Thank you for riandesign.eu for this image.

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“I do still get the odd fan letter about The Good Life, clearly written by somebody aged 18, who says: Will you send a photograph? And I think: Maybe it’s kinder not to. I’m deeply into my 50s now.”

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“Hands down, the biggest thrill is to get a letter from a kid saying, I loved your book. Will you write me another one?”

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A fan sent me a letter and a $10 bill. It’s a short letter – all she said was, “Hey, since it’s harder for you to go out these days without getting photographed, here $10 for a pizza.” I was like, “Aww, she sent me money for a pizza so I could eat at home!”

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“I got one letter at the very beginning, like, in the first season, saying – from a woman who was very religious, very Christian, saying how wrong she thought the show was, but she thinks it’s the funniest show on television.”

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“You know what a fan letter is – it’s just an inky raspberry”

Oh yes, wait a minute Mister Postman

(Wait)

Wait Mister Postman

Please Mister Postman, look and see

(Oh yeah)

If there’s a letter in your bag for me

(Please, Please Mister Postman)

Why’s it takin’ such a long time

(Oh yeah)

For me to hear from that boy of mine

There must be some word today

From my boyfriend so far away

Pleas Mister Postman, look and see

If there’s a letter, a letter for me

I’ve been standin’ here waitin’ Mister Postman

So patiently

For just a card, or just a letter

Sayin’ he’s returnin’ home to me

(Mister Postman)

Mister Postman, look and see

(Oh yeah)

If there’s a letter in your bag for me

(Please, Please Mister Postman)

Why’s it takin’ such a long time

(Oh yeah)

For me to hear from that boy of mine

So many days you passed me by

See the tears standin’ in my eyes

You didn’t stop to make me feel better

By leavin’ me a card or a letter

(Mister Postman)

Mister Postman, look and see

(Oh yeah)

If there’s a letter in your bag for me

(Please, Please Mister Postman)

Why’s it takin’ such a long time

(Why don’t you check it and see one more time for me, you gotta)

Wait a minute

Wait a minute

Wait a minute

Wait a minute

(Mister Postman)

Mister Postman, look and see

(C’mon deliver the letter, the sooner the better)

Mister Postman

_____

This song was performed by so many well known artists and groups including The Beatles, The Carpenters, Katy Perry and more.

I guess we can all relate to the feeling, although today we will probably sing ” Oh yes, Mr. Inbox…”

D.

From Wikipedia:

“Going Postal in American English slang, means becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment.

Going Postal derives from a series of incidents from 1983 onward in which US postal Service workers shot and killed managers, fellow workers, and members of the police or general public in acts of mass murder.“

And now for something completely different, Going Postal – the book:

From the publisher website:

Postal stickers have long been a preferred substrate used by street artists to get up. Of course, because stickers from the US Postal Service, UPS, DHL and FedEx are so readily available, most of these stickers get lost in the fray, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

That’s where graffiti photography legend Martha Cooper comes in. Cooper’s well-trained eyes know how to recognize deft sticker art. Here then is a collection of more than 200 photographs of some of Cooper’s favorite handmade postal stickers from around the world, done by some of the scene’s better-known artists and the anonymous.

Going Postal documents how an old-school method has burgeoned into another rich facet of the world’s graffiti cultures.

This is not to be confused with the excellent book by one of my favorite authors Terry Pratchett – Going Postal.

And now for your moment of zen:

D.

It seems that “two weeks ago me” was very practical, thinking of what I need up to the last minute before we leave and as soon as possible when we arrive to our new house, I airmailed the computer, and at the bottom of the box I found a small box of cards with inspirational words on each of them, which I forgot to send with all the other stuff, but did not want to part from. I completely forgot I put them in, and it made me smile finding them. I actually never used it, I just enjoyed thinking of “2 weeks ago me” putting it in, knowing that “present me” would probably do the same. I guess I did not changed much in the past two weeks.

The second delivery was marine shipped by “two months ago me” and was made of 4 big boxes with our personal items, mostly cloths, and a tent, which I hope we will use. “two months ago me” was thinking for the long run, how to make our life easier, what we will need and what will make us happy. This could have been great if it was not tainted by the thoughts of “present me” that we could have saved the small fortune it cost us to send all of this, and buy new things, while knowing very well we probably would have used that money to buy groceries.

So I’m still not sure what I think of this delivery, I know I’m a little upset with “two months ago me” for not checking what will it all cost, but just a little, as I know “present me” would do the same.

