I recently discovered that I've been doing Postcrossing for more then 2000 days. I've sent and received 656 postcards each way from all over the World, from a total of 54 different countries.
It's completely random. It's always a surprise where the system has me send postcards, and it's always a surprise from whom and where I receive these postcards. I don't send to and receive from the same people.
The 54 countries: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Brazil, Belarus, Canada, Switzerland, Chile, China, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Algeria, Ecuador, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Hong Kong, Croatia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, India, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Singapore, Slovenia, Slovakia, Thailand, Turkey, Taiwan, Ukraine, U.S.A., and South Africa.
Countries I've sent to but haven't received postcards from: Chile, Algeria, Ecuador, Ireland, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Romania.
Countries I've received from but haven't sent to: Denmark, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Turkey.
I'm still addicted to postcrossing. Just last weekend I sent off 21 postcards. I love finding fun postcards and stamps to send. And I love receiving postcards, seeing the cool stamps, and reading the personal stories and likes from those who love snail mail as much as I.
I didn't realize my 1001 days were up!! March 4, 2013 through November 27, 2015. Wow, how time flies. So how did I do? I only accomplished 13 of them, but that's still 13! Not zero!! 13 out of 101 = 13%, if you round up: 13/101 = 0.1287. And some of the goals I accomplished are filled with incredible memories which I wouldn't have at all if I didn't set these goals.
1. Enter a Music Writing Contest
I entered a music writing contest in 2013 by submitting the song "How Do I Feel the Spirit" to the church music contest under the children's song category. I didn't win or place, but got a nice letter of rejection in response. My first rejection letter. I've got to start somewhere. I do want to expand the song as both a solo piece and full choral piece. That would be a good project.
2. Get An Original Music Video Online
This was quite the project!!! And it wouldn't have been possible if I didn't have the help of two of my brothers Robbie and Steven. I wrote lyric and melody. Steven and I arranged it, with Steven splashing together all those cool sounds. Robbie directed and storyboard the video, coming up with cool shot ideas, and then edited the whole thing. Steven did all the fancy graphics. My only cringe of complaint is in the chorus where the vocals suddenly get louder then needed; I think we discovered that it was caused by accidentally layering the voice. It's also why I haven't put the single up for download, because I want to fix it, but Steven and I couldn't figure out how. I might have to rerecord it, along with finally getting the piano arrangement version out, which would be a good 2016 goal!!!
Here's a behind the scenes video, with arrangement track only.
3. Eat 1 treat or less a day for 3 months
The whole idea of one treat or less comes from the fact that I love treats way too much, and one treat allows the indulgence without the overeating or depriving. Thing is, I didn't just do the Eat 1 treat or less goal, I went an entire 3 months not eating any sweats, muffins, cereal, etc!!! At all. It was quite an accomplishment.
And then I developed bad habits again -_-;; I'm a work in progress.
4. Do a Ropes Course
I went camping with some church friends a couple years ago, and this was the first stage in the ropes course. We had two courses to chose from, and I went for the easier option. I'm really scared of heights!!! Like, I hyperventilated the entire time. Oh my gosh, I was so scared! You have no idea. But I did it :0)
5. Ride the Lift at Sundance and Go on a Hike
This last Summer I rode the Sundance ski lift all the way to the top. I don't know if what I did can count as a hike. I walked around and enjoyed the AMAZING sights! That counts. Heh. But the views really are amazing. And anyone who lives here in Utah has to try it. There's a point on the platform next to the restaurant--they have really yummy nachos and turkey sandwiches--where you can see both Utah Lake and Deer Creek Reservoir, all in one spot, looking left then right. It's really gorgeous. Oh, and the cell reception is the best in the valley because there's a cell tower up there.
6. Send a postcard to myself each month for a year
It seemed silly at first when I decided it would be fun to buy postcards, write a note on it, and then mail it to myself, even in the same city. As in I drove two miles to drop the postcard off at the Post Office and then waited two days to get it back. Sounds really silly. But now I have all these postcards from trips and other adventures sitting in a special box. It's such a fun way to journal, and looking at the postcards and stamps I've collected is really fun.
