OPERATIONGIFT.COM

Father's Day Gift Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (OpticsPlanet) — Tue, 27 May 2008 23:27:00 +0000

Father's Day is just around the corner and we're getting lots of pleas for help in choosing the best gift for Dad this year. As always, Operation:Gift is here to help out in choosing the perfect gift for that special someone.

Dad won't admit his back problems or do anything about it, but you can for him. Get him a Human Touch massage chair. It’s sleek construction and high tech gadgetry will impress your Dad. Perfect for lounging in front of the TV. Dad will love it.

Bushnell 8x32 Hemisphere Binoculars - Binoculars are an essential tool for a Dad or a Grandpa. He’ll be able to see things up close much better. These particular binoculars are compact and lightweight. Perfect for carrying around on little expeditions with the grandson in the family.

ATN Autopark 2000 Backup Safety Car Parking System - If Dad is advancing in years and starting to ding up things on his property, but is too proud to admit it, get him the back-up system to help guide him as he backs up. His garage door will thank you.

Serengeti Aviator Sunglasses - Any Dad will look cool in a sharp pair of Serengeti Aviator sunglasses. Every little boy dreams of looking like a pilot. With the Serengeti Aviator sunglasses your Dad can look cool, even if it's for a trip down to the drugstore.

Bushnell Master 60" Tripod - If Dad is a shutterbug or a bird watcher, he's going to need a good tripod. The Bushnell Master Tripod is perfect for multiple types of uses and features sturdy, quality construction that is built to last.

Bushnell Night Vision Monocular - If your Dad is curious about things that may be moving through his property at night, the Bushnell Night vision monocular is a great tool. He can quickly see what critters are crawling across his property without unloading a large amount of money for more advanced night vision equipment.

Bushnell 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Compact Goto Northstar Telescope - Your Dad can be the coolest Grandpa around with a telescope that can direct itself to any object in the sky. He'll be able to awe the kids and impress other relatives with it's quality optics and cool gadgetry.

Pelican VB3 LED Flash Light - A good flashlight is a necessity in any Dad's tool arsenal. Pelican flashlights are made to the same standards of construction as their famous Pelican Dry Boxes. This flashlight is perfect for clipping in hard to reach places. A Pelican flashlight is a commitment and your Dad will definitely appreciate that.

The Ultimate Massage Chair for Mom

noreply@blogger.com (OpticsPlanet) — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:48:00 +0000

This Mother's Day, be the best son or daughter in the world by giving your mother a Human Touch massage chair.

If your mother is advancing in years, chances are she's starting to have her back trouble her. Help your mom get some relief from the stresses of aging by getting her a Human Touch Massage Chair. This stylish massage chair will look great in any living room and provide your mother with the relief that she needs.

Human Touch makes massage chairs have been designed by the best American engineers and manufactured with the coolest space age materials. This chair is built to last. Kind of like your mother.

In addition to the Human Touch Massage Chair, we also stock a full line of other great Human Touch products such as the iJoy line of massage chairs, foot massagers and handheld massagers. Check out this informative Mother's Day Gift Guide for help in choosing the best Human Touch Massage product for good 'ol Mom. And Dad will love these products too!

Tech Gifts for Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (OpticsPlanet) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:32:00 +0000

Now is a time of panic for the tech savvy sons of the world out there. What do you get your Mom for Mother's Day? You don't know anything about candles and can never seem to pick the right card. Well, we’ve been getting many questions lately about the best gifts for Mother's day and it's time for me to help out. Mother’s day is around the corner and we have lots of great gift ideas for Mom this year. Most people wouldn’t think to get Mom a tech gift or optic gift but Mom’s love useful gadgets just as much as Dad’s do.

Besides, it’s always a great idea to get Mom something she wasn’t expecting. Everyone does flowers and brunch. Be a little bolder this year. Your mother deserves it.

Is your Mom a bit of a nosy Nelly? Well, then she’ll love the Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42 Waterproof Binoculars. They’re a great multi-purpose set of binoculars suited for birding, astronomy, hunting and spying. Nikon’s high quality optics ensure the most optimal image quality. Is also has Nikon’s well known durability that’s built to last.

Believe it or not, we sell a lot of riflescopes to women. Many people don’t think that women like to hunt, but our research has shown that they do and they appreciate high quality hunting optics. I have a female cousin that loves to go up to Canada and hunt bear.The Leupold VX-II 3-9x33mm Rimfire EFR Matte Rifle Scope is the perfect scope for Mom’s out there who like to hunt. It’s great for many applications such as woods hunting, varmint hunting and grandkid hunting.

