Day #221

Another slow day, with only one letter written. But I got my December journal look designed!

Incoming was one post-crossing card, 2 penpal letters and our very first Christmas card.

The Christmas card is from my first boy friend, whom I dated from age 13-16. He is now a Jesuit, but we still exchange cards at Christmas time. His is always the first card I receive and it drives me crazy because he always beats me. But this time I got him. I posted our annual Christmas letter on line and he received it a whole three days before his card arrived. (This may be due to the scary news in his card that he is battling what he calls "the old man's cancer"--I don't know if this is the cancer his father died of or prostate cancer, which I assume can be considered an old man's cancer)

Day #220

It was a light day, mail-wise.


I only wrote one letter, to a woman I found on SendSomething. I decided to write to her originally because she has the same name as a little girl I used to babysit for back in the 1950s. But then I found out she is 10 years older than I am, so I don't think it's the same person!

There was no incoming mail today, except junk mail, which is disappointing, but yesterday was such a good day, I can't complain.

Day #219

I wrote two letters today, and am now wondering if one of them is going to be returned because, according to this photo, I forgot to put a stamp on it. I hope that somehow I remembered before putting it in the mailbox. It was a U.S. letter; the other international (if it gets delivered and the recipient has to pay for the stamp, I apologize!!)

Mondays are nice--lots of mail, at least this one. Three letters today, one from Anjali, my sponsored child in India, a response to a letter I wrote to someone in India with those great Mother Theresa stamps, and a letter from a Canadian pen pal.

There were also all these postcards, all of which are post-crossing, except the one from Australia.

The Australia card is strange because it is identified as "capital cities in Australia," and on the back they are identified--but they have it wrong. The capital to the left of the map of Australia is identified as Canberra, but it's actually Perth (the only city I would be able to recognize!)

Day #218

Only two letters got written today, one may be the penultimate letter to Soldier Amanda, who will be back in the states for Christmas. Her C.O. says last date for mail from home is December 5. The other was to a penpal.

It's the Sunday after Thanksgiving and a lot of time was spent stripping all the edible meat off the turkey carcass and getting it ready to go into the crock pot for overnight cooking, prior to making a turkey stew tomorrow.

Day #217

Two post-crossing cards mailed today, along with a reply to a pen pal.

Incoming was a post-crossing card from the Netherlands, and a couple of pen pal replies

And then there is this fun gift from an anonymous person in Poland, who writes, "Please accept this small gift as a token of appreciation for promoting letter writing. As you will notice, there is no return address. Including one could suggest that -- contrary to my statement -- I might want something in return. Keep up the good work."

Thank you so MUCH. I am just tickled by this, and very grateful.

Day #216

Today was our belated Thanksgiving, but I woke early and had enough time to write a letter before we left for my mother's house.

The nice thing about doing a holiday a day late is that when you come home, there is a nice mailbox full of mail. This was a good batch, including a post-crossing card from Neuschwanstein Castle

Day #215

I got three postcards ready to mail tomorrow.


This being Thanksgiving, there was no incoming mail. We didn't celebrate because my son was busy having dinner with his in-laws, but tomorrow we are taking a turkey and all the trimmings to my mother's and we will have our Thanksgiving dinner there, just the five of us.

Day #214

Got a new pen pal from the Netherlands today. What a fun letter to answer. Also got the address of a Post-crossing person who included no information whatsoever, so I went with a generic California postcard.

Got a nice postcard from Kimi and a very nice letter from SaraLea. A nice way to pass the afternoon.

Day #213

I only wrote two letters today, but they were kind of long. I love the envelopes, one of which is an ad for a local production of "A Christmas Carol." The bird one I particularly like--and I had to block out the names so I wouldn't spoil the surprise, in case either of the recipients checks this page.

I did get incoming mail, but it was a bit of a surprise. It was a letter from Day #211 that I had mailed two days ago, which was delivered back to me. It was in that stamp patterned envelope, with the address information written on an address label that I bought at the post-office! I had to go back to the post office to ask what the problem was and was told that they had goofed. No wonder the post office is in trouble.

I remember years ago when I used to get a lot of international mail. A letter came addressed to "Mrs. Beverly, Davis, California." It was delivered to me!!! (I should mention that this is a town with a population of 60,000.) That was also during the days when I would go into the office, be greeted by name and someone would call out my address if I was there to pick up mail.

Then they stopped sorting letters here, but sent them to Sacramento to be sorted. I addressed something to Longs Drugs at the intersection of Covell and Sycamore and it was returned for a better address. Because the mail was sorts in Sacramento, they didn't have a clue what was at that intersection. It's been downhill ever since.

Now, a properly addressed envelope, with the proper postage can't be delivered, but involves a trip to the post office for me to send it on its way again (and it will be interesting to see if it gets delivered this time).

Day #212

This represents a Swap-Bot envelope, a letter to my 3rd & 5th grade teacher, and a postcard wishing a letter-writing Blogger a Happy Thanksgiving


The afternoon mail needs two pictures. In this one, there are Post-Crossing cards from "100 km south from the polar circle,", one from a village next to a river in Croatia, one from the Ukraine which is identified as "City Square Altanka Center" and a terrific card from New Hampshire, with a cut-out of a bear paw on it. Also a nice pen pal letter.

