#email 2012

[gishwheshistorian]

The Journey is Ending...

From: GISHWHES ([email protected]) Sent: Mon 11/05/12 12:04 PM

Greetings, my sweet Gishwheshean Adventurers,

Our journey nears the end so I share tidings from you know who and advice and musings from you know why.

Item 30, I'm told was a roaring Gishwheshean good time: a gaggle of Gishwhesheans, bubbling pizza, a guitaring minstrel, the usual gremlins destroying our electronics, popsicle stick monuments to rival man's greatest structural achievements, and... Mr. Collins. He did tell me he was moved and inspired with how many people came, impressed with your teamwork, and utterly confused by what you managed to build. He also mentioned there were "a few raindrops" but that this moisture "probably kept them cool since they were working so hard." He was thrilled to see some that he had met before and to meet many new Gishfriends. I saw some of the pictures. You all deserve a warm towel and a heaping portion of some of your sanity back.

I'm looking at the pledge counter right now and it appears we have surpassed the bar for breaking a world record. How exciting! We can hang this record next to our other one. Soon we will need a new wall. Now that we've reached the world record, let's not slow down, however, until we hit 100,000. It's our objective... and Gishwhesheans deliver. So, deliver. And I want extra cheese and olives on mine.

Flags, cards, voicemails, Grand Prize, etc. - someone shall email you all this week during the Gishwhes hangover to go over the timing of those and a few of the administrative issues. I simply can't go into all that right now... Gishwhes is not over and I want to bask in every moment that it IS.

Acts of Kindness Videos. Thank you. We have received many more in the last 24 hours and they are especially moving. You all are wondrous spirits (if not slightly twisted in the head-thankfully) and you should be proud of what you're doing to "kind" the world.

Items. Fantasticulabulous. So much art. So much passion. So much enthusiasm. So much creativity. So much cheese...

And so, as with all things that are too magical, fun and real and right for our daily reality, Gishwhes can always only be fleeting and soon must fade back into its sublime darkness... but until then, squeeze it for everything it's worth.

And remember, although the Gishwhes Hunt may only come but once a year, you can always drop into the Gishwhes dimension. Throw on your kitchenware chain-mail, jump into your home-made vehicle capable of adventure and mayhem and go attack normalcy: befriend the unique and different, believe yourself to be a unique and necessary artist (for we all are), and find that silver kale lining in the dark clouds and make wondrous, beautiful, life-changing art with it.

Happy Hunting, Gishwhesheans.

I am and always shall be your Lady of Art, Creativity and Kale,

Miss Jean Louis

Advisor (a.k.a. "babysitter") to Misha Collins

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can view all our information on the 2012 hunt here, or select another year here.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.

[gishwheshistorian]

Gishwhes - A Letter from Misha Collins

From: GISHWHES ([email protected]) Sent: Mon 10/29/12 7:52 PM

Comrades,

I have been advised to postpone the hunt in light of of Hurricane Sandy which is pummeling the East Coast of the US. But GISHWHES is an unstoppable force. We're not some flimsy, weak operation like the New York Stock Exchange or the public transit systems on the East Coast. However, we are modifying the Hunt slightly to make sure that participants affected by the storm are safe and aren't at a disadvantage.

We're still starting on time - when the countdown clock runs down - but we're adding some "Hurricane" items that will give those that might soon be living by candlelight a way to participate in the Hunt and help their team get to Scotland. We also are taking into account any potential power outages: if there are extensive prolonged power outages we will be extending the deadline for specific "Hurricane" items… or all items, depending on the outages. I hope these Hurricane items might provide some fun, entertainment and perhaps even comfort during what I am sure is a challenging time for those hunkered down to wait out the Hurricane.

More important than all of this is your safety. If your local officials have told you to remain indoors, DON'T leave your residence. I forbid it. If I find out you did otherwise, you will be disqualified. And even if you are allowed to leave your residence, be smart about it: if it doesn't look safe, DON'T go outside. Let's all work together to keep our friends and teammates on the East Coast safe and dry. Despite what they keep saying, I like you and want you to stay my friend.

The world (and I!) need all of you around to keep disrupting Normalcy. We're doing a pretty good job of it.

On behalf of all of your fellow Gishwheshean's, we wish you and your loved ones a safe journey through the storm.

Please spread the word regarding this announcement.

Be safe and have fun! Misha

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can view all our information on the 2012 hunt here, or select another year here.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.

[gishwheshistorian]

The door’s closing...

