Elf Angels

O.K. guys... curiosity is getting the cat here.... What's up with the Elf Angels??? I know I'm new but I'm missing something... Happy Hump Day from Shelbyville...  Angie PS: I hope everyone got through last night's storms o.k. ... fortunatley, we had nothing happen down here ...

We started anouncing a new secret ELF exchange back in November.. the previous year we had secret angels..So starting The first Weekend in January we recived an email who our Secret ELF would be (the one we buy for) We get in contact with them once a month by mail and let them know we are thinking, praying for them. You can contact SweetSherri and she can add y our name to a list of other late comers if you are interested...  As much as we want to support EVERYONE on this board that of course is impossible to do so some of us ELFS just get one a year to make sure SHE is special, remembered thru her journey to a happy healthy life.. some of the people are pre op, some post op.. but everyone is special, and sometimes a secret pal is just what they need. I know getting mail from someone telling me I am special makes me feel lots better...and puts a sweet smile on my face and is a reminder I am not in this struggle alone. Linda Kay

Hi Angie! Thank you for your interest in the Elf Angels. As Linda Kay said, we called it 'Secret Angels' in 2007. This year though, I switched to using a program called Elfster (thank you Floyd!!). It does the 'draw' for me and it is totally random. The 'rules' of participating are: 1.  Your information must be included in the Hoosier Directory (If it isn't, please send Floyd a note at [email protected]. For the Subject line, I'd put 'Hoosier Directory'. In the message part, include your full name, screen name, spouse/bf name, address, phone number (if you feel comfortable with others having it), anniversary date, birthdate, surgery date. I'll put more later why we have this directory). 2.  Males and Females are both welcome & encouraged to participate..not just women. In fact, we have several men who are participating. It also doesn't matter if you are pre or post-op. We all need to know we are cared about! 3.  To participate, it is expected that you contact your person somehow at least once a month (for all of 2008) to show that you care about them (with keeping your identity a secret if at all possible). This can be done via sending an ecard, card, and/or small gift. We do ask that it NOT be an ecard every month. And please note that it does not have to be an expensive gift...just a little token that says 'I'm thinking about you' is what really matters. Myself, I usually stick with cards except for their special dates (birthdays, surgiversary, anniversary, holidays). That's when I try to send a little gift. Also, if you see it posted that your person is going through something that they could use an encouraging word (surgery, sickness, divorce,kids, etc), that would be a good time for a 'I'm thinking about you' card. 4.  As a recipient, we do ask that when your secret Elf does something nice for you, please drop a note here to say thank you...so that they know that you have recieved it. I added this because I STILL do not know for sure if my person from 2007 recieved the floral & candle arrangements I had gotten her for Christmas & her birthday in December.  That's all the rules. Now..for timing. I did start posting way back in November and the initial draw was the first weekend in January. Does that mean anyone else is SOL? No. But you do have to wait a little bit. After I recieve the Hoosier Directory update in MARCH and/or after I feel up to it after my surgery March 3rd, I will be setting up a 2nd chance drawing. That gives 1 month for anyone who wishes to be included to be sure they are in the Directory AND to send me an email ([email protected]) letting me know that they wish to be included.  Only those people will be included in that draw. It would be unfair to those who were signed up for it at the first of the year to have new names drawn for them too. As I have recieved emails from people, I have been including them in a 2nd chance email group so that I don't leave anyone out. As of today, I only have one name in it (Rebekah Mason). So if others wish to be included, they need to contact me through my email addy above (not through here guys..ok?).  Obviously, I'm not going to set up a new group every few months or so. If I don't have several more people expressing interest in this 2nd one, I'll pu**** out a little later. After that one though, there won't be anymore new draws set up until ~October 1st...maybe. It depends on the amount of interest in it at the time. *********************************************************************************************** The Hoosier Directory has several intended purposes. One of them is NOT so you have everyone's emails for 'funnies'. Some people don't appreciate them...others do. The longer you're on the board, the easier it will be to guage who you think would appreciate what. It is so that we would have a means to contact each other for other purposes though. Let's say that I find out at 10 that I need to head to Shelbyville to pick something up for my daughter. I could look up Shelbyville in the Directory, see you listed for there, and give you a call and say 'hey..I'm going to be in your neck of the woods at 2 today. Would you happen to be free so we can meet somewhere for coffee?'