9th Annual GiraffeBoards Christmas Card Exchange

[EmilyG]

(I think this is the 9th. Apologies if I counted a bit wrong.)

Would you like to get some cool cards in the mail this Christmas? PM me your name and address (your username is fine, though looking back at previous threads, this can occasionally cause difficulties with the mail.) I will assign you three people to send cards to, and in return, you will receive at least three cards.

I will send out the list of addresses to everyone, so you can send cards to more than just your three people, if you like.

Deadline for PMing me your address: November 25. If you send in your details after this date, you won't be part of the "three giving, three receiving" rule, but your address will still be sent out to participants in case people can still send you cards.

Wishing you all the best of the holiday season!

[EmilyG]

We've got two people in the exchange so far (plus me.)
There's still time to sign up.
I will be sending out something special to all participants.

[JimNightshade]

I *think* I peemed - but I am a known loser who often gets lost in such shenanigans.

I hope you received my message.

[JackieLikesVariety]

so tempting...but this time of year I over-estimate how much I want to deck my halls and so forth festive-wise. I mean, as we descend into that darkest part of the armpit of the year, I might just downsize what I expect of myself.

a pretty low bar, frankly.

keeping my job, applying for another one and trying to enjoy my Christmas CDs is going to be it, so far. plus, you know, keeping up with sock washing and the ClusterRump Dope Thread

wait, is this a thread shit? I don't mean to do that - just say, I hope I am in such a good place next year I can commit to mailing THREE cards.

[EmilyG]

It's all right, Jackie. I wish you luck job-wise, and I don't think you're thread-shitting.

JimNightshade, I got your message.

[Random Precision]

I haven't missed one yet, no reason to start now.

Peeming in 3, 2, 1, ...

[wring]

I would send Enzo item vs. a card, so if you don't want that, please let Emily know.

[EmilyG]

Thank you to those who have signed up so far.

There are still a few days for new people to sign up.

[JimNightshade]

People!

GASP!

Come on, its just a couple of bucks for some stamps - you can do eet!!!!

[Amythyst]

PM sent.

[Monstera deliciosa]

I'm in. PM sent.

[picunurse]

In and sent. Just in time, I might add.

[EmilyG]

Tomorrow is the deadline (Saturday.) I'll accept PMs until midnight tomorrow. As stated before, you can still send your address after the deadline, though you won't be part of the three-cards rule.

[EmilyG]

Midnight tonight (Saturday) is the deadline. I realize my previous post may have been a bit confusing, as I wrote it late last night.

[LemmeOut]

I could stand to share some Christmas cheer with my friends who are always there. PM sent.

[JimNightshade]

Originally Posted by LemmeOut

I could stand to share some Christmas cheer with my friends who are always there. PM sent.

Yay!

We need more like you!

[EmilyG]

Okay, registration for the guaranteed 3 cards is now closed, though you can still send me your address if you'd like to receive cards.

[EmilyG]

I just sent out the card assignments.

[eleanorigby]

Too late....

[Random Precision]

Originally Posted by eleanorigby

Too late....

Originally Posted by EmilyG

Okay, registration for the guaranteed 3 cards is now closed, though you can still send me your address if you'd like to receive cards.

I think there's still time.

[eleanorigby]

Originally Posted by Random Precision

I think there's still time.

But it's not right to receive cards w/o sending them, too... I will PM her. What happened to Katie? Is EmilyG Katie? I'm so confused.

[Random Precision]

I'm not sure what has happened to Kaitie, I haven't seen her around in awhile.

On the cards thing, since you missed the deadline, you still get the full list, but you aren't guaranteed to get cards from 3 people and no one is going to get your name on their list of 3 people they have to send cards to.

But really, the list isn't that long - barely more than a 1/3 of what it was in the first couple of years. I wish a few more would sign up. They will all get a card from me at the very least.

[JimNightshade]

I got my list! Yay!
Did you get my reply?

Ooh - I am going to send x-mas cards, this makes me happy.

[Biggirl]

Gonna mail mine soonish!


Soonish is not as soon as plain soon but not so far into the future as later.

[wring]

I'm going to be mailing mine like 12/13 or so.

[EmilyG]

I sent out a few already (to the people farthest from me.) Will try to send out the rest within the next week or so.

[Amythyst]

I need to buy cards and stamps this weekend. I have a bunch of cards left over from previous years, but I feel strange sending out the odds and ends. Besides, I'd hate for anyone to get a duplicate.

