Dear Santa-

 

I hope all is going well with you, the missus, and all your helpers up at the North Pole. I know that December is quite hectic for everyone at the N. Pole, but I hope that it is going smoothly as you get everything ready for those on your “Nice List.”

 

Speaking of that “Nice” list, fingers crossed that we grace its pages once again this year… I like to think that we acted kindly and respectfully to all those around us. When you arrive at NH State Parks Sherman Adams Building (where MWO leases its space), you will find a similar layout to last year. If you are having trouble remembering, your scout, the Elf on the Shelf, has been creeping on us and can give you a preliminary report and guide you to your milk and the freshly baked cookies for a quick in and out.

 

Like we have in years prior, we have snail-mailed the list to you last week, set up the digital list below today, and we have set up a WISHLIST on Amazon to consolidate it all at one page and add last-minute items to.

 

So, if it is not too much trouble; could you get us one or more of the following?

 

1. Office Supplies – We work like an office, so anything you can send that will cut costs for us is great: mechanical pencils, lead refills (0.5 or 0.7mm), erasers, pens, multi-colored sharpies, dry erase markers, average or small post-it notes, printer paper, etc.

 

2. Batteries – Preferably AAA, AA, or CR123 Lithium as our headlamps, flashlights, and rescue/research equipment use these. Or a few 9V’s as our smoke/CO detectors use these annually.

 

3. Humidifier – I know the summit is in the fog over 60% of the year but when a parcel of air is warmed, it’s RH drops and that can sometimes mean that while the outdoors is 100% RH, the indoors in winter can be anywhere between 5-20%. Our upstairs (weather room) humidifier is making an odd noise, so we’ll likely be in need of a large room humidifier soon.

 

4. Shovels – while I prefer steel, aluminum, or poly-types are also welcome as all will better assist us in keeping our fire exits and areas around our instruments clear.

 

5. Video on Demand gift card – Since we don’t have cable, satellite, etc up here, we use Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ for video on demand which provides us occasional entertainment for an hour or two in the evening to unwind.

 

6. Candles – Preferably the soy-based, large jar type or tumblers like the ones from Soyfire for example. They liven up our living quarters and make it feel more like home.

 

7. Coffee – Since we observe the weather 24/7/365, we like to stay caffeinated. While we typically brew pots of Coffee we occasionally will pop in a K-cup for the one-off cup as well.

 

8. Flour – a few of us like to bake bread in our downtime, so some Rye flour or other unique baking flours would be much appreciated (since good flour is hard to come by still)

 

9. Candy and gum – Since I know you eat a lot of cookies and sweets, I know you can relate. Can we ever really have enough?

 

10. Surprise us yet again! – Sometimes the coolest gifts are the ones you didn’t think you needed.

 

Santa, while I have, if you are still looking for gifts for other individuals on your list (while supporting us too), a few ideas for you to consider are:

 

1. Gift Donations – This will help lighten your bag of toys and help us out in our bold step forward in the coming years.

 

2. Observatory Memberships – Not for the Observers, but for other well behaved boys and girls on your list around the world. Since we are membership-supported, these gifts would be the gifts that keep giving over the year.

 

3. Shopping for Mt Washington items, weather instruments, calendars, books, pictures, etc – Not for us, but if you could purchase some from our online shop, it gives individuals on your list great items or wall decor while providing us some financial support (two birds, one stone).

 

4. EMS gear or Oboz Footwear – Again, not for us as they have provided us with everything we need to stay warm and dry up here. This is a recommendation for if you plan on using outdoor clothing/boots/gear for gifts for others on your list.

 

5. If you shop Amazon during the holidays (or the rest of the year), you can use AmazonSmile online or in your smart-device app. You get the item you want at no extra cost and in return, The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases towards MWO. If signing up or switching between groups, search for and select “Mount Washington Observatory” then make sure to use smile.amazon.com any time you make a purchase to support your favorite charity. Learn more HERE

 

That’s about it Santa. Remember that we don’t mind second-hand items so long as they are in good, clean, and usable condition. This helps out the environment and extends the life on perfectly usable stuff. We are really not picky and are just thankful for anything. Also, if you want a particular type of cookie and drink, like last year, you can post/DM your preferences on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.

 

As usual, we will ensure that we have everything in order for your arrival: a clear deck and path to the door, well-greased doors (so we can’t hear you coming/going), deiced stairs, clean living quarters, decorated Christmas tree, and a full plate of cookies next to a glass of milk/nog/soy. And we will keep you posted on the forecast leading up to and on the night of your arrival. Safe travels and we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks.

 

 

Thank you and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays –