Netflix surprises.

I really, really, really love my Netflix. I've had the service for almost 2 years now (04/03), and I have seen several hundred movies in that time.

But now I have a new reason to rejoice over Netflix: a wonderful surprise!

See, last week I received an email from Netflix, offering me to purchase a used copy of Walking Tall (starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson). We had rated it very high, and as a customer who enjoyed it, we were offered the opportunity to buy it. In all the time with our Netflix account, we'd never been given the opportunity to buy one of the movies (which would come with original packaging and complete artwork, by the way), nor had I ever heard of anyone else who had. Yet, there was no notification in the email that it was NOT a service that they normally provide.

The price was $9.99. Walking Tall was already on Philip's Amazon.com WishList, and I'd really liked it as well. Since it would be coming in the original packaging and not a sleeve, I'd figured it was worth it, and I took them up on their offer.

That was Tuesday.

Today, I received another email from them with the following message:

Thank you for your recent purchase of a used DVD from us. This special offer was part of a test, so you will not be charged for this movie. Your movie will be shipped to you shortly by US Postal Service First Class Mail.

Thanks for your help, and enjoy your free movie!

-Your Friends at Netflix

How awesome is that?! We get a free DVD from them now! I had never expected something like that! Like I said, there was nothing in the original email about this being a new service or anything, so I just figured it was something that they do periodically, and it happened to be a movie that we really did want and had not already purchased. Yay!

Another exciting mail day!

Today's goodies started early. The mailman left a package in the black box next to my door (ironically enough, though it *is* a mailbox, it is not *the* mailbox for my house) - it was from Amber Renee! She sent me all sorts of goodies to lighten my mood:

- a set of 4 Harry Potter buttons
- Harry Potter valentines (coincidentally, the very same ones I bought for myself - great minds think alike!)
- a little wolf Ty® beanie baby ('Nook the Husky')
- a green felt Harry Potter planner/calendar (there's a scene from the movie on every week - very cool!)
- lotsa stickers
- a Harry Potter Mini-Wall Calendar (Jack calls it a book!)
- a handwritten note from hers truly in a lovely Slytherin green :-)

I was so surprised! I knew that the buttons were coming at some point, but not all the rest! Thank you, thank you, thank you chick! We love it all! :-D

A bit later in the mail, we also received a neat package from my Aunt Edith. She always sends such cool treasures, and today was no exception. She sent me a gorgeous hair clip, A.J. a wooden soldier, and Jack a little stuffed Goofy. The boys have been carrying theirs around all evening, and Baby (the cat) thinks that the soldier is her toy, too.

Lastly, someone pounded on the door while I was peeing this afternoon before going to pick up A.J. from school. I rushed and made it to the door just as the UPS truck was driving away, but he left me all my Amazon goodies anyway:

- The Prince & Me DVD
- The Secret of My Success DVD
- Shakespeare in Love DVD
- The Talented Mr. Ripley DVD
- Wit DVD
- a movie for Philip which I cannot yet name, in the off-hand chance he has an opportunity to get online again before Valentine's Day
- 3 CDs which cannot be named, for the same reason as above

I was very excited to have these so early, especially since Amazon had told me to expect them between Feb. 8-10th. I spent a good while taking the shrink-wrap off of the 6 DVDs and 3 CDs, and then I made copies of the CDs to stick in the box to mail to Philip (he only took copies with him - that way, in case they are broken or ruined, I can make more and send them to him).

I also mailed a few boxes out today. I ended up getting to mail Philip his box today, even though I'd been planning on having to wait until the middle of next week, waiting on that Amazon shipment to arrive. I mailed his mom a box too, and I also re-routed two Christmas cards that I had returned to me recently. I have a box going out to my sister tomorrow, and also an envelope of some of A.J.'s drawings going out to Philip's mom - ones that we forgot to include in her box.

Mail, mail, mail. I love mail! :-D