[JimNightshade]

Today, after a long hard day at work, I came home tired, kicked off my shoes, and had a steaming hot shower to clear my thoughts. I slipped into something comfortable (my old jogging pants, and an old sweater), found my old comfy socks, poured a glass of scotch and settled in my fat ass upon the sofa. Then it hit me - “Jim” - “you forgot to check the bloody mailbox!”.

So I slogged back down to check, an lo and behold! There was a package! Addressed to me!
Woah! Thats pretty darn cool. I carried it with trembling hands back to my domicile, took a deep breath, and unpacked it.

It was the most beautiful box I have received in ages! Wow.

I opened the box, and inside there was something glittering. Something caught the fleeting shards of candle light, and illuminated my living room. “Wow”, I thought, "whats this now?" I took a closer look.

It was the most beautiful x-mas decoration, in a most beautiful box.

http://i64.tinypic.com/dlsum9.jpg

This one will definitely adorn my shirt at all upcoming x-mas parties!

But wait! There was more! Something small, but cute. “What can it possibly be?” I asked myself. So I took a closer look.

A Giraffe of course!

http://i66.tinypic.com/4j0yzm.jpg

A teeny weeny cute Giraffe, that will forever be my bestest Giraffe, it will live in my coat pocket and keep me happy as I overcome the winter streets, hands deeply buried in my pockets.

It made me smile, and it made me realize that even with all this shit happening politics wise, we are all just people, who share the same humanity as everyone else. And this Giraffe will forever remind me of the kindness of complete strangers, gathered together in a small online web community, far far from the maddening crowd, strung together by a single belief – to be able to say what we want, when we want, and take the consequences of said speech.

“Cunt” I said, as I smiled and settled in for a Friday floop.

I would like to blame EmilyG for this long diatribe, but blame seems the wrong word. I would like to thank EmilyG actually, Regarding the diatribe, I apologize for its length, but not its content.

Thanks EmilyG.

As the prophet Scissorjack. AKA Steer something or other (prophets change their name all the time) once said:

“Raffers are truly special.”

[EmilyG]

Thank you, JimNightshade. Glad you like the package. And for what it's worth, the word "cunt" in your post made me laugh!

I'm glad the package got there in such a short time, too.

[picunurse]

I have to apologize to my peeps. I made some "Christmas in Seattle" cards. I put them in the mail on Thursday night, but the next morning as my husband was leaving for work, he saw every mail box on the street was open and mail was scattered for blocks. I found one card and one envelope, both rain drenched and torn.

I'll start over today.

[Biggirl]

Originally Posted by picunurse

I have to apologize to my peeps. I made some "Christmas in Seattle" cards. I put them in the mail on Thursday night, but the next morning as my husband was leaving for work, he saw every mail box on the street was open and mail was scattered for blocks. I found one card and one envelope, both rain drenched and torn.

I'll start over today.

That's just. . . why?

[Amythyst]

That's awful, picunurse! Who does stuff like that? I'm so sorry some jerk destroyed your work.

[Nisslbody]

Originally Posted by picunurse

I have to apologize to my peeps. I made some "Christmas in Seattle" cards. I put them in the mail on Thursday night, but the next morning as my husband was leaving for work, he saw every mail box on the street was open and mail was scattered for blocks. I found one card and one envelope, both rain drenched and torn.

I'll start over today.

That's horrible, and I wish people didn't get so hurt and let down in life as to do such awful, pointless, petty things.

[JackieLikesVariety]

aww, picunurse - that's horrible. such a petty, personal meanness.

[Wolf Larsen]

You might want to talk to the post office. That is a felony and they are fairly aggressive about things like that.

[wring]

Originally Posted by Wolf Larsen

You might want to talk to the post office. That is a felony and they are fairly aggressive about things like that.

Yes, it's a felony. Yes, there is a division at the Post office that's supposed to deal with that and they are serious about it. No, 'they' aren't always aggressive about it, but if you bitch up the food chain, you'll get attention (I once found a bank statement opened in my mailbox and the canceled checks themselves were distributed along the street, in and out of mailboxes. Called the Post Office 'cause I know the law. They told me to call the cops. I did, they told me to call the post office. I ended up with the regional post office manager who was very unhappy about the local post office lack of response. Turned out it was a child from down the street who was playing mail carrier, so there was no nefarious stuff going on.)

I suspect from your description, some small child in the neighborhood was playing postal person - as a very small good note, at least you know something happened to them vs. they just disappeared. Sorry you had to go through so much trouble.

