It’s a shiny New Year, and a new opportunity for more Burrow projects and swaps! While we are looking forward to 2010, I’d like to take the opportunity to look back to 2005, and revive a swap initiated by one of our most beloved Immeritans, Boeluen, who lost her battle with cancer on 20 December 2007. After thoroughly enjoying the 2004 Holiday Card swap, Boe started Lockheart’s Love Letters Swap for Valentine’s Day.

We had a wonderful swap that year, and I still have the handmade, heart shaped card and envelope from Boe and her adored husband MrNiceFrog, our first Immeritus Couple. At Immy, we really don’t need much of an excuse to have swaps or activities, so this is a way to get started on the next round of exchanges and to commemorate Boe’s joie de vivre and thoughtfulness. As her darling Froggie recently wrote to me, “(s)he lived to bring happiness to people, so she would be overjoyed by this.”

To quote Boe on the reason the holiday is commemorated:

Quote::

For those who do not know what Valentines Day refers to here’s a quick history. Valentine's Day celebration dates back to the ancient times when the 'Feast of Lupercal' was celebrated in the honour of the Roman God of Fertility. This day falls on the 15th of February every year. According to a time worn custom, on the eve of Lupercalia (14th of Feb) a ritual of 'name drawing' was followed, during which a young man drew the name of a girl from the lot, who was to be his sweetheart for the whole year. Romance, has, of course always made the world go round but we must say that these Romans knew how to make it official. Since then, this day (14th of Feb) has been considered as the day of Cupid, the mischievous son of Venus -the Roman Goddess of Love. Lovers through the ages have taken this day as their own - a day to celebrate the finest human emotion. The reason for celebration is ageless, but it was much later that a great lover gave the day his name. The eternal lover, that gave us the famous word 'Valentine' and originated the tradition of writing love letters on this day, is believed to be Bishop Valentine. He was a priest in Rome when, the city was ruled by 'Claudius the Cruel'. In spite of the fact that Claudius had forbidden Christian conversions and Christian marriages, the Bishop refused to surrender to Roman Gods and carried on his religious duties in secret. He was imprisoned for disobedience, but even in prison he converted the convicts. While he was in prison, the jailer's daughter became his friend and was loyal to him through his ordeal. When Claudius came to know that imprisonment had not broken his enduring Christian spirit, the bishop was executed. However, on the day of his death Valentine wrote a note to his friend, 'the jailer's daughter' and signed it - 'From Your Valentine'. This great man who died for his beliefs, for his enduring love of the Christian God, was chosen as the patron Saint of lovers. 14th February has since been celebrated as Valentine's Day. Romantic souls all over the world have preferred to focus on the romantic twist of this tale, the story of the man who united lovers in the holy bond of marriage; a man who loved his jailer's daughter and started the tradition of writing love notes.

So as before, our options will be the 5 smooches (5 cards), the 10 smooches (10 cards), muchas smooches (unlimited) and the ever-popular Virtual swap. Indicate in the sign ups which swap(s) you wish to participate in. If needed, we can always add multiple five card swaps for those on a shoestring budget (and who isn’t these days?).

A word about the Valentine cards themselves; you don’t have to send budget busting Hallmark cards, or store-bought cards of any kind. Hand decorated post cards are always an option, as are homemade cards, or even raiding the kiddie classroom exchange type of cards that are inexpensive to purchase by the multiple in packs. You can always get creative with potential supplies that you have around the house, or check out the 99 Cent store or Big Lots type stores for bargain options if you don’t feel crafty.

After checking in on this thread, PM me or plynn78 with your e-mail addy for the Virtual or physical addy for the physical swap (or both – hey – I’m optimistic!). Deadline for sign-ups will be 25 January 2010. We will send you your list of swapees by the following weekend. Deadline for mailing will be 1 February 2010 for International Cards, 6 February 2010 for local cards, and of course, 14 February for virtual cards.

Once again, please, Please, PLEASE – sign up ONLY if you are committing to participating. We want to ensure that no one is disappointed.

You must be an adult member of Immeritus to participate. For those who wish to participate and are under the age of 18, please get your parent’s permission before signing up. If you are not a full-fledged member but have been extremely active, or are in the process of applying at this time, please get an o.k. from a mod before signing up.

Addresses – if you do not wish to use your home address for safety reasons, please use an address that you feel secure about – work/dorm/p.o. box/reliable friend or relative who is aware that you will be getting mail there. It’s o.k. to use your Immy screen name as the name on the address for the same reason. We must have your e-mail address or your physical address by the deadline date, or your name will be removed from the swap list.

O.K., there are all the details – let’s get ready to share some Sirius luv in remembrance of Boe and her joy in spreading cheer to friends and loved ones throughout the year!

ETA Many thanks to the fabulousDora
for making our way cool siggy banners!!!

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5 smooches

1) Winky

2) Soli

3) Dora

4) Cazza

5) Neicy

6) Plynn



Virtual Smooches (unlimited)

1.) Plynn

2.) Winky

3.) Soli

4.) Dora

5.) Catzy

6.) Becka

7.) Mina

8.) VanillaBean

Oh, It's time to Share the LOVE!!!!! You know I'm in Soli! Sign me up for the Muchas Smooches, I'll take all the kisses I can get. Add me for the Virtual Swap, too!

SQUEAAAAL!

*bounces and raises long ear*

Sign me up for the 5 smooches and the virtual smooches

Winky, Northern Ireland, on a small ear budget...

Ohh, I'm in. Count me for the Five and virtual!

Yey - great way to start the year =) immy swaps = love

Virtual smooches for me please

Thanks Soli!
I can't take part because I'll be in the US for the next 2 weeks, but I support the swap heartily.
Enjoy and spread the love!

Hey girls and guys; don't forget to sign up. This is for both real and virtual Valentines...

I'll join the viritual swap please Soli!

OH! I'm very sad I can't participate, because these next few weeks happen to be the worst possible! I have to go out of town for a stressful interview all next week, then have a week of jury duty, and somehow have to finish my dissertation revisions by Feb. 1, which I haven't begun. But I can't wait to be a part of this swamp next year! Thanks so much Soli and Plynn for organizing it, and I send everyone virtual smooches right now!

I've been contemplating this, and I just can't resist!
Please put me down for 5 smooches

...well. It's been too long, but I saw the LJ post on this and thought I'd drop by. Put me in for the 5, will you please, Soli?

Could I please join the virtual swap? That would be great!

I would like to join for virtual smooches as well, if you please ^^

Hey there I thought I had missed out on this one!
Is it too late to join in the swap? If it isn't, I would like to do the 10 smooches that get mailed out. I understand if it's too late to join.
Thanks!
Niecy