If Mom likes to golf, then she’ll definitely need the Nikon LR800 Rangefinder. It's compact and features great Nikon optics. It’s perfect for those nice warm days out on the golfing green.

Mom hasn’t joined the Digital Camera revolution yet? Then the Nikon CoolPix Hunting Camera System is perfect for her, even if she doesn’t hunt. The Nikon Coolpix L15 is a great point and shoot camera that features 8mp of image quality, perfect for blown up pictures of the grandkids. The package comes with a useful protective Pelican case as well as a Gorillapod tripod for when you want to set up for family photos.

Put a stop to your Mom always asking for directions or getting lost. I recommend the Garmin Nuvi 350 Car Navigation system. It’s easy to install and even easier to use so your mom doesn’t get lost again.

If your Mom is advancing in years, she may be starting to have back problems. To help her feel a little better and ease the pain, I recommend the Human touch back massager. It’s sure to help with things and will make you look like a very thoughtful son. It's cheaper than buying her a spa day.

Most kids have a huge interest in the stars and galaxies that populate the skies above us. The Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium Handheld GPS Sky Guide will turn Grandma into an instant expert. The Celestron Skyscout will tell her what anything in the sky is by just pointing at it. It’s also filled with tons of fact about the major objects in the sky.

I don’t know about you, but my garage door and the front bumper of my car have had a few run ins with my Mom’s car when she’s come to visit. I highly recommend the ATN Autopark 2000 Backup Safety Car Parking System. It will keep her from the embarrassment of running into anything again. Heck, get her two, one for the front and one for the back just to be safe!

Best Easter Gifts for Boys

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:22:00 +0000

So, what do boys want for Easter that OpticsPlanet sells? You’d be surprised. This year, science and outdoors activities are becoming increasingly popular. A lot of kids are asking for microscopes, telescopes, binoculars and digital cameras.

The best Easter gift that OpticsPlanet has for the budding geologist is the Meade 28 Piece Children’s Microscope Kit. It’s a great and inexpensive way to encourage your child’s interest in science without having to invest too much money.

As far as a telescope for the budding astronomer, your best bet is the Bushnell 3” Reflector. It’s the best entry level telescope and is available in a variety of kits to help an interested child get started with stargazing.

For the budding bird watcher, I recommend the Tasco 8x21 Specialty Binoculars. They’re inexpensive and they're a very boyish blue color. The ultimate boy gift. Perfect for bird watching and adventures with friends.

For the next Pulitzer Prize winning photographer in your brood, I recommend the Nikon Compact Cool Pix L15 8MP Digital Camera. Our special set comes with a Pelican hard case that will help your son to take good care of the camera as well as a Gorillapod Tripod that can be put almost anywhere. Best of all, he or she can put cool hunting camouflage decals on the camera that are included in the package. It's also inexpensive so you don't have to get too angry if he loses or breaks it.

Check back soon for a guide on choosing the best Easter gift for a girl.

Meeting the Easter Bunny

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:07:00 +0000

I had to drive four hours to the middle of no where to meet the Easter Bunny in his burrow. I was shocked at how nice his burrow was. I was expecting a dirt hole in the ground, but it was practically a McMansion. More Hobbiton than dirt hole.

We had a very fruitful meeting. We laid out our plans for Easter. The Easter Bunny is so happy to finally have someone helping him out with logistics and gift selection help.

So, what exactly will I be doing for the Easter Bunny?

I'll be helping parents choose the best gifts for Easter for their kids. Such as the best products to fit into an Easter Basket, the best products to educate instead of fatten and the best products to ensure you have fantastic Easter!

I'll also be helping the Easter Bunny out with logistics the same way I helped out Santa Claus last Christmas. OpticsPlanet will become a distribution point for the Easter Bunny to ensure he gets the most baskets to the most kids on Easter Sunday.

Check back soon for the Best Gifts for Easter for boys and the Best Gifts for Easter for girls.

Cupid's Gratitude

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:05:00 +0000

I heard back from Cupid today, he was very grateful for my help and said that Valentine's Day went off without a hitch. He said there were many happy couples thanks to my assistance. I'm glad to be of help and I hope I get the chance to help him out next year.

