Gifts from non Secret Santas
This is awesome. We got beef stew, chicken fajita, veggie manicotti, and veggie burger. Spencer has chosen the veggie burger and the girl wants the manicotti, for dinner tonight.
I've eaten me a whole mess of that stuff. iz good. Lil Lookout and I are planning a camping trip up north somewhere for Christmas break and he has asked if we could take MRE's. yippee. I always liked the spaghetti personally.
MRE's are a significant improvement from the past. I like most of the newer ones, they are edible and a few are pretty good.
I always liked the Extreme cold weather ones (the ones in white bags).
The oatmeal was a tasty, fulling breakfast and the calorie count goes up a bit over the regular ones. MRE's are expensive things though. I get mine from Fort Bliss and a friendly quartermaster.
I keep a case on my truck for emergency rations at all times.
My last case was eaten by a student on the sly so I never noticed until I unpacked the truck and found the now-empty box.
Those were the best, but you got two white bags for each meal issue because you needed more calories, I think they had 3400c if you ate the two bags.
I never thought about it before... would severe allergies make someone unfit for service?
Maybe not unfit for service but it may limit deployment opportunities.
Glad you guys Like them J&J , Give them a taste and Let me know what you think ,
Any body remember Scrambled eggs in a can from the Old C ration days ???
EWWWWWWWWWW!
Omg zip, the kids had so much fun with these. The wanted to go outside and find a "rock or something" to prop them up on even.... got totally into the spirit of the situation.
Ripley said the manicotti was fine... fine to eat... but she won't eat it again. She loved everything else, especially the hot chocolate and the peanut butter and crackers.
The boy loved the veggie burger, said he wouldn't even have guessed it was veggie (I guess that means it doesn't taste like a Garden Burger brand). He also got a chocolate banana muffin top and fruit punch.
Srsly, they were like kids at christmas opening and enjoying these things. Thanks so much Zip. I'll let you know how round 2 goes with the beef stew and chicken fajita... stay tuned.
Cool , glad they liked them . did you taste any of it ??
I didn't, I'm sorry. I thought I would but was just too picky/weird about food when push came to shove.
I might try the beef stew.
I can't promise I'll try, but I'll try to try... [/bart]
So where did you get them, Zip? It says commercial resale is prohibited.
Left over from last years Ice storm , they Last for YEARS !!!!
I love this part, from Wikipedia. So the government doesn't like civilians buying MRE's, but can't prove that it's illegal.
Resale status
As a result of earlier unauthorized sales to civilians, the Department of Defense requires that[INDENT] U.S. Government Property, Commercial Resale is Unlawful
[/INDENT]be printed on each case of MREs.[11] Despite the disclaimer, there are no laws that forbid the resale of MREs.[12] Although the government has attempted to discourage sellers from selling MREs[13], auction sites such as eBay have continued to allow auctions of the MREs because the Department of Defense has been unable to show them any regulations or laws specifically outlawing the practice. According to a spokesman for eBay, "until a law is passed saying you can't sell these things, we're not going to stop them from being sold on the site."[14]
The recent growth of MREs listed on eBay (2005) has resulted in a government investigation of whether they were intended for Hurricane Katrina victims, and the news media nickname "Meals Ready for eBay."[15] Some cases are being sold from Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and other Gulf states affected by Katrina. The internal cost of a 12 pack case of MREs is $86.98 (approx. $7.25 a meal) to the government, much higher than what is actually paid to vendors.[15] That said, MREs can be purchased by civilians directly from the contractors who supply MREs to the U.S. Government. These MREs are very similar to genuine US Government MREs, differing only in minor details (i.e. design of case and bag or type of spoon).
Flameless Ration Heaters are prohibited on commercial airlines unless sealed in the original MRE menu bag, due to the hydrogen fumes yielded by the chemical process of cooking with them.
Flameless Ration Heaters are prohibited on commercial airlines unless sealed in the original MRE menu bag, due to the hydrogen fumes yielded by the chemical process of cooking with them.
Darn, a hot MRE would have been cheaper and tastier than airline food.
Demand .... supply ... margin ... profit ... business.
YTF not? :confused:
It's not like they are classified material or anything, right?
Hello? [tap tap] America? Are you on?
Because it's materiel that gives people on the move a tactical advantage, and they would rather not let the bad guys have that.
Because it's materiel that gives people on the move a tactical advantage, and they would rather not let the bad guys have that.
Oh lord. They're going to confiscate my jerky!
