Category: Mail

Postcards from Dublin, Ireland and Vancouver, Washington

Friend Kelly went to Ireland for her 50th birthday and sent me this great postcard from the Long Room in the library at Trinity College. She reports that the room was very Harry Potter-esque and she liked it much better than the book of Kells, though all the historical busts were guys.

When you give $25 to a candidate in a different state in hopes your meager donation will help unseat the current representative who is not one of your favorites, you get this postcard. Plus a constant slew of emails in your inbox. Political campaigns have really got this communication thing down. 

Also, the note on the back is handwritten, but I’m pretty sure it’s a printed handwritten thank you, which is another great efficiency. My name and address was written by someone my mother’s age,  judging by the cursive handwriting.

Postcard from Portland, Oregon

This is from friend Kelly, thanking me for attending her birthday celebration. The object in the left corner of the card is a bit of masking tape. Kelly initially wrote the wrong address, so covered it with masking tape and re-addressed. I hadn’t thought of using masking tape for such a purpose, but it would come in handy if one didn’t have any blank labels.

SKS Postcards: Banff, the Rimrock Hotel, Bemidji

Sara went on vacation and these three postcards arrived in my mailbox. Two were from Canada and dated 8/3, the third was posted in the US and was dated 8/14. International mail takes a very long time.

Here’s another example of my favorite style of postcard wherein the letters of the name have pictures of things that makes the place famous.Sara reports that they experienced the things depicted in the B, the N, and the F personally, though the N was viewed from a distance.

I’ve been to Banff and I believe I also experienced the N.

Sara reports that this was not their view from the Rimrock. Instead, it was a car park. Sara and Shawn enjoyed the beauty and reports that it was chilly, but that was welcome after hot Montana.

This was on Sara’s Minnesota oversized wonder bucket list. She also likes this old school Paul and is wondering about a Bunyun-based US tour. This article lists about 15 locations of statues (and lists the Portland, Oregon statue as the most famous. Take that, Minnesota!)

SKS Postcard: Fight or Buy Bonds

Aside from fighting and purchasing things, it looks as if artistically losing your shirt is also an option.

This is from an exhibit at the Walker Art Museum that Sara attended with her father. She reports that she has finished adjuncting her class and will grade when she and Shawn return from the Shawn Tour–a vacation of Shawn’s growing-up places.

SKS Postcard: The SPAM Museum


Sara got this postcard at the one and only SPAM Museum, located in Austin, Minnesota, also known as SPAM TOWN USA. Sara has actually visited this marvelous place.

She says she tried several types of SPAM and they were all nasty.

This card also include the delightful message, “Nothing says FRIEND like a can of SPAM in the mail.”

Too true, Sara. Too true.

SKS Postcard: Park Inn, Mason City, Iowa


This is from the only hotel Frank Lloyd Wright designed that is still operating as a hotel. Super cool! Sara and Shawn are very good at finding cool things on their trips.

Sara reports that it was fun to stay in the only Historic Suite and get a taste of what a 1910-era couple’s visit would have been like.

SKS postcard: Minnesota lingo and Minnesota letters

Two days later, all postcards are reunited. Here are postcards #2 and #3 of the trio. Where were postcards #2 and #3 while #1 was speeding toward me? One never knows.
Sara reports that she’s had a bit busier summer than usual, hence her lack of social media participation of late. However, she is halfway through the course she’s adjuncting.This is my other favorite style of postcard. The letters of the name filled with highlights of the place. Of the things pictured on this postcard, I’ve seen two: the state capitol building and Spoonbridge and Cherry.

What a nice postcard trio.

SKS postcard: Minneapolis highlights.


Here’s one of my favorite postcard styles: highlights of the city. Interestingly, many Postcrossers don’t like this style, a fact that indicates the relative picky nature of people who exchange postcards internationally.

This postcard is part of a trio, so Sara writes on the back, but its mates weren’t to be found in my mailbox today.

Sara also reports that she picked up new postcard stamps featuring seashells. She wishes for the birds to come back.  This is a big wish for Sara, as she doesn’t like birds. I’m right there with her wish as the seashells are not that great. Unfortunately, with postcard stamps, there’s not a choice.