Im' going to try setting up a FriendFeed Swap. Basically, we create a list of participants, fill a box with goodies, and then mail the box to one another. Take some goodies out, put some goodies in, and enjoy getting some real life mail!
If you're interested, leave a comment with your location on the alternates list here http://friendfeed.com/friendf... Participants are picked in the order in which they signed up.
Box clip art courtesy BenBois http://openclipart.org/media...
what's the story behind this? I missed it
- Sir Shuping
the box is being sent from one FFer to another around the world. We all put some stuff in, take some stuff out. and there's a Flat Stanley to take pictures of. So far, the box has been to France, England, Canada, Australia, and of course, here in the U.S. :)
- holly
The only question I've got is, "who's going to be so silly as to take the vegemite out of the box?"
- DJF
not yet, but I have a package set aside. I shall muster the courage soon :)
- holly
Am I seeing that correctly? Is the vegemite packaged up like those cheez-n-crackers snack packs we have here? Complete with little red cheez-spreading stick?
- tinypants - Hagitha of FF
Yup! Actually, we're only about halfway through the first list since we did most of the international travel first. Now it's going to make its way down the west coast of the US and along the south until it gets back to me. I'm thinking I should get it back near Valentine's day (or maybe my birthday!!!)
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Ok, I'm afraid the swaps box is another week away because this idiot didn't realise that there are two Vancouvers, and I wrote Canada on the box. Very annoyed with myself, why I didn't type the address into Google maps first I'll never know
Should be there within 7 days. At least that's what Australia Post tells me, so it could be next year some time :) I'd really like to apologise to everyone, it's taken longer than I'd like to get it posted. Just after it arrived our whole family got sick, so it proved difficult to get everything done. But it's on its way now, and Stanley had a fun time in Sydney :)
- Glenn Slaven
Awesome! So glad it got there safe and sound!
- Charlotte M
It looks like the box is getting very crowded!
- Anne Bouey
very crowded, not sure how we are going to fit anything in it
- Sarah Slaven
Sarah, if it's crowded just take a little more out. It seems like everyone is putting in more than they're taking and we're running out of room quickly. Get more goodies!!!
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
eat the pretzels, they will be out of date by the time it gets stateside again!
- Janet
I'm glad to introduce people to Filipino food/desserts. :)
- Cheryl Jones
Maybe we're all afraid of appearing to greedy
- Sarah Slaven
Glenn, your dad joke sense of humor is getting worse daily :-)
- Sarah Slaven
I hope you were able to get a photo of Stanley on his travels! I'm glad the box is making nice progress.
- Bill Rawlinson
I'm ashamed to admit we haven't yet, we've all had the flue and haven't touched the box while sick. Didn't think you'd like us to pack germs in there as well. Promise to get a move on with sending it off this week.
- Sarah Slaven
Sarah, I hope you all are feeling better.
- Anne Bouey
After thinking about the logistics for a bit, I think it'll be a nightmare if we each try to get in touch with our mailer one-on-one: we'd all have to sub to each other to be able to DM, and the room is public, so I don't think you want to post your address in here. I'm thinking the best option is to email 'em to me and I'll either A) email 'em to the appropriate person or B) just include a mailing list in the box and we'll work off of that. B would be easiest, but if someone has a strong objection to it we'll go with A. YOUR TASK - email your mailing address to tinapbeana+swaps at gmail. I'm hoping to get this box on the road by the end of the week.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Indeed I did, Janet =) I have addresses for our first three stops, which should get the ball rolling. I'm going to collect some bits for the box this afternoon!
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
i will be sending to Glenn "Total distance: 8867 mi" whoa! :D
- AJ Batac
Once I got his location, I tried to work him in so that he wouldn't be at the very end or very beginning. I didn't want us to send it to Europe and then have them send it to him right at the beginning, because that would put us at about 3 weeks with very little progress.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
I just realized we can edit the map. and add pictures to the placemarkers. yet another reason for me to check if my old ass camera still works.
