Monday, December 17, 2007

You Know What's Fun?

Designing and ordering the Christmas cards.

Addressing and mailing out the Christmas cards? Not so fun. I have had pretty much the same mailing list, with a few edits, for the last NINE YEARS. Why do I still have to scramble for addresses/new last names/apartment numbers every single time I have to mail something to these people?

Also, the post office charges $.52 (or something) to mail a 5x5 card. Could someone tell me why?? Before you try to tell me something about their machines, let me tell you that they clearly need to update their crappy machines. 5x7 is fine, but 5x5 is extra. That's ridiculous. No wonder email and automatic bill pay and online shopping are putting the post office out of business. It's an archaic system with laughable customer service. People HATE, DREAD and FEAR the post office. Bastards.

Anyway, this is my card. I didn't have it printed with my blog address on it though. Believe it or not, I try to keep that on the down low in real life. It's a shame, because there are some people that really need help realizing how funny I am and/or who would probably really enjoy it, but I'm just not even going there. It'd be a little weird to be writing about sex toys if I knew Aunt B was reading, know what I mean?



I'm also supposed to place 2 photo orders tonight, design 2 photobooks and wrap presents but I really don't know about all of that. Most urgently, I need to hunt down the missing pieces of data that are necessary in order to send out the stupid cards, but I'm already over the excitement of the cards. It's just too much.

I propose that we move Christmas to the 30th this year. I mean, we all pretty much know that December 25th isn't Jesus' actual birthday right? Besides, he wouldn't mind. He definitely wouldn't want everyone all stressed out about it. I really think this could work...


EDITED TO ADD: Please note the proper placement of the apostrophe in goodness' sake. I just want to point out that a lot of people would have screwed that up. Also, do not, DO NOT let me catch you signing your cards "The Ashley's". Not necessarily "The Ashley's" because that would be super weird of you but "The yourlastname's" is not correct. Merry Christmas from The Ashleys. Happy Holidays from the Yourlastnames. I am so embarrassed for the sender when I get cards with this error. I recently saw an M&Ms ad that said "The Smith's" and I couldn't believe it. Don't feel too dumb if you've done it but do not do it again.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love the card!

Have you read "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves" by Lynne Truss? It's a humorous book about good grammar, and there's a whole chapter on proper apostrophe use... this post reminded me of that!

Sasha said...

Precious card! The pics are adorable! And I am right there with you, so not ready. And losing steam fast.

Anonymous said...

Hell yeah for proper apostrophes! We have a pluralized last name and it sucks! Joneses looks so stupid. So we started signing it "The Jones Family" instead.

I also think that the PO sucks btw. Costing extra for a smaller card? Retarded.

Ned said...

Love the card!

Somewhere Between Pinot and Pacifiers said...

Cute, cute card! I posted a few days ago about the post office. I DREAD going there. It is always a horrible experience.

Jennifer said...

Very nice card.

I gave up on photo cards this year and sent out regular old Hallmarks. I'll do photo cards for New Years or Presidents Day or something. Some other holiday that isn't in a week...

Jennifer said...

Oh, I totally forgot to comment about keeping the blogging on the DL. I haven't told a soul IRL or even Fidel because I want to reserve the right to dog their asses out. And I'd never drop an f-bomb around my family, other than my mother.

so tired said...

OH MY GOD! That is one of my biggest pet peeves! I get them every year and am also embarrassed for the sender. I think of ways I could maybe let them know before next year so they don't do it again!

I'm always trying to think up an excuse for them. Like maybe they were thinking "The Johnson's" kids or
"The Smith's" greetings. Like just maybe they were really trying to take ownership in something.

Maggie said...

super cute card!! Thanks for the grammar lesson, too. Would you like to take on the lie and lay issue as well? These words are even more misused than the apostrophe. Go Ashley!

Misty said...

Now, you have me thinking... have I done that in the past. lol

clemsongirlandthecoach said...

Great card. Not that I am surprised.

Anonymous said...

Jesus does say take your time! Can you tell Big and Little kid that for me :)

Anonymous said...

I feel your pain...and it's 58 cents because I just learned this lesson myself. I was so excited that I got 15% off my cards (thanks to Deb giving me a code) but then learned I'd be paying extra postage (not Deb's fault :) Super cute cards though!!

Anonymous said...

Oh I love the card, as usual your boys are so cute, and the card is a great idea. I think you should not sign your card with just your last name but write out everyone's name. We also have an S on the end of our last name and I have on many occassions had to make sure of proper ' placement.

I saw a sign in someone's front yard the other day and it said "Labs' for sale" (labs is already plural you don't need the ') I wouldn't buy one just because they seem dumb I don't care if their Labs are the best dogs ever.

Joy

Avery Gray said...

Wow, cute card! But don't put me on your Christmas card list. I can't work under that kind of scrutiny!

Anonymous said...

Oh Ashley - the apostrophe issue is just the tip of the iceberg!! I have rec'd professional emails with the most horrendous grammar. I just snicker and realize how much smarter I am!!! :o)

Adorable card, it's the square that gets ya!! Apparently the sorters can't handle square?? I learned that back in 1995 when I selected square wedding invitations. I knew better in 2004 when I married the man of my dreams!!

Anonymous said...

Adorable Christmas cards. Yes the infamous lay and lie. Ducks lay, people lie, that's how I remember. Now I'm going to lie down now, my brain hurts from this grammar lesson. I got a C in Grammar and Linguistics and my mother was an English major. Go figure.

Jill

Anonymous said...

The cards...ADORABLE! Such a cute, cute, cute idea. And I am not apostrophe obsessed...I am obsessed with the ellipsis. As you can tell since I used it twice already in this comment!
I love...

Unknown said...

Grammar mistakes drive me crazy too. That card is fantastic!

Deb said...

Great cards. Thanks for covering the apostrophes. As I was finishing up my own cards in the wee hours of the morning yesterday, I nearly blogged about apostrophe usage, as well. Great, great minds. Nice job on the goodness'.

Sarahviz said...

Yep--I learned the hard way about the square Christmas cards too. Holy extra postage. Dammit.

Anonymous said...

VERY cute card!

I haven't been to the post office in almost 3 years :O - I don't need that anxiety in my life. ;)

Anonymous said...

Thank you SO much for mentioning the apostrophe thing. I cannot stand it when people do that, or commit any other grammar sin.

Stacy said...

The card is awesome! It helps that you have two adorable children!

Mandy Mae said...

I know this comment is quite late, but I am a new reader and am doing some catching up. I had to tell you (though I'm sure you probably already know) that your children are gorgeous!