2008 was not a fabulous year at casa de grrlTravels. It wasn’t all bad, but there was enough bad that K. said, “Goodbye 2008! Don’t let the door hit you on your way out!” There was the lengthy, overwhelming, ongoing adjustment of adding R. to our family, my did-she-or-did-she-not cancer scare (still rippling), and a slam to our company from the tanking economy that is stressful and very, very sad.
But more importantly there was the economic downturn, the bailouts, and the stunning, gigantic admissions of corruption and fraud. I am sickened by the GREED I see at every turn. I am worried that the checks and balances that should be in place do not seem to be checking or balancing. And I’m afraid of the prophesies of doom with respect to the economy.
What’s a grrl to do? I confess I must not be a Big Idea Girl, because I have not come up with a single useful thing that I can do to express my displeasure and my hope that we can pull together, sacrifice as necessary, and get this thing turned around. That obviously takes a bigger brain than mine.
Instead of thinking big I’ve decided to think small. And that’s why I’m giving away
Yep. Free stuff.
Think kindness to strangers. Think random acts of kindness (not the sappy version). Think small gestures. Think this stuff while I continue to work on a name for my 2009 blog giveaways, because I haven’t struck gold yet.
I’m giving stuff away. To make someone’s day a little brighter. I’ve giving because when I get afraid I want to clutch at stuff and that isn’t healthy. I’m giving because I love this crazy virtual world. I’m giving to have something to do to strike at the darkness.
I’m going to commit to 12 giveaways (one per month), but I’m hoping for 2 per month. It’s going to be small stuff–little handmade things, random stuff that amuses me, things I find here and there. I hope to enlist help from people eventually too, so that not everyone is subjected to my loopy inclinations.
First Give-Away
The first one is going to be a bit different. I’m giving away a $25 Kiva Gift Certificate. This gift cert. will allow the lucky recipient to “lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world—empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty”. I love the whole concept of microlending, and I love Kiva. You are notified when the money returns to your account and you can re-lend it. Lovely. So the first give-away is about giving you the opportunity to help someone else. It’s fun too. I promise!
To enter, just leave a comment on this blog entry by 8 pm EST on Monday, January 5, 2009. Any comment you like. Say hi. Share a goal or change you hope to make this year. Let me know how you are coping with the economic junk. Tell me if your Christmas tree is down already. (Nope.)
Go ahead. Leave a comment. Don’t let me stand here all alone in the freezing cold!
Love this!!!! Love this!!! Okay, we had two trees this year. The main tree. It is down and in the back yard. And then Zorba has her tree in the formal living room. Can you believe that she has not taken it down and hauled it outside yet? Humph. I need to talk to her.
. Great idea, girly, and very sweet.
Our tree is down as of yesterday. My six children and I are moving incredibly slow this morning though as a result of the New Year’s Eve fallout.
Hope your 2009 is a great one!
Blessings,
Grace
We are moving slowly too. Very, very slowly. We had to go to therapy this morning at 9:40 and it was painful. Painful!!
This is a great idea! We don’t have our tree down yet. Mainly because we have been home 24 hours or less since December 19. UGH.
What a wonderful idea. Count me in. Our tree was 32″ with no ornaments and one strand of lights. It was up on Xmas Eve and back in its box 2 days later. Next year will be a different story.
We, um, didn’t put up a tree. We intended to go up to the forest to cut our own, sled it out and all that. But then we got a LOT of snow in the mountains. And I was less interested in buying one, especially with traveling and such. So, thus it went.
Re: economy? We’re not buying a 2nd car, and I might not even get an upgrade on my 20yo commuter bike. And I’m knitting from my stash. Mostly. Don’t want my LYS to go under or anything.
But our only debt is mortgage and grad school, so I feel ok. ~lmc
I love Kiva.
Our tree is not down yet. We got a Charlie-Brown-ish tree from a local place and I think the good-old-boys that ran the place gave me a discount.
that is such a good idea! I am trying to commit to make one toy per month for the Toy Society, so this might ust be the kick in the pants that i need.
And one of our past summer babysitters wen to spend a summer in Africa to do ground work for Kiva, they are fabulous.
