Hi there.
No I know it is not time for me to open.
2 more hours, but I thought I would start the thread.



Tell us what you've got!!! :bananadance: :bananadance: :bananadance: :bananadance:

We have:
Turn of the Century - Kurt Andersen
From Publishers Weekly
A blockbuster fiction debut for media insider Anderson (formerly editor-in-chief of New York magazine, co-founder of Spy), this brilliantly conceived, keenly incisive social satire draws fresh humor out of the overhyped territory of millennial madness. Beginning his myopically futuristic novel on February 28, 2000, Anderson employs a future-present tense in which he mischievously tweaks current attitudes regarding marriage, friendship, the mass media, Wall Street and the computer industry, just to name a handful of his numerous targets. With ferocious energy, he also captures the essence of New York, Las Vegas, L.A. (its permanent sunniness, annoying and even slightly scary after a while, like a clowns painted-on-smile) and Seattle (... like a gawky guy with a great body whos bald and stammers and wears dorky clothes). These are not new topics for mockery, but Andersons eye is fresh and his irony carries a potent sting.

Only Forward - Michael Marshall Smith
From Library Journal
When a senior member of Action Center disappears, the authorities hire Stark to find him. Stark succeeds in his mission"and then the trouble begins. The author of Spares sets his latest sf action thriller in a color-coded near future, where independent neighborhoods vie for dominance in a dangerous and deadly high-tech world. Smith combines a whirlwind plot with a genially laconic hero to produce a fast-paced tale that belongs in large sf collections.


Slammerkin - Emma Donoghue (I'm so looking forward to this one in particular!)
From Library Journal
"Slammerkin," an 18th-century term meaning a loose gown or loose woman, is a fitting title for Irish writer Donoghue's (Hood) third novel. Mary Saunders's mother scratches out a meager living as a seamstress in 1760s London, but Mary longs for a more luxurious life with fine ribbons and clothes. At 13, she sneers at her mother's suggestion that she take up the needle, then makes a fateful mistake that leads her into prostitution. On the street, the young woman indulges her fine tastes and lives an independent life. When illness forces her to seek help, she vows to reform her lifestyle. Mary flees to a tiny hamlet where she finds work as a maid and seamstress. In her new life, she discovers the comforts of a home and family. But she questions whether "honest" women are any freer than prostitutes and is unable to forget her former life and her need for autonomy a need that leads to violence. This eloquent and engrossing novel, rich in historical detail and based on an actual murder, raises numerous issues about a woman's station in society during this period. An ideal choice for book groups; recommended for all public and academic libraries.

Frenchman's Creek - Daphne du Maurier (I love Daphne du Maurier!)
It's a seventeenth-century costume drama, in which the lead player, Lady St. Columb ("milady"), has left London and her husband out of boredom and gone alone to her country estate in Cornwall. There she encounters a French pirate, a man of wit, urbanity, civility, and charm and, on a whim, joins his pirate crew.

Plus Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (funny because I sent a copy of that to my Halloween partner too :D)

Plus a cow mug (not just any old cow mug but a textured cow mug). I love cows and I think this'll be my herbal tea mug. :drool:

Plus a fridge magnet called Hair-ee Magno-z (funny wee pink guy with magnetic arms and legs).
My son is going to love that! Okay, update: my son is scared of the little pink guy, but that's okay - it can actually stay on the fridge!

Some incense - 2 sandalwood (mmmm) and 1 harmony (to help combat anxiety and promote balance with a soothing blend of ylang ylang, rose, jasmine and musk. ) These are going in my underwear drawer. :blush:

Some sandalwood soap and the brand name is Priya, which is the name of our local Indian restaurant. :drool:

Yay! And because I recognize that address from the last exchange, I can reveal that my lovely :hug: partner is akashafamily! Thank you for a lovely treasure trove of goodies. :yahoo:

Finally I have a few moments to open my parcel.

I received The Princess Diaries: Third Time Lucky a wishlist book from luckaye.

And a beautiful cross stitched book mark of a wizzard. I wished a was talented enough to be cross stitch. I will be hiding this from my children.

