Christmas in Plotzerstan

The Plotniks received a long and wonderful letter from the Kazakh Desert Princess today. Now that she's tossed off her graduate's robe and headed to Shymkent, Kazakhstan, she seems to be on the front line of a society learning to develop while ridding itself of the bribery and corruption that has dominated it for generations. She also sent a list of items her Kazakh host family would love to receive for Christmas. Topping the list, and I kid you not: Sponge Bob Square Pants. Second on the list: PLOTZER paraphernalia.

Sponge Bob? Plotzers? In Shymkent, Kazakhstan?

Well, what would you expect? The Kansas City Royals? It must be that Plotzer hats and shirts get worn in many movies that make their way to Central Asia. And Sponge Bob is everywhere.

So Plotnik went to the Plotzer website. For the holidays you can purchase these delightful ornaments...



...this fabulous snow globe...



...but what's this? It appears to be three Plotzer players about to be lynched (did you know that one simple typo turns 'lynched' into 'lunched'?). The players they have chosen are Russell Martin (55), Andrew Jones (25) and Brad Penney (you can see his number 31 in another view) in the back.



The fact that they would do in Andrew Jones and Brad Penney is a promising lurch (just change two letters) in the correct direction for 2009, though Plotnik greatly prefers 'lunch' to 'lynch.'

Continuing with the KDP saga, yesterday Ducknik very carefully printed out a mailing label in Russian and English, on a package the Plotniks mailed to Britt/KDP. Plotnik faithfully copied the label and filled out a ton of customs forms and then after his third trip to the counter, the lady said "OK, thank you" and slapped the package into another envelope, tossed it on the conveyor belt and out it went to the truck. When Plotnik got home he realized that last envelope, the one everyone will see, does not have the Russian writing on the outside. Without Russian writing, we are told, the package might not get delivered. But Plottie is sure there will be no problem. Da. Nyet.