Hand Delivered Mail

Sometimes the best kind of mail is the kind that gets delivered by hand and never even touches the postal system.  Below is a hand-made package from the employees at the bank that Boyfriend manages.  They scrounged around and used all the stuff they could find at the bank and they did a great job.

This was a "Congratulations on your job offer" card, signed by all the employees and filled with bank swag and cool stickers.

Very crafty people working at that branch of TD Bank apparently!

Rejection Postcard from the Great White North

This is a fantastic postcard I received from the illustrius Laura Ly of Please Deliver To fame.  I had written to her to ask if she wanted to be pen pals.  She didn't.  And by "didn't" I mean that she already has lots and lots of people to write to and it's a little overwhelming so she's not accepting new applicants at this time.


But she promised that if a spot opened up she would totally write to me. Which is awesome because with a sense of humor like this, I know we'd be fast friends.

So Laura Ly clearly knows who she's mailing to because this is fantastic.

Postcard from Rhode Island

If you've received two letters from me {or maybe one, it depends}, then you know that one of my brothers is getting married.  He's the first of the Paul's to take the leap.  One of the immediate perks of having a sibling get married is that the family instantly expands by one person, and that person is likely in your age range.  I have never had a sister, but in 6 short months I will have a sister-in-law.  My future sister-in-law {FSIL for short}, knows how much I enjoy mail.  She also spends a lot of time on Block Island.  While she was there in August, she sent me this postcard.  When I was offered my new job, she was the 4th person I called.  I am pretty sure she was on Block Island when I called her.

This simple, unexpected, thoughtful note totally made my day.

I don't know about you all, but when we were growing up I never thought about my brothers getting married.  I never thought about who my future sisters-in-law would be or what they would be like.  I am fortunate that I adore Jen, and I have since we first met.  But if I didn't {and really, if you don't like Jen then you have a defective personality}, it wouldn't matter.  What is so very clear is how much she loves my brother.  I am so, so happy that he found someone who obviously loves him so much.  The fact that I happen to like her so much is just a bonus {yay for me!}.  This postcard is just one reason on an ever growing list of reasons why.

Postcards from Boyfriend

On his Epic Trip, Boyfriend sent me a bunch of Postcards.  Mostly because he knows how much I love mail.  Partly because he likes me a little bit.

Joshua Tree National Park ~ Front
Boyfriend did a video in Joshua Tree, he loved it there.

Joshua Tree National Park ~ Back
Dancing Postmark!

Kitt Peak Observatory ~ Front

To read about Boyfriend's experience at Kitt Peak, which I think was one of the most thrilling parts of the trips for him, click here.

Kitt Peak ~ Back
Boyfriend does not actually have a wife.  It's a joke we have.  What can I say?  We enjoy making other people uncomfortable.  I have never seen this postmark before, a kid turning off a light switch.  Cool.

Saguaro National Monument ~ Front
Can we talk about how much I love this postcard?  As you will see more of below, the National Park Service is selling some Vintage-looking postcards.  Swoon.  I love how this is off-white.

Saguaro National Monument ~ Back
Here is the story of his maps.

Saguaro National Park ~ Front

Saguaro National Park ~ Back
Also, his comment is funnier once I reveal that he has a regulation-sized tri-color traffic signal, covered in Christmas lights and faux-snow, on display in his room.  True story.

Yosemite National Park ~ Front
I love snow.  All year round.  And I want to go to this place in the worst way.  Boyfriend did a video there.

Yosemite National Park ~ Back
Boyfriend has some pretty strong opinions on HDR.  None of them involve how much he likes it.

Death Valley National Park ~ Front
Another Vintage-looking postcard!  Love it!

Death Valley National Park ~ Back
And there's that kid turning off the lights again!

Death Valley National Park ~ Front
Vintage-looking man and donkey.  Did you all know that Death Valley looks like the Badlands in South Dakota?  Me neither.  Now I want to go there, too.  Boyfriend took photos and a video.

Death Valley National Park ~ Back

Postcard Catch-Up

Made another dent in my mail today!

Scanned the front and back of sixteen postcards tonight.  Registered and uploaded some Postcrossing cards.

Upcoming:  A post dedicated to the cool cards Boyfriend sent me from his epic trip, then a post showing all of the other postcards I've gotten since August.

I realized that I had no hope of putting these posts up in the order the mail was received, so I thought I would start with the postcards and go from there.  Scanning is easier than photographing.

Happy Mail Day to you all!

It's Happening!

You know what I did tonight?  I organized all of the mail that I need to reply to.  I went out to Staples to get a little pendaflex thingy to put it all in.  I should have gone with the bigger box, people!  My mailbox has been blessed.

So I've been working for a few weeks now, establishing a pseudo-routine.  This passed weekend Boyfriend came home from his epic trip.  The weekend before that I gave my room a much needed scrubbing and put all of my papers and mail and stuff in a box.  

Tonight, rather than finish putting away my laundry, I decided to get back to my mail.  I am so excited to get back on track and write back to my new friends.  

Also, I splurged today and spent some money over in the Member's Only shop of the Letter Writers Alliance.  I totally bought the Pneumatic Post!  I also bought their correspondence record, which is available only to members.

I can't wait until they come in and I am so excited to be organized enough to start writing back to people!

Wishing you all good mail days and thanking you for your patience.

Mail Quote of the Week

In a man's letters you know, Madam, his soul lies naked, his letters are only the mirror of his breast, whatever passes within him is shown undisguised in its natural process.  Nothing is inverted, nothing distorted, you see systems in their elements, ou discover actions in their motives.

~Samuel Johnson