And then there was this envelope from a Swap-Bot swap with all sorts of terrific goodies in it. The only thing missing is the 2-page letter that was supposed to be the heart of it. But all the goodies were fun. That postcard on the right edge, under the whales is the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota, which Jeri has visited. The particular picture was taken in 1907.

Day #211

I took advantage of a rainy Sunday to write lots of letters, and send one non-Post-Crossing post card.

Day #210

I was busy doing a bunch of things today and only got one post-crossing card sent out. It's essentially a self-portrait, if I were blonde, and didn't use a computer.

Nice incoming, though. One post-crossing card from the Netherlands, another great mail from the wonderful ElleMental, and 3 pen pal letters

Day #209

It was post-card day. A bunch of post-crossing cards had arrived and so I was eligible to send seven new cards. I also sent off a Thanksgiving card to "A recovering soldier" at Walter Reed Hospital


Incoming came from the lovely ElleMental and a card from someone who had requested one of my Sambo post cards. Very pretty card.

Day #208

Two letters today. One to a new Swap-Bot person (I don't think we will end up being pen pals--too different from each other). The other was a quick letter to one of the Compassion kids.

Only one thing in the mail today, which was a Post-Crossing card from the Czech Republic.

Day #207

I wrote two penpal letters today, and sent off a list of 10 quirks.

Only one incoming, but it was much appreciated. This is from Theresa, my 4 year old sponsored child in Ghana. On the back was a tracing of her hand, which seems so tiny!

Day #206

This seems to have been animal envelope day...I really liked these three envelopes

Each of the envelopes (animal and other) went to pen pals today, so I did a lot of writing.

Too bad the fall leaf kind of crumbled on the postcard from Melanie, but it was a nice idea. Also two introductory snail mails which I am looking forward to answering!

Day #205

I worked hard this morning and got four letters answered.

There were only two incoming mails today, but what a treat. A lovely note from Kimi and a fabulous package from SaraLea, filled with wonderful note cards. Naturally I had to put the one with the Chihuahua on top!

Day #204

Only one pen-pal letter and 2 early Thanksgiving cards got created today.

And since it was Sunday, there was no incoming mail, so I spent the day organizing all of my pen pal letters...finally everybody has his or her own file folder!

Day #203

I have lots of letters to answer...and it doesn't help that I keep rescuing them from the dog's mouth!

Today I wrote to 3 penpals, to Soldier Amanda, and to a post-crossing person.


Letter came from Wales and Swap-Bot postcard from Virginia

11-11-11

Well, I was out of town for two days so I didn't send mail and there was no mail delivery today, 11/11/11, but when I got home, this was what was waiting for me, so it's like it was delivered today.


There are 5 post-crossing cards, a letter from a swap bot exchange and one very weird letter with no return address, no heading, no signature, and all 4 pages gossip about someone I've never heard of. Yet it's addressed to ME.

Day #202

These beautiful hand-painted cards were done by a friend of mine. I bought a set at a fund-raiser this weekend. Already sent the first one.


The dogs are getting into snail mail. Literally. I found this out on our patio!


I sent these out today--2 postcards (not post-crossing) and 3 penpal letters.


Only one postcard in coming. From Switzerland and my very first written in a foreign language, with no translation (fortunately, I read French)

Day #201

Post-crossing day!

5 Post-crossing cards (and I was able to get rid of the Ronald Reagan card that came with a set I bought, sent to someone who wanted pictures of world leaders -- unlike some I did not think Reagan was the greatest thing since sliced bread). Also a letter to my Compassion child, Murugi, in Kenya, and two pen-pal letters. (I liked my "Charlie Brown" envelope!)

Just one card arrived, from Miss Hannah in Michigan. Isn't it beautiful?

Day #200

I actually didn't write anything yesterday and, since it was Sunday, didn't receive anything either. However, I did make new envelopes and used a couple of them today.

One was in response from someone who contacted me through my address on this page, one was to a penpal in Germany, and one was to my 3rd & 5th grade teacher, to let her know her e-mail account had been hacked. When I knew her in grammar school she was Sister Mary X. Now the nuns have taken their given names so she is Kathleen XX. I got an e-mail from Kathleen XX (her last name is not a common one) which begins: "Hello, Handsome. My name is Rose." I sent her a snail mail letter to let her know that she had been hacked, but told her I was glad to hear that she thought me handsome.


In the afterenoon was a nice card from our own Elle Mental, a letter from my Compassion child Murugi in Kenya, a post-crossing card and, coincidentally, a letter from Kathleen XX, in answer to my previous letter. There was also a letter from the lady who sent me a 30 page introductory letter. she said she would try to be shorter in this letter, which is "only" 25 pages. I always think *I* write long letters, but I'm a piker compared to this woman!!

Day #199

Taking it easy. After yesterday's massive production of mail, I only sent off one pen pal letter and one post-crossing card.

But I had a great inbox today! Two Compassion letters, one from Fred in the Philippines and one from Eric Wainaina in Kenya and three wonderful pen pal letters. I am happy!

Day #198

This is what I did today...how about you?

This is 2 boxes of stuff to Soldier Amanda, eleven letters to Compassion kids (hoping the cards and gifts get there before Christmas), a letter to SuperCuts complimenting the woman who cut my hair yesterday, a postcard to someone who asked for one of my Sambo's postcards, and a post-crossing card.

And this was what the postal person brought:


The post card was from sweet Kimi, just saying hello, the letter from a pen pal in Corona, CA.