Bloggers over Borders

“Two prisoners whose cells adjoin communicate with each other by knocking on the wall. The wall is the thing which separates them but is also their means of communication...Every separation is a link.”
-Simone Weil

  A while ago I discussed an idea that’s been brewing for some time, that is, making a connection with some of our BBs (blogging buddies) beyond these pages. I was inspired to do this by Mae, who came up with the idea of sending postcards to those who were reading her blog.
The purpose of this is to get to know each other beyond the confines of the computer screen, and is based on the idea of 'pay-it-forward'.

Here's how it works:

-this is open to everyone who stops by my blog, whether you're a regular follower/contributor or a first-time casual visitor.

-you'll be sending an item which says something about you to a fellow blogger. It could be anything that expresses who you are; something you’ve written, a picture you’ve taken, a trinket you’ve made, a collage with photos, etc. It doesn't have to be anything big or elaborate, but something that holds meaning to you and represents who you are.

-you'll include ten random facts about yourself, as well as a few words about something you've found interesting on the blog of the person you're sending to (you may not know them so this could entail a little reading through their site beforehand, which will only help familiarize us with each other).

 -if you'd like to participate, contact me at barryoshea69@yahoo.ca  (please don't use the comments section in my posts). You must be willing to provide me with a mailing address. It doesn’t need to be your home; it could be a place of work, PO box etc.  Please indicate the name you'd like used with your address, and include the address of your website.

-once the time limit has passed I’ll post a list of those participating. I'll then take your name and draw another one randomly from 'the hat' (this will be the blogger you're sending to) and I'll provide you with their name and mailing address by e-mail. Each person will be both sending and receiving, you won't know who is shipping to you until you receive it.

-your mailing address will only be provided to the person who is sending to you. After I've posted names of the participants, if there is someone whom you would prefer not to mail to or receive from (no reason needs to be given), let me know privately by e-mail and I'll adjust my distribution list accordingly.

-everyone has their own comfort levels so I'll try to accomodate any concerns to the best of my ability.

-you may end up drawing someone on the other side of the world.  Please don't enter unless you're willing to put in the time, effort and postage to see this through.

-when you receive your package from another blogger, please let us know about it in the comments section of my current post at the time.



Giveaway: I've set Feb 5th as the deadline to receive names.  If response isn't what I'm hoping for I'll extend it one more week to the following Friday and make an announcement that I'm doing so. Once I've stopped taking entries I'll draw five names the next day, and each person will win a softcover copy of the book "Toronto: A Photographic Portrait" by Mike Filey, with a note from me inside. I've chosen this book because it's filled with descriptions and lavish colour pictures of the city I've spent most of my life in.  It's very well done, you won't be disappointed.
  I'll mail these books to any destination in the world, no limitations.


This is the first time I've done something like this.  If there's anything I've overlooked or you have any other suggestions, I'm all ears.

Please pass word on to those you know, I'd like to do this big! 

-Barry  ♥

Note: this post has been edited since it first appeared on Dec. 5th.  For those of you who showed interest in your comments on my original post, please e-mail me with your address.