The only way you can get the cases of MRE's from the military is to steal them, hence the ones that go to the government are marked accordingly. As you can see there is a huge market for these on the civilian side and they want to discourage soldiers from stealing them to resell them. The ones you can buy are similar, but not the same.
I don't steal mine. I either trade or buy them from a quartermaster who issues them to troops. They go out on maneuvers with them. They order pizzas and return the unused MREs which are no longer in the computer. Since they officially don't exist, he can legally dispose of them as he sees fit. I get a case now and then.
You know what I mean, I was not pointing fingers, just pointing out why the military marks them differently. I have a closet full of MRE's that I was issued but just never used. Including one Artic ration. :D
We've already got agents working on this. those of you that are in possession of illegal MREs should contact our office immediately. (703) 482-0623
It will go easier on you.
great thread because I know of another non-secret-santa gift that was mistaken for the secret santa one.... now there's a thread for it.
Merc , we and our Neighbor were given these Mres by the National Guard when we got
Ice Stormed out Last year , not stollen , our Neighbors didn't like them and gave them to us ,
Jinx and I were discussing them one nite in chat ,
She had Never had one so I sent her some to try .
A Box arrived from Jim and Jinx today Full of Goodys !!!!!!
some Soup
OMG BACON Salad Dressing !!!!
Some HOT Horse Raddish
Some Pickled Goodys
Some Hot sauce
and some Sweet goodys
Thanks Guys , we WILL Enjoy these Goodys !!!!!
that's some might fine snackin' there zippy.
I'm thinking you got the better end of the deal, there, zippy! :lol:
The amish stuff is fun to buy (I put back the pickled eggs and the chow chow), and nobody bakes a cake as tasty as a tastykake.
:D
The Jake and Amos stuff looks awesome! Hot pickled cauliflower and fungus? That's some decadent stuff, there. And the Ingelhoffer's cream style horseradish is to die for. Used to be able to get that here, but haven't seen it for years.
holy shit. we sent a bag of groceries as a Christmas present!
What's your next trick?
Gonna send ice cubes to Alaska?
The amish stuff is fun to buy (I put back the pickled eggs and the chow chow), and nobody bakes a cake as tasty as a tastykake.
:D
A friend, who's a Jersey native living in Dallas, was ecstatic to find he could
buy them online. :D
Merc , we and our Neighbor were given these Mres by the National Guard when we got Ice Stormed out Last year , not stollen , our Neighbors didn't like them and gave them to us ,
Jinx and I were discussing them one nite in chat ,
She had Never had one so I sent her some to try .
Like I said, I am not accusing anyone of anything. I was just commenting on how and why the government packages them the way they do. To try to cut down on theft by the soldiers looking to make a few extra bucks. Hell if you want some that I got from when I was on Active Duty, let me know and I will send you some more. :)
Don't take 'em Zippyt, they're stolen. :lol:
But they last for years! :)
Yes, well past the statute of limitations.:haha:
Is that like the statute of liberty?
I received a non-Secret Santa gift last Saturday.
At first I honestly believed it to be from my Secret Santa. In a way it was - he's not secret, but he is like Santa. He creeps in during the night and leaves you feeling warm and happy. Oh wait, that was my fantasy :yum:
I'll list my lovely gifts and let you see if you can guess who sent them.
In the top picture below, from left to right
Back row - drinks holder, Anti-Monkey Butt powder, card accompanying the goodies
Middle row - a lovely sparkly scrubber (like me) and my Russian dolls (see blow)
Front row - bacon scented air freshener which is now up in the kitchen
The Russian dolls are actually a set of measuring cups, so that I no longer have to have translations when I read American recipes, or get American packet mixes. My bro already wants to borrow them.
The air freshener is in the kitchen because it really does smell of bacon. I tried it on my door handle, and when I walked into the room I pushed a cloud of bacon scent in front of me. Not good for me or Diz.
All beautiful, all well chosen, and the dolls will be in use for years to come, especially as they take up such little space - a marvel of design.
I know who that's from!!!! :)
Excellent gift ideas!!!
Yeh - thats really uh well yeh thats great. Very thoughtful too. :yelsick:
How lucky am I?
Two non-Secret Santa gifts arrived for me today.
One in the morning, one in the afternoon.
The first one was there waiting for me when I got up.
I was excited as always, but by the time I got downstairs I had more or less convinced myself it was an item from eBay that I ordered on Mum's behalf (a novelty gift for my neice on Boxing Day - I'll post about it elsewhere when it arrives).
