saturday

alright, so no one has really responded yet...not surprisingly, but still!
When I say lunch, I'm not going to specify a time as such because it doesn't matter for me, it's up to you guys. Otherwise i will just arbitrarily set a time like i did the date. Also location I'd like to leave up to a calgary person who might have an idea. personally i was aiming for something like outback steakhouse (where i will get a discount) and it's relatively cheaper for a huge meal...although that's moredinner so it would be like late afternoon get together that ended up at a restaurant or whatever it is. No one has mentioned any conflicts on this day...nor any ideas on the karaoke bar...can't really set anything unless i know what u guys are interested in doing.

Next week we should try to plan a day to go to the club. Those who are working should post their schedules ahead of time...same goes for people with a lot of dinner parties that have to be scheduled around.

I think it's too hard to do boxing day unless someone calls and says they're interested, so I'll drop that.

ooh so christmas is lke...a few hours away...better get to bed!
Night night

B-day Plans

Hiya,

Are you guys free on the 29th? I asked last time we met, but I figure a written confirmation is better. I'm planning a birthday party that day, which will most likely be held at my place. There'll be cake and whatever games and activities we can think up before then. I'll try to see if the microphones at my place works, if so, then there'll be karaoke. And if that doesn't work out, I'll find some activities for us to do, like T-shirt painting or baking. XD

My pet idea right now is a series of games based on survival in the wilderness. Competitions on building 'shelter' with popsicle sticks and glue guns, 'foraging' with candy and plastic spoons, making clothes via T-shirt painting, 'hunting' with straw blowdarts and stuff like that. It'll be a bit of work, but if people are interested, we'll see how it works out.

So...

Date: Dec. 29th, Monday
Time: 12:00pm-10:00pm

weekend plans

alright, so let's get together this weekend...why don'twe randomly select saturdaylunch somewhere. i hear that kris isn't even in calgary right now so we can go out clubbingnext week...whether he's here or not, but we do need a designated driver! There's nothing happening around crowfoot...maybe we should just go meet jamie in kensington. After that i don't know...any ideas? Do you guys like karaoke? Maybe we can do that....there must be a karaoke bar around there!
Oh, anyone interested in boxing day sales? I don't wanna buy anything but i should probably get my dorito ass off the couch.

(em and danni...argh u both left stuff at my place...grumbles.)
ttyl
Oshi

Second Shortest Wishlist Ever

- Cash (I'm still serious. I love money.)
- The Office season 4 DVD
- Batman LEGO sets (preferably something with Mr. Freeze if it's not too expensive?)
- Safeway gift cards
- Disco ball Christmas tree ornaments or just disco balls in general


Please don't buy The Dark Knight on DVD for me. I am waiting for the gift set (with the Batpod?).

Final Details for Pseudo-Christmas 2008!!!

Fellow Dukes and Duchesses, gods and goddess, I bring with me good tidings of great joy at this time of year from Higherton Shire.

I am very, very, very pleased to announce the finalized details for Pseduo-Christmas 2008, the most important holiday in the Mutualese calendar! You are all cordially invited whether or not you are participating in the gift exchange.

And now, the details:

Logistics
Date: Monday, December 22, 2008
Time: Arrive anytime after 2:00PM, and stay until whenever Queen Emiline Starwing kicks us out.
Location: the Shrine of the Woodlands, thanks to Queen Emiline Starwing's graciousness

Queen Emiline has requested that you are to bring, if possible: board games and other entertainment, snacks, beverages, and other consumables.

I would be more than happy to make the rounds and pick-up people as necessary, but what will end up happening is I will disappear for a few hours (work at the restaurant) and then come back if the party's still going. If there are a lot of people for me to pick-up, is anyone willing to be an extra chariot driver? And is anyone willing to drive people home if need be?

Present Exchange
I will be sending out an email right after this one from the Elfster website, and it will have the person that you will have to buy for. As for the joke gift auction, I haven't heard much feedback about it, either for or against, so, any last thoughts about it? If the silence on the issue continues, can we assume that we will not pursue it this year, but will consider it mayhaps in another year?

And as a courtesy to your secret santa, receivers, please post your wishlists on the blog ASAP. Because you're only buying for one person, it can be shorter than previous lists. Remember that $30.00 is the maximum! No more! N'est pas?

Conclusions
I'm excited. 'Nuff said. Special thanks goes out to:
-Twillfor getting the whole process started.
-Natrix and Scorpio for keeping me on my toes.
-Krisfor actually checking and responding to an email!
-Desudesu for extending an offer to host once again
-Starwingfor being the first to extend the invitation.
-The rest of you (Nyx, Obsidian, Melody) for keeping the process moving along.

I hope to see you all monday at the Shrine of the Woodlands!

~Duk Ruba

PC Xmas list

Well, it's 1 day after the last day of school!! So I'm pretty recovered.

Hate to pepper this place with lists, but I keep getting pressed. :P You know, with this Secret Santa thing...that's fantastic, because I have a really, really short list! And now people can't pester me for a longer one, because it need only concern one person. Yay!

Well then, here we go.