Thank you very much luckaye. :hug:

Hello everyone! It’s soon my time :)
While I’m waiting I’d like to thank akasha for organizing this great exchange :wub:
(as always I’ll edit this post while I’m opening parcels so if you're in masochistic mood and follow this live click F5 from time to time :))

Soon … soon … ::::::: midnight :::::::

[00.00]
OK, first I’m taking the envelope (there is a box as well) ... And taking something which is in a bag, but I won’t tell you what’s on the bag because this might have something with the identity of my secret spook :rolleyes:
Taking out a notebook with the same text on it’s cover (text which might have something with the identity of my secret spook).

[00.04]
Then I’m taking out of the same bag the book... It’s relatively big and I’m not recognizing the cover (yet) ... ok I’m reading back cover (still don’t look the title)... It says One of the most important texts in the history of modern art, Wassily Kandinsky’s remarkable analysis of the spiritual significance of art... :o

Concerning The Spiritual In Art by Wassily Kandinsky



This is AMAZING book! I adore Kandinsky. This is very important work and I’ve read it long time ago but this time I have my own copy!!! :w00t2:
[00.13]
I’m taking the box (it’s heavy)! Oh but it says “Don’t open until October 31st” :huh: well, too late!
First I’m taking something book-shaped and nicely wrapped ... Wheee!!! Oh dear, this is beautiful!!! It’s not book but collection of postcards ... wait I have to check if there is one of mine favourite (and the one I saw live in Madrid) ... yep it’s here:

This is Painting With Three Spots by Wassily Kandinsky. I’ve spent an hour in the front of this paint in Musseo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid and was constantly going back to it. This might sound silly for majority of you but I lived for so many years in the country where crossing the border and actually see these works was in the sphere of fantasy, where you could only listen stories about breathtaking exhibitions and after years of longing to feel that energy … then it’s not strange to spent hours (days) in museums when you finally get the chance!
This little book is collection of postcards by Wassily Kandinsky :wub:
[00.20]
Now I’m taking an envelope with angry ghost and Frankenstein on it ... but I think this I’ll leave for the end since I’d say inside is card with definitive identity of my lovely artistic spook :) (so far I have only some inklings :whistle:)
[00.22]
Putting hand inside the box again and taking out lovely dark and spicy organic chocolate. Oh it’s precisely the kind I love and (which is equally great) precisely the kind my girlfriend doesn’t like :evil:
[00.24]
BookCrossing labels are the next what I’m taking out of the box. But I never saw this kind! There is text on numerous languages. I think these are the new edition. Lovely!
[00.26]
Another chocolate … with caramelized roasted cocoa nibs! It’s dark enough to be mine ONLY!
[00.28]
There are three book shaped ... ups what’s the word ... rubber ... but rubber eraser (you know what I mean?). Three little books (I had to check if these are for eating and no they aren't :blush:)
[00.31]
Now there is something (book) wrapped in violet paper ... unwrapping ... peeking ... oh I’m recognizing the author!

Seventy Times Seven by Salvatore Sapienza



Look what’s on the back cover:
”Give me chastity and self-restraint, but not just right now.” -- The Confessions of Saint Augustine
How convenient, isn’t it?
I remember this book produced even before it has been published quite a stir because it deals with (homo)sexuality inside the Catholic Church! Of course I had to add it on my wish list! :whistle: Great pick my dear spook!
[00.39]
Going back in the box... :cool: I have very (and I mean VERY!) devilish, devilish partner! Well of course, Forbidden Fruits are the sweetest ones, right? Book I’ve just unwrapped ... is a delicious journey into the heart of vice and desire. I’ve added this book on my wishlist after recommendation from a good friend and I have to say this is absolutely perfect pick for Halloween!

