Just started doing the postal exchange. Love reading the other blogs regarding letter/postcard writing and have gotten involved with quite a few.

I have resolved to send at least 5 cards a week min and have been on the search for older and unique items.

Please let me show the younger generation in the family the joy of sending and receiving mail from all over the world.

we have a few animals 1 dogs, 2 cats.

This started out as a way for me to show the kids in the family how to write letters/postcards and how neat it would be to get mail and converse with people from all over the world. Write a letter get a letter.

I can remember as a kid when I sent away for some crappy toy out of a comic book with my own money and how I waited day after day for the postman to show up..

I look forward to ANY mail from you guys.

Interests, Camping, Hiking (always have to make time for that on vacaions or around here, frequent trips to Point Reyes or just walking around SF after work, stationery, pens (have a few fountain pens and still learning to use them). Photography, baseball (I shoot for some magazines) concerts ..

anything really..

I've been told I need to flesh my profile out so here it goes..

I really do like just about anything, most liked though in genre sense goes, Classic rock (eagles, tom petty, Rush, Ted Nugent) to Rock (Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Montrose, Sammy Hagar, Saving Abel) to Classical to Country. Only thing I'm not "really" into would be really heavy death metal.

Recent concerts: of Mountains and Men, Cake (I work as an IT manager for a group of radio stations in Northern California so I get my fill as we have many acts roll through the building to play.)

Romantic comedies have to probably be my fav. Yup I'm a big girl..

Under the Tuscan Sun, You've got mail, Notting Hill, Quiet Man, The Cheyenne Social Club, anything with Cary Grant (Operation Petticoat, Mr. Blandings build his dream home.

BIG fan of Old Time Radio, Jack benny, Uncle Milty, Dragnet, The Shadow and so on..

Though one: more of a favorite Authors thing than books. Bill Bryson, Ali Hazelwood, James Herriot, Jenny Colgan, David Sedaris. (Do love the Chick-Lit)

Books I really enjoyed though, A Walk in The Woods (bryson), Dog Stories (herriot), We were here first (melor), The Rosie Project. All of Jenny Colgan books (The Cupcake Cafe, Beach Street Bakery, Rosie Hopkins series, The Island series).

Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/43242705-derrick-dodson

Currently reading: Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus

Recently finished: Boardwalk Bookshop, Susan Mallery

Anything animal related (dogs)

Letters; found a few folks while doing a mail blog (istillwrite.com), have kind of let that go as well (life).

Still write to many of the folks I found there, always looking for another pen-pal.

I am really enjoying the letter/postal exchange. I have just learned how to make my own envelopes and postcards, so you guys will be getting those soon :) I am trying to figure out how to get some of my photography onto postcards (looking the way I want them.. OK I'm a bit OCD when it comes to my photography, my own worst critic as it were.

We are animal folk. I volunteer for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever Relief and Rescue (cbrrescue.org/) Transporter/home visits.

The Dogs (down to 2): I am a Chessie (Chesapeake Bay Retrievers) person I am currently on Chessies number 4-5, which consist of Skits, and Buster, my wifes Shi-Tzu. Although the new Chessie pup is coming late Oct.

While I am currently sending postcards and mostly vintage ones I have found at antique stores as to be a bit more special (you should see the look on the shop keeper faces when I tell them I'm going to mail some of these as in their minds I'm destroying the value. My thought is they were meant to be sent.)

Fountain pens/Ink. I can always use another. Always trying out new inks. Really like the Noodlers stuff I've been getting lately.

Ephemera - Drug store labels, soda labels, bread label, etc.. Something I can use in mail art.

What NOT to send - bling things/rhinestones, really small sticky stones (we have dogs and cats that like to find these things) Random clippings/paper or washi samples, playing cards. (If the swap recommends it- I will never rate down if not sent)

If you happen to find anything Chesapeake related I would appreciate very much. I know that there have been stamps made in other countries with the Chessie on them.

And remember if your would like a card/letter back, please either send me a message with your address or put it on the card.

I promise to rate every item the day received.

I promise to send every swap ON TIME. If I am unable to for some reason (life happens) I promise to contact my partner and explain and give a send date. I accept the fact that if I have failed to contact my partner, I DESERVE a lowerlife rating. It is my job to communicate if I'm going to be late.

I ask the same of my partners. If you are going to be late send me a message. Late + No Message = Ding. While this is a place to have fun and meet new people, I teach my child to be punctual and not to make commitments she cannot keep.

So as I have made my promises to be courteous to others and ask the same in return.

Thank you for reading this and if you ever find one of my swaps lacking I will do everything within reason to make it right for you.

This is more for me but here it goes.

Deedee62 - Fill my home with Christmas Cards (also flaked on her partner for same below)

Elizabeth Lineberry (elineberry) - Big Fat Stuffed Envelope #16