I've heard through the corporate pipeline that the Easter Bunny has submitted a proposal to work with us for Easter this year. Check back soon for the latest Easter Related news.

Happy Valentine's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:48:00 +0000

Cupid and I hope all of you out there have a safe and romantic Valentine's Day!

Brief History of Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:13:00 +0000

By this point before Valentine's Day, many men are shaking their heads, wondering: who came up with ridiculous holiday that seems to only exist to make us look bad? Believe it or not, Valentine's Day has a long and rather interesting history.

Did You Know That:

There are actually 11 St. Valentine's? But the actual Valentine's Day is based on the martyrs Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni.

Valentine's Day has its roots in ancient February fertility festivals that can trace their history back to the Greco-Roman era.

The first time Valentine's Day was mentioned in print with romantic associations was in 1382 in a work by the English author Geoffrey Chaucer called Parlement of Foules.

The modern commercialization of Valentine's Day can be traced to 1840's America when Esther Howland, a daughter of a prominent stationer, began to produce Valentine's Greeting Cards. This proves that Valentine's Day may actually be a conspiracy against men spearheaded by the Greeting Card Companies.

Valentine's Day is celebrated all over the world and most cultures have a similarly related holiday to do with Love and Romance. Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia have declared war on Valentine's Day. Just this year, the religious police in Saudi Arabia banned the sale of all Valentine's Day related merchandise because it's 'un-Islamic.' According to the venerable BBC, this has created a black market for Valentine's Day Related Merchandise.

How did Cupid get associated with Valentine's Day? Well, Cupid happens to be the Roman God of Love and Sex. Because of this, he has been popularly associated with Valentine's Day as a naked person who flies around shooting people with love arrows.

I've met Cupid, and let me assure you; he wears clothes.

Best Valentine's Day Gift for Her

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:08:00 +0000

I'm back at Cupid's behest to help out all you clueless guys out there for some last minute, thoughtful Valentine's Day Gifts. You don't have to settle for getting her the usual bouquet of flowers again.

If your girl has foot problems and your sick of having to rub them all the time, then check out the Human Touch WarmAir Foot Massager. It's designed to fit the human foot perfectly and uses heated air to aid in massage comfort. Human Touch uses the latest in scientific technology to design their products, so you can rest easy knowing your girl will get a great massage.

Did your girl lose her stylish sunglasses again? If you want your girl to look like a movie star again without breaking the pocketbook, check out the Bolle Envy Sunglasses. They're available in several color and lens combinations so you can get the perfect match for your girl.

It's unavoidable... she's going to drag you to the opera one of these days. Get her the Barska 3x25 Blue Line Opera Glass Theater Binoculars and she'll be too enthralled with the performance to notice you nodding off.

If you're girl is a nature lover or a consummate birder then she'll love the Bushnell Hemisphere 8x32 mm Fully Coated Binoculars. They're perfect for weekend nature expeditions to check out the birds. Spring is coming soon and the birds will be back quicker than you think.

Say good-bye to feeling like a backrub slave. You're girl will love the Human Touch AcuVibe Softouch Cordless Massager. She'll easily be able to massage her whole body using a scientifically designed massager developed by Human Touch, the industry's best manufacturer of massage related products.

Check beck next week for some romantic things to do for Valentine's Day and some history on Cupid.

Best Valentine's Day Gifts For Him

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:12:00 +0000

Cupid has asked me to put together a gift list for all you wayward girls out there having trouble deciding the best gift to get your guy. So, I'm here to help with the Best Valentine's Day Gifts for Men.

If you want your guy to look cool, I recommend the Serengeti Aviator Sunglasses. Any man looks good in this old classic and they are on special right now for Valentine's Day.

If your guys needs a new digital camera that's also portable and can be used on a hunting trip, check out the Nikon CoolPix Hunting Camera System. It's a package that includes an 8MP Nikon Camera, Gorillapod Tripod, Pelican Dry Box and cool camouflage decals. A great gift for guys to take on their hunting trips so they can take pictures of their catches.

If your guy is interested in getting started with Astronomy as a hobby, then I recommend the Meade mySky Personal Sky Exploration Guide. It's a fun and easy way to learn about anything in the night sky. It's a GPS Starfinder with built-in informative videos and facts about various astronomical bodies. Just point it anywhere in the sky and you can find out everything you need to know.

