-=November 30, 2003=-
CHERISH AUCTION REMINDER
A reminder that the current CHERISH auctions in just over 2 HOURS! There are some great deals to be had and you are helping a great cause with your purchase. Click here for listings

Tyler Treadway: Book donations not the only way to support troops in Iraq
I've been pushing the Books for Troops project pretty hard for the past few weeks. (Drop new or "lightly read" paperbacks in the boxes at any Martin County library Monday through Dec. 13.)

But there are other ongoing projects you can take part in to show your concern for troops stationed in Iraq. For instance:

The Martin County chapter of the American Red Cross Martin County is collecting "Treasures for Troops," gift packages for servicemen and -women throughout the world.

The $20 packages hold a deck of cards, a book of crossword puzzles, snacks, games, suntan lotion, tissues, a "Hackey Sack" ball, moist towelettes, a hand-held fan and a multi-tool, all inside a travel bag.

To buy bags or make donations to the project, call (772) 287-2002.

Teresa Hilbig, 12-year-old daughter of Bill and Beth Hilbig of Palm City, has been taking part in "Beanies for Baghdad," a project in which soldiers give out small toys and school supplies donated by people in the United States to kids in Iraq.An 

Army major started "B4B" after his sister sent him a Beanie Baby named "Courage," and he gave the toy to an Iraqi girl.

Now toys and school supplies are being delivered by soldiers in their off-duty hours to kids in schools, hospitals and community centers.

Teresa has collected about 100 small stuffed toys and school supplies from students and faculty at her school, Hidden Oaks Middle School, and her former school, Palm City Elementary School, as well as from Girl Scouts in her troop (No. 549) and others in the area. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

NEW CONTEST STARTS TOMORROW!
If you would like to see what you can win in the Planet Beans Holiday 2003 Contest have a visit here: http://www.planetbeans.com/HOLIDAY2003CONTEST.htm 

-=November 29, 2003=-
TIME TO RENEW YOUR BOTM MEMBERSHIPS!
If you enrolled in the Beanie of the Month program last year you may want to renew your subscription before it runs out at the end of December. Details can be found at: http://www.tytrade.com/bbom_order_online

At ailing malls, it's just another day
Not all shopping centers in area were jammed with customers
The halls were decked, but otherwise not much was stirring at North Hills Mall in North Richland Hills on Friday, despite it being one of the nation's busiest shopping days.

There was no line for the live Santa. Almost every store had more sales clerks than customers.

What's New, a gift shop that specializes in stuffed animals, did about 10 percent better business Friday than the day after Thanksgiving a year ago.

However, owner Ed Lee of Mansfield attributed the spike in sales to his putting going-out-of-business signs in the window Friday, which offered a 20 percent discount on all merchandise.

"It's kind of a shame because we had so many loyal customers," Lee said of the more than 100 people who have flocked to the store when the monthly allotment of new Beanie Babies arrived. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Gift of life inspires Canton athlete
CANTON - For many teenage girls, one of the biggest highlights of adolesence is attending their high school proms. Canton's Jessica St. Gelais, 15, a sophomore at Canton High School, hasn't made it that far yet, but chances are she'll enjoy the dances more than any of her friends.

Just five years ago, St. Gelais lay practically on her deathbed with advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a disease that's rare in kids her age.

"It was very aggressive," said her father, Roger St. Gelais, who shuttled his sick daughter to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston on many middle-of-the-night emergency occasions.

St. Gelais, then a 10-year-old fourth-grader, had been very active in the town's soccer league, scoring half of her team's 44 goals in the season before she was diagnosed. But for such an active youngster, St. Gelais seemed to be unusually tired whenever she came home from school.

Being able to play sports again was perhaps the biggest reward of being "normal" again, said St. Gelais, after joking that it was fun to be waited on hand and foot. She also collected about 150 "Beanie Baby" stuffed toys, and a gardener's envy: bouquet upon bouquet of flowers. She also read "boxes" of books. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

MESSAGE FROM La RUE OF KANSAS BRASS & PEWTER
Kansas Brass & Pewter will be receiving Chubbley tag protectors. If anyone is in need of some, I will be adding them and the price to the Chubbley web page. http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/cb.html

If you are looking for one-of-a-kind gift or for yourself, take a look at Kansas Brass & Pewter's 2003 pewter Christmas Ornament. Each ornament is limited in production, carries the KB&P logo, dated and numbered. When a production run is completed, the mold will never be reopened. This year's ornament was handcraved from wax and the process can be seen here. http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/kbp.html Hoping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

-=November 28, 2003=-
VALOR RETIRES (finally!)
http://www.tytrade.com/TyStore

Beanie Babies, basketball help make them buddies
Mary Lou Kizer heard the hoots and hollers from the crowd behind her as she sat on the University of Notre Dame bench down the line from Irish women's coach Muffet McGraw.

"Wow, that's louder down here than I thought," she said to herself.

Well, you first have to give an assist to Beanie Babies.

"That's how I met my good friend, Barbara Hernly," Mary Lou says. "We were standing in line together one early morning waiting for a restaurant to open so we could buy Beanie Babies."

They became best buddies. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

LAST CALL.... if you wish to make a donation please let me know by TOMORROW!
DECEMBER CONTEST DONATIONS UPDATE (21 prizes to date!) 7 WINNERS!! so far
I'd like to run a contest in December with holiday-themed Beanies like the Holiday Teddies, Santa, etc. If you would like to help out with this
contest please let me know: Lisa@planetbeans.com I would love for this to be a great contest and have several winners as we have for the last
several contests.
-2003 Holiday Teddy Beanie & 2002 Holiday Teddy Buddy donated by Amy.
-Bracelets by Lisa bracelet (winner to have choice of several) donated by Connie F.
-1997 Holiday Teddy Beanie donated by Mary C.
-Snowdrift & Rudy donated by Donna B.
-2002 Holiday Teddy Buddy donated by Nadine B.
-Jangle Attic Treasure donated by Bev R.
-Red-nosed Roxie donated by Bonnie R.
-Hand painted Santa ornament from www.grandpa-j.com
-1997 Holiday Teddy Ty Classic donated by Tina M.
-1998 Holiday Teddy Beanie, Jingle Beanie, & Buddy donated by Lynda
-Melton Pluffie donated by Sharon C.
-UK-tagged Herald Beanie & Ty Gear Santa outfit donated by Sherry S.
-Santa Beanie Baby donated by Nancy P.
-Flaky Beanie Baby & Flaky Jingle Beanie donated by Gail S.

