2020 Secret Santa [tell everyone how it went]

Quote: Originally posted by Texium (zts16)

You know, waking up at noon doesn't help make the days feel any longer I received a cheeky postcard from Maine as well! Happy Holidays to you too, MadHatter!

I received a nice parcel from Poland! My secret santa has done his best to make a nice present! It includes a few books, including a unique one from 1924 with unknown/forgotten chemistry. Exactly the things I like and which may lead to new ideas for experiments. I'll have to rely on Google translate though, part of the books are in Polish, but the pictures, and formulas luckily are understandable I already learned a few polish words which appear all over again.

But the books were not the only things. It also included some handcrafted pieces of glassware from the 1950's and 1960's, mineral samples and many really well-tasting sweets. I am not the only person in my household who likes the sweets. They contain some kind of fruity gel, which combines very well with the exterior chocolate layer. Something typically Polish, or eastern european?

I also have some work to do, decoding some symbolic message, and trying to identify some minerals, which can be found in Poland

Quote: Originally posted by arkoma

can NEVER have too many beakers

I've not used ones that small before but i'm sure they will come in handy! I gave 1 to my local pharmacist and he was greatly amused at the size and the fact it was actually glass.

Quote: Originally posted by nzlostpass

Quote: Originally posted by arkoma   can NEVER have too many beakers I've not used ones that small before but i'm sure they will come in handy! I gave 1 to my local pharmacist and he was greatly amused at the size and the fact it was actually glass.

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

I have a couple and use them all of the time! They are great when you are doing things on a test tube scale, but want a bit more access to the reaction mix for stirring ect.

I also received my gift. Unfortunately the courier threw it across the yard in the mud so it was opened and unpacked by my mother, who proceeded to spoil the surprise. This aside, Santa sent me some little glass bottles with interesting and useful chemicals:

Anhydrous FeCl3, which made me realize that it's supposed to be a black solid, and the whole kg I was gifted years ago by my old school is hydrated (!)
KSb(OH)6, which is a welcome addition to my poor collection of Sb compounds (read: only Sb metal)
Litmus, an indicator I never really thought about buying even though it's ubiquitous in old books I like, so it's interesting to see in real life!
Ba dithionate, which I also did not have
Ammonium heptamolybdate, which I already have, but I'm always happy to stock up on chemicals, especially seeing how the EU will probably soon ban even baking soda
a-napthol, of which I have the brother b-napthol, and who is a nice addition to my organics, still hoping I'll get better and in the mood for some syntheses (including some molybdates, hopefully).

Lastly, volume II of the Treadwell, 8th Ed. I could start looking for volume I to complete the set, even though I have way too many qualitative analytical chemistry books, so this one is just fine on his own.

This gift was very appreciated! Thank you again!




[Edited on 15-12-2020 by valeg96]

Quote: Originally posted by valeg96

It's excellent for gram and sub-gram scale, can't recommend it enough to people to scale down their experiments. They get a lot safer, higher yields and success rate.

Quote: Originally posted by DraconicAcid

Man, I'm starting to think the gift I sent wasn't good enough.

It's not what is sent/received that counts, its the thought that a stranger went out of their way to send a science related gift....I was really excited to get mine and will always treasure the beakers I received.Thanks again Santa!

I'm looking forward to seeing my recipients reaction but am also worried they may not be happy with what I sent but it is hard to know what exactly to send.....and nz doesnt have much to offer in the subject of what the recipient wanted.

If it does bother you though, you could always dropship something else as others seem to have sent seperate orders.

[Edited on 16-12-2020 by nzlostpass]

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1

Anticipation is killing me. I keep checking the mailbox. I can't actually remember who I paired myself with, which is a good thing. I randomised on a spreadsheet and sent the info out and tried to not read how people were matched. I find 10mL beakers really useful: good for the same things that test tubes are used for, good for mixing up small quantities of something: eg indicators, good for taking a small sample and testing a synth in progress or testing for different ions, anything small scale.

Quote: Originally posted by nzlostpass

I'm worried now that people thought I was being ungrateful by my comment on not using them before but that wasnt my intention at all! I just havnt used beakers much as I do a lot of distillations so generally use flasks but now I have them, they most definately will be put to good use! I liked the idea of trying things on a smaller scale first as I do have failed reactions more often than successes but it could be because I use majority of otc chems.

I don't think anyone thinks that, I certainly didn't.
BTW, did you happen to send your gift to Sydney Australia? I received a package from NZ.
I am definitely looking forward to opening it (the customs declaration may have given it away a little), I am trying to wait until Christmas, we will see .

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

Quote: Originally posted by nzlostpass   I'm worried now that people thought I was being ungrateful by my comment on not using them before but that wasnt my intention at all! I just havnt used beakers much as I do a lot of distillations so generally use flasks but now I have them, they most definately will be put to good use! I liked the idea of trying things on a smaller scale first as I do have failed reactions more often than successes but it could be because I use majority of otc chems. I don't think anyone thinks that, I certainly didn't. BTW, did you happen to send your gift to Sydney Australia? I received a package from NZ. I am definitely looking forward to opening it (the customs declaration may have given it away a little), I am trying to wait until Christmas, we will see .

I may have Considering i'm probably the only kiwi doing the secret santa, I figured you may guess!

Woohoo. Lookee what turned up. (According to my wife, pressies without pretty wrapping go at the back, but this has pride of place for now.)

I received mine too!
I don't know from whom it is, but it apparently came from next door, from holland
Mine is on the way too and I hope the receiver is satisfied
Man I'm eager to open it on next thursday(we open them on christmas eve in the evening not the next morning), it is very exciting!

