So… we have a problem, and we need you guys to tell us how much of a problem it is.
The final step for the pet calendar is for beth to pop the pages you have been previewing into the Cafe Press creation page – which beth tried to do this morning.
Cafe Press has temporarily removed the calendar creation option because they fucking ran out of the stock they print the calendars on. Temporary supply chain problem, they say. I’m gong to call in the morning to see if I get the same answer beth did, and I will obviously let everyone know anything I learn.
So we were minutes away from being able to order calendars, and now we’re stalled. Sigh.
Best case, it’s just a few days, and calendars could still arrive in time for Christmas. But it’s already Dec 7, so we are nearly a week later than we wanted, so that’s not great.
Worst case – the delay is longer. Will you guys still want calendars even they can’t arrive by Christmas?
So we need your input on the way forward.
Thoughts?
pacem appellant
If I can get a calendar before Feb 1, 2023, I am all in.
Odie Hugh Manatee
Our county motto is “There’s no hurry in Curry!”. Sometime is fine with me, I view it as a donation anyway… :)
pat
Do we want them even if they don’t arrive before Christmas???
Duh. Of course we want them!!! They have an entire year’s worth of doggies and kitties…. !!
Wolvesvalley
I can wait until they are ready — I don’t need them by Christmas.
RedDirtGirl
Anytime is fine!
zhena gogolia
It’s fine.
CatRadio
No worries ;)
Susan D. Einbinder
Of course we’ll wait – and a wait well worthwhile. After all, there’s 365 days in the year, so ….
narya
Fine with me.
Dan B
I can wait.
Sending deep calm breaths to Champaign Urbana.
Barbara I
Anytime is fine with me. I’m just happy to have my “BOSSES” as part of the calendar.
CaseyL
I want the calendars whenever they come out. Christmas, New Years, Valentine’s Day… whenever.
WaterGirl
@Dan B: Much appreciated. This was not happy news for us.
Old School
The same calendar will work again in 2034. January can be used then.
SpaceUnit
I didn’t submit a pet picture and don’t plan to order a calendar, but this is completely unacceptable to me.
Heads must roll.
Quiltingfool
Yes, I will buy both calendars, and they don’t have to be here before Christmas! I love looking at everyone’s pets, um, furry family members!
My kitty, Baby, was pictured in this year’s December page. My heart hurt a bit when I saw it. She’s gone, but I was lucky to have her in my life!
I think my new kitty needs a different name; she has a sassy way of walking and she has a sassy attitude, so maybe, “Sassy?” “Sassypants?” Anyway, she follows me everywhere. And I mean everywhere, like the bathroom! She has been lounging in my lap occasionally, so that’s good. Her favorite way of playing is to grab my hand and gently bite…hope she grows out of that behavior!
OzarkHillbilly
You are the best. Oh yeah, and John doesn’t pay you near enough. Wait a minute, you were talking about the calendar? No idea, it will be here when it gets here and it will be just fine because Beth has her shit together.
Any other silly questions?
persistentillusion
Anytime they arrive is fine! Don’t fret, WG. We can be patient (don’t let that out, but it’s true).
WaterGirl
@Quiltingfool: Why is your new girl not in the calendar this year?
Joy in FL
I have no difficulty with the delay. The animals will still be just as perfect : )
bbleh
Well, they’ll still work for 2023, right? (I mean, unless they change the dates after Christmas.)
Miki
Absofuckinglutely fine whenever it arrives.
Time is not an issue for me.
Heh.
kalakal
No worries here. Don’t stress, we love the calendars, and I for one welcome the sight of our furry overlords. If I have to wait a bit longer for that sight, so be it
emrys
Waiting is.
A Good Woman
I can wait.
NeenerNeener
I’m ok with waiting.
Another Scott
A 2023 calendar can be reused in 2034, so it would just be a little early.
Don’t sweat it, WG.
Thanks for all you and beth are doing.
Cheers,
Scott.
SpaceUnit
You people are all crazy. We need to postpone Christmas until we get this shit worked out.
WaterGirl
Thanks, you guys.
Poe Larity
Obviously not enough APICs Certified Supply Chain Professionals here. How can a top 10,000 blog not have one?
Why not just draft a bunch of kindergarteners into doing impressionist calendars from the layout? What else are they doing before the holidays? Prison labor rates should be able to afford a lot of candy.
Then you can have layoff practice to prepare them for the future.
la caterina
I haven’t even ordered mine yet! Is it too late?
WaterGirl
@la caterina: Cafe Press has disabled the calendar feature for everyone until they get the calendar stock to print them on. So we can’t even order until they get the card stock in.
SpaceUnit
@Poe Larity:
Nice to see someone else is taking this goddamn disaster seriously.
geg6
When it’s ready, it’s ready. No sweat, WG.
Alison Rose
Absolutely no problem if they are late. Mine is just for me anyway, and I’ve been known to buy 50% off calendars in early February.
Tinare
Absolutely!
Di
Any time is the best time.