-=November 27, 2003=-
ASK TY
Q: Since Thanksgiving is coming up, which one of the Turkey Beanie Babies is your favorite? (submitted by 8885207) 
A: I was thinking maybe Gobbles, but then I set them all on my desk and I just can't decide . . . I like them all ! 

As for my favorite dish - it's a toss up between raisin apple nut dressing and the candied yam casserole. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a great weekend ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Take the time today to give thanks to all you have and for everyone around you. I hope that each of you enjoy a beautiful and loving day with family and friends. A dear friend of mine sent the most beautiful Thanksgiving poem and I wanted to share with all of you. CLICK HERE TO VIEW

Retro products are back on shelves
Christmas shopping may spark childhood memories -- or at least deja vu -- for some local parents.

Fort Wayne toy sellers say lots of oldies-but-goodies from 20 to 30 years ago are back on the shelves and in demand again. Remember the warm and fuzzy Care Bears? Sticky sweet Strawberry Shortcake? The comb-and-brushable My Little Pony?

"I wish I were a toy designer. I wouldn't have to think of anything new," quipped a department manager for Target, 3801 Coldwater Road. "I could just go check the back of my closet."

That's good news for parents and grandparents, some of whom are still recovering from years when there were shortages of Tickle Me Elmo, Furby, Sing and Snore Ernie, Beanie Babies and PlayStation2. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Wal-Mart, Toys 'R' Us battle for sales
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The annual holiday wars between the nation's two largest toy sellers is well under way. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys "R" Us Inc. are cutting prices and deploying brigades of Barbie and Elmo dolls as they joust for market share.

In a move that took Toys "R" Us - and the rest of the industry - by surprise, Wal-Mart cut prices on more than a dozen hot toys in mid-October, a month earlier than normal. By selling some items below cost, the discounter is using toys as a loss leader to woo shoppers to other aisles elsewhere in the store, analysts observed. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Thanksgiving becoming a popular shopping day
For those who can't wait, Thanksgiving Day is becoming more of an option to begin holiday gift buying.

While major toy retailers traditionally close their doors on Thanksgiving Day, some supermarket chains that are open today have aligned with them.

For the first time, Sears, Roebuck and Co. -- which along with most department stores goes dark on Thanksgiving -- is giving online customers early access to Friday's deals, allowing them to order on the Web today, then pick up the merchandise in the stores over the weekend. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

-=November 26, 2003=-
DECEMBER INTRODUCTIONS ~ http://www.ty.com/December2003_Intro 
Beanie Babies:  Kissy, Secret, Sonnet, Valentine
Beanie Buddies:  Colosso, Cupid, Frisco
Classics:  Blushing
Punkies:  Flame, Tropics

BEANIES ON THE TODAY SHOW
Nancy writes: “I was just watching the Today Show and Ty was donating a bunch of products to charity again.  I noticed the woman was holding the new Valentine's Day beanie bear that was red with the heart on it's chest that says "I Love You."  I had seen a picture of it on another site that said it was supposed to be released in December. Nancy”

more info: ’Today’ toy drive kicks off Monday, December 1
Tania Lundeen from Ty Inc., presents Matt Lauer and Katie Couric with a $1 million donation for “Today’s” 10th annual toy drive. VIEW MORE HERE

Soldiers ‘Touching a Few Children at a Time’
Thanksgiving is just another day for U.S. troops in Iraq.

They call it the “Groundhog Day” syndrome, referring to a Bill Murray movie in which the same day happens over and over. Except for chow, that is.

Greene, a 16-year veteran, is spending this year away from his wife, Kate, and their three daughters: Virginia, 14, a freshman at Pinecrest High School; Ellyn, 12, a seventh-grader at West Pine Middle, and Abigail, 8, who is in the third grade at Episcopal Day School in Southern Pines.

“After the war, the Kurds sent them packing; now they have nowhere to live,” Greene writes. “Gifts of children’s shoes, winter coats, blankets, and other warm clothing, especially for children, and just about any kind of school supplies, would be helpful.”

Emmanuel continues to gather items to send to Iraq.

“We are still collecting shoes…and Beanie Babies,” Kate Greene says. “Bedouin are in the most dire straits. They will have the roughest time as weather cools. They have no place. They will be in the direst straits as winter comes in. They have no connection to a home place to return. I think for the children, the ones who have so little, Beanie Babies are small, cuddly.” VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Which Credit Card Gives You Money Back?
Officials: Don't Carry A Big Balance
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Ready to take that vacation with a big discount?

With the right credit card, some companies will actually pay you back for your business. But not every deal is as good as it sounds. It might not be clear on the surface, but Sam's Club, Mickey Mouse and Beanie Babies all have something in common, their own plastic that in some cases pays you. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

-=November 25, 2003=-
NO NEWSLETTER ON MONDAY
There wasn’t much news to report so I didn’t send a newsletter yesterday.

RETIREMENT ~ http://www.ty.com/Nov03Ret1
BEANIES: Bubbly, Fizz, Hamlet, July Birthday, Toast, Toboggan
BUDDIES: Bravo, Fraidy

Toys from past on list as hot holiday gifts
The list of this year's most popular toys is out and you'll probably be very familiar with a lot of them.

The National Retail Federation says many of the expected favorites are a blast from the past. If you’re in the market for Christmas toys, you may want to buy early. VIEW LISTS HERE

K-B Toys announces 2003 Holiday Hot Toys List
PITTSFIELD - KB Toys, the nation's largest combined mall-based and online specialty toy retailer today revealed its much-anticipated annual holiday hot toy list.