. Remember, we are a group who loves meeting other 'losers' in person! Information on the Directory is also used so that your secret Elf would know when your special dates are, where to mail cards to, and with the phone number? Other than my previous example, when you have flowers sent to someone, several florist requires a phone number for the recipient just in case they have trouble finding their home. If we have special events coming up, we may use the email addy's to let you know about them...not everyone can/does read the posts here on the board every day. Floyd sends out an update at the beginning of the month. So if you send him your info after the first few days on the month, you may not be included until the next month's update. ******************************************************************************************* You had asked in Wednesday's post about if/when we get together in person. We DO!! We love getting together. Every 3 months (next one is in April) we have a clothing exchange. It gives people a chance to bring in their baggie stuff and get some clothes that fit right. When you are a new post-op, I'd recommend getting the size you're in plus one lower! You REALLY go through clothe sizes fast that first year! We also have a carry-in for these. All the food is bariatric friendly. It is the time that those who live far away usually  bring things that travel well (veggie tray, water, etc). Those of us who live closer, it's the time we like to showcase the new recipes we've learned over the last 3 months! We also share those recipes (either provide a copy of it or make it available here...I usually include mine in my profile). It's a good way for pre-ops and newbies to see that there is terrific eating after bariatric surgery! We have them at the school that Dawn (Im on my way) works at. It's a terrific set-up for these! It's just off of East Washington. There will be several posts about it as the time gets closer. We have just started a thing to where we want to plan a dinner get-together once a month...the first Saturday of the month (when possible)...other Saturdays if not (like clothing exchange months maybe..or the first one in August...I'm not missing Jodi's wedding!). There has been and will continue to be impromptu dinners. Usually it is me or Floyd that posts about them...and because it's us planning it..and may just be us to show up...it's usually on the east side of town. We do try to choose locations that are fairly reasonable price-wise. Now..ours may not be just on the weekend. At any rate, these dinners..the once-a-month ones or the impromptu ones, are posted on here to give people the opportunity to join in if they'd like. During the year, we also have annual things that we have started in years past and hope to continue...and add to. They are: Feb/March: Bill & I host a Hot Tub/Hot Tea party. This year will be the 3rd one. Because of my surgery on March 3rd, it probably will be the end of March. June/July: Swimming party. There have been 2 so far and each time hosted by someone new. If someone would like to step forward for 2008 for this (and for future ones???), please do!! Summer: Weekend Camp out. Hope & Peter own a KOA in Middlebury. Last year was the first one. We had Dana & Ellen, Floyd & Brenda, Cheryl & John, Hope & Peter, me & Bill. We hope that this one gets bigger because it sure was alot of fun! The date will be announced later. Summer:  Indiana Beach Camp-Out & Amusement Park. This will be the first time for this. Bill & I checked it out last year and had so much fun that we are hoping to do it again this year...but with our buddies from here included! We'll let you know later the date. December: Christmas Ornament Exchange. Wow..this one has REALLY caught on!! Linda Kay started this 3 years ago. I think there were 5 of us there. It was so much fun that the next year, she & Angie moved it to a restaurant. Good thing! There were...15 or so (I don't know the accurate count). Last year, Floyd & Brenda hosted it. It's a good thing they have lots of rooms in their house because we filled it up! They were terrific hosts (as were Linda Kay & Angie!!). With them having room for get togethers like this, I hope they choose to host it again this year. If not, perhaps we can use the school (Dawn?).  If anyone has other ideas, please speak up! (Dawn... a bowling party maybe? Or perhaps a regular monthly bowling...?).  At any and all of our activities, pre-ops and post-op are all welcome!!! As is their spouse, bf/gf, best friend, sister, mother, daughter, son...you get the idea. Many of these are fine for kids...but some, it'd be best if you got a babysitter (like for the Tub & Tea or the Ornament Exchange). If in doubt, ask the host/hostess if this is one of those. Dinners though...sure, bring them. At the last one, there were 3 kids. It's good that they make friends with each other. Afterall, their parents plan to be buds way after they are grown & out of the house! LOL! ********************************************************************************************** Information overload? LOL! Yeah, we're a full-support group of people!!! In person as well as online! Oh...and if Indy is too far to drive to participate in stuff, PLEASE take the initiative to plan your own activities closer to home...and post them here so that others can have the opportunity to come to them!! I hear grumbles that 'everything is in Indy'. So...plan something, post it, and give us the opportunity to hit the road and meet you where you are! There are many of us who doesn't mind at all!!! If everyone just waits for someone else to plan something...well...it will probably be here in Indy because those who are willing to plan something are mainly the ones who live in Indy (and with a few exceptions, on the east side of Indy..and us east-siders like to try out new stuff too!!).  I hope that answered your questions....Let me know if I can answer any others. If I can't, I'm sure someone on here can! Sherri

WOW! I sure hope you type fast! LOL!!! That was some INFO!!! Great Job though!!! I am all for some fellowship, bowling, euchre something! Anyone else???? I don't mind traveling either- heck thats the only way I get to see any of the state! I haven't been too far, though! WHo's ready????  If anyone is interested in doing a clothing exchange in SOUTHERN INDIANA- please say so- there is a place that I can rent there for 20.00, it is off of 41 near Sullivan! Let me know- still keeping the date in APRIL in INDY though!!!! Hugz ALL! Dawn

Hahaha!! I do type fairly quickly. This time I was smart though. After I got done, I copied/pasted it into Word so that I have it for the next time someone asks...lol! I think this makes about the 6th time someone has asked about the Secret Elf stuff since the drawing took place! So..I'm more prepared for the next round!  Sherri