Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Christmas Card Exchange - 2019 Edition!

Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Christmas Card Exchange - 2019 Edition!

    It’s that time again! If you’re new here, here’s the deal:

    Every year, a number of us exchange Christmas Cards with fellow CS members across the globe. We collect sign ups from people each year, compile a list, send it out in early November, and then we flood each other's mailboxes with glitter Christmas cheer.

    So, the timeline:
    You have until Sunday, November 10th to sign up (that’s just under 5 weeks from today), I’ll post the list so you'll be able to see how many people are planning to participate, and if you decide you can't handle that many, you’ll have until November 16th to opt out and I’ll send out the list on November 17th. Sound good? Then follow the instructions at the end of this post and sign up! (I know it’s a bit later than normal, but you early birds might still be able to get your cards out before Thanksgiving. )

    Now, for a quick FAQ List...

    Can I make my own cards, or do they have to be store bought?
    Either way. Whatever jingles your bells. Just as long as you remember to sign ‘em.

    Religious Themes: Yay or Nay?
    Again, it doesn't matter. This event is about friendship and holiday cheer.

    Can I add gifts?
    Because someone asked me about favors…in the past, some people have included various little gifts in their cards – crocheted snowflakes, handmade bookmarks, paper cranes, etc. You are more than welcome to add a little something if you like, but be assured there is absolutely no expectation for anything more than a card from anyone. Anything extra is entirely up to you.

    If I sign up, do I have to send a card to EVERYONE?
    YES, and in a timely manner too. I cannot stress this enough. It is selfish, rude, and seriously unfair to sign up and get cards from everyone else and not send any of your own. If you wish to only send cards to a select few members of the CS community, please make such plans on your own.

    Are e-cards allowed?
    No. Once the final list goes out, this becomes a snail mail event. Postcards are allowed, however, if you wish to save a few pennies on postage.

    What happens if I sign up and don't send out my cards/don't send out my cards until after the Easter Bunny has visited?
    People who sign up and don't follow through make Baby Jesus cry, and thus are automatically placed on Santa's Naughty List for the next year. Oh, and on my naughty list as well. No-shows are banned from participating in future events. A first offense gets you banned for one year. A second offense gets you banned for life.

    But what if an emergency comes up and I can't?
    I'm not an unreasonable person, and we’ve found that most members of CS that participate are very accommodating. If an emergency comes up, all I ask is that you PLEASE let me know. I will handle things accordingly and you will not be penalized in any way.

    How many people will sign up?
    It varies. We've had everywhere from 19-60some members sign up in previous years. Unfortunately, my crystal ball hasn't been working lately like it should, so I can't tell for certain how many of you will sign up this year. I will stop accepting Sign Ups on November 10th, and I will post a complete list of who has signed up, and you will have until November 16th to opt out, so if the list swells to an amazingly large number of people and it is no longer feasible for you to participate, you can drop out by sending me a PM and letting me know you can no longer participate. Once the opt out period ends, I’ll email the list to everyone. Once the list is sent out, however, you're in it for the long haul. Also, I will not make any changes once the email goes out, so please, please, please make sure your address is complete and correct before hitting the submit button (please?). I have no intention of sending corrections because you didn’t proofread.

    How much is postage?
    It depends on where you live, how many people have signed up, and how many of the cards you send will be international. In the past, the majority of participants have been in the US, plus a handful in Canada and the UK, and occasionally a few other far-flung places.

    Suggestion from our resident Postal Worker:
    If you are in the US, please go to www.USPS.com and get your +4 zip code. This makes the zip code 9 digits long and looks like 12345-6789. This should help stop some of the missing ones we get every year from going missing because the computer has more info. (Thanks for the suggestion, Aethian!) If you go to that link and enter your street address, it will give you the complete, standard format for your address. Use that format when you sign up and things just might go that much more smoothly. Standard US format looks like so:

    Your Name
    123 Your Street
    Faketown, WY 12345-6789

    My Significant Other and I are both members. Can we sign up with both of our names?
    Yes. If you are signing up as a couple, please give me the other person’s screen name as well.