But.... but... It came in a Zazzle box. So I had an inkling it might be Cellar related. I checked the postcode, and it was one I recognised from writing out my Christmas cards.
On opening I found a Christmas cracker!
Yay! More than that, it was wrapped in glorious cat paper!
Inside were a pair of glorious long, pink, hand-knitted, fingerless mittens! Really my kinda thing. It confirmed my non-secret santa (and as she says, not intended to be secret either) was. I know a mad knitter from Scotland you see, so all the clues were in place.
Funnily enough, the Diz cat was madly curious about them. He had a good old sniff (before I knocked him off the table) and tried to bite my wrist when I had them on. This is out of character for him - I've come home before when cats have been sat on my lap, or dogs have been all over me and he hasn't batted an eyelid. Perhaps it's something to do with the yarn? Anyway, he enjoys them too.
Many thanks to the talented not secret not santa.
Pretty. And a perfect color for you, SG.
strawberry mittens for the Strawberry (co) Queen!!!
very nice limey! I agree. They are so SG.
Everyone's presents were so fun to see. :santa:
thanks for sharing the joy
My box from J&J was similar to Limey's but NON Secret Santa in my case.
I'd just like to point out that everything in my box will be used and appreciated. EVERYTHING!
The box itself is being used by Dad - he's taken all our odd glasses out of the cupboards for Christmas. This means only matching sets remain, and they are all easier to get to because there is more space. J&J's box is currently in the shed being used for this purpose.
The Walmart carrier bags partially used as packing went round to Grandad, who uses that size in his kitchen bin. His carers empty it every day for him, so it's not economical for him to buy binliners. Anyway, the most that's ever in there is a toilet roll tube and maybe some scrapings of leftover porridge!
The newspaper/ magazines/ coupon sheets have all been pored over by me & Mum. Mum is now sold on the idea of a holiday in OBX. It's unlikely to become a reality, but as she says, "I can dream!" We're both big seafood fans, and were drooling over the location and menus (and prices!) of the restaurants and take-aways.
The tissue paper is going to be reused to wrap the token gifts my family are getting this year.
My haul was:
2 types pancake mix
Real maple syrup
Hot Sauce
Chocolate pretzels (that I had to eat myself because the 'rents found the sweet/ savoury overlap too odd)
Soup mix
Personalised post-its
A Cherry Hill Nissan t-shirt (which confuses MUm because she thinks it's personalised)
And lots of interesting reading as packaging.
We have already started on the pancakes and maple syrup.
They made a very filling lunch, and tomorrow we are having them again. Once more, this time with bacon.
Thanks guys, you're amazing.
Merry Xmas SG! I had as much fun with the packaging as with the stuff inside just because I knew you'd check it all out. I wish I'd remembered the local take out menus I'd been saving up...
let's have a pic of you in that Tshirt, please!
and Merry Merry!
let's have a pic of you in that Tshirt, please!
I had Limey's gloves on too, but it blew my tiny brain trying to get me, my boob AND my hand in the same shot!
Hang on, shouldn't it be Cherry Helm Nissan?
Cheers for the amendment though - I'll forward it to my bro, who will at least get it!
some day......some day....and we WON'T be open during our Christmas Party
oh, and thanks for taking the pic!
Today, as I was on way out with Dotty for trip to vets, I met my mail lady, with what she "said was a box of bricks." Not so. Seems as if J&J from Pa. has sent me a box.
Photos later, sorry no cookies ate them. Thanks a bunch. J&J Best chiristmas present ever. bb
What did postie bring for me today I wonder?
Oh, a four foot Christmas tree... move along please, nothing to see here...
Yes, Big Sarge sent me a real, honest-to-goodness 4 foot potted tree. How amazing is that?
Sadly, we don't have the room inside for it. Mum was getting herself into a bit of a tizz about where it could go. We compromised on the garden, and everyone is very, very happy about it now. I always was of course - it's a Christmas tree!
Then again, the 'rents are out and haven't seen who I've decorated it yet :) It's... peppermint. And purple. Purple was Jebus' favourite colour you know. Picture in the Christmas trees thread because I am excited and want to write lots of posts about the same thing.
From left. Bacon dressing. 4 bags of great looking soup mix. Nuther dressing.
Tastykake. and the last of homemade cookies.
Thanks so very much. Made my day after returning from Vet.
glad you enjoyed. props to jinx. how bout them oatmeal cookies? HUGE! one makes a great breakfast.
I got a amazing pacage from Dana today.
Received, opened and appreciated before all the (family) shit went off. Not photographed in time though. I went to collect my prescription and by the time I returned a slanging match was in progress between my sis and niece.