- chrisofspades
Yup, the map is editable Chris! There's a method to the madness here, I promise =D
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Time for the weekend, I reread Tina's post and thought she was sending an edible map. :o
- Janet
It's going to be awesome to see that line turn green, Glenn! Things I've shipped to Australia in the past have taken about 2 weeks to arrive, so I'll be intrigued to see how long the package takes to get to you from AJ.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
I updated the map for Janet so the first international line is green.
- Bill Rawlinson
Thank you for updating the map! I attempted but did not know how to do it.
- Janet
map updated to show the box is in Carbondale
- Bill Rawlinson
It's not in Carbondale, it's in Aurora (going to try to mail it out today or tomorrow).
- Cheryl Jones
oh, well the map said "Carbondale" - honestly I don't know where Carbondale is in relation to Aurora so the correction, unfortunately, doesn't really mean much to me sorry :O(
- Bill Rawlinson
The map pins aren't exact, I had to eyeball them to try and get them as close as I could without having exact addresses.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
I just made the comment because the person before me who is in Carbondale dropped out, or something, so it's actually at the leg after the Carbondale pin.
- Cheryl Jones
And it's going to get sent to AJ in Canada next, so the leg after me is extra. Is there a way to delete those extra stops, Tina?
- Cheryl Jones
Cheryl, the whole map is editable by anyone with the link. I can update or anyone here can, whichever is easiest.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
I'll try it. I'm just worried I'll mess it up. :)
- Cheryl Jones
I tried it, and from the list of placemarks and legs, it looks fine, but I can still see the placemarks and legs for Candace and Lindsay (Lindsey?) on the map. PFF. Please clean up after me. **sheepish grin**
- Cheryl Jones
I opened it up Cheryl and the placemarks aren't there anymore. Looks like you did it perfectly =)
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Hoping this makes the full journey by Christmas! I am hoping the last US legs will go rather fast. Maybe a nice {guess the final} date contest in order?
- Janet
Cheryl, it was sent to Glenn in Australia just about the middle of August. Things have taken 2-3 weeks anytime I've mailed there, so it should be arriving any day now!
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Oh wow, I didn't realize it went to Australia after AJ in Canada (should've looked at the map, duh). Thanks, Tina. :)
- Cheryl Jones
Hi Cheryl, I didn't take any since I get those all the time. ;) Love those btw. Glenn should take some of those when it arrives in Australia.
- AJ Batac
Ha, AJ. :) Actually, besides the ube cakes, I was talking about The Office paraphernalia, and the little photo stickers I added to the box.
- Cheryl Jones
The Office stuff? Nope. I took some of those stickers.
- AJ Batac
It just arrived! Photos and stuff to come!
- Glenn Slaven
Dear FriendFeeders: I am having SO MUCH FUN watching the swaps box make its way around the world. I'm starting to think that we might actually make it all the way through this round and still be able to watch it here on FriendFeed instead of somewhere else. You all are awesome people, and I have high hopes we'll be able to do a second swap!!!
Swap box has been mailed! I mailed it with a flat rate box; I forgot how long it's supposed to take. Perhaps a week and a half or so? I hope it gets to AJ swiftly! :)
Whoever gets the box after me: are there any snacks or candies you'd like me to buy? I'm trying to figure out what to add to the goodies. :)
- Cheryl Jones
from BuddyFeed
Woo. Glad it got there safe! Sorry I didn't let you know when I posted it, was only Monday though, got to you pretty quick. Been really busy this week and not been online that much. Still have a heap of pictures to post of the box and Stanley :)
- Simon Wicks
from iPhone
Awesome! No problem, Simon. It's just that the hubby recently had a package get lost temporarily, so I didn't want the swap box to suffer the same problem. It did arrive pretty quickly, though. Thanks!
- Cheryl Jones
from BuddyFeed
Kittens appear to like the box as much as mine did!
