I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

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JBillyGirl
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I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

#1 Post by JBillyGirl » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:27 pm

My jaw hit the floor on Saturday morning when I got a call telling me I had won a "Name the Kiwi Contest" that I entered through a sweepstakes website. (It was sponsored by a travel agency.) The prize: a 5-night trip for two to Rotorua, New Zealand, including a visit to Kiwi Encounter, a conservation center for kiwi birds. I've never even been across the Pacific or to the Southern Hemisphere, so this should be great!

I entered because I enjoy naming contests, but I've never won one and never expected to win this. Now I've sent off the liability/publicity release, and my (abbreviated) name is up on their website, and it's still all sinking in. In fact, it's hard to think about anything else. I've never won a trip before, and this one comes with a great story to boot! (Could this be my new audition "hook"?)

Oh, and the name I picked? "Jackson" -- in honor of the beloved New Zealand director Peter Jackson. ("Peter" would also be a cute name for a kiwi, but "Jackson" seemed a bit more distinctive.) It just seemed right to name a kiwi after a Kiwi! Little Jackson was born over the weekend, and they'll take pictures when he/she is 7 days old, which I'll post here if I can.

In fact, I may take one of the pics and turn it into my avatar -- once I figure out how to make one of those! :D
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TheCalvinator24
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#2 Post by TheCalvinator24 » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:29 pm

I think you should take your long lost twin brother.

:D
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#3 Post by TheCalvinator24 » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:30 pm

Oh, and congratulations!!!

I am jealous.
It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. —Albus Dumbledore
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#4 Post by Shade » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:31 pm

Congratulations! :)
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Bob Juch
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Re: I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

#5 Post by Bob Juch » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:44 pm

JBillyGirl wrote:My jaw hit the floor on Saturday morning when I got a call telling me I had won a "Name the Kiwi Contest" that I entered through a sweepstakes website. (It was sponsored by a travel agency.) The prize: a 5-night trip for two to Rotorua, New Zealand, including a visit to Kiwi Encounter, a conservation center for kiwi birds. I've never even been across the Pacific or to the Southern Hemisphere, so this should be great!

I entered because I enjoy naming contests, but I've never won one and never expected to win this. Now I've sent off the liability/publicity release, and my (abbreviated) name is up on their website, and it's still all sinking in. In fact, it's hard to think about anything else. I've never won a trip before, and this one comes with a great story to boot! (Could this be my new audition "hook"?)

Oh, and the name I picked? "Jackson" -- in honor of the beloved New Zealand director Peter Jackson. ("Peter" would also be a cute name for a kiwi, but "Jackson" seemed a bit more distinctive.) It just seemed right to name a kiwi after a Kiwi! Little Jackson was born over the weekend, and they'll take pictures when he/she is 7 days old, which I'll post here if I can.

In fact, I may take one of the pics and turn it into my avatar -- once I figure out how to make one of those! :D
Congratuations! However.... Have you figured out your taxes?
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Ritterskoop
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#6 Post by Ritterskoop » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:47 pm

Way cool!

Kiwi is a fun word.
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Re: I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

#7 Post by tanstaafl2 » Tue Oct 16, 2007 8:57 pm

JBillyGirl wrote:My jaw hit the floor on Saturday morning when I got a call telling me I had won a "Name the Kiwi Contest" that I entered through a sweepstakes website. (It was sponsored by a travel agency.) The prize: a 5-night trip for two to Rotorua, New Zealand, including a visit to Kiwi Encounter, a conservation center for kiwi birds. I've never even been across the Pacific or to the Southern Hemisphere, so this should be great!

I entered because I enjoy naming contests, but I've never won one and never expected to win this. Now I've sent off the liability/publicity release, and my (abbreviated) name is up on their website, and it's still all sinking in. In fact, it's hard to think about anything else. I've never won a trip before, and this one comes with a great story to boot! (Could this be my new audition "hook"?)

Oh, and the name I picked? "Jackson" -- in honor of the beloved New Zealand director Peter Jackson. ("Peter" would also be a cute name for a kiwi, but "Jackson" seemed a bit more distinctive.) It just seemed right to name a kiwi after a Kiwi! Little Jackson was born over the weekend, and they'll take pictures when he/she is 7 days old, which I'll post here if I can.

In fact, I may take one of the pics and turn it into my avatar -- once I figure out how to make one of those! :D
Hope you have a great time on the trip but you might want to see if there is anyway to extend the stay. You will barely be over the jet lag by the time you have to turn around and come back.
If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.
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Ritterskoop
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#8 Post by Ritterskoop » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:02 pm

Of animals named Jackson, from roomie:



Dog Survives Fire by Jumping in Tub, Breathing Through Drain


FARMINGVILLE, N.Y. (AP) -- You might think this big shaggy Newfoundland dog, named Jackson, read the firefighter's survival manual. The dog did everything right when a fire destroyed its Farmingville, Long Island home on Monday.

Firefighters say they found Jackson in the bathtub with his nose pressed against the drain getting fresh air.

The dog's owner, Debbie Credidio, said that Jackson likes to lie in the bathroom to escape the heat. Going to his favorite spot may have saved the 3-year-old Newfoundland's life.

Firefighters Vince Egbert and Edgar Trejo pulled aside a shower curtain and found the dog "actually sucking air out of the drainpipe, which is an old-school thing that a fireman would do.''

