A Warm Cup of Winter Solstice - International

Some helpful links for those of you in the USA for sending mail out of the country: (clip/paste to your browser. one day this old dog will learn the "coding" for URLs to be quick-links.)

POSTAGE CALCULATOR - Domestic and International ESTIMATES

http://www.usps.com/tools/calculatepostage/welcome.htm?from=global&page=0061calculatepostage

LIST OF COUNTRIES (w/links) and Mail Contents Restrictions

http://pe.usps.gov/text/imm/immctry.htm

For you folks sending INTO the USA....this link has helpful information about mailing restrictions:

http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/consulate/acs4.html

Please no plastic mug for me :)

Im so in this one :o) I love mugs!!!!! but no plastic please!!!!

(Uh, did I send an empty message or what? checking)

Don't know what happened, but anyway: This is a great idea! I just hope my partner won't send me a plastic mug, they're ..ugly, and plastic. I'm probably going to send a ceramic one.

This sounds like fun....No plastic for me please. ( iam wierd like that, no plastic plates, cups or utensils...lol) I love the idea....

Dang it all anyway! Just found this swap and I missed the sign up date! I will definately be looking for another of these swaps!

Denise

d_dwheeler: I've sent you a PM with a couple of alternate ideas. :)

Please no plastic mug for me....Thanks!

A GENTLE reminder to our group of swappers:

The SEND BY date for Warm Cup of Winter Solstice is still a LONG WAY DOWN THE ROAD...Dec 3rd!!

Remember that this is a Send By date, not a Receive By date. You really should not be expecting or looking for your incoming packages (nor anticipating no-sends) yet.

While it is good to allow for the snail mail process, and getting ahead is never a bad idea, when in doubt, it is best NOT to act too quickly. If you send your package too early and your recipient subsequently drops/skips, then all your best efforts are for naught.

I have been communicating regularly with any of our swappers whose ratings have dropped since the sign-up date. I am trying to watch out for you, my friends.

There was a reason why I put so much time between sign-up and send-by: so that I have time to monitor/communicate and we all have time to choose wisely.

IF/WHEN it becomes necessary to replace a swapper (and one already has been replaced) I will notify the affected partners with an alternative. This sort of thing puts wrenches in the whole ratings thing, but, at least NOT getting a rating is better than getting a snarky one.

Thank you for communicating with me and each other. Also thank you EACH AND ALL for your patience.

Is it too late to join in on the "no plastic" ruling?

Thank you so much.

I'm sure your partner will see/notice that, Phoenyx. I have arthritis in my hands and heavy mugs are difficult for me to drink from. I happen to like the alternatives: plastic and metal. I have a tall thick plastic cup from the 60s (a true horror - plastics are so much better now)that my daddy used when he was hunting. It's ugly as sin but it is light-weight and keeps my coffee warm for a long, long time. Plus when I use it, I think of Daddy warming his hands on it on those frosty mornings in the woods. :)

Phoenyx, don't worry - I already have a ceramic mug for you :D

Thank you to all you wonderful swappers who have been so patient and kind while we worked thru some snags and thorns. All looks to be right in place now, so I hope you'll enjoy this swap.

Happy Swapping to all and to all a good swap! (lol)

Please no plastic for me, Thanks!

I can't read minds or predict the future. Some good (5.0) swappers that joined us in September have, um, lost some of their sparkle. Some of them have very VERY understandable issues and are communicating with the people that they should. As for the others.....well, I'm working pretty steadily to contact them and their partners, so everybody knows what is going on with everybody.

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM (from either direction), please send me a PM (swap-bot) or email (see my profile). I PROMISE to do my best to smooth the waters.

What I really don't want to see (beyond what's already there) are Forum Flames over this swap.

Remember that the postal delivery system is what it is. Allow your partner at least 2 weeks past SENDING DATE (3 Dec) before you even worry. THEN, contact them directly and copy me that message traffic.

KEEP THE COMMUNICATION LINES OPEN and we'll all be happy in the end (or as comfortable as we can be).

HUGS to all "my" wonderful swappers. YOU HAVE NO IDEA how much your continued quality work and personal responsibility mean to a host!

Swappers: If you haven't rec'd by now, please go ahead and rate your sender a "No Send." Then I will pass you along to one of the ANGELS. ;)

Wonderful!! The swapper I sent to has flaked on her partner, after receiving a package from me and not bothering to rate, or answer pm's; and the swapper that was my upstream partner apparently flaked on me, and doesn't feel the need to respond to messages. Next time, I'll send an awesome package to myself and enjoy the hell out of it. And save international postage as well!

Hmm.. I haven't received anything either.