If your guy is an active sports player, consider getting him the Bushnell Speedster II Radar Gun. With the Bushnell Speedster II he can find the speed on any moving object. He can find out the speed of a baseball pitch, golf swing, the speed of a car and much much more.

If your guy is an avid golfer I recommend the Bushnell Pinseeker 1500 Laser Golf Rangefinder. He can find out the distance of his swings as well as the distance to the next hole. It makes the game of Golf go so much smoother.

Stay Tuned for the Best Valentine's Day Gifts for Her.

Cupid Calls

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:16:00 +0000

Well, folks, I’m back . Cupid has sent out the call for help and I’m here to help out anyway I can. My role won’t be as involved as my trip to the North Pole. After all, Cupid doesn’t really have a headquarters that requires logistical consultations for worldwide gift deliveries.

Instead, I’ll be providing off-site support to help him get out the Valentine’s day message and show wayward lovers the path towards a perfect Valentine’s Day.

I’ve had a few conference calls with Cupid to strategize our plan. He’s coming to town in a few days to meet with me personally. It should be fun an exciting to work with such a mysterious and enigmatic individual.

The Big Night

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 19:51:00 +0000

Well, all our work has come to this one night. Christmas Eve. Santa is rested up and ready to go. The assembly lines have shut down, all the toys are ready to go. The elves are kicking back and relaxing after working feverishly the last few months. The reindeer are harnessed to the sleigh.

I’ve gotten bundled up in my thick winter coat as well as donning some special elf-made clothes that are guaranteed to keep me extra warm. I’ve packed my bags. Tidied up my room and I’m ready to go. I cannot wait to get back to my wife. I cannot wait to ride in the sleigh!

We’ll be making a direct flight to Chicago. Thanks to the services OpticsPlanet is providing, he can fill up his sleigh there with a wide array of telescopes, microscopes, and binoculars and much, much more. Once he drops me off, that’s it. My journey to the North Pole will be over and I’ll be home. I hope they invite me back next year.

As for me and this blog, check back in a few weeks. Rumor has it that Cupid is looking for some help this Valentine's Day.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

5 Days To Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:08:00 +0000

The Elves haven’t slept in days. They're working feverishly to get everything ready to go on the Big Night and ensure no kid is disappointed. It’s quite admirable, really, how dedicated they are.

Of course, they drink copious amounts of caffeinated hot cocoa to help keep the assembly lines moving. Personally, I can’t stand the stuff. It makes me gag. But they’ve been drinking it for quite a bit longer than I have.

They’ve gone pretty easy on me. Most of my major tasks are done and I’ve been trying to help out as much as I can. But mostly I’ve just been the big human getting in the way.

The list is finalized. Now, don’t go overboard and start doing bad things to your siblings or fellow man (or small animals!). Santa says that even if he finds out after the fact that you’ve been bad, you’ll find your gift disappearing in a couple weeks time. So, can’t say I didn’t warn you.

I’m not only counting down the days until Christmas, I’m counting down the days to see my lovely wife. I can’t wait! I wonder what she got me for Christmas...

1 Week to Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:24:00 +0000

There’s a week to go until Christmas Eve and things are working at fever pitch up here at the North Pole.

Everyone is focused on one thing: getting Santa ready for the Big Night.

The Elves are feverishly preparing all the toys that haven’t been outsourced to other locations. The administrative Elves are finalizing the gift lists. Tomorrow is Naughty or Nice list lock-in day, when the lists are finalized for the Big Night. So, bad kids have until tomorrow to redeem themselves and good kids have until tomorrow to mess up. Once the list is finalized that’s it, you're either getting a great gift or a piece of coal.

The reindeer are bulking up for their long flight by eating lots of extra carrots and hay. Santa is getting plenty of sleep so he'll be able to stay up for 24 hours straight. And where does that leave me?

Well, I’m staying pretty busy too. I’ve been in constant contact with OpticsPlanet back home. I’ve been interfacing our shipping and logistics systems with the North Pole so everything goes smoothly on the Big Night. The Elves don’t make a lot of the products we sell because of the precision equipment required. They think that the production of optical products is best kept to the major brands such as Bushnell, Meade, Nikon, and Celestron.

Santa has been pretty happy with my work so far. He said that my work was going to allow him to be more efficient on the Big Night and possibly allow him to get home earlier.

