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2021 Christmas Card Exchange

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  • 2021 Christmas Card Exchange

    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 mid-November, and then we flood each other's mailboxes with glitter Christmas cheer.

    So, the timeline:
    You have until Sunday, November 7th to sign up (that’s 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 14th to opt out and I’ll send out the list on November 15th. Sound good? Then follow the instructions at the end of this post and sign up! Also keep in mind that delivery times may be slowed down in the USA, because...reasons.

    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. They don’t even have to be Christmas-themed. This event is about friendship and holiday cheer.

    Can I add gifts?
    Because someone once 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 15-60some 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 7th, and I will post a complete list of who has signed up, and you will have until November 14th 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. (As of August 2021, US first class postage is 58 cents.)

    Suggestion from our resident Postal Worker:
    If you are in the US, please go to 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.

    Did I mention that you have until November 7th 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
    PM sent. May glitter mayhem begin!

    ETA: I wonder if Mark Rober would give me a quantity discount on Glitter Bombs?
    Life is too short to not eat popcorn.
    Save the Ales!
    Toys for Tots at Rooster's Cafe

    Comment


    • #3
      Did someone say...GLITTER?!? MUWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!

      Yo. In for a dollar's worth of glitter, in for a pound of glitter.
      "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


      • #4
        Signed up. I'll try to figure out something fun to include this year, possibly including glitter.
        "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


        • #5
          My brother gave me a gift bag for my birthday this weekend that had the same design on both sides, but one side was completely covered in clear glitter*. Y'all would have been so proud.

          *Which he somehow didn't even notice.
          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


          • #6
            I am going to move for the Christmas holidays especially to:
            Apartment 1,1st Floor(Left Hand Side,Turn Right Then Second Door on the Left), Small Cottage With A Blue Door And Some Hedges in the Garden,The Lane That Leads to the Northwestern Valley Trail, The Village By The Small River That Comes Out By The Beach Near The Sea,The Big City(West Hand Side, Eastern District),The County(North Division),Our Country

            and see how y'all like squashing that onto your labels
            The Copyright Monster has made me tell you that my avatar is courtesy of the wonderful Alice XZ.And you don't want to annoy the Copyright Monster.

            Comment


            • #7
              Quoth Kit-Ginevra View Post
              ...and see how y'all like squashing that onto your labels
              We'll just abbreviate it to "DAtCotE" and you'll get what cards you deserve.
              "DAtCotE" = Directly Above the Center of the Earth.
              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


              • #8
                I'm in! I may or may not make my own cards this year - it depends on how busy I am with work and writing. But glitter is definitely a strong possibility

                Comment


                • #9
                  Quoth Kit-Ginevra View Post
                  I am going to move for the Christmas holidays especially to:
                  Your getting an E-Card this year.
                  Life is too short to not eat popcorn.
                  Save the Ales!
                  Toys for Tots at Rooster's Cafe

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Quoth csquared View Post
                    You're getting an F-Card this year.
                    Fixed that for csquared....
                    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


                    • #11
                      Quoth csquared View Post
                      Your getting an E-Card this year.
                      I would make an exception to the snail-mail-only rule for that one.
                      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'mma start publicly shaming people who sign up and don't incude their email...
                        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


                        • #13
                          I have signed up for this year. (I remembered to include my email.)

                          I would have signed up sooner, but was occupied with a model train show this past weekend.
                          Last edited by Ironclad Alibi; 10-05-2021, 07:47 PM.
                          "I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            What about people who sign up and don't include their name?
                            The Copyright Monster has made me tell you that my avatar is courtesy of the wonderful Alice XZ.And you don't want to annoy the Copyright Monster.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I signed up.....


                              Quoth BookstoreEscapee View Post
                              I'mma start publicly shaming people who sign up and don't incude their email...


                              ...and promptly forgot to include my email address in the initial PM. *hangs head in shame* I did, however, send a second PM with said info.
                              Eh, one day I'll have something useful here. Until then, have a cookie or two.

                              Comment

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