7. Receive my 100th Postcard through Postcrossing
When I first started Postcrossing the idea of getting 100 postcards seemed like a crazy high number. By November 27, 2015 I didn't receive 100 postcards. I've received over 500 postcards!! From over 40 different countries. And I'm still getting postcards.
8. Get a passport
I had a passport when I was a kid, but it was expired by the time I graduated High School. I wrote down this goal because I really want to travel, and this was the first step. Sometimes the hardest step to take is the first, which is why it's one of the most important steps when achieving a goal.
9. Visit Another Country
I visited Japan!!! That was an incredible goal accomplished.
Here's all the blog posts I've written about this trip thus far. I still have 3 or so more posts I want to write.
In 2014 I visited Yellowstone. Many years before I had visited the Grand Tetons, which are amazing, and only West Thumb in Yellowstone. I wanted to return so badly, just to see all the natural wonders. Walking on top a super volcano is really cool.
Mesa Verde!! A long time ago, when traveling on another trip, I picked up a collection of brochures. And one of the brochures was all about Mesa Verde. As soon as I saw a picture of Cliff Palace I knew I had to visit! And I'm so glad my brothers, sister-in-law, and I were able to make the trip.
Cliff Palace was amazing. Petroglyph trail a highlight. Balcony House scared me to death: That last climb! It's an amazing place to visit.
Having a Mine Craft LAN party totally counts, right?
13. Ride the Heber Valley Railroad
Riding the Heber Valley railroad was just a really fun thing I wanted to do. The train, for this voyage, only went to Deer Creek and back. I really want to ride it again, but this time to Vivian Park and back. And try one of their theme nights. I wonder if they're going to do a mystery train this Summer. Solving a mystery while riding the train sounds really fun.
And those are the 13 goals I accomplished! Now I need to plan out another 101 goals, including many I didn't accomplish last time. If I start the next set of goals on Saturday January 16th, 2015, then it would end on October 13, 2018. These next few years are going to be crazy. Got to have some good things to look forward to :0)
A couple years ago I started collecting vintage postcards. I don't have a lot, but a few special ones that I've picked out while visiting antique stores.
While visiting Arroyo Grande CA last Autumn, I stepped into Something Different, where, hidden away, I found a box of postcards from 1911, a dollar each. I would have bought so much more, but I paid with cash, and was determined to only spend what I brought with me. A lot of the postcards were the correspondence between a George to a Miss Emma in New York, each postcard with a little message.
The Tabernacle in Salt Lake City.
Of course I bought all the Utah postcards. I love seeing what Utah used to look like.
Snow covered Wasatch Mountains; Park City is just over those peaks.
Utah Hotel, Salt Lake City.
I believe my Grandparents stayed here back in the day. Now it's the Joseph Smith building which holds a nice cafe, a couple nice restaurants, genealogy center, and the Legacy theater, which is now showing Meet the Mormons for free.
I picked up some Boston postcards, because that's where my Grandpa R. grew up. I've been meaning to show them to him and ask if any of these buildings were familiar, or if they triggered any memories. I've sat down with him a couple times to record some stories, but haven't for awhile. I should do that today.
Two postcards showing Franklin Park in Boston.
Massachusetts General Hospital.
Hotel Brunswick, Copley Square, Boston.
Mechanics Building, Boston.
Even though my Grandpa wasn't alive in 1911, my great-grandma Agatha Mahoney was born in Boston, and I believe my great-great grandfather Joseph Mahoney was an Engineer of sorts--I need to get more information--so I wonder if members of my family went into this Mechanics building.
Fanueil Hall, Boston.
My only ties to New York state is from the 17 hundreds, but I couldn't resist this 1911 postcard from 5th Avenue. Really neat.
My Grandma A was born in Iowa. I have deep farming roots from that side of the family. Men and women of high integrity. I have a couple books printed in Des Moines from when my Granny married my Gramps, one in which is a cook book. And when I was in Iowa last year going to the Worlds OotM comp., we drove by the Iowa State Capitol. It's stunning. I wish I could have visited.