The Devil's Picnic:
Around the World in Pursuit of Forbidden Fruit by Taras Grescoe



[00.47]
Now going back to the envelope with angry ghost and Frankenstein... Oh dear I think after all you [my dear spook] gave me an inkling about who you are with red herring ( but I guess you knew that! But look from the bright side: I could throw some ghost or bat or whatever on your mom's house :evil:). So, remember the bag and notebook from the beginning of the post? The text on both of them is: Sunlight Vision so my dear spooky, artistic, devilish Sunny thank you so much for making this Halloween absolutely amazing! :wub:

[00.54]
And before I pass the torch I have to write one anecdote. [typing]
I’ve just noticed inside The Devil’s Picnic in cursive, word criadillas which reminded me on one joke I’ve heard in Spain.
Namely after the corrida man went into a restaurant to eat and that day’s specialty was dish with the strange name SITUATION so he ordered that one. The dish was rich and delicious and he filled his stomach so he asked a waiter what he ate?
- "That was "criadillas", testicles of the bull you watched in corrida" waiter replied.
Few weeks later man was in the same restaurant starving so he ordered the same meal but this time he could eat the whole meal in only a few swallow and of course after he finished it he was still hungry. In his anger he called a waiter and start yelling : - “What is this? Last time I filled my stomach with this meal!”
And the waiter calmly replied:
- “Oh sir, but today’s SITUATION is different. Today the bull has won!”

Have a lovely and spooky Halloween everyone!!!
((( Philippa ))) :kiss:

But wait, there's more! :hug:

hahahaha I am trhilled to read your posts: Medusa, Akasha and Milan.

Great books everyone. :bananadance:
God How I love the opening days.
(it is 00.14 but I want to behave myself so I have something to look forward when I wake up tomorrow)

Meggy Dusa. I loved Slammerkin!!! :wink:

I think that's a lovely sentiment, Milan.

And that's a stunning painting; I can see why you're drawn to it. I keep scrolling up to look at it myself.

:drool: :cry: :drool:

Maybe Slammerkin could go in a swap? Historical Fiction?

Milan you are editing. :whip:

I read about a painting I thought Huh I did not see one. But now I do. It is asbsolutely beuatiful. I want to see it better.


And you are so selfish. Being happy that your girlfriend will not like the chocolate. :angry:



















(You are like me hahahaahahaha :evil: )

I love that painting.

Hi Teresa. Welcome. :)

I'm trying to stay awake to open my package at midnight but I'm too sleepy to actually come back and write about it, so I'll open it now but leave the description for tomorrow after work.

Yes it is.
I remember when I saw for the first time Van Gogh (again in Madrid). I was standing for who knows how long in a front of three paintings on one wall. In one moment I've noticed that people are looking me strangely ... only then I realized that I'm crying ... like a baby.

And then I have book about Belgrade with the old photographs of our museums with special exhibitions of the most famous painters (and other artists), including Van Gogh; with numerous people inside ... and then I'm getting another slap where we were once and where are we now. This is so sad... so sad...

:whip: Look who's talking??!! You're hiding from your own daughter!!! :o

(on the other hand I'd probably do the same)
Oh and look, akasha is hiding stuff from her kids as well :rofl:

I know!!! :hug: :whip: :bash:

:o Oh, that is so bad!!

:rofl:

Yay! We've started!

I work at 7am tomorrow, so I won't be able to stay up for a midnight opening. I'll probably wait until after work :(.

I just got home from doing my shopping and found another Halloween package waiting for me at the front door.

Inside I found A spooky looking pen, I bag of Cat and Pumpkin fruity flavoured jelly's :drool: a gift voucher from Angus and Robertson book store, a very cute bug card and another book - The Princess Diaries: Mia Goes Fourth.

Thanks again luckaye :hug:

:wave: Hi Marlene. Thanks for the welcome.

Yay! The 2nd package arrived on time!
There was another packet of the jellies but my hubby ate them before I could pack them in the package! :rolleyes:

Ditto for me (except I'm at work before 6).. Happy opening!

I sure hope my partner got their package, as I haven't heard a peep!! :giggle:

If tonight is like last night, I'll probably wake up around midnight and not be able to sleep :lol: But since I had insomnia last night, I'll probably sleep all night tonight with no problem :angry:

Must...sleep...can't stay up till midnight. :yawn:

My box is very rattley. I want to know what's inside! :P

I'll open my package first thing tomorrow and then report in when I get to work. See you all then!

I cant stay up :angry:

Your happy, energetic avatar is very much at odds with that statement. :lol: It seems weird when you post that you're tired, because your avatar is so hyper!

