Commodore

Posting this strange postcard at the witching hour on the most witch-ing-est of days. Halloween is my favorite holiday, I absolutely love all of the traditions from around the world (especially Dia de los Muertos).

Anyway, back to the postcard...

 

Chef Leoni Exercising His Cooks atop the Hotel Commodore
New York City, 1920

Postmarked 18 October 2014 from Greensboro, North Carolina

Congratulations on the wedding, Stephanie!

Postcrossing US-3042209

PS. Because I like interesting facts: The Hotel Commodore was originally built and opened on January 28, 1919 but is now the Grand Hyatt New York.

Then:

After 1980 remodel:

Valentines For Lilly

Swap-bot Valentines For Lilly

I sent one to Lilly, and one to my partner (Not going to post a picture, because then everyone else getting one won't be suprised)

Here's the card I got from user Albright:

 Lilly is a sick 7 year-old. Her grandmother keeps a scrapbook of cards people have sent her. You can send her a card too:

Lilly Wilson 107 Carlyle Ct Byron GA 31008

Ban Self Doubt

Another letter from Erinbit!

Handmade envelope:

A quote (I love it!):

More things from my mailtag request:

Previous correspondence:

Franz, Adelaide and the Bishop of Bamberg
MailTag!

MailTag!

I got another letter from Erin this week. Look at the fantastic envelope she made:

She calls it "rescuing damaged books" - now I'll try to remember this when cutting up old books!

Speaking of books, last time we talked about what we're reading. I asked her what her favorite books are or some reading suggestions. She's reading The Night Circus, and enjoyed The Help (I loved that book too!) Overall favorites are 1984 and Brave New World. "Also, The Dao of Pooh is classic wisdom... Lamb by Christopher Moore is a must-read comedy. But, all of his books are great... Bloodsucking fiends, you suck!, and The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, to name a few!" WELL! 1984 is one of my favorite books of all time, and you would imagine that Brave New World, being somewhat similar, would be on the list too. But when we were supposed to read that in school, I only pretended to. So it's on the list. Right now I'm reading The Lincoln Lawyer, and I just finished some god-awful books by Lora Leigh. Yuck!

And she sent me this MailTag!

I've never heard of it, so here is her description: "mail tag is a postal exchange. the first person starts by requesting one or more desired things. That person then mails the requests back with their own list of requests. Pass it on to your other pen-friends. tag!! You're it."

Here's my response:

I printed out and sent her my 2 favorite poems, but here are links:

Jabberwocky

Do Not Go Gentle

This poem is by Dylan Thomas, the welsh poet. My nephew's name is Dylan Thomas Dukes - I thought that was pretty neat. My dad thinks it sounds like a cowboy name. Whatever, he's adorable:

Now I have to make my own mail tag to send back to her!
***Update***
Here's my mailtag list:

Franz, Adelaide and the Bishop of Bamberg

Back in May 2012, Erinbit sent me this cute card:

She's from Asheville, a "cool town" in the mountains of western NC. She said she was in the middle of reading "The Girl in the Flammable Skirt," a collection of weird short stories. I've never actually read a collection of short stories before, which is odd, since I read alot. Anyway, she asked what I'm reading, and today (August 16, 2012) I'm finally sending her a response. Yay! Just in case you're interested too, here's what I told her: Right now I'm reading the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and a few days ago I finished Life Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. This summer I also read 2 books that have been sitting on my shelf for years: Sahara by Clive Cussler and The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum.

 Her sendsomething profile says she's into upcycling, and she even has her own etsy shop. So, I decided to actually make her something. Months ago I bought a really old book just for this purpose and I finally got around to cutting it up last night. The book is called Character Sketches of Romance Fiction and the Drama, by The Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and it was published in 1892. Holy cow!

This is the card, unfolded:

And this is the description of the print "Franz, Adelaide and the Bishop of Bamberg", I pasted on the inside of the card:

And then I cut the next page into an envelope (well, my cricut cut it):

There's a funny poem on the envelope that wrap around to the front so you can't read it all, so here it is:
      "Here lies Fred,
Who was alive, and is dead.
    Had it been his father,
    I had much rather;
    Had it been his brother,
    Still better than another;
    Had it been his sister,
    No one would have missed her;
Had it been the whole generation,
    Still better for the nation;
    But, since 'tis only Fred
    Who was alive, and is dead,
      There's no more to be said!"
- the epitaph written about Fred Lewis, prince of Wales, father of George III.