Sorry to bang on about it, but it's a horrible sitch to be in at Christmas.
I took photos after (and some during consumption!) so please don't think you'll be forgotten Dana. Just waiting to do you proper justice, which can't be achieved in a grim mood. A mood temporarily lifted by dessert tonight - Cherries, Brandy Snaps and cream. Photos to follow. Oh, and the broken snaps were scoffed watching Noel's Christmas Presents, which gave us all the outlet we needed for a good cry.
Why, that's the only way to eat broken brandy snaps!
Hope things are starting to settle down a bit over there, hon.
We're getting by. Dad & I can put it out of our heads, but Mum can only forget for a while, then it hits home again and there is more sniping. She shouted at my Dad in the street today, "GET YOUR HANDS OUT OF YOUR POCKETS!" like he was a 3 year old. He was looking for his hanky to wipe his glasses. I know it's because she was worried he would slip and not be able to break his fall, but doing it in public with such a level of venom shows she is on edge.
Anyway. Onto more fun things.
Just when I thought I had received all I was going to, and already far more than I deserve, a HUGE box comes to the door. I mean it's a really big and heavy box! I answered the door this time, and the postman checked his address, because I had such a look of slack-jawed amazement on my face. "What now?!" said Dad jovially as I staggered in with it (how did you get it to the Post Office, babba?)
On opening there was gift upon gift.
A loan of 10? 12? books - too lazy to go to my room and check. A veritable feast for the likes of me, and I haven't asked for any books for Xmas, so this fulfills a real seasonal need. Oh AND a handwritten mini-critique of each.
Then the geographically appropriate gifts - Parkin and locally purchased brandy snaps. Then the name-specific jar of Cherries in Kirsch (Kirsch is my real name). Then the amazing and flamboyant carnival mask (closest she can get to a cock - I know the feeling) and UV body paint to go with it. Then a turkey dinner for the Diz cat.
I have no idea how I lucked into such largesse this year. I honestly can't believe it. And neither can the 'rents - Mum was giving her own side to the story over the fence this morning to our neighbour. "They must all think we're poor!" Sigh. Trust Mum to find a negative. Then again, the alternative is saying I am loved by other people, which I know pleases her immensely, but she could never say because it's too much like boasting.
I didn't take a photo of the Parkin, or the books, sorry.
Photo of me capering in mask will certainly be taken!
So. Reading the above and my surprised joy at getting goodies on 23 December, imagine my surprise at coming downstairs on Christmas Eve to this.
I know you can tell it's a hamper.
But to me it might as well have been John Barrowman in saran wrap and a ribbon around his cock, I was so pleased and surprised.
No clues on the outside - delivered from a local depot, nothing to state what was inside. I swear Mum and Dad are suspecting I order this stuff for myself now.
Nope, when I opened it there was a card. It's only from our own Aliantha! Major treats, not from Australia as we know that's not eco-friendly and anyway could never be fresh, but ordered for me from a UK supplier.
I won't patronise by listing the fruit - you can see it, you know what it is. But for me, unwrapping the tissue paper for each layer, each item was a lovely treat. Mum was next to me, squealing at the choc. Dad was trying to pretend he is bored by all this present opening, but sidling up to the pears (he adores fruit).
The grim morning we were having was raised by the shared experience of opening a hamper - something we used to do years ago. In fact my bro later remarked (see Happy Thread) that sadly it wasn't a real hamper as it didn't have tongue or hotdogs in brine in it. As a joke of course - it's a ref to the hampers of yore, when every year they would arrive with those two inedible items. Til I hit 15 and realised I adored tinned hotdogs.
Thanks again, Ali, and everyone who has put in so much time, effort and money this year. And also to the people who sent PMs. I've been amazed and touched with every delivery and well-wish and had a good old cry - in a happy way. You're amazing.
Wow!
FSM bless us, every one.
Now we've seen a pic, I think you have to send your bro' on a world tour of thanks, SG! It's only fair ...
I'm so happy!!!! I'm doing the Snow Day Dance even tho there's no snow!!
got a surprise box in the mail from the Phila. area...
Maple Walnut and Chocolate fudge!!!! from wolf!!!!
Really happy surprise and many thanks, wolf! I called my little sister and - if she can tear herself away from the herbiage that is christmas eve day, she will come over to take and post pics. Of the fudge AND the cock, natch.
Of course, the fudge was immediately sampled and it is divine!!
thanks! I feel validated!
Wow SG Great haul this year !!!