That's exactly what I thought when I read that! :lol: I always expect Chronic to say something perky after seeing that avatar first! :giggle:

i won't be posting my stuff until tomorrow (that is tuesday) night since I need my sleep now and I have a long day tomorrow.

Lexie

I'm up anyway, so I'm going to open my box...

Crap...camera not working...

Well, I have a box that was industrially sealed with tape. On the top is a card...but I'll hold off on that for now...

Books (all from my wishlist):

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett



(now I can finally try out the discworld series...just what I need...to start a series with a ton of books in it...I may be tracking these down for a long time...but I already have the second book in this section)

Waterland by Graham Swift



(and a 1001 book, so I'll be able to use it for that box...)

AND

Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively



(I'm excited to read this one -- I think I read about it on a list of Booker Prize winners, but I'm not totally sure. I know I'd heard great things.)

And then

--I also got the cutest pair of pumpkin socks. If I didn't have to be in court tomorrow, I'd totally be wearing these to work. Maybe I'll wear them under my boots on Halloween itself.

--A little window hanger/stained glass type thing with a cute cat/Halloween scene.

--A coffee mug with ghosts, moons and Boo! on it. This is coming to work tomorrow for my tea.

--A huge box of Jelly Belly jelly beans. Yummy! These are my favorites. :yum:

--A CD of Classical Music for Reading -- this looks like it has nice pieces on it. All familiar selections.

--A Halloween pencil with a pumpkin eraser topper.

--Halloween tissues. These are so darling. Who knew they even made these?

--A pen with my name on it -- this is perfect for work where my pens are always walking away from my desk. As a child, it was impossible to find anything with my name correctly spelled (it was always Joanne, Johanna, or Johannah; never Joanna). Thanks!

My wonderful, wonderful spook was geishabird.

Thanks so much! :wub: :whee:

Okay, I'm opening my package now...

First... an adorable cloth orange bag with a black cat on it... stuffed with Reese's peanut butter cups!

Also, a white bag with cats and pumpkins and ghosts... I'm going to open that later.

Next, books!

Oh my word!



Nightlife (Leandros Book 1) by Rob Thurman



Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (Magic Shop) by Bruce Coville



Goblins in the Castle (Magic Shop) by Bruce Coville



Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori Book 1) by Lian Hearn



Brilliance of the Moon (Tales of the Otori Book 3) by Lian Hearn



Daughter of the Empire (Riftwar : The World On the Other Side Book 1) by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts



The Wizard Hunters (Fall of Ile-Rien Book 1) by Martha Wells

All wish list books!!!!! :o :wub:

And now, I'll open the white bag..

Inside, there's a whole slew of goodies!

~An adorable wooden pumpkin decoration to put out on my desk
~A Pumpkin Flasher necklace/clip - a light in the shape of a pumpkin that will flash or stay on steady for safety or cool effects
~A PixPen - a pen you can put a picture in!
~A really cute book lover pin
~To pads of "V" shaped sticky notes

And my favorite:

~A GORGEOUS Book Thong handmade by my spook - it has beautiful teal beads and the charm on one end is a faerie and the charm on the other end says "believe"


And now for the card... my wonderful spook is CTGMOM!!!!

Thank you so much, Laura! :wub:

I'll try to post pictures of some of the stuff later, but it's too late to mess with the camera now.

ETA - Pictures added here :wub:

So what did everyone else get? Come on people! I know there are some FABULOUS packages out there and I WANNA SEE WHAT'S IN THEM!!!!! :whine:

I got three books from PaperBackSwap.com, that's right, THREE!!! :bananadance: :bananadance: :bananadance:

Here they are in the order that they arrived:



Thank you very much secret spook! All three books were on my wish list! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Please reveal yourself!

Thank you for organizing this exchange akasha! :kiss:

Turtle and I opened ours up. But will post tomorrow. I'm staring at this computer and my eyes are getting very sore. Besides I want to take pictures. I love what I got :bananacheer:

:nono: teasing is not fair - I want to know now! :whine:

*skips off to get box* I'll post here when I'm done. It's midnight, FINALLY.