- Janet
They go nuts whenever we are trying to cut open packages we just got in the mail. Annoying since there are usually sharp implements involved!
- Cheryl Jones
In other news, Flat Stanley had a very fun time at the Sears Tower Skydeck yesterday. Originally we were going to stop by Millennium Park, but at the last minute decided to go to Sears Tower instead. Nice views! Pictures to be posted soon. :)
- Cheryl Jones
sweet - thanks all for showing Stanley such a nice time.
- Bill Rawlinson
Oh heck, how did I miss this?!?? Cheryl, I'll email you the next mailing address now
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
No problem, Tina. I still have to figure out what goodies to add to the swap box! Didn't find anything interesting at the American Science & Surplus store like I thought I would.
- Cheryl Jones
Hey, Simon. I think I'm next to receive the swap box. Can you just let me know when you've sent it off (no rush) so I can estimate when it should arrive? Thanks!
It's for the Friendfeed Swap Box. Some American tourists just saw me taking a similar shot of him here with Big Ben and laughed saying Flat Stanley? Hehe! I'd never seem him before I got him in the box :) - You from email (edit | delete)
- Simon Wicks
from iPhone
I've taken a few around the Westminster area because that's close to my office. It's a miserable evening out so not venturing too far. :)
- Simon Wicks
from iPhone
I was able to spend a week in London last week - I hadn't remembered (from my childhood) that Big Ben was connected to the Parliament building - or that that building was so damn big. It's cool to see Stanley getting out and about.
- Bill Rawlinson
And here it is! Brought it home tonight, crammed it in against lots of sweaty commuters. The Friendfeed swap box has made it back to mine from the office!
It's packed full of goodies, and i cant wait to get stuck into some of the sweets. Tina, I think I'm having that pie thing if that ok? I'm going to take Stanley around London with me sometime this week, let him see some of the sights and I'll post those pics up too. Then its off to Illinois for its meet up with Candace after I've packed it with some gifts from London and sealed it all shut. The green stuff on my head was from Brome, said I'd get a pic with that on there.. Incase you were wondering..
- Simon Wicks
Yay!!! Man, ya'll have crammed a ton of stuff into that box =D And Simon, feel free to grab the Moon Pie: I can always put more in for next time.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Kamilah: we're sending a box of goodies around the world, and this stop means it's about 1/3 of the way done. If you click on the FriendFeed Swaps room above, there's a signup list for the next swap. Anyone is welcome to join in!
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
What a cool idea! How am I just now reading about all of this?
- Haggis (Sean Loyless)
I have no idea, Sean: this box has been moving for almost a month now! Seriously, anyone who wants to play go to the FriendFeed Swaps group (linked above) and check out the trip our goodies have made so far. And sign up on the signup post!!!
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
4187.48 miles to it's next destination..
- Simon Wicks
Wow, so excited to see it will soon make another jump over the pond!
- Janet
The FFS-01 box has been posted to Simon this morning! Another segment turns green on the map. Here is a picture of Stanley watching the whole town of Bar-le-Duc:
I'd also like to thank my friend DAL for participating to our cause by donating a small bottle (we call it a "mignonette" here) of local mirabelle liquor. Please, Simon, take the bottle, since I fear that alcohol can not be as easily sent to the US as in the European Community.
- Brome
>>> Current Alternates List <<< These are the people who want to be in on the swap but aren't involved in the current one. If you'd like to be involved, leave a comment with your name and city, state/province, and country. People will participate in order, to try and keep it fair for everyone.
EOM! From now on, this is the official interest list. If you'd like to participate in a swap, put a comment with your name. I'll be grabbing people in order, and marking people as they participate.
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Tina, Kevin and I will volunteer help the box stop here at FFGWHQ if you would like. You can send it directly to Kevin Fox in Mountain View CA.
- Rachel Lea Fox
Abby: the alternate list will be updated to reflect people from this round who have to bow out (like you, or if someone is heading on vacation when they're supposed to get the box), or who didn't get their locations in on time
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)