Holiday Wish List 2009

[wook77]

So here's that annual holiday wishlist. I try to vary my gift requests every year but I sort of fail miserably.

1.) I ask this every year and I make a pledge that I will do the same. During the month of December, I ask that each and every one of you comment on everything you read/view and enjoy. Comments are little gifts that inspire the recipients which, in turn, keeps fandom an awesome, productive place. I'm not saying leave a detailed comment but leave a comment telling the author/artist that you enjoyed their work. Give a gift to others and take the minute or two to let an author/artist know you enjoyed their work.

2.) Make a donation of any sort to your local animal shelter. Five dollars is a BFD. For five bucks, my shelter can buy a forty pound bag of dog food from Hill's Science Diet. Forty pounds of food feeds about 50-80 of our dogs. That's right, for five bucks, you can feed at least FIFTY dogs. See why I say five bucks is important?!

3.) Go through your things and purge the stuff you don't use any longer. Donate what you can to local charities. Needs are going up exponentially for all sorts of random shit from half-used bottles of shampoo (In the US, World Care will take them and so will quite a few of the homeless shelters) to coats and blankets. This one won't cost you any more money than the gas to take them to a drop off point. And it'll be a gift to you because you won't need to store that stuff in your house any more. Besides, you hated that shampoo and those sheets never fit your bed right anyway.

4.) I'd love fic and art and icons and music mixes.

5.) A cow. Or geese. Or baby ducklings. Some trees. A water buffalo. Get them here.

6.) Hold the door for someone. Say 'thank you' to the person holding the door for you. I know we rush during the holidays to get gifts and/or to avoid all assholes out there but, srsly, take a second and say 'thank you'. It helps reduce stress for you and the recipient. It's a small moment of happiness.

7.) To be greedy - gift certificates to thinkgeek.com or bestbuy.com

8.) Paid time for my LJ.

9.) Pick a card off any of those "Angel Trees" and buy a pair of pjs or jeans for a little kid for Christmas. Then toss in a stuffed animal or something equally as "frivolous". Because every kid should get something fun during the holidays. Remember how you felt when you opened up a present and saw something fun? Now magnify that by about a billion and you'll see what some of these kids will feel when they get their gift. Nothing beats inspiring a kid to see that the world isn't always about surviving. Sometimes, it's about living.

10.) This Wedge Antilles Figure. Or, well, any Wedge Antilles toy.

Comments

[inspiredlife.livejournal.com]

You, and your list, are awesome. #6 is a big one for me as well; it's amazing what a difference it can make.

I'm a big supporter of Heifer International and have been for years. Money is extremely tigher this year but there will be a flock of chicks bought.

[nefernat.livejournal.com]

How stupid is it that I knew about Heifer vaguely (probably because it's been mentioned before somewhere) but had totally forgotten about it?

*trots off to local website to investigate*

♥ to you both :D

[inspiredlife.livejournal.com]

Several years back, one of my students donated animals in my name. I was instantly enamoured of the project and the next year got the entire school involved in a fundraising effort. When we kick off here, I'll do the same. It's really a great organization.

[nefernat.livejournal.com]

That is such a neat thing to do, a fundraiser with a school!!

*bookmarks website*
I'm on a budget but I'm trying to see if I can't spend some of it there...

[wook77.livejournal.com]

It's a fantastic organization! What they do is just brilliant! I'm glad you're looking at them!

[nefernat.livejournal.com]

I need to take care of some things this week and if I can make it work, some chicks will be bought *nods*

♥

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I ask for Heifer stuff every year because it's such an amazing organization! I love it so much. I did a dance of glee when someone sent me part of a water buffalo! And chicks! WEEEEEEEE! Chicks are the cutest things ever. They're right up there with kittens and puppies. I LOVE them!

<3

#6 is huge normally but OMG such a big BFD during the holidays when everyone is harried and stressed.

ILU!

[inspiredlife.livejournal.com]

It really is a fantastic organization. I've loved organizing fundraisers for them for the past couple of years and look forward to doing so with my new program as well. And, chicks are so, so awesomesauce!

Your #6 was on my holiday list as well. It's such a key one, definitely necessary for everyday life and even more so at the holidays.

♥

[mrasaki.livejournal.com]

That...is probably the least selfish X-Mas wishlist I've ever seen. You are an awesome person, wook. :)

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Well, it is sort of selfish as I get the joy of knowing I helped to make a difference elsewhere. That's rather selfish of me.

But when it comes to stuff, I have boxes and boxes of it. I don't need more so why not give to those that do need it? It just makes sense to me :D

[snegurochka_lee]

What a lovely list! Big kudos for #2, especially. :)

[wook77.livejournal.com]

Thanks! #2 is definitely one that's near and dear to my heart! I just don't think that people realize what five bucks can do sometimes. Charities are awesome at stretching a dollar.

<3

[dragonfly-lily.livejournal.com]

I &hearts you!

[wook77.livejournal.com]

I <3 you!

[sugareey.livejournal.com]

Your list is a good one. You make me happy. And omigod...baby ducklings are adorable! They jump out of trees and followed their mums when they're young. But some great causes here. :D