Tale of Adventure

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Brad and I had an adventure! I have been talking a bit (especially in letters) about going to the flea market in Rogers, Ohio. Well, yesterday was the day!

Now, there is need for a bit of backstory here. Brad works 3rd shift for a database company. Which means his work shift starts at 8pm and runs until 4am. Now...we left the apartment at 6:45...so needless to say he stayed up just to take me to the flea market. =)

The drive to Rogers was very uneventful. The air was muggy but cooler and there was a decent amount of fog all around. But soon the sun came up and burned away all of the lingering fog and started to heat things up. We arrived in Rogers around 8am to find that everyone was still setting up. Like I said, this wouldn't have been a huge issue other than Brad hadn't been to sleep at all. Our initial plan was to get there early (with the professionals), stay a few hours, and leave before the afternoon sun was upon us. Little did we know that things get a slow start at Rogers (much differently than Hartville).

So after walking for about 15-20 mins we decided to head back to the car so I could have a turkey sandwich. We packed a lunch and even though it was around 8:30am I was starving. (I had chosen not to eat a bagel before we left...silly me.) After that we grabbed our Gatorade and headed out to search for deals.

And we found some!! Brad collects lapel pins and so he found some really neat Coca-Cola pins from the 1992 Olympic games. He also found a few Penguins pins that he didn't have.

Walking down the one side of the grounds we found a table that was in the prime location....in the shade! Walking past the table I could see a bin of rubber stamps that was marked 3/$1 but there were a few ladies already looking at it. So we continued on and I told Brad that we would look on the way back down. Well..as we came back down the ladies were still looking, but as I stood there I spotted something I simply could not pass on.

How cute are these two?? They were marked $6 a piece, and I really only wanted the Mr. Don't ask me why, but I don't find the lady to be as cute. So I told the lady behind the table that I would take him. She asked if I wanted both and I said that I liked him better. So..then she made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Both for the low low price of $6!!! Well, I couldn't pull the money out of my pocket fast enough. I had to agree not to separate them, but looking at them now I have decided that they were meant for each other.

And of course while I was there I decided to look at the stamps. The lady and I got to talking and she told me that the bears were made in 1985. (which means these bears are as old as I am!) After, '85 the USPS changed uniforms. She also told me that she was a letter carrier for 30 years. How cool is that. After telling her that I love letter writing she helped me find some of her stamps that were letter themed.

After that I lugged my bears around with us for a little while until I finally gave in to Brad's suggestion that we take then to the car. I agreed for multiple reasons. The first being that I was tired of carrying them. The second was because the sky was looking a bit dark. So after dropping off the bears we made our way around again. While walking I told Brad that I should have looked in one of the bins that lady had. I saw envelopes and I should have looked. So just before we were heading to leave we walked back across the place to look in this bin. And boy was I happy we did!!

I get these envelopes all the time with the special postmarks I request on postcards. But now I will be able to send some to people. These were a bargain at $2 for all of them. =)

Then I found these international stamps for $3. I wasn't going to take them, but Brad talked me into it. He said I would regret it if I didn't buy them. (Don't tell him...but he is probably right).

But my favorite (second trip to that table) finds are these!!

That my friends is unused postage!! All of those beauties cost me $8. The total cost of the stamps face value...$22. I actually made money on that buy! And the best part...

There were two packages! I didn't add up the face value in these stamps, but I can guess that there is more than $8. So again I made a profit.

There were a couple other things I haven't posted pics of yet. One is because I just remembered it and didn't want to stop to take another picture. But it is a pen I found. The other is something I have blogged about before, but I don't want to ruin the surprise..because one lucky person who follows this blog liked the item...and I found her one of her own yesterday for a dollar!

Overall, this trip was well worth it in my opinion. Where will we adventure to next time? As Brad would say, hopefully somewhere that doesn't require being up early. =)

2012 Stamp Program: Day 8

After taking 2 days off to discuss the Owney and Merchant Ship stamps, the USPS is back to previewing next years stamps. This stamp may look familiar to most because it is the companion stamp to the one below that released this year.