Yeah, big haul ya spoiled brat. :p :lol2:
Now we've seen a pic, I think you have to send your bro' on a world tour of thanks, SG! It's only fair ...
ha ha I think you're right!
lol @ world tour of thanks.
I scored a few shirts, a cordless drill and a handful of sundry goodies in the stocking. She scored a cast iron frying pan, two professional chef's knives and a chili pepper clock (she loves anything with a chili pepper on it). I never buy women clothing. Looks like this year I did good, for once.
Oh yeah, I impulse-bought a chef's hat for her too, to stuff in her stocking. I always forget the stocking stuffers. I earned mine, she got hers free! But since we're hosting the in-laws and a few others for dinner today, she can make good use of it. And her new knives too. Now I just have to teach her to care for the new things, and how to use them too. I have a phobia about putting good cutlery in a dishwasher. You just don't do it. Cast iron also. She doesn't understand why she can't scrub it with hot, soapy water. I have my work cut out for me!
We won't really be opening gifts until Sunday, but we're having a pretty decadent Xmas Day here. Watching "White Christmas", surfing the Web, drinking hot toddies, stuffing ourselves and enjoying the fact that we don't have to go out in the seven inches of snow we got overnight.
Grandbaby comes home today.
Dudes !!
I got a SNUGGIE !!!!!!!!
One day too late to play Mary in the cellar nativity!
Nonsense. It's never too late for Zippy to dress in drag.
Blue is your color Zip! It matches those awesome dimples! ;)
Zippy looks like a monk. I wonder if he makes beer. I bet a blue monk is like Blue Nun?
I got a pasta press, a yogurt maker (can't wait to try that out.... smoothies, yogurt, sauces etc...) A dragon holding a globe (which is a touch lamp). I also got the witches calendar and date book. A large fashion scarf in purples, a fuzzy winter scarf in many deep colours, a new pair of black yoga/comfy pants, a new black/white/grey light fashion jacket (things I would not spend the $$ on myself, but will wear the hell out of now that I do own them :) )
And then a few other things..... We tend to go overboard in this household at Christmas, and that is from best friend, hubby, 3 children, 2 parents and a grandchild ;)
I got a 6 foot alpaca scarf, a nail clipper set, and a memory foam pillow.
Of course I also got a new computer, but technically that wasn't a holiday gift.
I am giving myself a set of 5.11 praetorian patrol gloves. I am tired of getting leather gloves that are so thin they crack or rip after just one season.
"What now?!" said Dad jovially as I staggered in with it (how did you get it to the Post Office, babba?)
*grins* I'm stronger than I look.
So glad it all got to you in time for Christmas. Oh, and the books aren't a loan. They're yours to keep/give away/donate to charity shop once read. I can always get hold of a library copy if I want to read them again.
Far easier than you having to post from Ayles:P
That hamper looks amazing! What a well-chosen selection of goodies. The mangoes in particular look utterly delectable!
@ Zipp: well colour me jealous, what a marvellously cozy looking snuggie. I want one! I may even buy myself one.
Wear your robe backwards! ;)
I got a set of mixing bowls, a scrabble set, the Settlers of Catan board game, and one and a half necklaces (from my mom -- we're going to share three).
My husband got a GPS, Super Mario Bros for the Wii, a stainless steel vacuum carafe (unfortunately broken in shipping) and Rock Band 2 for the Wii. RB2 needs instruments and a mic; we have none of the above, so we can't play it till we get them. Apparently you can't get the wireless guitar for love or money these days. :mad2:
My brother got me an interesting item. It's a
surge protector outlet strip, 7 outlet, 2250 Joule, data line protection, yada yada yada. The interesting part is one of the outlets is a master and if you shut off what's plugged into that outlet, it shuts off the power to four of the other outlets, and two remain live. That will be handy because my monitor has a funky on/off button so I leave it on, and the sound system switch is on the sub-woofer way under the desk.
Secondly, my 89 year old Aunt, who doesn't know a computer from a trash can, accidentally bought me a Swiss army knife with a 2GB flash drive :D
Oh it also came in a very cute little brown shopping bag. I asked if she had made the bag... "No, half off at the drug store in Somers, CT." Go Auntie.
YEAH!!! I have an awesome Cashmere sweater and......
TASTY CAKES!!!! :D (the boxes are open already as you can see from the photo below)
I was going to take the photo in the sweater but I have trouble "filling it out" like some people do...heh. No names...(jinx)
Thanks guys! I wore the sweater yesterday and my boss thought it was "cute". :)
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