Featuring 20 of the season's "must have" toys, the list includes items from virtually all toy categories and offers something special for everyone this holiday season. VIEW LIST HERE

TY STORE INTRODUCTION: TIDINGS
http://www.ty.com/Tidings_intro

-=November 24, 2003=-
TY SIGNED STARDUST AUCTIONS END
This auction ended with a final bid of US $562.20 but the reserve was NOT met. VIEW AUCTION HERE
This auction ended with a final bid of US $588.38 resulting in a lucky winner. VIEW AUCTION HERE

NOT JUST BEANIES
http://www.NotJustBeanies.com- Beanies, Buddies, and More for less! November Releases are only $4.75 and up! Preorder Tidings for only $6.79 each!Select Buddies are 15%-50% Off! Visit us today and check out our great specials! Bearon(Red) In Stock Only $5.99 each! True-$7.99!

***10% OFF Your Order Now Through Tuesday! No coupon code needed!

-=November 23, 2003=-
ENDING IN UNDER 4 HOURS: CHERISH AUCTIONS
A reminder that the current CHERISH auctions close tonight between 19.00 - 19.45 GMT (11.00 - 11.45 am PST) Click here for listings

ASK PEGGY GALLAGHER
Message from Gramma Pat:
Hi Everyone, After the chat session involving Peggy last Wed. evening on Bobbles and More, I felt that it might be more informative if all the questions and answers for Peggy were together on one page. The time we spent with Peggy went by so quickly, and some people felt there wasn't enough time for all the questions to be adequately answered. I received approval from Traderlist Webmaster, Cindy, and also from Peggy, and Traderlist now has a page devoted to questions about authentication. Directions for submitting questions are on the page. http://www.traderlist.com/AskPeggy.html

There is a link to the "Ask Peggy" page on Traderlist's main page. http://www.traderlist.com

All suggestions are welcome! I hope this page will provide easy access to all the questions traders have concerning authentication. Names will not be posted with the questions.

We still have a little formatting to do. That is Cindy's specialty, so please excuse what I tried to do to get this up and running quickly! Peggy and I would appreciate it if you would spread the word. I hope this page will help Peggy respond to queries without having to answer the same questions over and over.

Thanks! Have a wonderful weekend!

Pat
www.traderlist.com

ORDERING BEARON
Hi Lisa, I just called the Midwest Airlines to order Bearon. I got a recorded message that said the brown Bearon is not available but the red one can be ordered next week on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday during the hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Beanie Hugs, Connie

Good Life: In the Mid-Hudson
Scouts deliver babies

Cub Scout Pack 93 of Pleasant Valley contributed about 100 Beanie Babies to Poughkeepsie's Saint Francis Hospital's emergency department. The tiny stuffed animals are given to children brought in for treatment.

Five Scouts, accompanied by two adults, delivered the Beanie Babies on Oct. 25, Make a Difference Day. The idea was Melanie Powell's, mother of pack member Shawn.

''The nurses on duty explained to the boys how a Beanie Baby can really make a difference,'' said Powell, who works in emergency department registration. VIEW STORY HERE

-=November 22, 2003=-
Santa Train owes a lot to 'boss'
KINGSPORT - Most people may not know it, but Santa and his elves have a boss.

At least once a year, anyway.

His name is Ed Moore.

He is manager of the Food City store on Eastman Road. He is also the toys-and-goodies point man for the Santa Train.

He leads the charge in rounding up donations for the train's yearly run from Kentucky through southwest Virginia to Tennessee.

And he orchestrates the process that sees those goods mixed, boxed and packed aboard the train.

For several years, the walkway in front of Moore's store has been converted into an elves workshop for an evening.

That process for today's running of the Santa Train took place Wednesday. Dozens of volunteers helped sort, mix, box and load more than 15 tons of foodstuffs, toys and other goodies - as Santa looked on.

This year's Santa Train cargo includes $6,000 worth of Ty Beanie Babies. Ty Inc., known worldwide for its plush toys and heart-shaped logo, donated 1,000 Beanie Babies to be tossed from the train. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

BLUE STAR CONFUSION
SHeL writes: “Hi Lisa I was wrong about Star with a Blue Star on the left hand inside of the hang tag at the bottom in SMALL PRINT it says: "for skip...our special angel"

BTW ... At 9:05 AM PST I was able to reach MidWest Airlines ... Too late for the Brown Bearon but I ordered the Red Bearon for myself and partners in England, Scotland, and Canada !!! Enjoy the weekend SHeL”

-=November 21, 2003=-
TWO VERSIONS OF 'BLUE' STAR
SHeL writes: "Hi Lisa Here we go again. There are 2 versions of this Beanie.The Ideation Exclusive which says "for Skip" on the inside of the hang tag and the other which I received from the Halmark Gold Crown store in Chelsea MI which contain the usual Ty Inc., Ty Canada, Ty Europe, etc on the inside of the hang tag..
Have a nice day
SHeL

Midwest Airlines Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Flight with High-Flying Fun
100th Anniversary of Flight Beanie Baby Bears
While the first flight took place near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright Brothers actually invented and refined the world's first practical airplane in their hometown of Dayton, Ohio. In tribute to these aviation pioneers and the city they called home, all passengers flying to or from Dayton on Midwest Connect on December 17 will receive a limited-edition 100th Anniversary of Flight Beanie Baby, authorized by TY and customized by Midwest Airlines. Bearon Aviator Bear sports aviator goggles and scarf, 100th Anniversary of Flight crest, and official TY and Midwest Airlines tags. Additionally, the bears will be available for sale to collectors and friends of Midwest Airlines for $5.99 (plus tax and $4.00 S&H) by calling 888-888-8006. VIEW INFO HERE ~ VIEW PICTURE OF SPECIAL TAGGED BEARS HERE

ASK TY
Q: How do you decide which Beanies to release and retire each month? (submitted by starsineyes5000)
A: Most of the new releases are planned quite far in advance, but that is not always the case.
Bear went from idea to introduction in less than 30 days. http://www.ty.com/askty_home 

INTERESTING BLUE STAR DISPLAY
Krystal writes: “Lisa, My local Ty Beanie dealer, who has the Blue Star, has an interesting sign near their display.  First of all, it calls the beanie "Skip".  Then it states that it is a VERY limited edition in the US, and that it is only one of 2 retailers in Iowa carrying it.  I went to the store locator for the Blue Star (that was connected to the announcement of the Blue Star) just to check that claim.  Well, it was close.  I looked over the state of Iowa, and only found 4 retailers carrying the Blue Star.  Krystal, Iowa City  IA”

-=November 20, 2003=-
Beaming Over Beanies
Teaching children that there is more to be gained from giving than getting is often a struggle. A Dell Rapids family is an outstanding example of generosity. The kids want to make sure other youngsters have something to snuggle during a possibly scary ride.