This stamp makes me smile for multiple reasons. First, is that I am all about equality. Second, because I really like hiking! And third...because I once was a Girl Scout. (Though my scouting experiences were um...lacking in the nature department.)

This stamp was illustrated by Craig Frazier. If you click his name you can see some of the other stamps he has worked on, including the scouting stamp that was released previously.

On a completely unrelated note, Brad and I had an adventure today! BUT...I will be sharing that tomorrow when there is no stamps to talk about. So keep your eyes on the post. I guarantee that you will not want to miss some of the pics I have to show you! =)

2012 Stamp Preview: Day 7

Christmas in July, indeed! Day seven of the preview brings us these charming Santa Claus stamps. Now to be honest, I am not a super huge fan of these stamps. I much prefer the realistic looking stamps to the more cartoonish ones. But think of these stamps being used on a letter to Santa himself. Yup that would be worth buying some.

"Though his roots go much further back, the modern Santa Claus, the giver of gifts, captured the American imagination in the Revolutionary War era. At that time, understandably critical of English traditions, people looked to the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas for cultural cues and seasonal inspiration. Since then, Santa has become more popular, and is today beloved by millions of children who write him letters, track his progress on the Internet, and leave him milk and cookies as tokens of their esteem."

I copied the above directly from Beyond the Perf because well...I couldn't think of anyway to say it better. The stamps were designed by artist Paul Rogers and art director Howard Paine.

So, tell me...do you like these stamps??

2012 Stamp Program: Day 6

After a weekend away we are back with more stamps this week. Todays stamp is one being released in the Celebrating the Lunar New Year Series. As if you couldn't tell from the stamps design this one is celebrating the Year of the Dragon. The year of the Dragon officially begins on January 23, 2012 and ends on February 9th, 2013.

This is the fifth stamp to be released in this series. Each of the stamps were designed by Artist Kam Mak. You can click here to see a slideshow of his artistic process.

Now that is the only officially recognized stamp for the Year of the Dragon being published by the USPS...but people are lobbying to get Bruce Lee placed on a postage stamp for next year. The stamp would look like this. What do you think?

2012 Stamp Program: Day 5

Day five brings us Bicycling. Bicycling is one of the most popular outdoor activities and Americans enjoy 2.5 million bicycle rides a year! How crazy is that? Bike riding is so popular that it was featured in the "Go Green" collection of stamps that released this year.

The bicycle was first introduced in the 1900's and the first chain driven bike was produced around 1885. Which means..that they are slowly approaching 126 years old! How insane is that??

Personally, I am not a huge fan of these stamps. I think it has to do with the colors. I was never much of a fan of the southwestern color palette which is what these stamps remind me of. Though I do enjoy the image of a child learning to ride with training wheels.

Do you have any fond memories of riding your bike?

2 Posts in One Day!

Have you ever wanted to send a telegram? Well now you can! The Telegram Stop is having a special promotion where you can log on and send some "Cowboys and Aliens" themed telegrams to promote the movie.

I am not sure how long this will last, so you should all do it right now! The promotional code is ca2011 and here is the link. Happy sending.

**Also, I think everyone should send me one for sharing the link...not really, but hey its worth a shot right? A few of you will be seeing these soon.**

2012 Stamp Program: Day 4

Day four of the stamp preview for 2012 shows us another installment in one of the longest running commemorative series that the USPS has to offer. The Black Heritage stamps series was started in 1978 and has released a stamp every year since. These stamps honor many famous African Americans and this year the committee chose Mr. John H. Johnson.

Mr. Johnson is most famous for starting a publishing company (Johnson Publishing Company) which publishes magazines such as Jet and Ebony. He was also the first African American to be listed on Forbes 400 list in 1982.

One of the most famous decisions Johnson made was to publish the photos of Emmett Till's body laying in the casket after being brutally attacked by white men.