On a personal note, I’m excited for this project to end. Mostly because I’m missing my wife like crazy. Sure, we can video chat, but it’s just not the same. So, I can’t wait to see her next week! I’ll be hitching a ride back to civilization on Christmas Eve with Santa. When he offered, I couldn’t turn down an opportunity to ride in the sleigh! I can't wait!

The Sleigh and The Reindeer

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:07:00 +0000

Many people are curious about how Santa's sleigh has evolved over time and what gives it the ability to travel across the entire world in one night. The sleigh, is of course guided by the reindeer. But as the world's population has exploded in the past century, the load they are required to carry every year has gotten heavier and heavier. They haven't been quite up to the task. Just don't tell them that...

Santa is actually is pretty technologically savvy guy. He keeps an eye on the latest forms of propulsion and any technologies that can make his job easier. It's really quite admirable how Santa endeavors to run the leanest operation possible. Many major corporations should look to him for guidance.

Anyway, back to the sleigh. For many years, it was powered by a jet engine. He has kept the reindeer on pretty much as decorations (Santa's Sleigh and it's Jet Engine doesn't exactly have quit the same ring to it). They don't mind actually having to not work as hard. However, they still fulfill a vital function, they act as an old school GPS-like device. They know where to go and where to take Santa at all times.

Apparently the elves are fans of Star Trek because his advanced research lab has developed an engine that's basically an anti-gravity device. It will allow Santa to travel across the world using the most advanced propulsion system ever created. It's fast and it uses very little energy. Santa is trying to reduce the carbon footprint of his operations (being located at the North Pole, they are understandably concerned about climate change). After years of testing, it's finally ready for use on the Big Night.

I assure you, Santa is quite nervous about this. He is so worried that there are several spare sleighs stored around the world as backups in case something goes wrong. And the reindeer have assured him that they are up to the job in case technology fails him. So, kids everywhere don't have to worry; their presents will get to them no matter what.

The List

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:17:00 +0000

Santa actually keeps two lists. First, there’s the list of who’s naughty and who’s nice. Then there’s the list of what every child wants for Christmas. You would be right if you guessed the list of what kids want is the bigger list.

The second list is actually kept in a vast computer database. With so many children in the world, Santa had to ditch the paper book years ago. Santa has his own supercomputer where the list is kept. It’s surrounded by round the clock security. It’s not connected to any network so no one can hack into it. It’s all very impressive.

But the most important list is the Naughty and Nice list. Everyone knows what this is. It determines who gets what they want for Christmas and who gets coal in their stocking. I’ll let you all in on a little secret. The naughty list isn’t that big and you have to be REALLY nasty to get on it. The list is so small it doesn’t need a supercomputer. So, if you picked on your little sister too much this year, you probably don’t have much to worry about (as long as you apologize right now!). If you set a cat on fire, then I’d say it’s safe to assume you’re going to be on the naughty list.

I asked Santa how he determines everything Naughty and Nice wise. He was very mum on the specifics. Said he didn’t want to give away too many trade secrets. He just told me that he knows he can’t possibly watch everyone at all times, but he has agents everywhere watching for him. I asked who they were and he wouldn’t say. I have a feeling their names start with M and D.

Settling In

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 01:02:00 +0000

Well, I’ve now been here for almost two weeks. Things are going really well. With about 3 weeks to go until the Big Day, things are insanely busy here. I’ve been so busy that I often forget to take lunch! And believe me, that’s not something you want to forget when you’ve been working for a long time. The cooks in the North Pole kitchen are simply the best. I’ve never had a better steak. And no, they don’t eat venison up here.

I’m making a lot of friends here. My fellow elves like hanging out with a human. Believe it or not we’ve found the time to have some fun. Every couple of nights we’ll sit around and watch Christmas movies with ample popcorn and candy canes.

They’ve got a great theater up here. Even though every one has plenty of work to do, Santa insists on movie nights. Sanata does it for two reasons, one to maintain the spirit of the season which can sometimes be lost in all the busyness. But he also does it to keep everyone refreshed for the work ahead. No one likes a burnt out Elf.

The culture up here is amazing. They’ve had a few hundred years to perfect it. One thing that continually surprises me is how friendly and filled with joy Santa is. Santa is the most selfless person I have ever met. He is just a simple, regular guy who get the most fulfillment in life possible out of the happiness of others. The world could learn a lot from this guy. He should create more gift-giving holidays to encourage such kindness.