A week ago the Lightner children went to the Dell Rapids Community Hospital. They weren't hurt and they didn't give blood, but what they gave came straight from the heart. Brittany, 13 years old, and six-year old Braeden donated about 100 of their Beanie Babies and stuffed animals so other kids who end up inside an ambulance will have something to hold. Brittany explains their reasons, "Some kids need more than we do and we have so many it would be nice if we could share." Some of the extra Beanies went on a mini-Christmas tree. It will be on display at the Dell Rapids Festival of Trees the last weekend of November and then it will go to the hospital. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Family thankful for insurance
VALLEY VIEW — Janice and Bob Browning know what they will be thankful for when they sit down for a turkey dinner next week with their family.
Fire insurance.
The St. Charles Township couple's home was destroyed Monday afternoon by an electrical fire that rendered the house uninhabitable. Damage was estimated at $80,000 to the house and $40,000 to its contents.
The Brownings already were thankful that no one was hurt, and their State Farm insurance policy also helped them feel better.
"We've had the insurance since we owned the house," said Bob Browning, who has lived on Tuscola Avenue in Valley View for 33 years.
Just before the fire, a light went out in the kitchen. Janice yelled to Bob.
"I was out working in the yard," he said. "I went in to the fuse box and saw a bad fuse. I took it out and put another one in. The light went on with no problem."
Then, all the lights dimmed and there was a loud popping noise, he said.
"I heard more popping and some cracking," Bob said. "The next thing I knew, the backside of the house was on fire."
Family photographs in the living room buckled from the intense heat. Bob's Beanie Baby collection was wet but it wasn't damaged. A row of bears in plastic boxes lines his headboard.
"I've got 10 other boxes of them," he said. "They're all OK." VIEW FULL STORY HERE

HOW RARE IS BROWN BEARON?
Terri writes: “Hello Lisa, Just wanted to let you know that my local Ty dealer got in 3 bags of Bearon and only one out of each bag of 12 had Brown Bearon in it. This one will be difficult to get. Have a great night, Tantastic1”

Beanie battle
Plains woman wants $860 refunded that she spent online for counterfeit Beanie Babies; Florida man she bought them from says he did nothing wrong

PLAINS - What would you do with "thedrunkensailor"?

Beanie Baby collector Pat O'Buck of Plains would like him prosecuted, convicted and thrown in jail for felony trademark infringement and fraud.

Short of that, she said she'd be satisfied if he'd just sober up and refund the $860 she paid him for what she now knows are five counterfeit Beanie Babies.

While insisting his Beanie Babies auction was clearly listed buyer-beware, Kaye does acknowledge there were some misstatements.

For example, he told the Missoulian he was, and remains, happily married. (A columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel first unearthed that information. Yet he apparently told the Oregonian newspaper that he was divorced, but his ex wasn't having an affair. The divorce was a mutual decision, he said.)

The story about his "ex-wife" running out on him was a "little white lie," he told the Missoulian. It was a marketing ploy to give some zip and zing to the listing's copy block. (His Web sites continue to state the same "white lie.")

Late Thursday, O'Buck was notified by eBay that it had finally reviewed Kaye's original auction listing, and "it has been ended early by eBay for violating one or more of our listing guidelines."

"A little bit late for me, I'm afraid," O'Buck replied to eBay on Thursday night. "The auction ended on Sept. 26, I paid, five beanies are counterfeits, and the seller is refusing to refund my money."

Said O'Buck to the Missoulian: "If they had done this when I'd asked when I first spotted the auction, we wouldn't have been in this mess. This is six weeks too late." VIEW FULL STORY HERE

<<< my comments: To me, it appears this entire auction was a fraud and that "thedrunkensailor" was and is "happily married" as found out by a reporter. I'd say he KNEW these Beanies were counterfeit. After all he did lie in his auction listing making it sound like he knew nothing about Beanie Babies along with some other choice comments. Then people are buying this person a beer via eBay!! What is wrong with people?! According to the above article more than 700 beer "certificates" have been purchased at $1.60 each. Unbelievable! Nothing like a marketing ploy to focus on and, for many, being taken advantage of and allowing it to happen. Do you have comments about this story? Lisa@planetbeans.com >>>

-=November 16, 2003=-
Benefit will support sibling crash survivors
JENSEN BEACH — They still grieve for their parents and mourn their sister, but on Sunday Kyle and Kaylee Moore at least will know they're not alone.

Kyle, 16, and his 6-year-old sister Kaylee are the survivors of a September crash near Vero Beach that killed their parents, Joe and Debbie Moore, and their 15- year-old sister Krista.

On Sunday, friends, family and even strangers have organized a benefit for Kyle and Kaylee at Indian RiverSide Park to help pay for the children's care.

Organizers hope to draw more than 2,000 people and say it is more than a fund-raiser.

"This is also a celebration of life," organizer Nancy Lyons said on Friday. "Everybody's very thankful that Kyle and Kaylee are still with us. They had wonderful parents and a beautiful sister, and we'd like these children to know even though their parents and sister are not with us, there's a whole community that's pulling for them."

"Joe was a person who was always looking to make you laugh, cared about everybody, and always wanted the best for his children," Welker said. "Krista was a teenager who was just starting to find her own way. She had a lot of friends, she was big into music and Beanie Babies." VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Lafayette toy store plays well
LAFAYETTE - Walking through the aisles of Handlebar Toys is like opening a toy chest that's been sealed for a generation.

