Hello My Absolutely Awesome RAoC Family,

I want to start off by saying, if you signed up for my Holiday Card, I mailed them I’ve gotten 4 back, due to insufficient postage, but I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that the rest will go through and everyone will be getting their holiday cards soon. If you got a Duomax cookie, I’m so sorry, because they must be dust by now, and you might be thinking it’s a bizarre hot chocolate... but no, it was a cookie.

February is a card lovers dream... for a short month, it’s chock full of days to celebrate, so many awesome reasons for sending and receiving cards !!! We have Valentine’s Day, Chinese New Year, Black History Month, International Day of Woman in Science Day (which I shamefully forgot), Pizza Day... all of which I love to celebrate.

Did any of you know that Feb 1st was National Get Up Day AND National Sickie Day ?? If I had known this I would’ve gotten up and called in sick right? Feb 2nd : GroundHogs Day which I live in Michigan so I don’t care...it will be cold forever. Feb 3 : National Doggie Date Night AND National Carrot Cake Day ? WTH ?? While I may not be my dog’s ideal date, I’m sure that could’ve been fixed with Carrot Cake ?? Feb 4 : National Thank a Mail Carrier !! I got him a box of Indian sweets and a card !! Feb 5th : National Fondue Day AND World Nutella Day !!

I’m gonna stop here, but let me know if you want to know more...

Yes, I know Chinese New Year is today... it seems my theme for 2021 is to be one Holiday behind the next one... Not to toot my own horn, but I think I’m killing it. With the Year of the Rat now in the rear view mirror, let’s welcome in the Year of the Ox.

Chinese New Year is one of several lunar new years celebrated in Asia. As someone whose heritage and roots are based in India, we also have a New Year based on the Lunar Calendar.

When I think of Chinese New Year, I think about my family going to our favorite Chinese restaurant, and poring through the placemat that describes each sign, which sign you are, who you are compatible and get along with, and which signs don’t like you, and you don’t like them. You’d think we would have memorized it (cause, OMG !! We ate there all the time),but clearly my family has the memories of goldfish, cause the next time we would go, we did the whole routine all over again.

Black History Month has become one of the most celebrated cultural heritage months on the calendar... Black History is American History, and is a month to honor and celebrate so many African American leaders, innovators, artists, writers, and musicians, all who have left an indelible mark in the history of our nation. It is also time to reflect on the continued struggle for racial justice. February was chosen to coincide with the Birthdays of Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

This year BHM, follows a tumultuous period where racial justice calls reached a fever pitch in the summer of 2020, following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many more, whose names won’t and should never be forgotten. It reminded us that we all need to take stock of where systemic racism persists, and highlight the people and organizations creating change. 2020 highlighted how much our country is still grappling with concurrent crises that have disproportionately shaken Black Americans: COVID-19, economic instability and resurgent racism. So, we are once again at a crossroads, and we must ask ourselves, where do we go from here ? Forward... we move forward, and keep fighting the good fight to bring about change

Are you a betting man/woman ? Do you love the sound of slot machines ? Or is poker/ Blackjack your cup of tea ? At this point, if you’re still reading this, Congratulations... you are an incredibly patient person, and enabling my madness. So, you may be asking, “What a bizarre question, and where are you going with this psycho ?”

I would like to share 25 CNY and 25 BHM cards to share with all of you, I’m so very sorry I have to keep this USA only for now as I don’t have any International Stamps. When I can get my grubby paws to pick some up, I hope to open this up WW. I’ll post a link and you can say which card you would like, or are you willing to trust the dealer ? Beware... because that is dealer is me. I must also let you know, being a Libra, I have a really hard time picking something for others... full disclosure, the only time I’m capable of making split second decisions without thinking twice or needing to consult another person is at work.

So, you can pick a CNY, and I do have some choices with BHM. Now given that scary fact, let’s blow this popsicle stand and start sending some cards ... LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE !!

For Chinese New Year only one card

For Black History Month I have these as choices 1. John Lewis 2. Cards Celebrating Black Women in History 3. MLK

psst... this way to the form