Now photos of this can be found online, however, I chose not to link directly to one. I have looked at it and remain appalled by the ignorance of men.

So far the stamps of 2012 are looking great! I already want to purchase each and everyone! Which is your favorite so far?

2012 Stamp Preview: Day 3

Today's preview features the "Love Ribbons" stamp. I am gonna say it here..this stamp reminds me of Hershey's Kisses. I know...silly right? Anyway, it seems that each year the postal service releases a new "Love" stamp. And really...why not? I mean if I am going to send a love letter (or nice piece of mail art)...I might as well put a love stamp on the envelope.

The US postal service first released the Love stamps in 1973. And since then..there have been over 40 various "Love" stamps released. Including the Hershey Kisses stamp referenced above.

My final question...do you think this stamp will be released in a city with a love themed name?

2012 Stamp Program: Day 2

The second stamp in the 2012 Stamp preview is this wonderful stamp honoring Mr. Edgar Rice Burroughs. As you can probably guess from the stamp, he is most known for writing the Tarzan books. Without him, we may never have heard the famous line, "Me Tarzan, you Jane". Although interestingly enough..that line never appeared in the book. It also never appeared in the movies! So you may now be wondering to yourself where it came from... Before you start googling, take a second...breathe...I have already done the hard work for you!

The line "Me Tarzan, you Jane" was actually said on the back lot of the set for the 6th Tarzan movie. Johnny Weissmuller was the actor playing Tarzan and Maureen O'Sullivan was the actress playing Jane. Well she was having some issues getting a suitcase into her car and Johnny walked up and spouted the famous line, and then without any effort tossed the suitcase into the back of the car. Lots of people heard this line and have repeated it...thus the line lives on. Neat, huh?

The artist of this stamp is Mr. Sterling Hundley. This is also the second stamp he has helped produce for the USPS. The first was the Oveta Culp Hobby stamp seen below.

2012 Stamp Program: Day 1

Day number one starts off with a bang! Look at these beautiful stamps!! The stamps are in celebration of the Cherry Blossom Centennial. 100 years ago (next year) Japan sent us 3,020 cherry trees as a sign of friendship. These trees were planted in Washington, D.C. and are the primary focus of the Cherry Blossom Festival that is held each year as the trees bloom.

As you can see in the picture above two stamps will create a panoramic view. In the right half you have the Washington Monument and what appears to be a Japanese family walking around the Tidal Basin. On the Right side we have the Jefferson Memorial and what appears to be an American family walking.

These stamps were created by Paul Rogers, who illustrated the Jazz stamps that released this year. Read more about the behind the scenes for the Jazz stamps here.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's preview. =)

United States 2012 Stamp Program

Since I started really mailing things (I have been mailing things since forever, but never as much as now) I have become more fascinated with stamps themselves. And really who hasn't? I mean there is so much effort that goes into making postage stamps (this would be an awesome topic in and of itself wouldn't it?) and not many people take the time to look at them.

Well..now that I am a postage stamp fanatic I keep up to date on all the news surrounding the stamp releases. I read about the artists that take the time to create such masterpieces. I even have a poster on my bedroom wall that shows all the stamps releasing this year. And I try to buy the new ones when they come out.

Now after that SUPER long beginning lets get down to business. The 2012 stamp program is releasing previews of some stamps that will be released next year. One stamp for each day. You can find this information in various places (Facebook, Twitter and Beyond the Perf)...OR you could just tune in here for a quick overview.

Weekend Catch Up!

Is it as hot there as it feels here?? Cause it feels miserable. Oh well, I am a tough gal.

So how about some roundup on a few pieces of mail that came in during the week?

First was a piece of mail that Carter received from Limner. Those two are such wonderful mail pals (and I enjoy her mail as well). You cannot really see in that picture, but she sent him a transformer. Bumblebee to be exact. He took it home or else I would photograph it for you. It truly was the cutest thing.

Next was a letter I got from Ms. Chewy Tulip herself. How could you not have a smile on your face when pulling something like that out of the mailbox? Love it!

