Not quite as sharp and alert as Luke coming out of a Force sleep, I woke bleary-eyed this morning to get a jump on the day. Lots to do. Lots to do. (A droid's work never is done . . . )

Before I poured my first cup of steaming coffee, I stumbled into the office, turned on the computer, and brought my Star Wars hat out to my youngest padawan (her turn!) to choose one of your lucky names in my first Holiday Raffle. She reached into the hat, and pulled out the name . . .

Drum roll, please . . .

USETHEFORCE19

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have just won . . .

I'm not going to tell you.

Okay, I've been wrestling with this since I decided to offer the holiday raffle as a "gift" event rather than a prize event. How would I handle letting all of you know what the prize was without revealing it to the winner(s)? I'm sure you're all dieing to know what the package(s) will contain. In my warped state, this is what I came up with . . .

Next Monday, when I stage the next raffle, I will let you all in on the secret of what this week's prize was. It will be in code, but I promise you it will be much easier to break than the one the Imperials used with their probe droids to hunt down our heroes (because I'll tell you how to break it! ) That way, unless each winner wants to know what's on its way, the gift will remain a mystery - until the wrapping paper is ripped from the package.

Is this okay with you? If you really don't like this whole "mystery" slant to the raffles, please let me know. Unless I hear otherwise, I'm going to continue to hold the Holiday Raffles in this vein.

Now, down to business . . .

Usetheforce19, what I need you to do right now is to email me at mwolf12@wi.rr.com and provide me with your real name and mailing address. (If you wouldn't mind revealing it, could you also tell me - in your email or here - what, if any, holiday you celebrate?) I'm planning a post office run on Friday, and hope to include your package with the bevy of boxes I'll have in tow.

Thanks, everyone, for participating. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK BACK ON MONDAY FOR HOLIDAY RAFFLE # 2! Who knows what surprise awaits you next week??? (Only Yoda and I know! )

Happy Holidays!

MTFBWY

JMW