There are Raggedy Ann dolls, Radio Flyer red wagons and Mad Libs word books. The store has a train set for boys to tinker with and a magical princess-themed corner where girls try on sparkling costumes.

"Practically every day I hear, 'I didn't know they made stuff like this anymore,'" said Lance Ghulam, the store's manager. "We've had people come in and get teary-eyed."

In 1984 the owners shut down the bicycle portion after the building rent skyrocketed and bike business dwindled. Sales fluctuated from year to year. During the Beanie Baby craze of the late 1990s, they were so good Challis bought herself a new car. In the past two years, construction outside the store, the opening of Imaginarium here and a weak economy have put the store in the red. Handlebar has just three employees now. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

DECEMBER INTROS (originally posted 11/15)
Terri writes: "Hello Lisa, I will be sending an additional email with the other side.  This was sent from FTD along with the monthly statement.  Shows pictures of December Newbies!!! Have a great weekend!! Tantastic1" Take a peek at what's to come for Valentine's day! VIEW NEW BEANIES HERE ~ VIEW NEW BUDDIES & CLASSICS HERE

MANY GREAT CAUSES…
Each year I take some items to church that will be given to children that don‘t have much because they live in less fortunate conditions. It makes me feel great to be able to bring smiles to some faces that would otherwise be sad during the holiday season. I have a recommendation for each of my readers… gather together some personal items (toothbrushes/toothpaste, brushes/combs, hair things, etc.) and items like Ty or other stuffed toys (doesn‘t have to have a tag but needs to be clean), matchbox cars, coloring books/crayons, and anything that a little boy or little girl would love and donate them to a local church, women’s shelter, or any place that may need some assistance. I know there are many worthy charities asking for donations currently but please don’t forget those smaller ones that don’t get the needed publicity to ask for donations. Try and remember the less fortunate this holiday season because they are deserving of happiness too!! :oD I will be organizing some items to take to the church again this year and if you aren’t sure who to donate to locally you are most welcome to mail them to me and I’ll make sure they get distributed to those who need them. Lisa@planetbeans.com

-=November 15, 2003=-
TEENIE BOPPER SUPER SHUTO RETIRES
http://www.ty.com/SuperShutoRet

AUCTIONS OF INTEREST...
CHERISH AUCTIONS
Ending in just over 1 day, Sue has 7 great auctions still running including the Ann Jillian signed CURE Beanie and other great auctions including some Beanies with Sue's gorgeous hand knitted sweaters to support Children's Cancer Research and Breast Cancer Research so be sure to check out Sue's auctions. VIEW AUCTIONS HERE

AUTHENTICATED TY-SIGNED BILLIONAIRE 1 BEAR
partial item description: "You are bidding on a Rare Ty Signed 1st Billionaire Bear authenticated by Peggy Gallagher and given her highest ratings of Mint With Mint Tags and Museum Quality!" VIEW AUCTION HERE

AUTHENTICATED TY-SIGNED BILLIONAIRE 1 BEAR
partial item description: "This auction is for an authenticated Billionaire 1 Bear!  This may be the rarest of all the Billionaire Bears as Ty did not number these bears so we will never know. But we do know that he was giving them only to his employees and that his company was getting bigger and bigger after the release of this bear.   This beanie is in Museum Quality condition with a Mint & Stunning Shiny Sheen. It has been graded as Mint with Mint Tags and Museum Quality as indicated on the Certificate of Authenticity by PBBAGs.com." NOTE: this seller also has some amazing auctions listed like for Authenticated Royal Blue Peanut, Ty Ambassador 2000 leather jacket (only 25 made!) VIEW ALL AUCTIONS HERE

AUTHENTICATED TY-SIGNED BILLIONAIRE 4, 5, & 6 BEARS
partial item description: "Wow!  You are bidding on three Billionaire Bears ... 4, 5 and 6 ... all authenticated by PBBags and given their highest ratings of Mint With Mint Tags and Museum Quality!  You don't get much better than this!"
VIEW AUCTION HERE

2 TY-SIGNED HARRODS "STARDUST" BEARS
1. partial item description: "This is a harrods exclusive TY Classic called Stardust, he is in mint condition, as are his tags and he has also been signed by TY Warner himself. On the 1st November my huband, daughter and myself went to Harrods to buy the New Stardust classic which was being launched that day, unfortuetly due to our train being cancelled and the next one over a hour late we missed being able to buy one with the special certificate, which was dissappointing. We had lunch and then we heard that TY Warner was in the building and might be visiting the TOY KINGDOM so decided to wait and see if he did arrive(I have always wanted to meet him). I waited along with 2 other ladies and after about 3 hours at approxamately 3pm he arrived. He knew we had been waiting and he was kind enough to sign 2 of my bears along with the other 2 ladies bears."
VIEW AUCTION HERE

2. partial item description: "This auction is for a TY signed Harrods exclusive STARDUST CLASSIC BEAR .It was signed by TY himself when he attended Harrods on the 1st November 2003,it is in mint condition with both the Ty and the special Harrods tags being in mint condition.It comes with the 1st day ISSUE CERTIFICATE which is signed by Patricia Roche head of Ty Europe and is also in mint condition." VIEW AUCTION HERE

COMMON COURTESY
Just a quick note to all past and future contest winners…
I would like to think that people who win these contests are grateful that they are winners so they should take a few moments to email the contest sponsor and/or me to let us know the prizes arrived and a simple “thank you”. I do appreciate those who take the time to email because it says you really are appreciative of the prize and the time it takes to run these contests so THANK YOU! If you were a contest winner in October and haven’t received your prize.. Please email me Lisa@planetbeans.com

-=November 14, 2003=-
MUKLUK
Mona writes: “Hi Lisa, Here is a tidbit of news: I work part-time at a Hallmark store and yesterday we received a new shipment of Beanies. We received two packages of Mukluk. After reading several notes about Mukluk having one blue eye and one green eye, I went through both packages. Sure enough in each package of 24 there were 3 out of 24 that had a blue and green eye. Seems like TY has done it again, making us search for the oddities. Guess that is what keeps all of the beanie collectors searching and buying. Have a great day. Mona”

ASK TY
Q: I loved the activities you sponsored at Brookfield Zoo this summer. Any chance that you would do something similar in the future? (submitted by 4760177) 
A: This question sparked me to go through my 2003 event photo albums. We had some wonderful promotions throughout this past year. What does the future hold? . . . I guarantee more fun filled events !