On another note, I really do miss my wife. I’m just glad that we don’t have any kids right now. I can’t imagine leaving a wife AND a couple rugrats back home. My wife is adjusting well to being without me. She’s being kept pretty busy with her own job and her school schedule. She rarely has the time to miss me. And for the times she does, we can video conference.

In my next entry, I’ll have something very exciting to tell you all about. I’ve seen the List.

What are kids asking for?

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:42:00 +0000

Woah! What an exciting few days.

Preparation for the holidays up here at the North Pole are in full swing. I can’t believe how busy this place is right now. They have me going from project to project faster than I can complete them. It’s all very stressful and exciting at the same time.

The North Pole mail room has been deluged with letters from children all around the world. My biggest project is interfacing the Christmas lists with the stock database back home at OpticsPlanet. That way they’ll know what to keep in stock for when Santa comes around on Christmas Eve.

So, what are kids asking for the most this year that relate to OpticsPlanet? You’d be surprised. Apparently science is back in this year. A lot of kids are asking for microscopes, telescopes and binoculars.

The best gift that OpticsPlanet has for the budding genetic engineer is the Meade 28 Piece Children’s Microscope Kit. It’s the perfect, inexpensive way to encourage your child’s interest without having to invest too much money in it.

As far as a telescope for the budding astronomer, your best bet is the Bushnell 3” Reflector. It’s the best entry level telescope and is available in a variety of kits to help an interested child get started with stargazing.

For the budding birdwatcher, I recommend the Tasco World Class 10x25 Waterproof Binoculars. They’re inexpensive and we have a special deal right now where they come with two radios. The ultimate boy gift. Perfect for bird watching and adventures with friends.

Well, Santa is calling and you don’t want to ignore the big guy!

Post-Thanksgiving Update

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:58:00 +0000

Hey folks!

Things are going great up here. Thanksgiving was pretty quiet for the most part. It's not a holiday up here like it is down south, but every one took it easy either way. I was able to make a long phone call home and check on my wife. She misses me terribly. She'll probably get mad at me for saying this but I've been too busy to miss her yet!

I got a tour of the mail department today and the Christmas lists are streaming in by the truckload. I don't know how they keep it all straight but they all do their jobs like pros. I noticed that they are using some pretty sophisticated computers to keep track of everything. I'll need to investigate how they manage their logistics so I can maybe use some of their knowledge when I go home.

I'm still working on interfacing Santa's GPS system. It should take me a few days. On top of that, OpticsPlanet, wants me to start feeding them Christmas list information as soon as possible. That way, they'll know what to stock and how much to keep in inventory. Monday will be OpticsPlanet's biggest shopping day. Brick and mortar retailers have Black Friday while online retailers have Black Monday (when everyone returns to work and shops online). It's going to be a very exciting time over the next couple days and I'll keep you up to date on all the latest happenings.

I've arrived

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 20:53:00 +0000

I've arrived at the North Pole. It took quite a bit of time to get up here. It was a long flight from Chicago to Edmonton, Canada, followed by another flight to Yellowknife in the north of Canada, followed by another flight to the North Pole. The planes got progressively smaller as my journey progressed. Later on, when I spoke to Santa for the first time, I joked that he could have just sent the sleigh to pick me up in Chicago. He didn't find it very funny.

I've been given my own little hut that's been kitted out for a normal sized human. I tower over everything here, except Santa. The hut is warm and cozy. It will be hard to remind myself that I'm here to work. No sooner did I get here, did the elves shove a huge project on my plate. I have a feeling they were just waiting for someone to show up and take it off their hands. They want me to update the GPS Software in all of Santa's equipment. I thought it was simple until they showed me they needed the GPS Devices updated across the globe where they have other distributors. It's going to be a time-consuming task. But that's why I'm here. The North Pole needed help with Marketing and Logistics, and OpticsPlanet is glad to help.

Thankfully, the North Pole has a great satellite internet uplink so I'm able to stay in contact with OpticsPlanet and my wife back home in Chicago.

I know you expect to hear about this, but it's really, really cold up here. Despite the fact that I'm wearing layers, I'm still cold all the time. But the fireplace in my hut is nice and warm.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those down south!

1 Day to Go!

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:11:00 +0000

I'm so excited about my upcoming trip that I have butterflies in my stomach. My bags are packed and, for the most part, I'm ready to go.

