Say, Baby, Do You Want a...Postcard?

[thefourthvine]

I recently became the proud possessor of a lot of assorted postcards - some gorgeous, some weird, some frankly hideous. (Look. We all have our weaknesses, and mine basically mean that you shouldn't ever, ever leave me alone with anything to do with paper. A stationery sale is like crack to me.) And, see, there's no real point in having postcards if you don't, you know, put them in the post.

So, do you want a postcard from me?

If your answer is, "Yes, TFV! It has long been one of my dreams to receive mail from you!" fill out the handy poll below (no one can see your responses but me), and make sure you tell me whether or not I can mention LJ or fandom on the card. (It will still be signed TFV, though. Keep that in mind.) And, okay. I don't want to friends lock this, but on the other hand, I only have so many postcards. It's unlikely that there will be more responses to this poll than there are cards for me to mail - I have lots - but just in case, know that I can't guarantee you will get a postcard. I think the odds are very good, though.

So. Give me a reason to interact with postal employees, people. Give me a reason to get to the post office and send all these packages I have waiting to go out. In short, give me your name (or a name) and address. (And especially do that if you were one of the lovely people who sent me a holiday card; I'd like to send some mailish love in the other direction for once.)

ETA: What, you guys thought I was kidding about the lots and lots of postcards? Because there are comments suggesting that I probably don't actually have, say, 90 or 100 to send out, simply because sane people don't buy that many postcards. So let me acquaint you with three quick facts:

1. I am not sane when it comes to stationery. Seriously. This is not some minor, heroin-level habit I have here.
2. This poll has not, as of this edit, hit the number of postcards I originally ordered.
3. I, um. I ordered more. It was totally an accident; I was just looking, and then I fainted from postcard deprivation, and somehow I managed to enter my credit card number and click send with my nose while I was unconscious. And...and...and, look, let's not talk about my shame anymore.

My point is: I've still got postcards. Judging by my shopping habits, I pretty much always will.

[Poll #687434]

Comments

[perian.livejournal.com]

Linking to that sale is like offering an addict crack. You know that, right? *goes to peruse stationary*

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I choose to view it as sharing the love. (Or it just might be doing unto others as was done to me; someone on my friends list linked me to that sale, and, seriously, for a while it looked like it would take the jaws of life to get me away from it.)

[ninasis.livejournal.com]

I would love to get a postcard, but if you don't have enough feel free to kick me out of the drawing. ;-)

And I understand your stationary addiction. My best friend would rather have a box full of various papers and pens than just about anything else in the world. Five years ago her nephew got his hands on her cigarette lighter and started her bedspread on fire, and I always tease her that the room wouldn't have gone up in flames if she hadn't had boxes and boxes and boxes of paper under her bed.

Do you at least use your stationary? Because while she hoards hers, and covets more, she rarely ever actually uses it. Because it's too pretty to actuall write on, you see.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Do you at least use your stationary? Because while she hoards hers, and covets more, she rarely ever actually uses it. Because it's too pretty to actuall write on, you see.

Of course I don't use it. It's pretty! It's paper! I don't want to write on it; I want to cuddle it all night long. But I'm not actually the worst stationery hoarder in this house; Best Beloved has drawers full of paper products, and basically refuses to part with any of them. Ever.

Which is why I decided to do a Mass Postcarding. It will ease me into this whole "using stationery" concept. Yes. That is what it will do. *nods firmly*

(Plus, hey, I figure if I can trust anyone with my beloved stationery, it's my fandom friends.)

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

Wow, I'm all alone up there, eh? :-) You actually didn't have an option for me, which is that relatively innocuous fandom references are fine, but incriminating ones and LJ names are probably best avoided. So I decided to play it safe.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised, actually; I figured nearly everyone would want clean, fandom-free cards. But results may swing around in your favor yet. (And, see, I wanted to play it safe, which is why there's no middle ground. My innocuous fandom reference might be your totally incriminating one. I'm not widely known for my good judgement, after all.)

[malnpudl.livejournal.com]

(Look. We all have our weaknesses, and mine basically mean that you shouldn't ever, ever leave me alone with anything to do with paper. A stationery sale is like crack to me.)

You're not the only one. Which is why I will NOT be clicking on that link. I won't. At all. Nope. Not even to take a quick peek. Nuh-uh. No sirree Bob. Not me.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

You could just look. That wouldn't hurt, would it?

And did I mention they have assorted notecards and panoramic notecards on sale? Or that they have holiday and birthday cards, too? (I got a bunch of notecards and holiday cards, and oh my lord they are gorgeous. I mean, the postcards are lovely, but this bunch really hit their stride with the cards.) And Pomegranate has the best selection of cards and such that I've ever seen; any given page of theirs can put me in paper lust for upwards of half an hour. And the sale is incredible - 3 dozen holiday cards for $15, for example.

*tempts*

[notpoetry.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I collect postcards from around the world, but I am torn between my immediate impulse to say "YES GOD YES MAIL!" and my cloak-and-dagger paranoia that no one must know my true location for I am unto the wind! Or something.

