I just dropped my cards at the post office mailbox and they should soon be showing up in yours. These cards are actually the ones I was going to make last year, until a week in the hospital put a kink in my plans. Most of you (I ran out, so I couldn’t send one to everyone) will have a magnet attached to your card (with removable tape). I’m telling you this because it occurred to me that you might not realize it’s there if I didn’t tell you, and I’d hate for you to miss it.

CHEERS

_{Disclaimer: Alternative non-alcoholic beverages were served to minors.}

My mailbox has been overflowing, making me just about the most popular Flirt in town. I have sitting in front of me cards from Roux and Hudson (who drew me a beautiful picture), Inner Guru, Caiti, Segsy, Karenwantstochange, Frannie, TakerGirl, Templetone2, Angniks, LOB, AngelSnowBunny, Dreamer, Tiger and Chalupa, Yrush and RoadWarriorX, Adar and CatAttack, and Grlnxtdr. And also a postcard from Joyjoei with some very beautiful stamps. :-D

The cards are all colorful and festive, and each one as unique as the person who sent it. Thank you, everyone, for the cheerful wishes.

P.S. I’ve received a few more, but they’re in another pile somewhere, so I’ll report on those later.

I just sent out the first list of names, so check your e-mail.

Not surprisingly, I already have one correction, for Charlie, but I’ve sent out my maximum # of messages for right now (SPAM control), so I have to wait at least one hour. So if you’re already sitting there with pen and envelopes in hand, you might hold off on addressing his. On the plus side of having to wait – if there are any more corrections, hopefully I will have received them by the time I send it out.

I just sent out a test e-mail to what I hope was all the e-mail addresses for this goal. If you’re on this goal and didn’t get the e-mail, please look in your bulk/spam folder to see if it’s there. If you still can’t find it, please let me know so we can figure out what’s wrong.

I’m getting all the addresses, etc., you’re sending me, and as soon as the last of my company leaves and I recuperate from all the celebrating, I’ll get caught up on my master list. I still plan on sending out the first list on or about Thanksgiving Day (November 27th). The details for this year’s card exchange can be found HERE, if you’d like to join us – the more, the merrier.

but some of you are anxious to get started. I talked with Cheryl, who started the goal this year, and we’re going to pretty much do this the same as last year. She asked/I offered to organize the names again, since it won’t be too much work for me to edit my info from last year, and she has a lot of other things keeping her busy.

For those of you new to the exchange, or those who need a refresher, here’s how it works:

• If you’re interested in sending cards to other 43thingers, send me your information through 43messages or e-mail, and I’ll compose a list of all the participants. The information I’ll need for the list is:

1. Your 43Things name and whatever part of your real name you want included on the list;
2. Your complete mailing address; and,
3. Your e-mail address (I won’t give it out to anyone.
4. Optional information based on feedback I received last year.

• I’ll send everyone a list with all the names on it, and each person can choose who on the list they want to send cards to. You do not have to send cards to everyone on the list, but you can if you want to. If you only want to/can send a card to one or two people on the list, then that’s OK, too.

• This is a fun, friendly, no-pressure exchange. No one is allowed to get offended if they don’t get a card from someone or if someone ends up not being able to send out cards.

• There is no “deadline” for having to have cards sent out. Some people are still getting their cards from 2007 sent out, and it’s actually kind of fun to get a surprise card in the mail in June!

• Last year we had over 100 participants, and postage can get expensive. Especially for those of you who live outside the U.S. and have so many U.S. people to possibly send to. PLEASE, no one feel like you have to send cards to everyone, or even to everyone who sent you a card. This goal should not be a financial hardship on anyone, so please don’t let it become one.

• Hopefully, by using the term “holiday”, we are including everyone, no matter what your race, religion, or country of origin. You can send a Thanksgiving card, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, or whatever holiday you celebrate. OR, you could send a non-holiday, just to say HI card.

• The addresses are sent to everyone on the “trust” system. Which means everyone needs to respect everyone else’s privacy and not post them publicly or give them out to other 43thingers indiscriminately.

• Any addresses I have by November 23rd, I will (plan to) have out on a preliminary list to everyone by Thanksgiving (November 27th), so that those of you who are on the ball can work on your cards over the long (American) holiday weekend. What does everyone think about cutoff for names of either December 1st or 7th?

• There aren’t too many other rules. Many people like to make their own cards, some send letters, some include little gifts or pictures¦it’s anything goes (as long as it’s nice).

Oh, yeah, one last rule:

HAVE FUN!!!

P.S. I think I am going to put this goal on my “I Give Up” list until about October. I want to enjoy the summer before I start thinking too hard about Christmas.