My latest fossil hunt Next project will be a dedicated prepping space. "A mind needs books as a sword needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge." - Tyrion Lannister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svcgoat Posted October 9, 2023 Share Posted October 9, 2023 When does this take place need to make sure I'm in town Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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