And ohhh that stationary sale. That was just cruel, linking to it like that. I yearn, I yearn.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Well, on the one hand, these are very pretty postcards. On the other hand, I don't think one from LA is precisely a rare find. So, um - that didn't really help at all, did it? But at least the sale link will give you something to browse through while you ponder.

And ohhh that stationary sale. That was just cruel, linking to it like that. I yearn, I yearn.

*beams*

Isn't it pretty? And the really nifty part is that all their products are fairly high quality, and most of them are nice, so you get a random assortment of niceness. You have no way of knowing what you're getting! The fates will decree the contents of your sets! That totally sold me on it, to a degree that was - well, embarrassing. The random assortment of good stuff is the best marketing tool ever.

[cyanei.livejournal.com]

Um, my mom reads my mail if she can. So while I would love to get a postcard, it would be nice if it were in an envelope. An inconspicuous envelope. *shifty*

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

She reads your mail? Wow. That would drive me frothing-at-the-mouth insane in about four seconds.

I could, hmm. The thing about postcards is they're a weird shape for putting in an envelope. So I could either put it in a weird envelope (like, a card-sized one, which might draw your mother's interest even more), or I could make the text totally innocuous (or just plain blank). Your choice!

[carta.livejournal.com]

Gah - you don't even know me! Is it presumptuous to fill out the poll? Probably - but I did it anyway. :)

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

It's not at all presumptuous; postcard love is for everyone. (Well, everyone who wants a postcard, anyway.) And if I'm sending cards to people who don't usually comment here, it just makes the whole project even better.

[conser.livejournal.com]

You don't know me, but I filled out your poll anyway. Pretty much because I love your sense of humour, but also because I'm amused at the prospect of getting a fannish-filled postcard. Postcards rock.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Yes, exactly! Postcards do rock. That's why I bought so pathetically many of them. (Although as far as fannish fillings go, my postcards are nothing compared to the mail you can get around holiday time; boniblithe ran this fantastic holiday thing last year where you could sign up to get a card from a character of your choice. If she does it again, I am definitely signing up for it.)

[ficbyzee.livejournal.com]

If you send one to meee you can reach Livia, too. Two, two fan-connections in one! Or something. :D

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

(I see by your icon that Gunn and Wesley have you in their beautiful, beautiful grasp. Yay!)

If you send one to meee you can reach Livia, too.

Postcard efficiency! Multi-purpose postcards! Oooo.

*makes notes*

(The odds are good that by the time I actually write the postcard, I'll remember that there's something special about yours, but not, you know, what. So it may just end up being for you anyway, all potential efficiency aside.)

[hannahrorlove.livejournal.com]

If you include your address I'll be likely to send you something in return.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Oooo! If I don't remember to do that, I will send you my address via email. Because mail is always wonderful to get.

[janet-carter.livejournal.com]

Ooh, stationery sale...which also seems to have a Stargate Deck?!? Hmm, a traditional shamanic tool, with 12 Stargates and 10 Masters of the Stargates. Anyway, I don't say no to mail, if there are enough postcards to go around, and also return mail is likely if a return address is included or emailed to tamlin11 at gmail.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Hmm, a traditional shamanic tool, with 12 Stargates and 10 Masters of the Stargates.

I know. I saw the deck and clicked, all: "I wonder if they have SGA and SG1," and it turned out to be something totally unrelated to wormholes. I couldn't even pretend the Masters of the Stargates were Goa'ulds. Or Ancients.

*sighs sadly*

And I will definitely send you my address via mail. I really, really love getting fannish mail. Yay!

[laylee.livejournal.com]

Yay, postcards!

Has the one I sent to you from Vietnam turned up yet?

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

Nope, not yet, but I continue to eye each day's mail with hope. (It takes forever for international mail to get here. I think they route it through Alpha Centauri first.)

[abbylee]

I love mail.

Which is why I keep on saying that I'll eventually send out mail of my own:
http://www.livejournal.com/poll/?id=384595

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

And there's something especially wonderful about fannish mail. (Plus, it makes me feel less like the whole purpose of snail mail is to get me to throw away a metric ton of junk mail each year. One fannish item makes the advertising circulars and home equity loan offers entirely worthwhile.)

*clicks on poll*

[the-star-fish.livejournal.com]

Yay, postcards!!

(I note that mine is response #48, so I shan't hold my breath. *g*)

The stationery sale looks lovely indeed. I am sorely tempted by the bookmarks -- I'm forever losing mine in books I forget I was reading -- but it strikes me as ill-omened to buy a large(ish) quantity of sympathy cards ... or is that the drugs talking?

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I note that mine is response #48, so I shan't hold my breath.

You have no idea how many postcards I have. Let me put it this way: that sale where I bought the postcards is only selling them in lots of 100. And when I am faced with a random assortment of good stuff, it's really, really hard for me to buy only one. I very much doubt that there will ever be more responses to this poll than I have postcards to send, and at number 48, your postcard will come from not quite half the way through the first set.

Although it looks like I'm going to get to open the second set, which - yay!

but it strikes me as ill-omened to buy a large(ish) quantity of sympathy cards

I know. I tried to imagine who would want that many sympathy cards, and I could only conclude that maybe it's for businesses that send out cards whenever one of their clients dies. Because otherwise...yeesh. Anyway, I prefer to use blank cards on sympathy-type occasions. It seems - I don't know. It just seems better that way to me.