And of course what would a week be without some lovely mail from Limner for myself? The envelope is actually like origami! How cool is that?? Pretty neat if you ask me. =)

Well, that is just a few things I have gotten in the last week. But much more needs to be responded to. So I shall leave you with one final picture.

Such a nice gift from nature!!

Big Duck, Little Duck

So if you have read this blog for a while...or perhaps you took the time to read back (yeah right) you would have read about the GIANT rubber duck that I send off to Illinois. Well, I finally have a few pics to share with you of the duck (being that I forgot to photograph it before I sent it).

Look at how he fills up Kelly's mailbox!! But how about this shot??

That my friends would be a regular duck sitting in front of the GIANT one I sent. =) He is massive!

And while I was uploading those pics, another little duck decided he would like to travel. So he may just end up in YOUR mailbox. =)

Collections

So many of you offered a guess as to what I collect that I decided to show you a few of my collections. Er..well...parts of them.

The first of these collections is

PEZ Dispensers! Now I know that this picture doesn't really do them justice, but like I said...these are only parts of my collection. Those ones there are above one of the windows in my bedroom. I have a collection of around 225. I have actually stopped collecting them because I have no where to really display them. (The window ledge only holds around 40).

Next we have ladies scarves. I really enjoy them and I have somewhere around 50 of them all together. My favorite is actually made by Hermes. And you can see a bit of it here:

I am actually wearing it right now. I have my hair tied up inside of it all piled on my head. I have been thinking of chopping my hair off again. But that is for another post.

The final collection that I will share with you tonight is:

PRESSED PENNIES!! I know, I know...it is pretty juvenile to collect these but luckily Brad indulges me in my childish collection. So far all the pennies shown have been collected while I was with him. In fact, he was nice enough to collect a set of Turnpike pennies when he went to Ann Arbor last fall. Not only that, but we recently bought a few coin tubes to make bringing the pennies and quarters along on our adventures.

Anyone interested in pennies there is actually a website that will tell you where the nearest machines are in your state or country. =)

Anyway, I collect a lot more things, trail maps and pamphlets from places I have been, hotel room cards (blame Brad), Hard Rock T-shirts, stamps, Pen-pals ( haha), and I am sure I have forgotten a few things. But to distract you from that, take a look about this:

Mini Mail

Look what I pulled from the mailbox today:

Miss Limner mailed me this beauty. Though it came postage due (which didnt bother me at all cause it is cool enough to pay for). I should have taken a photo of the envelope my mail lady Gwen left for me to put the money in. It was different. The last time I had something postage due she didnt leave me an envelope.

You can see the size as it lays next to one of my many library cards. Strange fact about me..I collect library cards. Some libraries I just go and get the card, though others I actually have active accounts with. In fact in my wallet...I probably have at least 6 active library cards (that I can think of off the top of my head).

I collect other things as well..but they aren't as easy to guess based on knowing me. If you can guess one I will gladly send you something fun!

My Nigerian Friend Needs Your Help...

So I am guessing that if you are reading this post, you have email. AND if you email I am going to assume that you have received the "Send me some money and you will get millions in return" email hoax. Well, last week while hanging out with Brad he checked his mail and found an odd looking envelope waiting for him. It said it was from the Office of the President...but was mailed from Kansas City.

Upon opening it...

We realized that it is indeed a scam. Apparently Brad won 2 million dollars..but needed to send them $11.98 to finalize things? Um...I say subtract that fee from his winnings and let the vacations start!!

Just goes to show you that sometimes you get spam in your mailbox too. Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Zombie Library

Wanna know what I have been up to this evening instead of posting...or writing a letter??

Superhero is hosting a Zombie Book Project on the International Union of Mail Artist's website. If you are interested in joining the project (there are spots left as of right now), all you have to do is click here, read the instructions and join!

More letters going out tomorrow (I wrote them earlier) and more to come this weekend as well.

