DU Christmas card writers...do you enclose a personal note in your

[ScreamingMeemie]

card? A pretyped "this was our year of suffering (usually)" type of missive, or do you just sign and move along. Me, I do a little bit of number one and number 3, depending upon the person.

I am thinking about this because we just received a note of the "this was our year of suffering" type. Not one bit of good news...on a jolly looking border. It was quite silly actually. I did not know this person's fathers' brother almost died (!!!) last year. and even the address and return labels were computerized. In my opinion, it ranked right up there with junk mail (in my opinion, again).

so what do you do when faced with that most dreaded (I've heard some actually like it...sickos) of tasks???

[tjwmason]

1. A mixture.

Some get individual hand-written letters inside theirs - especially folks I've been close to but not much contact with now. Others/most just get signed.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Out of about 80 cards I do about 50/50...funny story...

MrG came home tonight and ripped up about 10 cards, may God have mercy on his soul, that he didn't want sent to those "f*ckers"...They were people he worked with. My reply," those cards cost 7 bucks!!!!" :wow: :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

2. I despise the prefab "summary letter"

It's just so hokey and bourgeois.

I will write a short personal note, and no two are alike. It is worth the extra work for the people I care about. :-)

[Habibi]

12. I do that, too

doggedly. It's challenging if you're not feeling expansive when you sit down to write them. A few years ago, I did it merrily.

We do have one family in our card circle that does a superbly witty "summary letter". Because it's so clever, we forgive them.

I love the "personal note" card and so I try to do unto others. It's a pain in the ass, though. I'm skating close to making up some "boilerplate" that I at least will hand write for next year.

:P

[ScreamingMeemie]

16. Me too...This is an actual snippet from the actual letter that prompted

this thread:

"We still spent some of the summer at the hospital,however. :wtf: (<my addition). X had surgery on his shoulder. Then, in July, Baby Y had surgery also. August brought us the shocking (:wow:) news that X's dad had cancer. His doctors are hopeful. Needless to say, we have had our fair share of hospitals and surgeries this year, and none of us wants to be a patient again."


I kid you not. How's that for spreading the cheer? :hi:

[Catch22Dem]

22. Need some attention???

Sheesh!

Get this, my granddad had a automatic defibulator thingy put in and was fresh back from the hospital when I called. My grandma (sounds like she could have written your letter) answers the phone and I say:
"So how's everything?"
"Well, I've had a cold that's really been bothering me, and I stayed at the hospital w/ your grandpa last night but it was so cold, so I went out to the nurses' station but I couldn't get anyone to get me one of those warm blankets, and..."
"Um...grandma..."
"What?"
"I meant how's gramps doing?"
"Oh..."

[SOteric]

3. If the person is someone I know well and love dearly...

(I know it's a shock, but I actually ~do~ have some friends like that :7)..then a hand write a short personal note, no more than 2 paragraphs with the card. If the person is someone I know only slightly but like enought to keep in contact with (such as perhaps a coworker from a previous job) I sign with a sentence or two in greeting. If it's more or less a minimal acquaintance, (frex, a neighbour up the road that I've hardly exchanged more than a few words with but she sent me one, ergo...) I just sign it and move on.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. That pretty much somes up how I do it. There are about 12 who get

the blank side of the card filled in, 40 that get, "Hope to see you soon!" or the like, and the rest get, Me,him and the kids. :hi:

[Love Bug]

4. Are you kidding? They are lucking they're getting a card at all

much less one with a personal note in it. Hell, if I had to write notes to everyone on my list the cards would never get sent at all.

[ScreamingMeemie]

18. Some years, when I'm really hurried...which is a lot of the years...

I drop the signed cards and turn the note written cards into signed cards and send them off. One year, I never got around to it. And the cards I picked out were really cool too.

[bleedingheart]

5. I love those brag letters

....Buffy and I started the year by vacationing in Hawaii with the children. Tad Jr just got on the all star soccer team but we aren't sure if he will make it to the playoffs as he has his piano competition and a white paper presentation on 4th grade mathematics. Lil Buffy is oh so smart...she even diapers herself.

We do want you to note that we have changed addresses as our last residence was just too small at around 4800 sq ft so we have finally left that "starter home" and have moved into our new home at 100 Pretentious Way...at around 12,000 sq ft we finally feel we can stretch out a bit.

[vino]

8. If you get those letters

you will love this
The Cat That Could Open the Fridge: A Curmudgeon's Guide to Christmas Round Robin Letters
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1843543575/qid=1134426321/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_11_2/203-2742150-0290339

It's a book that just rips into the whole phenomenon and there's a sequel
The Hamster That Loved Puccini: The Seven Modern Sins of Christmas Round-robin Letters

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. The one that prompted this thread was mixture of "feel sorry for us"

and ended with "our new address" (to our ostentatious McMansion) will be: Yadda Yadda yadda. :hi:

[Whoa_Nelly]

6. Am putting one each of these along with the card

There a bunch of cool holographic specs. And these people are great for delivery and price!

Be sure to scroll down the page to see the choices :)

http://www.newenglandyankee.com/holidayspecs.html

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. Those are cool Whoa!!!

I'm going to check their delivery dates! Thanks!

[Left Is Write]

7. Sometimes.

We usually send picture cards. I always hand sign them.

This year I am sending regular cards, with a family portrait enclosure for family members.

[ScreamingMeemie]

24. see now that is nice. You are a nice person LIW.

:hi: I send out the kids' school pictures in ours. Our last family portrait was 7 years ago when James was a newborn...we should get around to that again. :hi:

[u4ic]

9. I just send a generic, handwritten

Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year bit in the card.

I can tell them another time how crappy my life is. :silly:

[ScreamingMeemie]

I do that too...and sometimes I throw in a noncommittal, "let's get

together over the holidays"...but only to those that I know are just as bad as we are about getting together. :hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. OK, this is what I do every year: We have our cards printed at a local

print shop...and this includes our names, plus whatever holiday greeting I came up with...

In the past, I would pick out a photo that I took during that year, get a brazillion copies of it, and then use double-stick tape to stick it onto the front of the card.

And, BTW, this is labor intensive, esp. when you have 130 cards to do...

THIS year, I decided to have the printer use a digital photo instead...so he got to do the pic on the front of the card. MUCH easier, and certainly worth the extra cost.....

Nonetheless, there were still 130 cards to get mailed. So, yes, I put a lot of effort into ONE holiday letter.

I talk about good stuff and bad stuff......for those people who get it and who don't care for it, fine...use it for kindling or whatever!

I used to hand-write each and every one of our messages.....it not only took forever to do, but by the end of the list, those folks were definitely cheated, since I was rushing...

So, as far as I am concerned, this is a much better system....But to each his or her own!

[ScreamingMeemie]

26. People on my list get cheated, I'll admit...by the T's I've had it.

I am sure your cards are wonderful...especially with a personal picture. The card that I received, was a piece of printer stationery, bordered with poinsettas with a season of pain and suffering written about. :hi:

[northzax]

11. I'm continuing my personal holiday tradition

for the second year, my holiday card is a CD full of my personal favourite holiday tunes from this season. Some new, some old. I make a very limited edition of 50, with postage, they cost me about a dollar fifty a piece. I send generic cards to those people who don't rank a limited edition CD.

They go out this Friday.

This year's playlist includes, not sure about the order yet:

Sufjan Stevens, "Come on, Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance"
Bright Eyes: "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem"
Andy Williams "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Allison Crowe "Hallelujah"
Gumbo Jass Band, "Deck the Halls"
Jeff Black, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
Eurythmics, "Winter Wonderland"
Vermont "Santa Claws"
Roger Miller, "Old Toy Trains"
Mae West, "Put the Loot in the Boot, Santa"
Lou Rawls, "Merry Christmas, Baby"
The Simpsons, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"


and maybe a few more.

[ScreamingMeemie]

29. That is very cool!

Note to self...Ingratiate self with northax for next year. ;)

[LeftyMom]

13. I write something nice for everybody

but I only send out a few cards. (This year the grand total stands at two. I see no point in sending cards to people I'll see within a few days of Christmas anyhow.)

[ScreamingMeemie]

31. Keeping it simple is a good way to go. I always have to send one to

my mom and my grandmother...or they won't talk to me for weeks. Which in hindsight, might be rather nice. :hi:

[LeftyMom]

35. I used to send one to my Grandmother (she passed this spring)

and I'm definitely sending cards to two close friends who live out-of-state. Now that I think about it, LeftyKid's grandparents on his Dad's side and two of my aunts ought to get cards, too. Revise my total to a whoppping five.

I don't see any point in sending cards to my Dad and sister, since I'll see them anyhow. I would if they saved them or put them on display, but cards aren't a big deal to them so I won't bother.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

15. Most of the cards I send go to people I don't see often

Therefore I include a brief letter summarizing what I've done during the past year, with personal notes relevant to the recipient scribbled at the end.

I hate it when someone I don't see more than every couple of years just signs their name to a card, which tells me only that they're still alive.