TMinSJ
I’ll still get my 4 whenever they are available, no worries.
narya
@WaterGirl: what’s happening in champaign Urbana?
glc
I would love to be able to get a calendar or two by December 31 (not Xmas) for reasons, but I’ll still be interested if that turns out not to be possible.
I hope this gets sorted out without too much associated anguish for you. There are specific problems in the publishing industry and the paper supply which have been doing a lot of damage, but it still comes as a surprise to see just how far-reaching that is.
Ann Marie
I’ll still buy mine whenever they are available.
WaterGirl
@narya: That’s where I live, and Dan was suggesting that I might not be exactly sanguine about the situation at Cafe Press and the resulting calendar delay and uncertainty. :-)
zeecube
Consensus seems to be we are patient peeps.
narya
@WaterGirl: Hah!! okay. But seriously, it’s fine.
Coyoteville
Remember that there are 12 days in Christmas that begin on the 25th and run through Jan 5. If you use the Orthodox calendar, that Christmas is Jan 7. It was the Three Kings who brought gifts, so that’s Jan 6.
jackmac
I don’t mind waiting.
WaterGirl
@jackmac: beth just texted and said “I told you they were good people.”
I know you guys are good people, I just wasn’t sure how patient folks would be about the calendar. But beth had faith!
cain
Yes. No matter what raven says.
K488
Yes! I want a calendar with my kitties in it, no matter when it is available! I’ve done this for years, and am not about to stop over a little thing like not having it for a while. I just love seeing so many beloved friends of people who I’ve been reading for years. So, no worries, I will definitely order a calendar, no matter what!
Currants
I will still order 4 calendars.
hedgehog mobile
I will wait.
something fabulous
Not an xmas-celebrator, so I’d be fine with waiting til, say, early January? Really January at all would be fine for me. Am only ordering one, for myself, though, so my vote is not as weighty as those who are planning on gifting! Thanks for the heads up in any case!
prostratedragon
Sure. Might not have bought 2022 until the new year, and still enjoy it.
Aaron
I blame russia, putin’s ukrainian invasion, low water levels in the missippi, corporate profiteering and of course, former president orange clown.
Because reasons.
The Thin Black Duke
No problem.
raven
@cain: Why would I say anything but yes.
eachother
At a bookstore today and saw some plastic statues of animals that combined two different animal species into one. There was a horse body with a duck head for instance. It creeped me out.
No calendar? It would be like an encyclopedia without the letter ‘c’. A century without the year 23.
Ironic that it being a calendar, that the arrival date isn’t important.
Bhaall
Yes please – definitely will order even if late.
Quiltingfool
@WaterGirl: She is a very lovely kitty and I should have sent a photo. I have only taken a few pictures of her so far – most of them are ones taken when she finally ventured out from her “safe space.”
I will not be taking a photo of her when she is “supervising” me in the bathroom. I mean, we’re all friends here, but friendship has its limits!
CliosFanBoy
If I can’t have it by this Saturday you’ve ruined my entire Christmas!!! ;)
Seriously, no worries. So long as I have it by Memorial Day!
stacib
@WaterGirl: My job includes working with a lot of printed material and several paper vendors. All of them have minimum three-month lead times now. All of the vendors cite supply chain issues, and two can no longer secure 60-lb paper and have actually had to change to 40-lb stock. I hope your vendors have better success.
Juju
Whenever I can get the calendar will be fine. I’m hoping to get my tree up and decorated by the 15th, but if I get it done before Christmas I consider it a victory. That’s where I’m my point of view is located.
Ruckus
Yes. Calendars. Must have. Will wait if necessary. Life goes on.
cintibud
I’m good to go whenever
Miss Bianca
After Christmas? Sure!
Annie
Of course I want a calendar!! My beloved cat Harry’ is in it!
Joey Maloney
I will still order a calendar even if they’re late.
SuzieC
YEs!!
Fair Economist
I don’t much care if the calendar is late.
Sfinny
Late to the party, but not a problem. Will order when available.
WaterGirl
@stacib: Paper? It makes no sense to me that we would have supply chain issues with paper. Oh well, out of my control.
WaterGirl
Thanks, you guys. Seeing all the responses helps me feel less stressed about this. It still sucks, but at least my stomach isn’t in knots. Plus, I didn’t want to add any stress for Cole, so it’s great that you guys are taking this in stride.
mardam422
Yes. I will still want one, even if I have to wait.
Butch
Of course I still want them!
Watership
Delivery date doesn’t change the fundraising these calendars have provided for worthy organizations over many, many years. I’d buy these 2023 calendars in 2025 if necessary ;)
KRK
No worries.
cvannatta
Late to the party as usual, but in case you’re still collecting responses, I’ll wait as long as it takes.
Sis
I will be thrilled to order the calendars whenever they’re available, and thank you again for all of this work you do every year to bring them to us.
GBinChicago
I have no problem with waiting; I’m looking forward to getting one of each (my niece’s kitties at in A and ours are in B)!
justinb
Yes, Houston. Affirmative
shirk
I’ll order whenever they’re available, no worries if that means delivery is after {insert holiday here}.