Fun Mails!!!

It's almost too hot to think today, but I thought it would be the perfect day to share some of my "fun" mail that I received lately.

The first is this GIANT pair of goofy glasses from Kelly P.! How funny is this? Would you like to know something even funnier? I had a pair that I picked up at Target that I was saving to mail to someone. ( I did actually mail my pair today to someone who needed a pick me up. =) )

Next was this lovely package from Limner Cade. I honestly, no lie stared at the package a good 10 minutes before even attempting to open it. I just didn't want to ruin the wrapping. (and I didnt.) Once I got it opened though I found....

How cute is that fish?!?! I wish it would photograph better (but the flash distorts it) because that picture SOOOO does not do it justice. I haven't named it yet. Though I am going to. I am also going to do as Limner suggested and attach a bit of string to the back to hang it.

If either of you are reading this...THANK YOU!! Such wonderful gifts to find waiting in my mailbox.

I love fun mail! Have you gotten anything fun in the mail recently?

50th Anniversary of the Sutton Dam Constrution

So this month commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Sutton Dam (which is located in West Virginia). I borrowed this picture to show you what the Dam itself looks like.

Its a bit of an oddly shaped photo and I promise you can find better ones by google searching "Sutton Dam".

Now you may be asking yourself why I am talking about the Sutton Dam on a blog that focuses on all things postal. Well, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of construction on the dam...they are releasing a Special Cancellation!!

Now I am not sure what the cancellation will look like, but you better believe that I will be sending myself a postcard to find out. If you'd like to do the same (send yourself or others letters/postcards with the cancellation on it) you need to send your stamped mail inside a larger envelope addressed as following.

USPS
Sutton Dam Cancellation
306 Riverview Drive
Sutton, WV 26601

There are two days of cancellations, but the way that I read the article it appears they will be the same cancellation just different date markings. Those dates are July 22nd and 23rd. So be sure to send the items sooner rather than later so you dont miss out.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

No New Adventures

So I had no new adventures today. I worked on putting my postcards into the plastic sheets that I mentioned in yesterday's post. I have caught up on blog posts and such, so I think I am good to go.

Tonight brought a trip to Walmart though. And well...it seems as though I can never really stay out of the pen/paper/stationery aisles. So while Brad looking at computer stuff, I spent some time in the pen aisle. I have been wanting to try the Sharpie pens because they claim there won't be much bleed through depending on the paper. SO..I bought a package and figured I would put them to the test.

Then I turned around getting ready to go find Brad when I saw the clearance pens. Talk about a grin.. I ended up selecting two pens to try. The first set is made by Pilot and they are actually 86% recycled material...what materials you may ask...well...water bottles! How neat is that. Take a look at the Pilot B2P:

The other pens I selected out of the clearance was the Bic Triumph 730R. They seemed like something interesting to try...so why not?

So how about some writing samples?

Well the Sharpie pen is different. It seems to me to be almost like a pen/marker hybrid. And maybe that was their point. I think I will enjoy using this one to address mail..but probably not writing any letters.

The Pilot B2P was very nice. A fluid ink, but not overly runny. I like the way that they body of the pen feels in my hand. It is just around the perfect thickness for my short stubby hands.

I actually have a few complaints with the Bic pen. The ink is very fluid. In fact it is almost too fluid at times. And for someone like me who writes pretty fast (and not in cursive) this could prove to be an issue when writing letters. The second complaint doesn't actually have anything to do with the way the pen operates..but more on how the body is designed. The end of the pen is tapered. Not a huge problem right? Until you try to stick the cap on. To me the fitting isn't snug enough.

You didn't think I had forgotten the bleed through factor did you??

Now the picture may be a little deceiving. The bleed through wasn't bad on any of them, except the Bic Triumph. I certainly wouldn't be writing on the opposite side of the paper with that one, unless the paper weight was a bit higher. Like I said..the Sharpie pen works, but is definitely not my choice to write letters with.

Have you tried any new pens lately?