'It's just a miracle'
On eve of surgery, child's deadly tumor vanishes

Brandon Connor started out life dramatically.

The 2-year-old was born with a tumor on his spine, two days after Sept. 11, 2001.

The tumor, a vicious, aggressive cancer known as neuroblastoma, had nerves running through it.

To surgically excise it would risk paralysis. To leave it would risk death.

Their flight home Tuesday arrived 43 minutes early. Waiting for them were Ryan, with a Beanie Baby for his little brother, and his grandparents.

As Kristin, Mike and Brandon came off the escalators at the airport, Ryan ran straight for his little brother and hugged him tight.

A stubbly faced Mike watched his sons, the smile of a proud parent crossing his face and tears of relief welling in his eyes. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

-=November 13, 2003=-
CHERISH AUCTION ~ (£430.00 - over $718 USD ~ closing TODAY!)
message from Sue: "The special Ty Stardust, exclusive to Harrods, which was signed for CHERISH by Mohamed Al Fayed in Harrods on the day of the bear's launch, is now on seven-day auction VIEW AUCTION HERE  Be sure to view Sue's other auctions and show your support for cancer research.

-=November 12, 2003=-
TOM-e RETIRES
http://www.tytrade.com/TyStore
WELCOME BEARON
http://www.ty.com/Bearon-Intro

INTERESTING INFO
Gwyn writes: “Some of the October releases for Christmas, including the new polar bear, new reindeer, and Chillin' the snowman, are available at the gift shop of the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Now if I could only remember their names, this would actually be a useful report! An interesting item, which I didn't question the clerk about, was a sign next to the one that gave the prices of Beanies, Buddies, Teenie Boppers, Pluffies, Punkies, and Classic (not all of which were there -- tons upon tons of Punkies, only a few Teenie Boppers) -- this additional sign said that for Ty Plush, they wanted you to ask the price at the register, because they were old and collectible. (The Ty Plush, that is, not the gift shop saleswomen!!!) I didn't actually see any Ty Plush in stock, but will investigate this further.”

BLUE STAR NOT EXCLUSIVE AFTER ALL…
SHeL writes: “Hi Lisa, I thought I'd share this with you and your readers. Last week someone in one of the newsletters supplied an 800 number for Ideation: 1-800-521-3088 where they give the location of the nearest Learning
Express. Well I called Monday morning, but instead of a location. I was given a number to call and order the Beanie, I called 1-734-475-7501 and a nice lady took my order. The cost was $5.99 plus $0.36 tax each. I assumed I was talking to a Learning Express store. Later last night I went to Google search and typed in the phone number, Much to my surprise it was a Hallmark Gold Crown Store
DAY SPRING GIFTS
115 S MAIN ST
CHELSEA, MI
(734)475-7501
Not a Learning Express !!! I guess it's not an Exclusive after all !!! Have a great day, SHeL”

ROSE’S COLLECTION AND STARDUST BEARS
Rose has shared a couple of pictures including one of herself holding her prized Stardust Classics she ordered directly from Harrods via telephone. VIEW ROSE & COLLECTION HERE ~ VIEW ROSE'S STARDUST BEARS HERE

-=November 11, 2003=-
Let's remember true meaning of Veterans Day
It is hard to pinpoint exactly when Veterans Day turned into a shopping-sales day, a time for gimmicky ads and "extra special" bargains.
But it has.
As with Memorial Day, Labor Day, the Fourth of July - you name it - Veterans Day has lost the sense of remembrance, sorrow, joy and thanks it should have.
Remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives, sorrow that war continues to blight the planet, joy that democracy has prevailed, thanks to every person who has ever served with honor in the military.
Armistice Day, the forerunner of Veterans Day, was proclaimed in 1919 to commemorate the end (at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918) of World War I - the War to End All Wars. On the first anniversary of the truce, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation eulogizing fallen Allied soldiers and referring to Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. The holiday acquired its present name and broader significance in the U.S. in 1954.
The day was seen as a way to, "perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations."
Germany shattered that accord in igniting WWII, and the record since then has been sad.
That doesn't mean, however, that the day of observance can't be restored to its former significance.
If Americans and Iraqis and Iranians and Israelis and Palestinians - the world community - stood back and took stock of the fact mankind is joined by more similarities than it is sundered by differences, Veterans Day could again be more than a day to save big at the mall.
That, of course, is a utopian view of society, and world peace is not going to come in the blink of an eye.
It would be foolish to think that any day of commemoration will have the world uniting in a huge, global handshake.
But if we don't at least have the ideal, we are surely doomed to keep the dogs of war out of the kennel.
So let's all take a moment today to remember what Veterans Day really should be, to contemplate the "what if" rather than settle for the "what is."
And as with Memorial Day, let's also have a spot in our hearts for the veterans of years gone by and, especially, those who are becoming veterans today. VIEW STORY HERE

Veterans Day honors living, too
November 11, 2003
Veterans Day is not Memorial Day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs wants us to be clear on that point.

"Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military - in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service . . ." The emphasis is the VA's.

And indeed we should thank and honor our veterans, especially as the Iraq war underscores the spirit of service and sacrifice that infuses the American military. But each Veterans Day is also a national snapshot of generations. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

CHERISH NEWS FROM SUE OWEN
Sue writes: “I am thrilled to be able to tell you about another special Cure Ty Beanie that is currently on auction. Thanks to Heather Softley coordinating the project, Marie Leimas asked Ann to sign Cure and a CD of two of her songs: 'Wind beneath my wings' and 'Please don't be afraid'. Ann is a breast cancer survivor, having undergone a double mastectomy 18 years ago. She is a real inspiration to read about and has had a glittering career on stage and screen, including appearances with Bob Hope in USO shows for the US troops. Ann dedicated 'Wind beneath my wings' to the US troops.