Edited to Update:

First the book envelope that came from Anth... ooohh! It's Forever in Blue (4th Summer of Sisterhood) WOOHOO! I love this series. I wanna go look at the journal entry, but I'll be good and not go peek...



Okay... the box... the razor knife... ahhh.... the sound of cutting open this box finally... and it's.... a box of crumpled paper


Okay not really... it's stuff!

And it's from Franci - YOU DOG!



Oh oh oh oh, I got all kinds of cool stuff! I got spreader things (seriously, can you believe I have NONE of these? That's AWESOME - it's one of those things I'd never buy for myself!). a pumpkin window cling (for the window above my desk!), scary sounds CD (oh, that's totally gonna be on with the strobe lights and fog machine - my neighbors already think we are FREAKS with all the Halloween decor), a Frankenstein rubber duckie (OMG, that is the funniest thing I've ever seen), halloween bubbles (to keep my youngest at home kid busy on Halloween day!), candy (OMG, they are Lindor Truffles - you are my new bestest friend *hides them from the kids*), pencils, 2 crafts (for the kids I assume and thank you for sending identical ones - you are such a mom!), a little bear with a little book (so cute, I don't wanna open it!)... ooohhh... soo cool!



Now then, you had me so freaking stumped. I thought I had it all figured out when the book came from Anth. I even thought it was still Anth screwing with me. Then the box came last week FROM FLORIDA and I've been confused every since! *laugh*

(for those that don't know, Franci lives like 45 minutes away from me here in TEXAS)

Thank you! That was so sweet of you and I feel spoiled! I absolutely love doing crafts with the kids (I know that's weird) and these are candy corn magnets so we will be doing them when my son gets home from school before Trick or Treat! I'll also give him the pencils, he'll think you are cool - especially because we've met you!

Thank you again! I'm gonna get some sleep now!!!

obligatory thank you to
flickr.com

I agree!

Sci was teasing AND she used the evil banana!!! :cry:

:whine:

I wanna know what Sci and Turtle got!!! I wanna know NOW!!! *stomps foot*

This is my first exchange :bounce:

I got 4 of my wish list books, a salt candle holder that is really awesome. I've seen one of these before, but never had one. I also got a really nice postcard and Halloween card from my new friend zzz

I had no idea who my benefactor was until I opened all the boxes and books and there was no card. The only card I had came from Serbia and zzz had tried to make me think earlier this week that it was a red herring. I honestly thought my partner lived in Florida because that is where the first two pkgs came from.

Anyway, I got 2 books from Garth Nix's Weekday series, the first book in the Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau, And Liszt's Kiss by Susanne Dunlap. I'm glad the last one was translatable because I had Liszt's Kill on my wishlist. (I'm real good with the typo-s)

KathyB

FINALLY midnight!!!!!!! :yahoo:

I opened up my pumpkin box (pics to come tomorrow if my computer cooperates) to find a Halloween cloth napkin - very cute! Underneath was a treasure-trove of Halloween goodies:

"The Witch is In" sign - I'm going to hang it right outside my bedroom :shedevil:
Six little colored rubber duckies (for my rubber ducky collection)
A rubber ducky bath thermometer (so cute!)
A braided loofah bath thing
Pumkin' the pumpkin beanie baby
A movie-theater sized box of Nerds candy
6-pack of Twist-up Crayons (I LOVE crayons! There's just something about the way they smell...)
A tennis ball/rope toy for the dogs (Layla stole this right away)
Pumpkin earings
a calico kitty pin
Party Picks pumpkin pins
Halloween pencils
Pumpkin hanging ornaments
A tissue-paper vulture decoration (which Layla's terrified of, hehe :giggle: )
Skeleton decorations
Green cobweb socks
A magnetic notepad (very cute)

And of course, there are also books!
The Dog Who Loved Too Much by Nicolas Dodman - I have a copy of this in my PC that I'm always lending out so I'm glad to have an extra!
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot - I read this a couple years ago and plan to reread it now. :)
BAD DOG! True Tales of Trouble Only a Best Friend Can Get Away With by Doug Brown and Kaori Brown - this looks like fun!
Cats in the Parsonage by Clair Shaffer, Jr. - another book I haven't read
and last of all
101 Cataclysms - for the Love of Cats by Rachael Hale - this is an adorable book with cute photos of cats and various cat-ish quotes

Thanks so much to my great partner, LML! :wub: Hopefully my computer will cooperate and I can upload photos tomorrow since words can't really do the package justice.

