I Heart You

Before I understood the new normal that exists in schools (at least in California schools), I once sent cupcakes to my daughter's class on her birthday. Saying I may as well have handed the teacher a live grenade is not an understatement. After I pushed them on her, I found out later that they were given to the parents at the end of the day so they could dispose of them at will. I relayed this story to my family back east and they all agreed that "she should be taken out of that hippie school immediately!"

Years later, I'm still trying. Spending my nights researching acceptable ways to make a child feel special without alienating or offending anyone. Last night, I was on a mission to figure out Valentine's Day treats. In this particular school, they don't allow cards or gifts to be given so I thought a "snack" for the class would be acceptable. I settled on a treat bag full of pink yogurt pretzels and dried strawberries. Score one for the "hippies".

Rest assured, when my daughter gets home, she will open the door to a two-pound, heart shaped box of chocolate and a weird stuffed animal with a heart in it's paws. I will not go down without a fight.

And to the rest of you in my life, I hope you all feel special this Valentine's Day as well. I recommend a personal box of chocolates (purchased on the 15th for half off) so that you can have a bite out of each one :)

Make sure to also send our free e-cards and gifts to your Winster friends.

Happy Valentine's Day!
XOXO
Winnie

Groundhog Day

Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today!

For those of you that don't get that reference, it's from one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day. And with Groundhog Day just around the corner, we thought it appropriate at Winster to celebrate the mundane, do-it-every-day tasks that we take for granted. Just this morning I was walking my daughter to school. Every day, the same routine. She walks up on this wall that fences in someones yard and I hold her hand and walk below. The we go to the next wall and so on until we get to the corner (where we jump the puddle and cross the street, walk past 5 trees and then piggyback ride the rest of the way...she's slightly OCD :). It's frustrating at times, usually because we're late, but this morning I made a conscious "Groundhog Day" decision to enjoy the little things. I know that the mundane, have to get through it tasks are the ones I will miss the most when she grows up.

Yesterday I received a nice Facebook post from a player commenting on how many great friends she's met through Winster. It came after a particularly bad day of getting beat up with software glitches and Customer service issues. Not complaining about those, it's our job to fix them, but there's something about the software business that sometimes feels like you're holding up a house of cards. One thing fixes, another breaks. Customers unhappy, bosses unhappy. So getting that Facebook post and having it seconded by a few others really brought me back "in the moment" and made me feel great about what we do.

So thank you Winsters. And happy real Groundhog Day, (the one where you find out how much longer you're going to be freezing out there).

XO
Winnie

No Doily's Here

This week I'd like to give you a little glimpse into the office where I work. As many of you know, a larger company took over the running of Winster. Their main business are what they call "massive multi-player online games". It spells MMOG is all I know. What that means is that your avatar runs around doing some form of combat and you play online with a world-wide audience. As far as I can tell from the posters in the lobby there is a medieval themed one, an urban warfare one and a couple other variants on post apocalyptic hell scapes.  I know this only from the decorations.  Life-size posters depicting WWF style men with Rambo gear and women in head-to-toe leather. One looks suspiciously like Halle Barry.

It's an odd fit for sure, but somehow it works. Our little corner of friendship and cooperation gaming is slowly softening the man warriors in the office and making the place a little more, shall we say "estrogen-driven".  I have yet to redecorate but am planning on passing out some sweet Valentine cookies next month.  I'll let you know how it goes :)

XO
Winnie

Civility

Good Morning Winster Friends,
I'm thinking that basic civility seems to be at an all time low. Standing in line at Starbucks this morning, a simple thing we all learned in grade school, a young woman came in and got in line behind me. As the line got shorter, she started inching up and eventually was standing next to me. As the Starbucks worker called "next" she went right ahead of me and ordered!
And don't get me started on drivers. Honking at you because they perceive you to be going too slow, only to speed by, give you the glare and mouth choice words in your direction, and then have to stop at the same light next to you up the road.
Whenever I felt I was getting the short end of the stick as a kid, my mother used to say "you'll get your reward in heaven".  Not very comforting for a six year old, but wiser than I gave her credit for. And I don't think you have to wait that long. Watching the madman sit at the light trying to maintain his anger or standing to get your coffee with the girl who cut in front of you is reward enough. They generally feel stupid and that's pretty rewarding.
So it's nice to be working with people like you who would rather work collaboratively than competitively and are appreciative for the things our little Winster team can give them. I don't think we'll ever make a million dollars for running this site but we'll "get our reward in heaven" :)

XO
Winnie

Thoughts on Flannel Pajamas

Hi Winster Friends!
I was just watching Al Roker present the latest storm sweeping the country. Two feet of snow from Nevada to Minnesota today. We are officially sandwiched in between the hope of a White Christmas and the seemingly endless wait for Spring.

