Winnie-Mae Snotblossom, Powerball winner from Omaha, Nebraska, writes:

"Dear Cordarounds, I'd like to buy 741 sweaters to swaddle every Snotblossom on Earth this Christmas. For obvious reasons, members of my extended family are used to feeling like black sheep. Is it too late to purchase?

Sorry, Miss Snotblossom. While our army of elves is furiously shipping last-minute Christmas pants and jackets through Friday, we regret to report that our sweaters are on backorder.

So popular are our Black Sheep sweaters, we had to arrange an emergency airlift from the County Kerry auxiliary air force (seen below), which promised to ship them by January 2, if they can find the keys to their biplane in time.



Meanwhile, we have a novel gift idea -- both for customers with sweaters on back order as well as Miss Snotblossom and everyone else thinking about a last minute gift purchase: the Blacksheep IOU.

Simply print out this PDF -- with its very special message from noble Orion, King of all Sheep -- adorn it with a festive ribbon, and place it under the tree. The black sheep of your family will be thrilled to receive his or her very own figure of speech, even if it requires a couple week's wait.

And for all those who find themselves on Christmas Eve without a gift to give and would rather not face the indignity of a last-minute mall excursion, you are welcome to use it, too. No need to pay immediately, just whenever you or they are ready to receive it.