Thank you, Johnson, whoever you are.

I received what I presume is a birthday gift hand-labeled from someone named "Johnson" in Jacksonville, Alabama, postmarked Anniston, Alabama on May 22nd. This means it's someone who knows me well enough to anticipate my birthday and know my home address. But I don't know anybody named Johnson (unless it's that creep stalking Lenore) and I don't know anybody at all in Alabama. Maybe Johnson is merely the eBay seller or Amazon Z-Shop owner fulfilling someone else's order?

Inside the package was a Spider-Man-themed Xbox controller, new in its packaging, with no note. It has already brought me fun trying to guess who sent it before I've even opened it and used it, so thank you, whoever you are.


Five Replies to Mystery Gift

Scott Hardie | May 28, 2007
Extra hint: When they wrote my address, they included the ZIP+4. I only mention the basic 5-digit zip code when I give mine out, so this person had to have gotten my address processed through some kind of site like Amazon that filled in the four extra digits.

Lori Lancaster | May 28, 2007
[hidden by author request]

Erik Bates | May 29, 2007
[hidden by author request]

Scott Hardie | May 29, 2007
Good input. The mystery has been solved via email with the giver – it was an Amazon z-Shop, in other words some person somewhere selling on Amazon's site. My gratitude to the giver.

Jackie Mason | May 29, 2007
[hidden by author request]


Logical Operator

The creator of Funeratic, Scott Hardie, blogs about running this site, losing weight, and other passions including his wife Kelly, his friends, movies, gaming, and Florida. Read more »

Unexpected Easter

This has been an unusual few days. Kelly's father had a stroke on Thursday, so we left town suddenly to see him, ultimately choosing to drive since we can't afford plane tickets on no notice. He's going to be fine; his vision was affected at first but he seems recovered now, pending another examination. Go »

World Trade, Like, Something

I love it when two teenagers ring up and bag my groceries. "Did you ever see that Nicolas Cage movie about 9/11? I watched that last night, and, like, it got me thinking about how bad that was." Go »

Comeback

Kelly shared this news with me: Boomerang returns, even in space. I'm still waiting for scientists to announce, 'Boomerang' Starring Eddie Murphy Still Sucks, Even in Space. Go »

Over and Out

"How's the week treating you?" "Like I slept with its wife." I've had better weeks. Go »

More Than Meets the Eye

Paramount is holding a contest in which one lucky fan will have their line of dialogue added to the upcoming Transformers movie, spoken in character by Optimus Prime. (link) I wonder if they'll take my submission: "I want these motherfucking Decepticons off this motherfucking plane!" Go »

When Erik Met Matthew

The spark for the idea came during the pandemic, when we here on Funeratic decided to try some Zoom conversations and games. Two people who I admire for (among other things) their ability to converse quickly and freely with strangers and to get along instantly with seemingly anyone, Erik Bates and Matthew Preston, talked to each other for the first time and of course they hit it off immediately. I knew I wasn't imagining it, because other people on the call remarked on it. Go »