    How do I share my joy in having received a card from someone?
    Go ahead and post a note in this thread and tell us who you’ve received cards from. I’ll be keeping tabs on it and check off on my list that people are receiving your cards. (You can post 'em as you get them or post a list at the end.)

    Did I mention that you have until November 10th to sign up?
    So sign up! It’s fun!!


    TO SIGN UP:
    Scroll back up to the top of this post, click on my name, and send me a private message!
    Be sure to include:
    •Your real first and last name (If you are signing up as a couple and are both members, please include your spouse/partner’s screen name as well)
    •Your full, correct, proofread, verified, properly-formatted mailing address.
    •Your email address so I can send you the list!
    Privacy policy: I assure you that your email address will not be shared with anyone (and will be deleted from my computer and CS inbox once the event is over), and your other information will only be shared with those who have signed up. You are, of course, expected to keep this information private as well.

    Note: I will send the list as a pdf file formatted to print on a standard 30-label sheet. If for some reason you have a problem with the file, either reply to my email or send me a PM, and I can resend it, or send it in a different format (Word or Excel) if needed. The list will come from my personal Gmail address. If you don’t receive it, check your spam folder or send me a PM and I’ll tell you what address to look for or resend as needed.
    I don't go in for ancient wisdom
    I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
    It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

  • #2
    I just signed up for this year. Now to get busy on some cards.
    "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

    Comment


    • #3
      Not naming names or anything, but uh...don't forget your zip code...
      I don't go in for ancient wisdom
      I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
      It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

      Comment


      • #4
        I'm in!

        10 char

        Comment


        • #5
          In for a $, in for a £
          "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
          "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
          "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
          "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
          "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
          "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
          Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
          "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

          Comment


          • #6
            Quoth Ironclad Alibi View Post
            I just signed up for this year. Now to get busy on some cards Mother Of All glitter Bombs.
            Mandatory safety warning.
            I am not an a**hole. I am a hemorrhoid. I irritate a**holes!
            Procrastination: Forward planning to insure there is something to do tomorrow.
            Derails threads faster than a pocket nuke.

            Comment


            • #7
              I've signed up again this year, woot!
              Eh, one day I'll have something useful here. Until then, have a cookie or two.

              Comment


              • #8
                We are up to 5.
                I don't go in for ancient wisdom
                I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
                It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

                Comment


                • #9
                  This was so much fun last year, I signed up again!
                  "I look at the stars. It's a clear night and the Milky Way seems so near. That's where I'll be going soon. "We are all star stuff." I suddenly remember Delenn's line from Joe's script. Not a bad prospect. I am not afraid. In the meantime, let me close my eyes and sense the beauty around me. And take that breath under the dark sky full of stars. Breathe in. Breathe out. That's all."
                  -Mira Furlan

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Mother Of All glitter Bombs
                    *cackles evilly in NOLA-speak*
                    "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
                    "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
                    "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
                    "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
                    "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
                    "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
                    Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
                    "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Quoth BookstoreEscapee View Post
                      Not naming names or anything, but uh...don't forget your zip code...
                      Or your email address...
                      I don't go in for ancient wisdom
                      I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
                      It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I done signed up.
                        Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil.

                        "I never said I wasn't a horrible person."--Me, almost daily

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Just signed up. Mrs. TGK gets a kick out of some of them.
                          I'm trying to see things from your point of view, but I can't get my head that far up my keister!

                          Who is John Galt?
                          -Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            We's up to eight!
                            I don't go in for ancient wisdom
                            I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
                            It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              If you're not on this list but should be, let me know.
                              1. BookstoreEscapee
                              2. Ironclad Alibi
                              3. Morgana
                              4. EricKei
                              5. Android Kaeli
                              6. Ghel
                              7. Irving Patrick Freleigh
                              8. taxguykarl
                              I don't go in for ancient wisdom
                              I don't believe just 'cause ideas are tenacious
                              It means that they're worthy - Tim Minchin, "White Wine in the Sun"

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X