The attacks of 9-11 have made many of us rethink our lives! Materialistic items are no longer as important as family and friends have taken center stage. Sometimes we lose our focus on life and now it would appear that the whole country stands united as one!

Ty became directly involved with the attacks of 9-11 with their release of Rescue and Courage. America the current most sought after Beanie has also topped many of our wish list! Although Beanies have become a staple item in many homes across the globe, their popularity has spun mixed emotions with collectors and webmasters.

While this hobby is suppose to be fun and stimulating there have been a few occasions where it has become very competitive and down right frustrating!
While my main focus is to continue to enjoy this hobby and give collectors a site to educate them it still remains competitive. I often times remind myself that I'm here for the collectors and nothing else matters. I have a great group of readers full of loyalty and support. They stimulate me with their news and personal notes and this helps to keep me focused! I have made friends with many webmasters and acknowledge that their sites are always well thought -out and interesting. Contrary to popular belief, NOT one site has it all, not even Ty! There is a need for many sites to share news and opinions of others. News either comes from different countries or readers often share something that one of us may have missed or not had the privilege of being passed along. I always encourage my readers to visit other sites by sharing links to give them a more rounded approach to this hobby.

Internet collectors are more quickly informed. Many times this can be a bonus but it is often times difficult to sift through news and determine what is accurate. It's kinda like the old Memorex commercial, "is it live or is it Memorex?" Beanie related news could be compared to a small fire that engulfs a forest within a matter of minutes! In other words, news spread fast and many times the accuracy is distorted. Although rumors can be exhilarating they can also exhaust your efforts in trying to determine if they are factual. My opinion on rumors is, take them like a grain of salt. Shake a little to the left, a little to the right and gobble them up. Don't allow them to consume your thoughts as they may or may not pan out!

New ventures are not always the best way to pave the road! Sometimes a cobbled road that is worn and torn leads us in the best direction. Examples - classic faced teddies compared to pooh style, older styled Beanies with cute faces, which we have all come to love and admire, compared to newer releases which some are not too fond of. While many agree this hobby needs a boast I caution others to be careful! Go back to the drawing board and stick with what has worked in the past. Don't be over zealous in trying to capture our attention. Sometimes trying to pull out all the stops sends the wrong signal! It could send a confusing message that could backfire and make the hobby appear to be weak! While many of us expect and welcome change there are a few that wish to travel the same road over and over time and time again. Pick your path wisely, take it in a direction most traveled and remember how and where success came from!

In my opinion Beanies can be related to a good movie! One that allows you to run through a slew of emotions with a superior ending. Now the problem lies in how to classify this hobby as a movie title. While some would call it a horror others could refer to it as a drama. Of course we can not leave out the Sci-fi lovers and oh while we are at it, how about the suspense title as well. Here's how I view this hobby in comparison to an all time GREAT movie! While leaving you on the edge of your seat it offers you a love story, drama, horror, suspense and Sci-fi all round into one!
The love comes from our desire to collect these adorable beanbags manufactured by Ty. The drama is played out by Ty's mysteriousness. The horror is a result of the retirement of the whole Beanie line, which would later be resended with a new line. The suspense is an everyday occurrence not knowing what Ty may be up too next! And last but not least the Sci-fi version is wondering if Ty is alien or human? If we start to spot green pellets in place of the white ones this may be our clue. By the way Ty, if you are reading this I'm just kidding!

In all seriousness I would like to close by saying the following.

In these very difficult and challenging times, I wish my on line friends good health and happiness during this holiday season and throughout the coming year!
While I am indeed a true American and proud to be called so, I will never forget the cherished friendships I have established with many from the UK, Japan, Germany, Canada and Australia.

While some groups wish to harm us many more like ourselves stand united and admire us for our leadership, strength, moral and courage.
We are no longer considered separate countries but instead viewed as world leaders with resolve! We have come united to protect the freedoms of our homeland.
We truly are the luckiest people on earth!
God Bless America and God bless all of you,
Merry Christmas
Ms. Janie