[ScreamingMeemie]

32. I have an aunt who does that. She sends out the form letter, with

a personalized note at the end...which is very nice. :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

21. I suggest this text for a xmas letter

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"

His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands.

Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

[nini]

27. That will definitely bring Holiday Cheer!

:rofl:

[Zomby Woof]

28. You know it!

:D :loveya:

[nini]

30. I'll save it to add to ours

:hug: :loveya:



I was just getting ready to go take a bath and saw that.. *snort*


I'll catch you in a bit.



oxox

[ScreamingMeemie]

33. AAAAAaaaCKKK!!

Do you remember when you did the primary templates?? I wish I had bookmarked that. That was the funny thread I've ever read on DU and I was just thinking about it today. :hi: did you see the lovely snippet of the crappy letter we received further up thread in reply to your post?

I'd hate you, but those pictures of you and GOPisEVIL were just too cute. :hi:

[Zomby Woof]

34. I saw it!

And knowing what YOU have been through with hospitals this past year, who are they to act like it only happens to them? x(

I will see if I can find the primary templates... :D

[ScreamingMeemie]

41. That would be cool. That was the best ever! I was moderating

then and just laughed my head off for a good ten minutes. All the little f-you smileys. :)


On edit: I never told them about me...and swore MrG to secrecy, because they wouldn't have given a shit anyway, what with all their suffering. This last year was a gift to me. I don't take life lightly anymore. :hug:

[Zomby Woof]

42. I thought I bookmarked it

But I guess not... x(

Can't find it in a search. I DID find some scorched-earth pieces I wrote - I must have used my template, because I was rather rude. :evilgrin:

I am BEHAVING for 2008. O8)

:hug:

[LeftyMom]

36. I know somebody who deserves that.

The only question is if I'm that evil.

Probably. :evilgrin:

[Xipe Totec]

23. Sent out Thanksgiving cards this year instead

Hand made, using post cards from Plimoth Plantation. Mailed them from Plymouth Mass. Each post card was hand-picked to reflect the person we sent it to; Family scenes for some, Individuals for others. Pictures of the Mayflower for the sailing buffs, quilting scenes for the quilters.

There are many ways to personalize your message. Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words.

But we did include the yearly family letter.



:hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

38. I would find that acceptable. A yearly family letter, with a personal

card is a very nice gesture in my opinion. :hi:

[bigwillq]

25. I don't send out XMAS cards but...

when I send out b-day cards, I do include personal notes to the person. :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

me too, but I'll admit, sometimes I write Really, REALLY BIG...

to take up most of the space. ;) :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

39. Dupe!

to take up most of the space. ;) :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

37. Absolutely. It is very rude to just sign a card and send it off.

It's also rude - because it's insanely self-focused and selfish - to send a note of suffering. It's bad enough to send a canned photocopied note to everyone unless you are one of the 20 or so truly good writers in the country who can pull it off, but to send that note and include the suffering? FUck that. TOtally rude.

No, Christmas cards are not the time to give people your news. If you actually cared about those people, and actually cared that they knew what was happening in your life, you would tell them when it mattered, not save it up in a last minute longwinded brag/whine fest.

Insufferable is all I have to say to that.

No, every card should be hand signed, and include at least one personal sentence, handwritten.

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. I thought, once long ago, of doing the family letter...when they were

all the rage in the nineties...and couldn't bring myself to do it.


Rabrrrrrr, you've done it again. Put in words, I could never express myself. You should make that into your Christmas Card this year, because I feel guilty now for just signing my husband's coworker's cards. :hi:

[Rabrrrrrr]

43. Thanks! Every card that comes with just a signature I say "FUCK YOU!"

I really do - it's so fucking rude, I can't stand it.

Makes me feel that all I am is another name on their card list so that they can brag to their permed-and-dyed-hair obnoxious equally vapid inconsequential Budweiser-and-Marlboros-for-breakfast friends "I sent 200 cards this year!"

Because you know what? If the only thing I ever hear from you each year is getting an ugly fucking Currier and Ives Christmas card with four lines of pissant putrid pusillanimous poetry and a signature and no note, then I don't fucking want to hear from you at all and just write me out of your life. Unless you're 95 and full of arthritis or have a legitimate reason to like vapid poetry and can't use your hands long for writing.

I write a personal note in every card I send out - generally, a full paragraph. I refuse to send a card without some personalization. Is it a pain in the ass? Sure it is, but these people are MY FRIENDS, and THEY DESERVE ME SHOWING SOME RESPECT. It also ensures that I only send cards to people who are truly close to me and that I care about, instead of trying to crank up my card count.