From: Misha Collins ([email protected]) Sent: Thu 10/18/12 10:31 PM To: Gishwhes Email List

My Dear Comrades, Fellow Patriots, and Mom:

Do not try this at home, but I'm about to employ the rarely-seen, and very dangerous quadruple mixed metaphor - if you're faint-of-heart, skip to the next paragraph. I feel it's my duty to tell you that the window of GISHWHES registration has almost run out and that your chance to pass through the doorway to a brighter future has almost flown past.

I can promise you activities and art, the likes of which you've never dreamt; global friends, the likes of which you've always avoided but usually end up loving; and a grand prize, the likes of which will either forever change you for the worse or leave you gasping in a crimson euphoric state of bliss. If you still haven't heard what our grand prize is, I'll give you two clues: it rhymes with "Toast Bunting gore a Freakend in a Frivate Hastle in Flottland with Tea" and it has something to do with "ghost hunting for a weekend in a private castle in Scotland with me." Airfare, castle, and ghosts are all part of the prize to the team that scavenges the hardest.

And what's this business about a World Record? Well, there are actually two: First, we appear to have enough registrants to break our previous record for the largest scavenger hunt ever. Hop on board now and it looks like you can freeload-participate in a Guinness World Record-breaking event (they'll even send you an official Guinness certificate with your name on it). I can't tee it up any easier than that - unless I spontaneously grow your nose to a length of over 3.46 inches (the world record for "Longest Nose" currently held by my close friend and old accordion teacher, Mehmet Ozyurek).

The second record? We're going to attempt to break the most pledges for committing Random Acts of Kindness. Ever. Period. So you'd be a fundamental part of literally changing the "kindness quotient" of the world. And you say I never do anything for you...

If all that doesn't sound like fun... you clearly don't know what fun sounds like.

Registration closes in 2 days.

Misha

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.

[gishwheshistorian]

Subject: Christmas will never be the same... A Misha Collins Event

From: Misha Collins ([email protected]) Sent: Fri 11/09/12 1:24 AM

The Holidays are Coming Comrades!

We shall be aprising you of how your Christmas (or holiday!) shall be unfolding soon. In the meantime, grab a holiday helmet and buckle up.

Misha

@mishacollins

@hairybumble

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can view all our information on the 2012 hunt here, or select another year here.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.

[gishwheshistorian]

Subject: A Missive (and request) from Miss Jean Louis

From: GISHWHES ([email protected]) Sent: Thu 11/08/12 2:44 PM

Greetings Gishwhesheans,

How's life after Gishwhes? I agree... bring it back and never let me go through it again! It's a love/hate thing. Kind of like my relationship with my cuticle weaver.

So I've decided I want to hear what you thought of our lil' group artistic scavenger extravaganza. A Gishwhes testimonial if you will. If it sckoodles my noodles, I shall have it put in this year's annual Gishwhes Coffee Table book. So don't submit it if you don't want it publicized!

Email my assistant snuggled away in kale-shackles in the Gishwhesboattower at [email protected] with your testimonial (and first name and last name initial) of your experience of Gishwhes this year. Did it change your life? Break you out of your shell? Re-awaken your artistic self? No? Perhaps it ruined your marriage, drove you delightfully insane, created a new cheese allergy or taught you to abhor all things Misha (my current state of mind). Keep it short and sweet - a sentence or two. I welcome it all: sentimental, funny, weird, fuzzy...

Oh! I'm also told I need to alert you of something regarding your submittals (I abhor administrative thingies so kindly don't cause anymore of these!): Don't forget to make sure your videos are NOT set to "private". Our judges have come across some and can't review them.

I've been forwarded quite a few images and videos from our judges and all I can say is... you all should be locked up. And I demand they lock me up with you. Fantasticabulousness!

Teasingly and tantamountedly yours until I can't be then I will be even more,

Miss Jean Louis

Advisor (a.k.a "babysitter") to Misha Collins

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can view all our information on the 2012 hunt here, or select another year here.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.

[gishwheshistorian]

Subject: Gishwhes Updates! Grab a chair, it's a long one...

From: GISHWHES ([email protected]) Sent: Tue 11/06/12 11:43 PM

Why haven't you announced the winning team?! How hard can it be to tally up the points!

True! If everyone played fair, it would be easy to just tally up the points and announce our winning team. But Gishwheshean's apparently sometimes play a bit dirty: MANY teams thought it would be cute to submit interpretations for MANY of their items. A real blimp entirely covered with leaves is not a zip lock bag thrown up into the air with a burnt match and a leaf taped to it. Unfortunately, our database doesn't know that. Photoshopped Team names on billboards, videos that have been on the Internet for years (pumpkin catapult!), and one of our favorites: a team that submitted a bearded man in a tutu smiling into the camera for 117 items - all of these are making our jobs quite enjoyable!

