recent postcards

   I know I have not shared my mail lately. I have been slow to log everything. Here are a few cards I have received lately:
From Japan:

 

From the Czech Republic

 

From Australia: (this card changes depending on the angle you're looking at it)

 

From Russia:

 

From Thailand:

 

From Taiwan:

 

From South Korea: 

From China: The card was very shiny so this was the only way I could photograph it without it reflecting too much.

From South Africa:

 

From the US: (Though I think the first one is actually a picture in Belgium?)

   I have a few more that I will photograph and post in another post. I got all almost of these cards through Postcrossing.(The one from Washington DC was given to me by one of my 8th grade students when they traveled there as a class)  If you have not heard of Postcrossing before, I strongly recommend that you check it out here. I have learned so much and gotten so many beautiful cards.

Hello Taiwan!

    Today I checked my blog statistics and usually I have a lot of views from the United States, Germany, The Netherlands, the Ukraine and a few other places. Lately I have noticed a few new places- Serbia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc.  Today, I have apparently had 50 views from Taiwan- my guess is that it is because of the Sky Lantern Festival post. So, hello to all of you people from all over the world. Feel free to drop me a note to say hello and introduce yourself. I love learning about new places and about how people live in general. What's going on in your little area of the world? What did you do today?
     It has been a while since I posted. My laptop cord got severed so I couldn't charge my battery. I bought a new one so I'm back now!  I figured I'd just check in to say hello and put up some pictures of some of my recent mail.

Outgoing...

    Here are my outgoing Postcrossing cards today. They are all going to either Russia or Germany. (I get those 2 countries a lot when I'm assigned to send a card!)

The men are the Ted, Bobby and John F. Kennedy (if you didn't know), the author William Hardy and I don't know the blue man- it was a piece of art from 2002.

Incoming...

    The first 3 are from the same person. They are sent from a Postcrosser from Russia. The first shows The Friendship Monument and "The Bridge of Love" in the park named after Salavat Yulayev.

 This one shows a boy playing the kurai, which is an instrument made from a special plant which grows in Bashkertestan. I had never heard of this instrument before, though I had seen pictures.

      Lastly, here is the Opera and Ballet theatre where Rudolf Nuriyev got his start. Cool.

     I really liked this next card too. This is from Susanne, who attended the Postcrossing meet-up in Essen, Germany. As you probably guessed, a meetup is just what it sounds like- a whole bunch of people who are involved in Postcrossing get together to meet in person, write some cards and sometimes do something fun. I went to a Postcrossing meetup of some Massachusetts postcrossers. We went out for coffee and I had a really nice time. I would love to do another one :)

  Other...

    Just because I'm chatty- it's a beautiful day here in Massachusetts. Many of the leaves are starting to change to their autumn colors. The air is cooler and I am starting to really enjoy being outside. School is in session for both of the kids (and me too since I'm a teacher). Both boys are loving school so far, which I'm extremely grateful for!  I'm incredibly busy and a little stressed but still happy.
     Timmy's birthday is coming up on Friday and mine is on the 13th so there will be too much a lot of cake and ice cream going around.  

    Today we are just getting some things down around the house and resting after a super-long week. We had Boy Scouts last night. The boys made Lego cars and raced them. They had a nice time. It is nice to kind of stick around the house for today. I wish the day was more productive but it's probably good for a bit of a mental break. :)
     Have a blessed day!
 

I think my mailwoman is conspiring against me...

     Ok, in all seriousness my lack of mail and packages has been sad lately. So, hopefully more letters will come in.  Although picturing my mail woman sitting in her US postal truck eating my chocolate from Estonia, Turkey or Finland or wearing my Germany bracelet (Sorry Jenny, still not here!) is kind of amusing, I'm starting to wonder where all of these parcels have gone.

Mail out:
    Here is a postcard I sent to Oregon today. The Postcrosser mentioned that they liked "odd cards" so:
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      To add to the odd factor, I told the user about my crazy night last night where 6 teens "escaped" from a drug rehab center, tried to break into a gas station and then ran and hid in the woods behind my house. The police and K-9 units came and searched the woods for quite a while. They got at least 4 of the guys. I was very impressed watching them take care of everything. (If you're an officer, thanks for your service and for taking care of the families of your community!)
     I also sent a letter to my penpal, Jesslyn in Denmark. (I'm hoping you haven't gone back to Singapore yet!) 

The 366 Project:
Received: 12
Sent: 34 

    Please feel free to share my page. If you're a letter writer and would like to write a letter to tell me a little about yourself, I would love that. If you message me I will send you my address or, if you'd rather I write first, send me your address. Thanks!

   My mail received pile is getting a little sad. Another day with no good mail. On a related note, I'm sending a package of American food to Wales. I've asked some of my international friends which foods they would suggest. I've gotten suggestions to send: peanut butter, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Hamburger Helper and Mac and Cheese. I also have some other things I have been told that people in the UK sometimes ask for, like Oreos. If you're from the UK and you see this before Monday, 6/25, feel free to write me some suggestions on what to send! 


Here is a postcard I'm sending to Germany. The user likes vintage cards. This was made in 1977, the same year I was born. 
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     The 4 women in the postcard are Amelia Earhart, Elvy Kalep (1st civilian pilot in Estonia), Frances Marsalis (racing pilot) and Betty Gillies (commander in the Women Airforce Service Pilots in WWII). This picture was taken in 1933 after a benefit roller skating party to raise funds for a plane. I love that they are all in roller skates. I didn't notice it the first time I saw this picture.
    I found this postcard at a yard sale in Maine last summer.  It was old but in good condition so I picked it up.  I hope the woman I'm sending it to likes it. 

    I spent a lot of time writing today. Get this:
The 366 Project:
Received: 12
Sent: 33

  The good news is that I will soon be caught up. The bad news is that I will have no more letters to respond to.  If you are reading this and I don't know you yet, feel free to write me a letter. E-mail me and I will give you the address to send it to!  

Mail out:
     Obviously I sent many letters out today- The Netherlands, Ireland, France, Canada and a bunch of letters to my pals in the US. I also sent the "mystery envelope out."  I added a Boston magnet, a Hello Kitty letter set, and a Yankee Candle. (Macintosh... my favorite!)    

Mail in:
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     This was sent to me from Jennifer in Mississippi. She lives near Tupelo, where Elvis Presley was born.  She recommended a Spanish band to me called La Oreja de Van Gogh.