Originally Posted By marshmallow Well I will sign up! Sounds like so much fun. And I have just discoverd the joys of Company D!
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs <<DisneyChica: Those aren't "in" this season 5RareBugs>> Chica... that was totally WICKED! I love it!! I must add it to my profile with the other nicknames. Here, have a Twix bar. 5RareBugs... sounds like the extras for A Bug's Life or some horrific disease... FiveRareBugs... 5RB...
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 >><<When does the sign up begin?>> Not until November.<< And the Pal assignments arrive to you on December 14. Remember, you MUST do at least seven individualized mailing by December 19. Muuuuuwwaaaaaahaaa-- *Cough* *Cough* Actually, sign up happens in October. The deadline is before Halloween. You get the identity of your Pal in the beginning of November. Unless we change it this year. Muuuuuwaaaa-- *Cough* *Cough*
Originally Posted By Ursula I-57: You do so much for us, it's just downright silly. Please do try to keep yourself normal this year. Shorten the length, cap the number of members, set limits. Try not to knock yourself out. (as if he EVER follows my advice around here, who am I kidding?)
Originally Posted By JustDuckee <<Buuuuut, for the record, since I had the Duck last year, put me up with Chica... I want another photo mural paint can, and I'd love to see how her art skills measure up to Nessa... >> I can help you out there, 5BR...any and all of my art skills are channelled through the mighty Craft Queen Chica. If it's a neat crafy/artsy thingy, then more than likely it came out of her crafty/artsy brain. I'm also really excited about the Bash this year. But I'm a little worried about I-57 being broken. I don't know how much it's going to cost to fix an expensive model like that.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <-- through the magic of the holidays, looks at post #46 and reads: "Eat, Papa, eat!" Thank you very much, Ursula. You are so sweet. But not to worry. I will take credit for instituting the Bash and for making certain it continues each year. I'm so happy for the pleasure it brings LP'ers and for the way it helps posters get to know and appreciate each other. But Winter Bash management has always been structured as a cooperative. The first year, Tiggirl and I split the work. Then it was MrNiceGuy, Mrs Nurmi, and me. m2 joined the crew. This past year, it was MrNiceGuy, Mrs Nurmi, m2, goodgirl, and myself. It's been truly a team effort. The other facilitators have always done as much as I have or more -- conducting the drawing, creating the spreadsheets and other internal organization that we rely upon, retrieving and posting messages from the inbox, making certain that e-cards get through safely and in a timely manner, forwarding packages, jointly deciding how to handle our dilemmas, filling in for Secret Pals when they need help, taking turns bringing cafeine and snacks to LP headquarters, not to mention fulfilling special requests. We've also always had a truly touching outpouring of help from other LP'ers who volunteer to staff, to step in when another Basher needs help, to give financial assistance. I literally cannot tell you how generous LP'ers have been -- in part, because the individuals involved don't want recognition for their offers and/or contributions. Last year, for example, there were four LP'ers who emailed me privately to say, "Mark, I'm not signed up for the Bash, and I don't need credit, but if you have anyone who has problems, let me know. I'd be glad to fill in if someone needs help." Whoa. Four people who weren't even Bashers who were willing to contribute anonymously. Who were willing to give not not receive anything. This on top of the signed-up Bashers who wrote, "Let me know if there's anything I can do to help!" Wow. So thank you again for your concern, Ursula -- but not to worry. We won't have to impose limitations on the Bash to allow it to happen. Each year the Bash team learns from previous experience and makes changes to make things operate a little more easily. And then we have a blast making it happen. Tiggirl MrNiceGuy Mrs Nurmi m2 goodgirl Inspector 57
Originally Posted By Ursula Well, okay Inspector, if you say so. But I still reserve the right to say the same things come July 2006, okay?
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs It's pretty much a Secret Santa, chickenpotpie. You're assigned to an LPer and through the board and the LP Facilitators email address, you can send them emails and e-Cards and all sorts of neat things. You can also make and/or buy presents for them...well, it IS customary to do the latter, lol. On the final day all the Bashers are revealed. JustDuckee was my SecretPal last year and I was THIS CLOSE to figuring it out. See, I thought it was DisneyChica given by the clues and the gifts, and I knew that her best friend was on this. Problem was that everyone refers to Duckee as Nessa, so I didn't know. I had the pleasure of meeting both of them, as well as my Bash Pal-lee, jlin714 at the Meet. I believe Kar2oonMan has been taken off of her Christmas card list for his hatred of Cornnuts...
Originally Posted By chickendumpling <<It's pretty much a Secret Santa, chickenpotpie. >> *chickenpotpie* ROFL FiveFourThreeTwoOneBearHugs Thanks for the info. I always learn a lot from you. Good and bad. I am really looking forward to this even though it breaks my No Christmas Before Thanksgiving Rule. Are there like dollar limits or silly things like that? OH! This would be a great time for the LP Store to develop a *wishlist* feature, n'est ce pas? (Did I remember how to spell that right? It doesn't look right.)
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter Dumpling. There are supposedly dollar limits. But from what I've observed of the LPWB, it's pretty much a free-for-all. Some people spend (IMO) obscene amounts of money on gifts for their Bash pal. And yet, some of the coolest gifts ever have been elaborate poems/clues/e-cards/etc. So essentially, I have been no help to you. Just be forewarned that the Winter Bash inevitably results in some people spending really large amounts of money on their pal and some not. If you're comfortable with that, jump right in.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka Obscene amounts of money? Uh-oh, I had planned on sending one pack of post-its to my WB pal, not a whole case.
Originally Posted By Ursula Well, some people who just can't be very creative tend to lean to the obscene amounts of money to cover up the fact that they don't have a creative bone on their person. Or they have access to Company D. (Uhm, well, I am SO not speaking from experience. Or am I? I'd hate to give away anything this early in the game). Most of the greatest presents are the ones that come from the heart. And to wishlists. I-57 solved this the first year by having each basher answer a list of thought-proking questions such as favorite color, T-shirt size, pets, kids, etc. I love it because it really introduces LP'ers to each other. By luck, I had 2/3 one year and the next year she had me. It's so much fun when you really know the Lp'er, yet there are other years when I didn't know the person at all and I still had fun trying to figure them out.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I agree Ursula. There is a spending limit suggested but it's really up to the Secret Pal and what they want to do and feel comfortable with. No one should feel pressured to spend or do any more or less than another person. The important thing is to shower your Secret Pal with attention via emails, cards, gifts, whatever you are capable of to make for a wonderful holiday season. It's really a great way to get to know others and be apart of the community here on LP. It is work though, that's the only thing I would caution on, you shouldn't sign up for this and then be really laxidaisical in your taking care of your Secret Pal. You need to be attentive. That's my opinion. ;>
Originally Posted By goodgirl I chatted with a fellow LPer recently who does what I do...they collect little things throughout the year and save them for the Bash. I've been known to send my Bash pal soap from the Disneyland Hotel and a roll of toilet paper from the Grand Californian. One need not spend a lot of money. I've given and/or received: Handmade bookmarks CD of Disney graphics CD of Disney screensavers CD's of favorite music Framed photos Mini-scrapbooks Homemade calendar Homemade cards Homebaked cookies Small items: candy, pens, pencils, erasers, funky paper clips, sachets