So, what did I end up bringing? Well, I have a list for you:

A week's change of clothes (I've been assured that the Elf Dry-Cleaning service is top-notch so I don't need to bring a whole closet).
Laptop
iPhone
Digital Camera (I want some pictures of the Auroura Borealis, Santa's Rep told me photography will not be allowed of the actual North Pole Complex)
Some Books
GPS Device - Garmin Geko 201 - In case I get lost out on the ice.
Telescope - Not going to pass up the crystal clear night sk. For those interested, I'm bringing a Meade 4.5" Telestar Newtonian Reflector. It's relatively portable and has a computer (I'm not very good at finding things in the night sky)
Binoculars - Bushnell 16x32 Powerview - Should be great for observing polar bears from a SAFE distance.
Picture of my Lovely Wife
Really Warm Parka - Our sister store - TacticalStore was kind enough to provide me with a 5.11 Tactical Aggressor Parka. Sure to be plenty warm. If it's good enough for the military, it's good enough for me.
Lots of Sweaters
Snow Shoes
Warm wool socks

I'm sure I'm forgetting something. I've got to get plenty of sleep tonight. My first flight leaves at 4:00 A.M. and then I have four more after that. It's going to be a long day. I'll be back online Wedneday when I get up there.

North Pole here I come!

Four Days to Go

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:09:00 +0000

I'm a little disappointed that I have to miss Thanksgiving this year. And believe me, my wife is REALLY disappointed. Although disappointed isn't quite the word I would choose...

I've got to be up at the North Pole for the day after Thanksgiving. Black Friday is going to be a huge day for OpticsPlanet as well as the North Pole. Not only will we be flooded with orders but Thanksgiving also marks the beginning of the Christmas list writing season. Oh sure, most kids already have a list by now, ready with triplicate copies. But Black Friday is the first day that parents actually ask to see it and they get mailed to the North Pole. I've got some software programs that the team wrote to help the North Pole manage all the incoming wishlists. After next weekend, they're gonna need it.

Black Friday is going to be a big day, but Black Monday is going to be even bigger, at least for OpticsPlanet. People return to work after the holiday weekend and the first thing they do is shop. So, I've gotta be up at the North Pole to make sure all the orders are processed correctly on both ends. Which means I'll have a working holiday this year.

I don't mind. I take comfort in the fact that doing my job well will result in joy and happiness all over the world. Now, if I could just convince my wife that's a good thing, I'll have a smooth journey.

Preparing for Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:10:00 +0000

It's not an easy proposition getting to the North Pole. I have like four connecting flights scheduled to get me there. I sincerely hope that they all run on time or I might find myself stranded somewhere in the Great White North!

How does one prepare for a trip to the North Pole? Well, frankly I don't know. I assume I should pack lots of warm clothes. I'll, of course, need to pack my laptop. I will have lots of work to do and will need to stay in contact with the bosses back home. I'm also bringing my trusty iPhone. I hope the North Pole has a cell tower! I'm also taking some books I've been waiting to read. I'll need something to keep me occupied on those long cold, North Pole nights.

I don't quite know what to expect when I get up there. I've been watching a lot of Christmas movies lately to prepare myself. But what do these Hollywood people really know what the North Pole is like? I think my favorite iteration of the North Pole is the one in 'Santa Clause' with Tim Allen. I hope it's like that. And I can't wait to meet an Elf!

Operation:Gift is now Live!

noreply@blogger.com (Hugh Ceratto) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:43:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Welcome to Operation: Gift. I'm Hugh Ceratto. I’ve been sent by my employer, OpticsPlanet, to coordinate the holiday season with the North Pole, one of our biggest distribution partners. I’ll be acting as a liaison between OpticsPlanet and the North Pole for Christmas. Even Santa needs logistical help sometimes.

I like to think that I'm a nice, easy going guy that likes to work in changing situations. I'm married but I have no problem with traveling the globe for work, much to the annoyance of my lovely wife. My stint at the North Pole will be the longest time away from my wife since we met, so it's going to have a tough time ahead.

But it should also be fun and enlightening. I head up to the North Pole next week to begin helping Santa prepare for Christmas and the Post-Thanksgiving rush. Santa is a huge customer for OpticsPlanet and I will be looking forward to showing him the latest products we offer as well as providing him the world class service were known to provide to our other customers and vendors. Santa will see the OpticsPlanet difference.