We assume this is some kind of retribution for the week of artistic chaos you went through. And as we all go cross-eyed here in judging land - you've succeeded. Unfortunately, you've also made our road ahead a bit challenging as far as speedily announcing a winning team. Nonetheless, we will plow ahead and wade our way through the thousands of submissions (many of them unbelievably spectacular!). We will take our time and do it right. We want to make sure the team that makes it to Scotland is the best!

For those that scavenged like the dickens but didn't get in as many submissions as they hoped, don't fret, you still have a chance! As stated in the Commandments, we are weighing "quality" quite heavily in this year's judging. A team may have fallen a bit short on total submissions, but the one's they did submit, if they really wow us, could elevate them to the front via bonus points.

We also will be announcing another category winner. They won't get a piece of the prize, but they shall get serious bragging rights. More on that later.

Can you share your videos and images? Why not. Share the links. Enjoy the artistic mayhem you all have created. We think you'll be thoroughly impressed with the artistic talent in our motley group.

Cards, Misha-Voicemails, Flags...when? Well we're balancing delivery of those with Misha's schedule (for signing) and not putting a strain on our admin staff during the judging. We anticipate the voicemails going out first in the next two weeks. Misha is doing each individually so it's taking some time. The holiday cards and flags will be mailed out before the holidays.

Shwag Shwop? Coffee table book? Calendar? Depends on the quality of the submissions, but so far it's looking pretty good that the 'ol Gishwhes Schwag Shwop shall be opening it's cave door again... but just for one week!

In the meantime, enjoy sharing your items and please don't inundate our support as we're all trying to get through item judging and registration gift preparation. Answering emails wondering what we thought of your acting talents in "Item 69" is not a productive use of our time right now...!

More updates soon!

...and a super secret announcement to something that will leave you giggling and gasping... Stay tuned...

Gishwhes

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can view all our information on the 2012 hunt here, or select another year here.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.

[gishwheshistorian]

GISHWHES

From: GISHWHES ([email protected]) Sent: Tue 11/06/12 12:02 AM

We create, therefore we live.

-MJL

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can view all our information on the 2012 hunt here, or select another year here.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.

[gishwheshistorian]

A Miss Jean Louis Wondrous Weekend Missive...

From: GISHWHES ([email protected]) Sent: Sat 11/03/12 9:39 AM

Greetings Gishwhesheans!

And here we are in our last weekend of the Hunt!

We're in the final stretch now, and the stretchy part is always the most stretchy, so take advantage of that!

Pledges! Here is your mission that you must complete before the end of the Hunt: select 5 people in your work (if you're in an office), in the computer lab/library (if you're in school), or in your list of FB friends (if you're in neither of those but spend way too much time on FB). Then ask each of them, individually, to pledge. Look over their shoulder to make sure they do it! Press their fingers down on the keyboard if they need the help. Pull on your Gishwhes cheerleader outfit and cheer them on if it will get them over the line. Sometimes this kind of thing requires handholding (as does mime-interpretive kale-dance binging, but that's another story for another time).

In the case of FB, since you can't be there breathing heavily over their shoulder as you wait for them to pledge, just message them individually and tell them to message you back that they registered. 5 people! That's it!

I shall have the Misha-gnomes send me a report of the GISHWHESHEAN email addresses that do not have 5 sign-ups after receiving this email and I shall personally come knocking on your door demanding an explanation!... And a cup of cucumber tea.

I would give you further tips on submitting, but based on the submissions I'm seeing, you need no more help. The students have truly surpassed the Mastress.

Item #106-Random Act of Kindness Videos. We want more. They can be anything, anywhere, that meets your definition of kind. It's worth 121 points! It will be the easiest points your team can get. Based on last year's testimonials, this item changed people's lives. And this year, you could even win money for your favorite charity. Do it. Film it. Submit it. Love it. I'm hungry.

I'm told there are several teams that have contributed zero items. *sigh* Opting out of participating in life-changing, friend-forming, relationship-rejuvinizing, global, crazy, normalcy-defying art is always an option - but certainly not the fun one. At the very least, why not honor the fact that you had the good intention to try to do something fun and crazy like Gishwhes (even if you chose not to follow through) and do a random act of kindness at some point over the weekend - even if you don't film it and submit it. At the very worst, you'll feel outstanding.

And for all others that are operating on zero sleep, on a diet of cheetos, popcorn and skittles, GISHWHES ON!

Your Fondest and Fairest of all Fondlings,

Miss Jean Louis

The Advisor (a.k.a. babysitter) to Misha Collins

The Gishwhes Historian is a project to archive Gishwhes-related information including emails, hunt updates, timelines, and more.  

You can view all our information on the 2012 hunt here, or select another year here.

If you’d like to help, we have a list of missing content here,  or you can fill out one of our surveys.