[JimNightshade]

Originally Posted by wring

Yes, it's a felony. Yes, there is a division at the Post office that's supposed to deal with that and they are serious about it. No, 'they' aren't always aggressive about it, but if you bitch up the food chain, you'll get attention (I once found a bank statement opened in my mailbox and the canceled checks themselves were distributed along the street, in and out of mailboxes. Called the Post Office 'cause I know the law. They told me to call the cops. I did, they told me to call the post office. I ended up with the regional post office manager who was very unhappy about the local post office lack of response. Turned out it was a child from down the street who was playing mail carrier, so there was no nefarious stuff going on.)

I suspect from your description, some small child in the neighborhood was playing postal person - as a very small good note, at least you know something happened to them vs. they just disappeared. Sorry you had to go through so much trouble.

All sent

I would like to warn you all of my hideous hand writing - if you receive a card from somewhere like a foreign country, and you just can't figure out wtf is written, it is likely my card.

Hooray! You got it! The text is simply "merry x-mas na furaha ya mwaka mpya " - but then in English.

Peace

:trombone::trombone:

Hey - how come we don't have a break dancing father x-mas smiley? This is an outrage and I demand rectification toot sweet (@Fenris;)

[picunurse]

Ok, I remade the cards. They aren't as fancy as the originals, but they're off to spread Christmas cheer.

As far as reporting to USPS, Hubby talked to several neighbors and the PTB got their ears full.

I'm just not up to the pile on.

[EmilyG]

Sorry to hear about that happening, picunurse. But thank you for still participating.

[Amythyst]

I wrote out my cards tonight. The plan is to mail them out after work tomorrow.

picunurse, I'm sure the new cards are lovely. I'm impressed you made them yourself. I would love to try that one year.

[JimNightshade]

I received a card from Biggirl!

Yay! I am so happy - many many thanks!

(Your assumptions are totally correct as well)

[wring]

oh crap, you wanted us to write stuff w/it????

On the bright side, I did get to the post office today and shipped 'em out. Did it in batches, addressing some, then addressing more, putting return address stickers on 'em, stuffing them. I did discover that simply taping the plastic loop to the tag took less space in the envelope than assembling it (by putting the loop through the tag), hence reduced the cost to mail it.

So, they're off and running. beats the hell outta me when they'll get there, but certainly the US ones will get there before the holiday.

[TheChileanBlob]

I got a card from Biggirl today too. Looks hand painted, by someone with Biggirl's rl initials.

@Biggirl, about the "L," I get that way more than I ever expected. (I'm not really from Chile either )

[Amythyst]

I mailed out my cards late this afternoon. Let's see how long they take to get to everyone.

[Random Precision]

All of my cards are glaring at me accusingly from the side of my desk. Hearing that all of you have already sent out your cards made my cards give me a smug "told you so" look. I promised them they'd get sent out forthwith, but since they don't know how long forthwith really is, it'll likely be a day or two before I mail them.

Meanwhile, I received a lovely handmade card and a wreath ornament from Emily G. There was also a miniature giraffe, but I don't think it was handmade. But it is quite precious and it's on the other side of my desk from the cards and so far hasn't given me any dirty looks at all. Thank you Emily!

[stormie]

FYI Emily is relocating tiny giraves that have entered the urban area under her refrigerator. She catches them in little havahart traps. I just released mine onto a shelf. She even sent its shiny nest.

And I got a hand-painted card on heavy watercolor paper from a raff who has a good hand with watercolors.

I, on the other hand am sending cards left over from last year. Classy.

[Biggirl]

Originally Posted by TheChileanBlob

I got a card from Biggirl today too. Looks hand painted, by someone with Biggirl's rl initials.

@Biggirl, about the "L," I get that way more than I ever expected. (I'm not really from Chile either )

Yes it's me. It is hand painted. I like to paint and just recently took up watercolor. So, you're neither Chilean nor Bob? Pretty sneaky, sis.

[Biggirl]

Originally Posted by stormie

FYI Emily is relocating tiny giraves that have entered the urban area under her refrigerator. She catches them in little havahart traps. I just released mine onto a shelf. She even sent its shiny nest.

And I got a hand-painted card on heavy watercolor paper from a raff who has a good hand with watercolors.

I, on the other hand am sending cards left over from last year. Classy.

Hey, I'm the raff. I was gonna ask what a raff was, but I figured it out before I embarrassed myself. And then I told everybody.

[Amythyst]

Originally Posted by stormie

I, on the other hand am sending cards left over from last year. Classy.

Mine are from past years, too. I couldn't find any cards that I liked in the stores, and I don't have time to make my own (as much as I would love to try it).

[EmilyG]

I still have yet to send out two of my cards, but I will ASAP.