My Dad recently got back from a trip to Budapest, and naturally I asked him to bring me back a souvenir that represented the culture. He brought me back postcards, and brought my Mom a tablecloth and a doll from Judit's Exclusive Handmade Embroidery and Souvenir Shop. My Dad made a joke that I'll eventually inherit everything my Mom has anyway.
Needless to say my Dad decided to give me the tablecloth, and I'm very glad. This will become an heirloom item, and it's only appropriate that it sits on the cedar chest holding family treasures I've collected from Grandparents and Great-grandparents. The cedar chest itself used to be in my Grandpa's guest room in Ventura, and after the move I claimed it. It's a reminder of all those trips that I so miss.
This tablecloth is entirely handmade, as is the embroidery, and it's exquisite. I cross-stitch, and have done a little embroidery back in the day, so I really appreciate the artistry and the time involved.
Heh, and now whenever I see this tablecloth I'll think of the song Budapest by George Ezra. It's a catchy tune.
The handout written in Hungarian, English, and Japanese.
The postcards he brought back for me. My Dad wanted to send me one in the mail, but didn't know how to get postage. What's pretty funny is a week before he left I sent a postcard through Postcrossing to Budapest, and it arrived while he was there.
Sometimes I wish I can travel where my postcards go. Hop in the mailbox and be whisked away, and all for $1.15. Sometimes I get jealous of those pieces of paper, traveling to places I can only visit in my dreams. Someday.
It's no mystery on this blog that I love postcards. I participate with postcrossing.com, in which I'm really close to receiving 400 postcards total from around the World.
A little while ago I started collecting vintage/antique postcards. My collection is pretty small, but so far I love what I've been able to find while visiting antique shops.
I visited quite a few antique stores throughout the Utah Valley, but couldn't find any Utah postcards. I guess it makes sense that I had to travel outside Utah to finally find some, and it was in Cambria CA where I found a nice little stash.
These postcards I place between 1945 and 1950
It's fun reading what is described on the back.
Southern Utah postcards circa 1970's.
Did you know Bryce Canyon inspired the look of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland? It's all thanks to a National Geographic article back in the day. (I heard this on one of those behind-the-scenes DVD's that you can buy at the Disney park. I really need to find the article.)
I've heard my Mom and Grandparents talk about "The Sky Ride" at Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon several times this last decade, but every time I visit the falls I have a hard time imagining it. There's no trace of this old ride. Apparently there was a restaurant at the top you could visit. That would have been fun.
I believe I literally let out a squeal of delight when I found the postcard and couldn't wait to show my family.
Before and after photos of Mount St. Helens. Amazing.
More postcards spanning the country.
I just love how these older postcards are drawn/painted. It adds to the charm.
Now this is my most favorite find: A photo book of images found throughout Oregon and California, all drawings.
I got someone else's postcard! I didn't realize it at first, surprised that I got two Russian postcards at the same time, but when I went to register the RU I.D. on postcrossing.com, the postcard pictured above wouldn't register! It took me a few failed tries until I finally looked at the address.
The postcard was supposed to go to a gal in Bayside California, a fellow postcrossing junkie. How did it end up in my mail slot? I think our postcards got stuck together, coming out of Russia, with the top of her postcard showing my address. I quickly put her postcard in an envelope, so hopefully she's got it now. But boy, how trustworthy is the USPS?
On another note, USPS is increasing stamp prices starting January 26, 2014 . . . again.
Regular US letters will go from $0.46 to $0.49 a stamp . . . making a book of 20 $9.80.
Postcard stamps are going from $0.33 to $0.34, a whole penny
And International stamps are going from $1.10 to $1.15 a stamp.
When sending a postcrossing postcard I always put two regular Forever stamps with a George Washington $0.20 stamp, making my International postage $1.12. Two cents more, but those I send the postcards to love the fun commemorative stamps. Now the same combo will cost me $1.18, up 6 cents, and 3 cents above the new International forever price. A few pennies seem small, but when you send a lot of postcards Internationally, it sure adds up fast.
Get those Forever stamps at the cheaper rate while you still can!!
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