Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Message in a Bottle ....Literally

Look what I found in my mailbox the other day!


I've read before that you can mail any number of unusual items as long as the correct postage is affixed to them. This is the first time I've received one.

Being the mechanical genius that I am...it took me a bit of experimenting to figure out how to get the message out without cutting the bottle open.  (I'm not the brightest bulb in the box)  I tried to jab it out with a pencil...just broke the lead off. Next I tried retrieving it using my tweezers...not long enough. Finally in desperation I took a better look at the bottle and discovered that it was made so that the bottom of the bottle could be twisted off...a solution that was almost too clever for me.

It was my invitation to this year's murder mystery dinner....Murder in Margaritaland. (remember last year's old west theme?) The bottle contained information about the character I will be playing as well as the date and time of the party. Fun way to get an invitation, huh?


I went on a search to find out other kinds of things have found their odd little ways through the postal service. This is one of my favorites:

Sound-emitting toy. A monkey-in-box toy that, upon shaking, shouted, "Let me out of here! Help! Let me out of here!" Addressed in big letters to LITTLE JOHNNIE. Sound toy was equipped with a new battery. Delivery at doorstep, 6 days.
I've read about people writing a message on a flip-flop and mailing it. Rubber ducks too. Wouldn't it be fun to send all snail mail correspondence attached to an unusual object instead of using standard envelopes from now on?  Perhaps a note to an old friend on the fly page of a book you'd like to share with them. Rubberbnd the book closed, put postage and an address label on the cover and off it goes.

Please try this and let me know what you mail and if the recipient got it. I think I will do the same. Be watching....you may find a surprise in your mailbox one day soon!

20 comments:

  1. Now that is the kind of mail I would like to find in my mail box. Very clever idea! If at first you don't succeed!
    denise

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  2. LOL maybe i could try this! let me see if i can get inspired.

    love the invitation - what a fun party!

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  3. THAT IS SO COOL! I remember your murder/mystery from last year. I am going to LOOK FORWARD to this year's so be sure to post about it will you?

    I would think the message in the bottle would be a fabulous way for a child's birthday party too!

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  4. Jill, an invitation written in sharpie on a child size flip flop would be fun for a summer party. Or how about using a rubber duck for a baby shower invite?

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  5. What a clever invitation. I wouldn't have known how to open the bottle either.

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  6. That is the cutest thing ever! I love your annual mystery dinner...always so fun!

    And that can...oh, my..that is hilarious! Wouldn't that be fun to give to someone!?

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  7. What a great idea and surprise! The murder-mystery dinner sounds like fun... I have always wanted to go to one.

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  8. A very clever idea for an invitation for sure. I did once receive a message in a bottle from a past love (who wasn't past at the time). It was a real bottle.. no bottom to unscrew. It was complete with sand, sequins, ribbons and a scrolled up composed poem which was the message. It was the most romantic gift I've ever received. I hope you have a blast at this year's murder mystery party. :)

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  9. What a cool invitation! I remember participating in a murder mystery game several years ago. It was a lot of fun!

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  10. Very cool invitation! I'm impressed by the creative things people do. I must admit, though, I was thinking of homeland security and the postal system confiscating unusual packages...I must watch too many crime shows on TV!

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  11. Oh, what a fun way to receive surface mail! And invitation to an event i would LOVE to attend.;)) I have never received anything strange by mail, but enjoyed reading about all the things people will mail, hehe.;))
    Great post dear friend.;)
    xo

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  12. I am amazed that your postal service allows that StevieWren. Ours certainly wouldn't! Good work to them! - Dave

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  13. What a unique way to receive an invitation. A lot of thought has been put into this - an inventive and fun idea!

    Not sure what our good old Royal Mail would make of it though!!

    Jeanne
    x

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  14. What fun .. and cleverly done by your hosts/hostesses ... now of course I am going to have to try this ..

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  15. Starting off like that I'm sure that the murder mystery party is going to be a blast! I am surprised that the post office allows this too! Will have to think about what I would mail:)

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  16. Sounds like a wonderful invitation and i am sure it will be a great party!!! :-)

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  17. What a great surprise! I would like to send one of these to myself to see if it would arrive. Anything interesting goes astray in this country.

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  18. I can't wait to see your murder mystery party this year Stevie! I remember how elaborate last year's was!

    I love the mail in a bottle idea! I can't wait till my grandson is old enough to appreciate getting mail as I'd love to send him things like this. I've heard of people using empty soda liter bottles to mail things in. They cut a large slit, inset the stuff and tape them closed and put a mailing label over the tape.

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  19. Oh my stars, how fun is this? I LURVE IT!!!!! Can you tell us what your character is?

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  20. That is so funny! I can imagine all sorts of things that would be great to send but I'd have to check it out with the post office. I bet the postman got a kick out of the "message in a bottle" - clever!

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