and other stories as well - all in bad need of an edit but it will give you an idea of the feel I am after.
every story on this site was written by me ( and yes they all have a poor mans copyright )
According to the official copyright website (
http://www.copyright.gov):
“The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a poor man’s copyright. There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration.”
Of course you can save that pesky fee and use this myth. If nothing ever happens and you never need to prove the date your writing was registered, then you're in good shape and you have saved $20.
If some time in the future you need to show proof of ownership with a specific date, your sealed envelope won't offer that proof in a court of law.
About three years ago I got into a discussion with someone who swore they heard of a case where this method held up in court. It prompted me to do a lot of research.
I then started shooting a documentary. I interviewed sixteen lawyers who specialize in copyright infringement in New York, Los Angeles, Austin and Chicago. I spoke to five judges and fourteen established writers.
In three years of research I have never found a single case, nor heard officially of a single case where this method has held up in court. I managed to tracked down six people (writers, photographers and composers) who had tried and failed in court.
Type "poorman's copyright" into Google and you'll find several hundred articles written about this. Use it if you must, but use it knowing the facts.
even be a tree 
but I told her that I'm not to the point of needing actors yet.