Egbert said the 130-pound dog was trapped by intense heat for 40 minutes. "For a dog to make it through something like that was amazing,'' he said.

Jackson was unharmed, as was Credidio's 74-year-old mother, Marcia Kaye, who escaped the blaze that all but destroyed the home. The cause is being investigated.
Last edited by Ritterskoop on Tue Oct 16, 2007 10:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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BackInTex
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#9 Post by BackInTex » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:03 pm

Congratulations!

I'm happy for you. :D
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JBillyGirl
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Re: I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

#10 Post by JBillyGirl » Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:10 pm

Bob Juch wrote:Congratuations! However.... Have you figured out your taxes?
I've asked the travel agency about the ARV for the package, and she said about $3,000. The only things included are airfare for two, 5 nights in a hotel, and the tickets to the Kiwi Encounter.

Other expenses are mine, so it will be an expensive trip, which is one reason why I'm planning to take my parents, who are very psyched, and who could help me with expenses in ways I could not ask a friend to do. However, I don't think taxes will be that big a deal.
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#11 Post by hermillion » Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:03 pm

What a great story!

Have a fantastic time, take lots of pics, and tell us all about it when you get back.

Be sure to get a photo of Jackson!
"If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant a tree; if in terms of a hundred years, teach the people." - Confucious

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#12 Post by takinover » Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:10 pm

Congrats, I entered the same contest, but I forgot what name I entered.
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#13 Post by cindy.wellman » Wed Oct 17, 2007 12:40 am

Congratulations! Please take lots of pictures so you can share them when you return. Wow, I can't even imagine the number of people you must have beat to win this. Nice.

Cindy
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Re: I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

#14 Post by earendel » Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:37 am

JBillyGirl wrote:My jaw hit the floor on Saturday morning when I got a call telling me I had won a "Name the Kiwi Contest" that I entered through a sweepstakes website. (It was sponsored by a travel agency.) The prize: a 5-night trip for two to Rotorua, New Zealand, including a visit to Kiwi Encounter, a conservation center for kiwi birds. I've never even been across the Pacific or to the Southern Hemisphere, so this should be great!

I entered because I enjoy naming contests, but I've never won one and never expected to win this. Now I've sent off the liability/publicity release, and my (abbreviated) name is up on their website, and it's still all sinking in. In fact, it's hard to think about anything else. I've never won a trip before, and this one comes with a great story to boot! (Could this be my new audition "hook"?)

Oh, and the name I picked? "Jackson" -- in honor of the beloved New Zealand director Peter Jackson. ("Peter" would also be a cute name for a kiwi, but "Jackson" seemed a bit more distinctive.) It just seemed right to name a kiwi after a Kiwi! Little Jackson was born over the weekend, and they'll take pictures when he/she is 7 days old, which I'll post here if I can.

In fact, I may take one of the pics and turn it into my avatar -- once I figure out how to make one of those! :D
Fantastic news!!! I yearn for a trip Down Under to see the locations where LOTR was filmed. Enjoy your stay, take lots of pictures.
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Re: I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

#15 Post by MarleysGh0st » Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:31 am

Wow! Congratulations!
tanstaafl2 wrote: Hope you have a great time on the trip but you might want to see if there is anyway to extend the stay. You will barely be over the jet lag by the time you have to turn around and come back.
That's my thought, too; New Zealand is an awfully long flight for a five day visit. Even though this isn't an all-inclusive package and the added expenses would be out of your own pocket, take advantage of the opportunity.

When will you ever be in New Zealand, again? :D
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#16 Post by andrewjackson » Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:51 am

Jackson is an excellent name for kiwis, dogs, small boys, almost anyone. :D
No matter where you go, there you are.
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#17 Post by minimetoo26 » Wed Oct 17, 2007 6:56 am

Jet lag, schmet lag! How about a new contest--find a person willing to go to NZ with JBG regardless of the jet lag.

I'll enter in a heartbeat!

I hope you find a picture of Jackson--I bet baby kiwis are fuzzy and adorable!
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#18 Post by geoffil » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:02 am

Congrats! How many wins does this make for you? You and Rob are both so lucky at contests! Have a great time.
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#19 Post by nitrah55 » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:25 am

Congratulations. Look for Hobbits.
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#20 Post by a1mamacat » Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:47 am

:o


WOW!

Congrats
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Re: I named a kiwi and won a trip to New Zealand!

#21 Post by marrymeflyfree » Wed Oct 17, 2007 8:42 am

Mega congrats! And how clever...to name a kiwi, you named a kiwi. :D I love it.

In your honor, here is my mid-morning snack - photographed less than 2 minutes ago.

Image
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#22 Post by peacock2121 » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:48 am

What great luck!

I have been to Australia a few times. My advice - live on their time for at least 4 days before. Take time off, change your life and get black out curtains, whatever you need to do to change your body clock before you go. Missing one second of such a great trip because your body clock is messed up is unexceptable. Falling alseep at 5:00PM and being wide awake at 2:00AM is such a waste.

The trip from here was 24 hours from my door to the hotel lobby. Do everything they all say about hydrating and walking on the plane.

How cool is this!
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#23 Post by tlynn78 » Wed Oct 17, 2007 9:52 am

Sweet!

Image


enjoy!

t.
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#24 Post by ladysoleil » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:16 am

That's awesome! Congrats.

Jackson is a cute name for a kiwi. We need pics!
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#25 Post by PlacentiaSoccerMom » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:38 am

Congratulations!
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