Good morning, and Season’s Greetings, everyone. It’s hard to believe, but this is the tenth year of celebrating Vilkmas! Way back in 2015, when I had more stuff (and postage was a lot cheaper), I gave away 15 items in the inaugural edition. That went down to ten as the years went on, then five items as COVID reared its ugly head. I’ve been giving away five items ever since, and that’s what I’m doing for today’s series finale.
Why am I wrapping up Vilkmas? I’ve reached the point where, after today, what I have left would be a little difficult to ship. And a lot of that stuff needs to go in the coming year. I no longer have the space to store things for years on end, so I’m planning on having a yard sale, or renting out a space at the flea market. I may even try to have a Uni Watch get-together somewhere. I’ll figure all that out later, but for now let’s focus on the Last Vilkmas. I’ll begin the way I did with the first one:
Before I start, let me ask something of you first. If you’re reading this and you normally pass by your local bell ringer, put a buck (or a loonie) in the red kettle for me. If you normally give a buck, put another one in for me. And if you win one of today’s giveaways, give a little something extra to your local food bank for me. Jimmer Claus doesn’t have time to check if you’ve been naughty or nice…we’re on the honor system here.
Thank you, and now, let’s see what’s in my bag of goodies:
1. 1983-84 MISL Media Guide
Soccer fans, this one’s for you. Learn all about the teams who played in the Major Indoor Soccer League 41 years ago. And enjoy the cover photo, featuring my hero Stan “The Magician/The Pizza Man” Stamenkovic, scoring one of the most amazing goals in All-Star Game history. I miss that guy.
2. Pirates Ballpark Canvas Print & Souvenir Button
Anyone patiently (or impatiently) waiting for Bob Nutting to #SellTheTeam deserves a free gift. One of you will get one, with this canvas print of the Best View in Baseball, and a commemorative button from the 1979 World Series winners.
3. Detroit Lions T-shirt & Patch
Last year I DIY-ed a light blue shirt with the Lions’ blue specialty helmet (which I like a LOT better than this year’s alternate), and I found a patch online that came from an old ski cap. The shirt is an XL. Wish I had a pair of silver pants to throw in, but you’ll have to find those on your own.
4. Minnesota Vikings Sweatshirt
It says “XXL” in the football, but this thing is huge…at least a 3XL. A little too big for me, so it’s going to one of you.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers Prize Pack
As usual, the Yinzers in my family have come through again. For the final gift of the final Vilkmas, we have a Super Bowl 40 bumper sticker and players photo, and a commemorative magazine celebrating the season when the Steelers won Super Bowl 43.
And that’s that. We’ll keep the instructions the same as usual. To enter:
1) Send an email to Phil.Hecken@gmail.com and put in the SUBJECT “Vilkmas 2024”.
2) In the BODY of the email, please indicate (a) your name and shipping address and (b) your top 3 prize choices, in order of preference, by description. If you’re only interested in, say, one or two items, then just list your top one or two choices; if you want all 5, you can do that too, but I don’t really expect anyone to go that far. I will do my best to accommodate all the winners’ choices.
3) Unfortunately, the raffle is limited to readers with USA addresses (since I foot the shipping costs). We apologize to anyone outside the US.
4) One email per person. Entry deadline is this MONDAY (December 23), 5pm Eastern Standard Time. The winners will be announced the following day (on Vilkmas/Christmas Eve).
Make your lists, check them twice, then send them in. Good luck to everyone, and have a Very Merry Vilkmas!
I can’t remember if I have ever won anything on Vilkmas, but I know I have won every year by seeing the stuff and reading Jimmer’s commentary. And, I say this with great confidence, Jimmer is one of the greatest people I’ve never met! Thank you for all ten years and more! Merry Vilkmas!
Thank you very much!
[Chorus]
Last Vilkmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special
Last Vilkmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away (You gave it away)
This year, to save me from tears
I’ll give it to someone special (Special)
I had that song in my head all yesterday… and that’s not a nad thing.
The Vilkmas Celebration has begun! When I go by the Red Kettle and the bell ringer appears to be wired on caffeine… Its getting two gold coins ( …..the US $1 coin…grandkids just think they are gold…who am I to spoil their dreams) Merry Christmas and Merry Vilkmas!
Merry Vilkmas! I appreciate your giving spirit, but: the Salvation Army is a religious extremist organization that is staunchly anti-LGBTQ. There are lots of better places to donate to.
Wow, that endzone design is a work of art! Can I nominate that for a Uni award?
I appreciate the call to support charities, but I must point out that a lot of those red kettles are for the Salvation Army, which has a notorious history of anti-LGBT discrimination.
link
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There are better choices.
Thanks for showing the Gasparilla Bowl end zones, Jim! I was watching the game off and on, and I couldn’t ever get a full view of the details. Those are just too cool!
BTW, I have been fortunate with expenses — at the expense of losing my mother, sadly but she lived a great, full life — so in my many trips to our pharmacy this season (too many for my liking, but ya gotta do what’s necessary), I have fed the red pot a little more than I usually do. And I think my mom would appreciate that. I am sure at least one more med run will be necessary before the bell ringers retire the SA pots until next December, so I will drop a double donation on your behalf.
P.S.: BTW, don’t we have some kind of policy not to bring political issues into the UW comm-uni-ty?
It’s germane. And it’s only politics if one makes it politics. Human rights shouldn’t be politicized.
But yes, let’s move on.
Merry Vilkmas to all and to all a good night.
Love when my Gators go orange/blue/orange!!!!!!