Gimme, gimme, gimme my free stuff! Oh wait, that is sooooo 2008. And turns out none of it was free after all! I think we will be paying for years for all our “free” stuff.
But I know you are serious, so this will be fun. As your part time decorator, can I suggest you give away lots and lots of stuff? (okay, that was evil. Forgive me.)
If your free stuff is anything like the fabulous Christmas gifts you gave me then count me in!
No, my Christmas tree is not down. All my decorations are still up. Sigh. I guess that’s my chore for tomorrow.
I hope that 2009 proves to be all you hope it to. Thinking of you and wishing you the best
What a fun idea! Our tree is also not yet down, but it is (theoretically) coming down tomorrow, hopefully before it goes up in a giant ball of flames.
And I should have put this on the previous post, but: your kids look fantastic. Z., especially, looks so happy. What great pictures!
How nice!
Tree…still up…and likely to be for quite awhile! I LOVE sitting with the lights out, except for the tree. Something very soothing about that. And this is the first time we’ve had it up since I came home from China at Christmas time with a toddler…who is almost a teenager. Until this year, we were never HOME for Christmas, so why bother? The trees in the other rooms WILL come down in the next week. Some of the decorations are down…ie., the ones in the kitchen, and the stockings that were hanging up EVERYWHERE throughout the house. It took me a few weeks to divest of “normal” chatzkes (sp?!@?!) and put up Christmas ones…so it’ll take time! 
As to the economy. Yuck. I had a LITTLE money invested, from the sale of my houe, and it is flying away. Hope it doesn’t disappear altogether! BUT…I have GREAT job security…I drive a school van, and kids HAVE to go to school! So that’s good!
Hugs…from snowy, chilly CT!
I love the idea of Kiva too.
As for the economy… it does stink and I am thankful for the job I found this year.
Terrific idea. Our tree went down on the 29th; it seems to happen earlier every year. Happy 2009.
Tree’s gone. I love to put it up and decorate, but then a day after Christmas I’m itching to get it all out and declutter.
Wishing you a FABULOUS 2009!!
WOW—you introduced me to ETSY (which I’m totally in love with), and now Kiva, which looks incredibly fantastic, innovative, and important. Thank you!
Pam
Christmas tree is not down yet, but that is the plan for today. Much lying about and sleeping in at our house. Daughter is in for a rude awakening when school re-starts – no more slepping til noon!
What a fabulous idea!
Wishing all of you a good 2009!
As bad as 2008 was, I tried to keep life in perspective. My computer desk faces a window that has a view of our community hospital. Everynight, I can see the lights on and patients/family in their rooms. It reminds me how very thankful I am that I am here and not in one of those rooms and also gives me a chance to send prayers to those that are in those rooms.
What an absolutely lovely idea. I think that by thinking small you are actually thinking big. WELL DONE!
Have a great 2009!!!
What a wonderful idea! Kiva is a great thing, and something I’ve always wanted to participate in.
Um . . . Our tree is still up and we’ve been traveling the last week so can’t even enjoy it! We’re going home today – finally and taking it down. Time to move on from the holidays, I’d say!
I’ll play! My tree is down but my lights and wreaths are still up. I can’t quite let the happy lights go when it is so gray outside.
Happy New Year!
The tree is down, but the lights outside are still up. I figure if it is still dark out when I leave for work and return home, it helps to see some cheery lights! As far as the economic times are concerned, I’m not going there, as I can’t stand fretting about it any more than I already am!
I admire you! Count me in!
Hi,
I’ve been reading you for a long time and have commented sporadically. I thought I would let you know that our daughter just got accepted (early decision) at Mount Holyoke. She can not be happier for getting into the college that so many of our Bulgarian friends attended.
Happy New Year!
The tree is down, (Yay!) but the Christmas lights and decorations are still up. One thing at a time..
As far as the current economic mess is concerned, well, I’m an economist so if nothing else it’s suddenly made me very popular at dinner parties. Who knew the Dismal Science would suddenly become weirdly sexy?
Happy New Year!
Love you! This is a great idea!