Being from the east, and having just visited my family over Christmas, I know how your mindset changes from one of wonder at every beautiful flake pre-December 25th to one of disdain all the way through April. The gray days bleed into black nights and you cocoon inside, in my case never taking off my flannel pj's. Which count as clothes now? I guess you just throw on a pair of boots and pretend they're pants. I see all the kids doing it :)

I think living in California, we're programmed to do things. The great weather forces us in to work and school every day, pushes us to exercise, run errands, make plans. There's something to be said for a season that allows you to rest and sit with your thoughts. Or in our case, sit at our computers and play with our friends. Nice segue, huh?

In the spirit of cocooning in our pj's, Winster is throwing a little pre-mid-winter Happy Hour tomorrow, Saturday January 12th from 3-4pm PST (6-7pm EST for those of you who are actually freezing). Free Spins and no ads! It's a make-up for those of you who were locked out during the last hour of our New Year's event.

See you there in your best flannels/pants :)

XO
Winnie

Happy 2013 Winsters!

Happy 2013 Winsters!

Although I'm a true believer in selective bad luck taboos (I never walk under ladders or open umbrellas in the house), my mother always told me that the number thirteen was lucky for me because she was born on the thirteenth. And without her, I wouldn't exist. So, whether it's true or not, I've always felt a little luckier in row thirteen airplane seats or on the thirteenth floor. And, to be honest I've won my share of roulette in Vegas betting on that number.

So 2013 feels like it'll be my year. And if the end of last year was any indication, I'm sure that's true. All of us at Winster are really touched by the camaraderie that exists on the site and we feel lucky to have become a part of it last year. If Winster has proven anything, it's that people can find friendship and commonality through the simplest things, like sharing a gift or playing for the same goal. Kind of makes you put your faith back in humanity :)

Have a wonderful New Years Day and I'll see you in the games!

XO

Winnie

Christmas Miracles

From the desk of Winnie

Happy Holidays Winsters!
I'm feeling the holiday spirit! I had a real life "Pay it Forward" moment today at the post office. Long line, as you can imagine, people with giant boxes attempting to get them out in time for Christmas. Me with my Christmas cards, waiting for the "special" stamps. All of us crowded into a small space, cranky and annoyed that there are only two workers helping everyone.

As I had my turn, someone came back in to tell the PO worker that they needed a stamp and she must have forgotten. I had a ton of extras so I just gave him one of mine. And then this cool thing happened...as I was standing on the side putting on my stamps, the next lady did the same thing, and another, and a handful of people walked out without having to stand in line. And they all thanked me for my Christmas spirit. It was kind of amazing.

And so, in the spirit of giving (and, to be fair, the spirit of good business) Winster is giving away a couple of adorable gifts for you to share with your friends. And some fun hats to celebrate the season in. Look for them now in the gift shop.

We're also putting the finishing touches on a couple of Holiday Happy Hours happening this Friday 12/21 and Saturday 12/22 from 10-11am PST (1:00-2:00 EST) and again from 3-4pm (6:00-7:00 EST). And, as an added bonus, two more Happy Hours at the same times listed on January 1st and 2nd! Take a break from the New Years Day "When Harry Met Sally" marathon and pull up a chair!

Lastly, we get a lot of feedback about prizes and whether it's worth having a membership based on the prizes we have. I can only say that we're working hard to add the ones you've asked for and mostly it's a matter of give and take until our prize partners are satisfied with the way they are portrayed on Winster. But hang in there, we're in the home stretch.

Have the Happiest of Holidays and an awesome New Year!
XO
Winnie