Happy Halloween!

I took photos, but it will be later before I can post them.
But:
My DEEEElightful Spook has Made me very happy!
First Halloween deely boppers- you know the things you wear on your head...

Except mine are orange with TWO bats on each end!

Then mini markers and highlighters- I can ALWAYS use these. Where do all my sharpies go?

Two- no make that three bookmarks! One from San Diego (home of my smoky spook), one with candy corn, and one with a triceratops on it! :D

Two note pads- Post -its with tootsie rolls (oh yum!) and one with Charles Wysocki's Frederick the literate"
Who resembles Sparkle the tissue paper queen (at the moment)
Some spooky stickers- I just love these puffy ones!

Tins of Chocolate!!!! :drool:
Altoids dipped in dark chocolate and Mini Tootsies! The family is getting nowhere NEAR these!-- And HUGE bag of dark chocolate M&M's! :yum:

Wrapped up in the coolest spider web wrap-
Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger tea! Perfect timing! I think I only have a couple bags left. You are a spooky psychic!

A tiny frame covered in sunflowers. I'll put a photo of my cutie in it. (The cat, of course! :lol: )

A big green pen! I won't be losing this one!
And a green stretchy book cover.
Oh I just love green, green, green.....

Two Better than Chocolate books! :hug: :hug:
Life mask by Emma Donaghue- I loved Slammerkin! This should be great!

and In Like Flynn- The new Molly Murphy mystery! :woot: :woot:


And what's this? Way down in the bottom?

A Jack-O-Lantern! :rofl: He's big and orange and will hold treats on my desk!

Thank you my wonderful chocolate bestowing, psychic, smoky spook- Alsgal!

:hug: :hug:

:bananacheer: :bananacheer: :bananacheer:

Here are the contents of my fantastic package from my Scary Secret Spook, Sejent!





The two wishlist books I got are If Only In My Dreams by Wendy Markham and Love and Meatballs by Susan Volland. Volland wrote my second favorite read of 2006 so I am excited to have another of her books to read.

I got a tin of yummy smelling pumpkin spice loose tea and a box of tea filters to make my own tea bags. I think this is just too cool! I've never made loose tea before outside of the tea shop. I am looking forward to trying this.

Speaking of yummy smells I also received a spray bottle of Black Raspberry Vanilla room scent and it smells FANTASTIC!!!! There is also a vanilla sugar candle that came in a powdered sugar container. Too cute!

There is an adorable Mickey Ears Santa hat ornament to go to on my Disney themed Christmas tree. Its one I admired on my trips to Disney and now I have one of my very own!

Next is a bottle of Penzy's Tuscan Sunset Italian Seasoning. I am so excited about this. When I am not here I am usually at Disney fan sites or foodie sites and all the foodie RAVE about Penzy's spices. This will be my first time tasting one.

There is a giant bag of Skittles that I need to save until after my appearance in the bridesmaids dress from hell the day after Thanksgiving (let's just say its a bit "snug")- that is if I can keep Mr. Ramson away from them. I've caught him trying to open them three times already!

Finally there is a lovely Jack O Lanterns card with a personal message from Miss Sejent herself.

Thank you so much for such a wonderful box. You were definately a friendly ghost!

Opened my box and couldn't wait to come and say! Even though should be getting ready for work :giggle:

I got THREE books:

Master of the Moor - Ruth Rendell
Heartstones - Ruth Rendell
Winnie The Pooh - AA Milne

And other yum-ness

CHOCOLATE and a plastic skeleton and fake blood and teeth and a halloween bag :)- I have taken a pic but it will not upload and it's just making me stressed now :(

Thanks secret Spook sorry I have given up on the picture

ETA My secret spook is BIGCURLYLOZ :kiss: :kiss: how fabulous!

Now I will be late for work