Click here to view a web page about Ann Jillian

Cure and the CD are on auction until Sunday 16th November, in aid of Breast Cancer Research. Other items listed this week are on the 'Patriotism and Heroes' theme and include two more items of 'Boglin's Knitwear' - both UK and Australian Hero have been kitted out with military-style sweaters, complete with their country's flag.

All items (except for Cure) are being sold to raise money for Children's Cancer Research. Don't forget that the special Mohamed Al Fayed signed Stardust package with number 003 certificate is still on auction until Thursday!

Details can be found here: http://www.boglin.net/current_auctions.htm

Tuesday is Remembrance Day in UK, hence the poppies pictured with the auction items. The poppy is worn on Remembrance Day in memory of all the people who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars and other conflicts such as in the Falklands and the Gulf. The red poppies represent the poppies that were the first things to grow on the battlefields of Flanders after the end of the First World War where many thousands of soldiers lost their lives. At 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11th month we will fall silent and remember our troops who gave their lives for their country. These auctions pay homage to them and to those who continue to work for our freedom and world peace.

We had a great day at the Chester Show yesterday!

Around £1000 was raised from the various activities that we had on our stand. Many thanks go to Daphne Roberts (the show organiser) for her help and to Darren and David of Chubbley Ltd for coming along with their wives to help out and meet the Chubbley collectors who had come to buy the limited special edition Jingles Chubbley pair and the second tag edition of Sterling the Pound for Pound Bear. Darren was kept busy signing the tags for the collectors! Tickets were also sold for a draw with three sets of the new Chubbley Cuddleys as prizes.

Thanks go to Ty Europe for loaning their excellent Christmas Tree and donating the Jingle Beanies for the Ty Tombola. Dawn Wilson designed and made a beautiful pink Beanie chair, which we raffled with Cure.
A picture can be seen on www.boglin.net The chair is just wonderful and, I am sure, will be cherished by its new owner!

Finally, we had the seven main prizes for the Crackers for Christmas Draw on display and sold tickets for this fantastic draw, which takes place on December 14^th Click here for details:

http://www.boglin.net/crackers_for_christmas.htm Thanks for the long read! Best wishes, Sue Owen”

NEW CHUBBLEYS & CUDDLEYS ARRIVE
La Rue writes: “Kansas Brass & Pewter received shipment on the October Chubbleys and Cuddleys. All are on the webpage except the Cuddleys and they will be placed sometime tomorrow. The Cuddleys are something else; feel is so unusual--but those eyes. They are about 8" in height with vinyl-like pads. The hangtag states name as "Chubbley Cuddley". Their tummy button is also vinyl. Quite unusual. The Chubbley Brochure states, "Coming Soon! Two new additions to the Chubbley Family". I wonder what they will be! http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/cb.html “

-=November 9, 2003=-
Shopping for Holiday Gifts on the Internet a Stress-Free Option- But Be Careful
There is nothing like shopping in your pajamas -- or nude for that matter. In the privacy of your own home, of course, anything is possible when doing holiday shopping online. Crowds at the malls, screaming kids waiting to sit on Santa's lap and a crush of feisty senior citizens fighting you tooth and nail for the last Beanie Baby, is completely avoidable.

This year, 36 percent of shoppers plan to go online to buy gifts, a spokeswoman from the National Retail Federation says. Total Internet sales in 2002 were $96 billion, and the federation predicts even more growth for online retailers this year. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

-=November 8, 2003=-
I WONDER WHY (posted yesterday)
… AI the Japanese Exclusive bear didn’t retire with his other counterparts. Perhaps an error and AI was left behind?!

BIDDER COMMENTS
D in NC writes: “Bidder - http://www.ty.com/Bidder_intro - What an absolutely adorable bear!
Now for the gripes... All these credit card beanies are harder to get hold of or more expensive than country exclusives! And I totally understand why since a cardholder has to spend $5000 to get a beanie bear worth $7.00 retail! I'd probably be as lucky to get an M.C. Anniversary 1 or M.C. Anniversary 2 beanie as I would be to get Dusty (which won't happen unless someone wants to give me some serious cash to spend on beanies of all things)! But I just have one more gripe when it comes to all the credit card bears... What about those of us who had accounts with MBNA before the Ty MBNA card was introduced? I called when the Ty MBNA card was first introduced and MBNA would not allow me to switch over at the time because I held their AAA card and already had an established credit line with them since 1997.

Wish they'd let established PayPal account holders (those holding ANY type of account with PayPal and not just the debit/credit card holders) PURCHASE this bear, too (at a reasonable price)! Hope this one shows up on eBay soon... and hope it isn't outrageously priced! It's REALLY cute and I'd hate to miss it, but us single moms getting no child support can't afford such luxury beanies! D in NC”

WHERE DID DECADE GO?
While updating the checklists I noticed the only version left on the CURRENTS list was the newest Gold Decade. Another "silent" retirement!! Why is July 2003 STILL current? The 'COMPLETE BEANIE' checklist & 'BEARS ONLY' checklist are updated now. http://www.planetbeans.com/beanie_info.htm 

-=November 7, 2003=-
CHERISH AUCTION ~ (look at the amount this bear is already up to!!)
message from Sue: "The special Ty Stardust, exclusive to Harrods, which was signed for CHERISH by Mohamed Al Fayed in Harrods on the day of the bear's launch, is now on seven-day auction VIEW AUCTION HERE

This item comes with a whole host of desirable and collectable items:

1) Stardust first day of release certificate number 003 signed by Patricia Roche

2) Two advertising posters - one that was on display before the launch day and one that was on display on launch day

3) A unique photograph of Patricia Roche (head of Ty Europe Ltd) who signed the certificates for the first 500 bears sold; Mohamed Al Fayed (owner of Harrods) and Ty Warner, showing the Stardust in the hand of Mohamed Al Fayed and on the shoulder of Ty Warner, is included in the auction. The Ty Beanie Baby 'Cure' signed at the same time by Ty Warner is also shown in the photograph. Cure will appear on auction at a later date.