OOooh I have been away for long.
These past 6 weeks have been hard for me but I started getting more and more GOOD news the last 2 weeks. Including a new job starting the 4th !

I have an even BIGGER grin now on my face because of what arrived this morning.
Unfortunately I wont be able to focus my attention on the riddle for the next couple of days as I am leaving again this afternoon for a few days and I'm still packing.
I received my pcr test this morning without which I wouldnt have been able to board the plane.

I havent checked if my SS received his parcel yet. I'm glad I sent it some weeks ago so I'm hopeful. It was a bit improvised as two different Elven tribes were unable to deliver on time :-/

On my side I have a riddle along a mistery chemical, a very long and fun letter letter, and a few goodies that made me giggle a lot. Will share a pic when I get back.

So Dear Santa, I'll be back in a week and launch a proper investigation then on the mistery chemical.
But now I have your adress and you'll be getting a local mineral early next year from a very specific vein. I now know you have a great sense of humor so I'm pretty sure it'll all make sense

(But I feel ashamed I couldnt put the same efforts in the letter as you did!)

Well, Santa really outdid himself this year.
One beautiful sep funnel. Large enough for the job: no more washing product in little batches. And it is high quality German hlass. AND monogramed with my SM tag.
Then there was a little cache of calcium carbide. Noce post-stalking there. There is a lovely reaction between Cl2 and acetylene that I have been longing to do and to video for ages. CaC2 has a limited shelf life so I guess it needs to happen in the next 12 months.
And finally, a little sample of erbium. I think this will go steaight into the element collection, but I might scavange a little bit for an interesting salt.

I will post pics later. But thank you so much B(a)P. So much appreciated. And the card was great too.

[Edit, pic]



[Edited on 25-12-2020 by j_sum1]

Quote: Originally posted by j_sum1

Well, Santa really outdid himself this year. One beautiful sep funnel. Large enough for the job: no more washing product in little batches. And it is high quality German hlass. AND monogramed with my SM tag. Then there was a little cache of calcium carbide. Noce post-stalking there. There is a lovely reaction between Cl2 and acetylene that I have been longing to do and to video for ages. CaC2 has a limited shelf life so I guess it needs to happen in the next 12 months. And finally, a little sample of erbium. I think this will go steaight into the element collection, but I might scavange a little bit for an interesting salt. I will post pics later. But thank you so much B(a)P. So much appreciated. And the card was great too. [Edit, pic] [Edited on 25-12-2020 by j_sum1]

Received some lovely chemistry socks from DraconicAcid! Thank you so much! I have many more opportunities to wear long, warm socks here in Utah than I did in Texas.

Another Christmas present

Somebody sent me this T-shirt.
Had to crop the photo to upload.

Thank You !

Quote: Originally posted by B(a)P

Merry Christmas one and all! I hope everyone has an enjoyable festive season. Thanks so much to my SS. I got a nice little mineral collection. NZlostpass I have been looking for a piece of cinnabar for ages!

So not specifically secret Santa, and not at all related SM, my boss got me some element samples and a periodic table poster. He was happy to have someone science minded to enjoy them, lol. Samples are labeled except indium in the little squeeze dropped bottle.



He's got awesome stories about working at Rocketdyne years ago, studying chemical properties. Technically I work for his son, my friend from college years ago, but he owns the building. A family of intelligent and well humored individuals, I'm glad to know them.

Unfortunately still nothing came to my door
It's probably because of our post service, they suck big time. Could I please ask my secret santa to anonymously (or not) send the tracking number to me? It's the only way for me to know if maybe my local post office didn't just send it back without me even knowing. My mail is antiguasm@pm.me, thanks!

What an awesome surprise!!!! Went to mailbox and was pissed off that a package I bought here in nz had not arrived and the seller had charged me 3x the normal postage rate so would have expected it in less than the 5 days it has been now..............but to my utter surprise, there was a mystery package from Australia........what could this be I asked myself?..........opened it to find 50 grams of NaBH4!!!!! Thank you so very much to whoever sent this!!!
Cant recommend Secret santa enough.......he/she is a great guy/gal!!!! 10 cool wee beakers and now this......awesome!!!!

I recieved my other package last week but forgot to mention it here. I got a great book "Friday" by Robert A. Heinlein, some great sand, and awesome Arkansas 25c piece and a huge piece of petrified wood.

SANTA VISITED today I've a couple mystery vials to figure out too! a pair of metal samples Sm & Ce ... thank you, thank you, thank you. two examples of some fine clam shells, all beautifully pink inside and rather large; the freshwater clams around here are 2" at best. i got a lump of coal, awesome, it split in half while i was looking at it, maybe a rubber band or two will turn it from defect to a bonus feature there was some beautiful hot oil (i LOVE HOT peppers) and a nice jovial letter included.

I did not mind waiting, things are now more challenging, please have no worry I've been stewing about it. these gifts were wonderful, carefully chosen, and a candle in times of darkness... fully appreciated and I am thankful for the time and effort that went into this mystery parcel. I love the members here, the names aren't always the same, but there's a common vein of generosity I have enjoyed since I first signed up. Don't change people, your awesome!

I'll update with some pics this evening when the chaos settles. My offspring are dismantlers of sequential, logical thought. Again, thank you SO much!




Forgive the rough hands, we are worn. Long day at work, moving in a ton of boxes at the warehouse. Somewhere around 1,200-1,400 from the 48' cargo container today. A few less last Wednesday. Warehouse is FULL.

[Edited on 28-1-2021 by violet sin]

Slow Motion Delivery

I believe I was the last to receive, Mr. Senior elf: j_sum1 said my reindeer was the last circling, just a couple days ago. Then the parcel showed the following day or so, and was joyfully received still trying to discern my Santa, so some u2u's may get sent about.