And last, but not list, was what “three years ago me” kept behind. Everything was locked in one room in our old house, that now we came back to live in. Along side of furniture, pots and pans, cloths and books, was a huge stash of crafting materials that I did not have the heart to throw away. Colors and brushes of course, but also old books, used postcards, pieces of fabric, broken jewelries and found objects that I collected over the years, in short – garbage, or as I call it -  treasures.

Going through the boxes I feel like a child opening birthday presents, thinking what I can make from all of these, remembering things I forgot I had, and refinding things I was missing for 3 years. Going over all of this I feel how much I love “three years ago me” for thinking of me, and realizing she must have loved me too. I wish I could tell her that, though I think she knows. I’m sorry I can’t send a package to the past, she deserve something too.

D.

Please note, the address for sending letters has changed, and is now:

Hagome 15, Kiryat Tivon 36090, Israel

It is also written next to the header of the blog.

It will actually be a bit over a month before I will be in the new address, but anything that will arrive before me, will wait for me there.

D.

And here what she wrote:

“Hands, the actual challenge on Theme Thursday, gives us a wide space for interpretation. Today nearly the most people send e-mails, SMS or give a call… so I’ve decided to take a writing hand, using paper and feather “

D.

“I have owed you this letter for a very long time-but my fingers have avoided the pencil as though it were an old and poisoned tool.”

John Steinbeck

___

“Even when I have to write a simple letter I’m scared stiff as if faced with looming seasickness.”

Gustav Klimt

___

“You will no doubt expect a long letter after so much delay, but I am afraid you will be disappointed, as long letters are not my forte.”

William J. Wills

___

“Honest honey, I feel like crying every time I sit down to write you a letter… I am so unlucky.”

Eddie Slovik

And another one, amusing but so true:

“I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter.”

Pascal

D.

Here is the before:

And the after:

And here it is at the post counter, all ready to go, and no, not the local post store where I was still not up to their harsh standards, but at the main branch, where they are big and confident enough to accommodate strange request, although not professional enough not to whisper and giggle about it:

Not only that I was able to send it, but I already got the news that it made its way unharmed to its destination. I never told it to the people at the post store, but each time I go there I have this superior feeling.

And as I promised in this post header, not just one cup but two. The second cup is the one that was sent to me, and was waiting for me in the mailbox one day.

It was very clever choosing a cup that you can put all the information under the plastic, knowing it will be protected from the elements. And it was decorated all over with postage stamps.

I asked Aline, who sent me the cup if she had any problems, her answer was:

it was pretty easy, the postman just asked me if i wanted to send it like that and when i said yes, he said ‘thats unique’ and happily sent it!

D.

Here are the requirements of the swap as published on Swap-bot:

“Pick a cup and decorate it. Put a stamp, and don’t forget to leave a place for the address. You do not, I repeat, DO NOT wrap it. You stick what ever postage needed straight on the cup (or maybe in it), and write the address on it. Document the final project and the process of sending the cup. The documentation is for in case the cup will not arrive, as this is a risky swap. If you do not get your cup, contact your partner and they will send you the documentation. We will not give rating of 1 on this swap, as too much hang on the post people. Be ready to the option that you will not get a cup, and might end with just the pictures sent be Email.

You may wrap your cup only in the event that the post office clerk will not agree to accept it, and I would suggest you try sending it from another branch first. Try to document this as well.”

I started by going to the post office to find out what size of stickers will be used, to make sure I leave enough space for the stickers, and how much space do I have left empty for the address and any decorating I want to make.

Then I decided a tall cup will be the best choice. Here it is with all the stickers that I got from the post office:

After writing the address and putting the stickers on, there was a very small space left. I draw on it this small mailman bringing a cup:

Fabian, the nice guy at my local post shop charged me $13.5 to send the cup, and while I was taking a picture his supervisor went by to tell me I cannot send it like this, as it might brake and hurt someone, or damage other mail items.  My payment was refunded, and I took the cup and tried my luck in a second post shop, just to get the same answer.

And as I was taking a picture of the post shop entrance for the documentation, a security guard approached me and asked me not to take any photos within the mall. However, she had a look at the one I took and said it is fine, and that I do not need to delete it.

After that I bought a yummy cake, and decided that instead of giving up and wrapping my cup, I will start again, but this time with a plastic cup.

I’ll be sure to keep you posted (no pun intended) on my progress.

D.