This has to be the most exciting Stardust yet listed on auction! As all proceeds will go, with Mr Al Fayed's blessing, to fund research into Children's Cancers (through Cancer Research UK), I would appreciate as much publicity as you are able to give the auction.

Many thanks and good luck to all who bid!

For those who feel that this may be out of their price range, there are other auctions currently running and new ones will start this Sunday including Cure signed by the wonderful and inspirational actress and singer Ann Jillian, a double mastectomy survivor. Many thanks to Marie Leimas for getting Cure and a CD signed by Ann for CHERISH and to Heather Softley for co-ordinating this project. Best wishes, Sue Owen"

ASK TY
Q: When you have a Beanie variation, is it on purpose all the time? (submitted by gotcha)
A: Some variations are planned, and others take me by surprise. Probably one of the most famous and unplanned variations is. . . dark blue Peanut !

Reader clicks: Flick Chick; Beanies for sale and more
"As for this crazy eBay listing, submitted by Carolyn B. Meier in Charlottesville, Va., she says "you have to read all the way to the bottom, where the guy finally just loses his cool." Who knew Beanie Babies could make a man so angry? VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Former business partner testifies in Beanie Baby case
Martin Bachler testified Thursday he played a crucial role in establishing Nancy McKenna's Beanie Baby sales business on the Internet and keeping it running.

So he was surprised when McKenna, who is on trial in Lake County Circuit Court on theft and fraud charges for not delivering items customers had paid for, told him she was broke.

"I could not believe it," Bachler said. "I knew she was making a large amount of money because of all the auctions she had sold."

However, prosecutors contend 200 to 300 winners of eBay auctions McKenna had posted offering Beanie Babies to the highest bidders never received their merchandise. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Feelings are mutual for soldier, students
The scene at Carroll Manor Elementary School Nov. 3 looked like a movie set. Two rows of students, dressed in red, white and blue, clutched American flags as they stood on their school's front steps on a balmy fall day, waiting for their hero to arrive.

A banner behind them read "Welcome to Carroll Manor, Sgt. Heacock, Our Hometown Hero." The sign was adorned with 27 stars, each bearing the name of a fourth-grader who had "adopted" Sgt. John Heacock last spring, when he was stationed in Iraq and Kuwait.

Heacock then handed out gifts - a small U.S. flag that was given to him when he arrived in Iraq for Gail Osmeyer. And for each student - "Operation Iraqi Freedom" magnets and a Beanie Baby in camoflague. The bear, named "Hero", had a tag that read, "We all pray when day is done that freedom comes to everyone." VIEW FULL STORY HERE

BIDDER IS INTRODUCED
Available now exclusively through the Ty and eBay credit card programs. http://www.ty.com/Bidder_intro <Another Bear I'll never own. LOL>

ASIA PACIFIC BEANIES RETIRE
So long to Aussiebear, Coreana, Kiwiana, Singabear, and Wirabear (I wonder why AI didn't retire with is counterparts!)
http://www.ty.com/Nov0703Ret 

-=November 6, 2003=-
MORE TY TRADEMARKS
Sly shares with Ms. Janie: "Well I found 2 more new Ty Trademarks today! Perplexing ones too! On October 20,2003 Ty applied to register a trademark on "Ratzo" That's Right! "Ratzo" and lists Plush toys as the good and services. Also on October 20,2003 Ty applied to register a trademark on "Party Girlz" and lists the goods and services as Plush toys and Dolls Hmmmm....Dolls? Never heard Ty use that term before in a trademark? Could Ty be branching out and creating a new "doll" Line?"

BEARON COMMENTS
Gwyn writes: "Hi Lisa! I think if Ty is in fact making a plain brown Bearon, or is planning to make the red version a Germany exclusive, that would be extremely silly -- given that "Graf von Rot" already means essentially the same thing! I would wager a lot of money that when you say "Red Baron" to an American, they immediately say "Snoopy," not "Manfred von Richthofen, World War I combat aviator for Germany." The brown version seems really pointless -- if he wants to celebrate aviation, why not name a pair of bears "Orville" and "Wilbur"? (Unless Celebrity Bears has already done that.) A red Bearon would be an exceptionally clever marketing move, by contrast, since the Red Baron was never actually pictured in the comic strip and so cannot be produced as a licensed Peanuts beanbag or plush. So if you're not a Peanuts fan, it's still clever, and if you are, and your stuffed Snoopy has been itching for a rematch... well, there you go. Your long-winded but passionate correspondent, Gwyn :)"

MUKLUK’S RAREST VARIATION
Terri writes: "Hello, Went to my local Ty retailer yesterday and was told that out of a bag of 12 Mukluk only two have the different eyes. I would assume that this version will be the harder to find. Have a wonderful day!!!"

BBOC ORDER PROBLEMS
Frustrated in Fairfax writes: “Hi Lisa, I received my BBOC items today, but with the address garbled, and two of three Clubbys missing! I reordered, and they said they would credit me for the Clubby bear order, and put in a replacement order WITH MY NAME ON THE LABEL, which would certainly help! They are charging me no shipping on the replacement order. All four Decade Jingles were there, and the purple Clubby IV was there, but the blue and rainbow Clubby IVs were missing.”

NOVEMBER BEANIE PICS
Marilyn shares with Ms. Janie: http://www.msjanie.com/2003_Photos/Marilyn_November_Releases_2003.html

-=November 5, 2003=-
Those eBay Beanie Babies buy 'Drunken Sailor' a beer
For The Drunken Sailor, a rant about Beanie Babies on eBay has led to more than his allotted 15 minutes of fame.

So far, at least 15,000 sympathetic e-mails have poured in, an Internet store is selling everything from Drunken Sailor coffee mugs to thongs, and about 300 supporters have bought him beers.

All the while, the successful bidder for the Beanie Babies is demanding her money back -- or else.

The Drunken Sailor, the eBay screen name for Steven Kaye of South Florida, first entered the public eye in September, when he listed a box of Beanie Babies for auction, beginning at $10. His ex-wife left the box behind, he said, when she took her 1,000 or so other Beanies with her.