I used to design all our (me and 'ex') cards, print them, cut and fold them, buy expensive custom envelopes, sign them, address and stuff the damned things, affix all the stamps, and take about 250 of them to the post office, usually in a couple good-sized boxes.

Then I got a divorce,moved to Ohio and quit even buying Christmas stamps. I have not done cards for ME in a few years.

Instead, I have this cat named Hobbes who has a huge number of friends and followers, nationally and overseas. His demand that I design, make and do all of the above for HIS cards is still echoing in my ears. This year, he pointed out, we must do it quickly because those guys on CNBC say that Europe will soon BE GONE!

I corrected him and told him that those talking head stockbrokers were referring to the EURO, and not Europe.

So, I did his bidding. His overseas mail is in the slot. His domestic mail is stuffed and addressed. All I have to do is run the latter to the post office.

The international stamps cost 98 cents now. We put our limit at 15 of those. No more. The limit for domestic is not far above that. This year we are sending about 35.

I will have him post his card on his MyBloggers and Facebook pages after everyone receives theirs in the mail.

Just think of the money I would save if I had a Chia pet instead of six cats. The printing ink alone...