So while gathering together my collection of gifts to MY giftee yesterday, I had to explain to my mom a) what reddit is, b) what Arbitrary Day is, and c) how many people are involved in it.

Understandably, being a cool gal herself, she got why it was so cool and shocked me into realizing that I'm going to receive something too. When you're so focused on the perfect gift for your giftee, it's easy to forget that someone else is doing the same for you!

Anyway, I was about to head out the door when I hear from downstairs:

"Arzim! ARZIM! The mail's here, and there's a PACKAGE!!"

Of course immediately I leap down the stairs (no ninja skills here; it is a daily struggle to NOT fall down them) and meet her in the kitchen where she's holding my package (WOO!) delicately between her little hands.

"Open it! Hurry!"

So lo and behold, my lovely Arbiter has gifted me some coffee (which OMG it's on my bedside table as we speak and I know it's nearly midnight but I AM. SO. TEMPTED. -- it smells SO GOOD.) as well as THE LOG FROM THE SEA OF CORTEZ by Steinbeck, which I am super excited about. Despite working in a bookstore and being an English major (and a bookish geek all-around) I've never actually read Steinbeck and this one looks to combine writing and biology, two of my great loves.

So I'm absolutely psyched! Can't wait to get home from work tomorrow, brew me up a cup of delicious Fair Trade Equal Exchange coffee and sit down to crack the spine of this book.

Thank you Arbiter! Please reveal yourself so I can send a present back. :)

P.S.:

The text of the letter:

"Hello from Reddit!

After checking your comment history I saw you worked in a bookstore so I hope you haven't already read this. In addition, I added a pound of super good coffee (ground already in case you don't have a grinder) to keep you up for long reads.

(Optisharpus says hello)

[insert drawing of fearsome, kettle-brandishing, many-toothed yet ultimately friendly sea monster, captioned "Happy Arbitrary Day!")

[arrow] That's Optisharpus

P.S. Sorry about the terrible handwriting... I'm an engineer it runs in the genes."

Thanks again, my friend! :)

P.P.S.:

Sorry about the terrible-quality photos. Haven't been able to find my camera cord for weeks to connect it to my computer, so the Blackberry photos will have to do for present.