Books
The Bone Doll's Twin (and its series, by Lynn Flewelling)
I actually dunno who she is, but anyone who knows anything of what I read, see this. If you know what's significant to me there on that cover, then you know why I'm super curious to see what it's all about. :)

Outliers: The Story of Success (by Malcolm Gladwell, who is pure genius)

CDs
Radio Retaliation (by Thievery Corporation)
A Midwinter Night’s Dream (by Loreena McKennitt)

DVDs
Pushing Daisies Season 1

That's more than sufficient, I imagine. I'd encourage the remainder who have put up a list to please do so for the upcoming Secret Santa.

Pseudo Christmas 2008 Details!

Hey everyone, It seems like we're all uber-busy with life, school, work, and exams. But, I hope that the end is nigh for you all. NIGH, I SAY!

Indeed, this time of stress in the year also marks the return of a time honoured tradition: PSEUDO-CHRISTMAS!!!

This year, we are going to do things a little differently... we're going to do a Secret Santa and Auction.

Secret Santa
You will be getting an email from the website Elfster soon, which will invite you to participate. The subject is: "Jason invites you to participate in a gift exchange", so watch your junk folders. Once everyone has confirmed/de-confirmed, I will start drawing names, and you will receive another email telling you who your secret santa gift receiver is.

Auction
This is Jamie's awesome idea. In addition to buying a gift for your secret santa gift receiver, you should buy two smaller joke gifts. These gifts will be auctioned off using monopoly money, with the gifts going to the highest bidder. Simple, no? Use your creative skills/funny bones for these!

PC 2008 Logistics
Ah logistics..... I suggest Monday, December 22 for a date. As for a time, how about 2:00PM to start? As for location, well... any takers? Thanks to Emily to making her place available, but this is after her mom's back. So any one else up for hosting? Also thanks to Erin for making her place available. The host/ess can feel free to tweak anything about the time and format.

Conclusions
I know this email may not express it, but I am EXCITED to see everyone again. I hope all goes well in these latter days of exams and papers and work, and I hope to hear from you all very soon!

~Ruba

Trying to squish the wonders of xmas i nyc in 1 week

well i'll be home next fridayand I can't wait to see everyone.
I am remotely amused that this blog is solely used to post gift lists...I won't be getting anyone something from their lists, jus' so y'all know. My family doesn't have any plans so any day works for me. You guys can still call me at the 286- phone number. see everyone soon.
If you guys are gonna bug me to say something that i want, then maybe a new wallet would be good to replace the one that was stolen....*&%&%#%$ #%&^ %*%*%!!!!....or a light scarf like from urban outfitters where they were on sale for like 5$!!! maybe just here, though.
lots of love. Bundles of warmth from a city still without snow.
--Scorpio

Apologies

People have prompted me for a PC X-mas list. Like most years, I don't know what I really want until I sit down and actually think about it.

Well, I know I've said it before, but this is unprecedented in its severity--I am busy. So very, very busy I don't know if I'll finish my work. As a class, we have never felt so close to just giving up and calling it quits. It's pretty bad.

I mean when I say I can't spare one moment. Sorry! :(

X-mas + research in Africa

X-mas! I can't wait to see everyone.

Yeah, my mom won't be back from her trip to Taiwan and Cambodia for nearly a month. We should totally spend a few days at my place if everyone's free because, you know, the house is too big for two people. And I do have a lot of game consoles. And games. I haven't gotten presents for anyone yet *shrieks* ><

I'm going to Ghana in Africa for about a month this summer with one of my professors. I don't think I believe it yet. ^^ It won't be a vacation by any means because we'll be undergoing intense research training and stuff with all sorts of stuff there. It'll be hot with fixed rations and a lot of local kids and mosquitoes. But I'm SO giddy about it.


Hm... Gifts list...

Books
-Anything by Robin Hobb except Forest Mage and Shaman's Crossing (because I already have those)
-Larissa Lai's When Fox is a Thousand (might not be easy to find)
-Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow (I'm graduating this into the 'keep' section)
-West of January by Dave Duncan
-"How to Draw Manga" series (I have volume 4 already)

DVDs and Games (probably need to split costs)
-The Dark Knight
-Spore (PC game - teehee, I just want to make bug creatures)
-Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS game that's not actually out in NA - I do need the English version - yet, but if anyone wants to get a present much later... ^^')

Others
-More warm blankets with designs (I swear I get colder every year despite global warming)
-too-large sweaters
-Good (large) binoculars (probably need to split costs)
-Chapter's Gift Card

I'll put up more if I think of them. :P

Rubin's Pseudo Christmas Wish List 2008

Glepts to my Secret Santa!

These are the things that I would die for this year:

Books

Atwood, Margaret. Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth. Toronto: House of Anasi Press, 2008.

Huffman, Felicity. A Practical Handbook for the Boyfriend: For Every Guy Who Wants to Be One - For Every Girl Who Wants to Build One. New York: Hyperion, 2007.


Music
- Anything by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
- Anything by Hed Kandi except Summer of Love 2007, and Taste of Winter 2008.


Games
The Sims 2 Stuff Packs (Any of the following)
-Mansion and Garden
-H&M Fashion

The Sims 2 Expansion Packs (Any of the following)
- Free Time
- Pets


The Honoured Gift Certificates and Gift Cards!
- Banana Republic
- Mexx
- LuLuLemon
- Amazon.ca
- Chapters


Other (and perhaps the most desired)
- One cute guy: 6' or higher, thin/lean body a must, brunette strongly preferred, shaggy hair optional but preferred, blue eyes STRONGLY preferred but optional. Must look good in a suit. Needless to say, must also look good shirtless/pantless/stark naked.