Tuesday, March 31, 2009

John Potter, do not make me come and kick your ass

Bottom line: Mail is down 12% and the USPS could be out of money by the end of the year.

“The Postal Service, which has served America for 234 years, is experiencing a very serious financial crisis because of the downturn in the economy,” John Potter, head of the U.S. Postal Service, told lawmakers. He went on to say the losses, in the billions of dollars, are of "historic proportions."

So what does he do? He asks to cut a day of service. Five days a week of mail, people. This could really happen!

Mail delivery is one of the cornerstones of this nation. Even in post-apocalyptic times, there will be mail. Didn't anyone see "The Postman"? (I know it was a terrible movie, please don't miss the point here.) I'll bet even those children in rags got their New Yorkers on time. And their VISA bills. And the sweet, sweet ValPak.

It is time for another bailout. This is bigger than AIG. And the banks. And whatever other madness TARP is covering (unless it's petting zoos. That is completely valid). The mail. We must save the mail. Who is with me?

Recession Part 2: The power of an "unexpected gesture" (and music choice)


Hallmark's new ad campaign is called "A Card. It's the Biggest Little Thing You Can Do." Featuring music by John Mayer. And 99 cent cards. Umm, I love the idea ("returning to basics, reaching out and letting people know they're loved and appreciated or just to say thanks"), but it also freaks me the hell out.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

A few boxes over the garage

Mom asked me to go through "a few boxes" (8) of my stuff from junior high and high school while I was back in Maine this weekend. She is packing up the house in anticipation of a move -- a sad thought for me, but an important new start for her.

While she looked ahead, I got to dive into the past. Not surprisingly, it's full of letters from a world without easy e-mail access, when long distance calls still cost something and text messages & IM didn't exist. I have boxes of postcards, birthday cards, notes passed in class and scraps of paper stuffed into envelopes. Scrawled script on legal pad yellow, beautiful monogrammed linen and even sandpaper (a boyfriend who wrote to me during breaks at his construction job) . Some were from people I had met for a few hours (a 14-year-old Canadian that I had apparently met on the beach while I was visiting my grandparents in Florida) and others were from people I still write to today (my dear friend Jessamy, who has been writing me without fail for more than 20 years -- including when we lived less than an hour apart).

Several "High Fidelity" moments: Poetry from the boy who inspired me to go to CMU. Song lyrics from one of many musician loves. About 20 one-page notes from a wrestler who struggled to keep how he felt about me from his family... and mine ... for a year (he made up a new name for each return address). Advice on love, sex and college life to come. Admissions of anger, guilt, fear and longing. There was a short story in every few inches of time.

More than a few made me want to set them aside to try to find their writers. Where were they now, after so much time?Did they have my letters in return ... and what did they say?

So, keep your letters. You may think they are just taking up space today, or you may fear that someone else will read them and not understand who you were when you received them. But if you are lucky enough to have someone write to you, it captures a moment in your life and becomes a part of your personal history. One that you probably weren't even conscious that you were building. But you'll be happy you have them one day, sitting on the basement floor of a packed-up home, surrounded by boxes -- a glass of wine in hand. Trust me on that.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Ugly babies need love too

I'm not a Mom (yet), so I can say it -- some people have ugly kids. Not any of my friends, of course. But they are out there. And they apparently sell. OK, not UGLY wee ones -- but scowly ones. And messy ones. Or ones making faces. Oh hell, just kids. Kids sell. And Hallmarks knows it. And they know that parents want to crow about them -- so they've finally found a way to let them have their day.

But it goes beyond children. Last year, Hallmark -- which before now only used in-house staff for designing its thousands of cards each year -- launched Greeting Card Competition.

"You're creative. You've got talent. And passion. We LOVE that. So, by golly, you deserve a spot to submit your brilliant card concepts. Card competition, anyone?"

People are encouraged to submit their ideas & personal pics for use in funny cards, parenting cards, bloopers -- all with the chance to be made into a real greeting card and win prizes (such as cash and money for a favorite charity). I think it's a smart corporate move that connects with the card-buying public, sources new ideas in a time of creative cut-backs and creates a charitable write-off channel. Complete with a blog and Facebook page.

Right now if you go to hallmarkcontest.com you can vote on the Mother's & Father's Day finalists. OK ... some of them are cute. By golly, indeed.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Faith in the Vernal Equinox


Had an idea for a thank you card as I was walked home tonight from the train to my house.

Thanks ...
Your several weeks of silence have made it much easier for me to stop obsessing over you.


Doodler, any idea how we can illustrate this one?

After 4 days of amazing weather around D.C., it was nice to enjoy the last threads of warmth as they began to mix with the cooler breeze that tomorrow will bring March back to reality. Warm days allow me to sleep with open windows, run outside and shed my mental cobwebs. Note to the spider walking along my ceiling when I woke up today: Don't come back soon.

Next week officially marks the beginning of spring. It has been a particularly long winter -- crazy cold, storms, economic turmoil, friends out of work, struggle and some heart hiccups. But the green is there. Grass, Leprauchauns, grape vines and crocus leaves. Right around the corner. And they're ready to warm you up again.

Same old address

One of the cool things about living in America is that with enough notice, the most powerful leader in the free world will send you a card for a milestone birthday or anniversary.

I think we should do this when people turn 18 as well. I can't think of a better way to be reminded to get your ass out to vote than to receive a note from an elected official saying "Welcome to responsibility." Love who is representing you? Work to keep him/her. Hate them? Do something about it.