I am sorely tempted by the bookmarks -- I'm forever losing mine in books I forget I was reading

I wanted the bookmarks, but Best Beloved pointed out that we get unlimited bookmarks for free, so it would be kind of pointless. Which means you should definitely get them so you can tell me how cool they are.

[wyomingnot.livejournal.com]

I'm just thankful I no longer have any credit card numbers memorized, I'm already in bed, my purse is across the room, and I worked a 17hour day, rendering me unable to get up and get my purse. Otherwise, Pomegranate would be packing me a box!

I've got postcards and notecards and stationery coming out my ears (okay, filling up a whole moving box), and I almost never send anything. Almost never. I did the whole poll thing, thinking I'd send drabbles out while I was on the road. Foolish me. I can't write when I'm on the road. Haven't done much at home lately either. So I've got address and cards... and stamps! Loads of stamps. And they're all gathering dust.

I wish you luck on your endeavour. Perhaps if I receive a tfv postcard, I will be inspired. Cos I know you're going to be inundated with requests.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I'm just thankful I no longer have any credit card numbers memorized, I'm already in bed, my purse is across the room, and I worked a 17hour day, rendering me unable to get up and get my purse. Otherwise, Pomegranate would be packing me a box!

*nods*

But let me just mention that the sale is still going on. (I know this because, to my eternal shame, I just bought some more stuff from it. I see now that it was a mistake putting that link right there in my own journal where it would never cease to tempt me.) In case you, you know, happened to have your credit cards close to hand now.

I've got postcards and notecards and stationery coming out my ears (okay, filling up a whole moving box), and I almost never send anything.

Likewise. (Best Beloved and I both love stationery, so our stockpile has pretty much reached the point where we could build a second house out of our collection.) The postcards were purchased because I figured it'd be much easier to send them out than an actual notecard, and in fact it is proving to be so. I take it that doesn't work for you, though?

Perhaps if I receive a tfv postcard, I will be inspired. Cos I know you're going to be inundated with requests.

Hmm. Inundated? No. (I suspected that there would be a practical limit to the number of people willing to give an address to a near-total stranger, and I was right.) So far, the requests in no way exceed my number of postcards. So I don't know when you'll get your postcard, but get it you will.

*looks brave and determined*

*but, in all honesty, has been known to screw up projects before*

[axiom_of_stripe]

i hear your pain. i'm exactly that way with origami paper. mmmm, paper.

[bibliokat.livejournal.com]

I adore postcards so thanks for the offer! Though I completely understand if I don't get one as I think I'm number 57. Everytime my friends go somewhere interesting I ask them to bring me back a postcard;)

Also, I think I've only commented a few times on your reccing posts, but just so you know the "Katherine" is me.

Mmm....

[nyghtshayde.livejournal.com]

...stationary.

I'm an office supply/stationary/pen junkie. That's why I started buying scrapbooking supplies. Not to make scrapbooks, but to use the spiffy paper for writing letters and making cards. Likewise, if you'd ever like to receive a handmade card from me, just e-mail me with your name and address. My addy's on my info page. :)

[melpemone.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love a fellow stationery fiend. *g*

I want a postcard so much that I even provided address formatting in my answer to the poll. Yes, that much. Don't let that sway you, though. :D

I SO WISH I could receive fannish postcards. :( But I know my mother reads mine, and I've only just managed to keep my penname secret from her. You'd think adults wouldn't have to deal with these things. :)

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

Actually, I'd like mine to be borderline obscene, please. :)

[dzurlady.livejournal.com]

Your icon is hilarious.

[dzurlady.livejournal.com]

I am happy with the fannish references, but since it is possible my mother will read it I would prefer it if it wasn't NC-17. Of course, nowadays she mostly just tends to take my fannish weirdness in stride with a roll of her eyes. Still.
Would you like a postcard in return? It could be Australian themed, or just something cool that I find around the place.

[dzurlady.livejournal.com]

Or even, now that I look at my postcards, something from France. :) And I found some other stuff in with my postcards, so I could send you jokes or interesting snippets or quotes or something fannish. Yay postcards.

You, You...

[cattraine.livejournal.com]

PAPER PUSHER! Dammit. I should never have clicked on that link...*sobs, clicks again*

[i-smile.livejournal.com]

Argh, postcard sale. :((( I hope my self-control holds out! Especially since each and every one of them would no doubt follow me around every time I move house for the next thirty years. My discretionary money's already headed to the educational supply store & the art paper store.

Re: fandom-freeness, the only incriminating things would be explicit mention of fannish cock & specific LJ names. Normal cock and non-naked fandom is A-OK. :D As is chocolate talk, blankness, conjugation of verbs, drawings of vases, lyrics from '80s hits, stories about toy soldiers....

[erika-sanely.livejournal.com]

I adore getting postcards! Would you like one in return?? The local post office have these weird ones - my favourite one is the wedge-tail eagle feasting on a kangaroo carcass. It's just odd that someone thought "Wow! What a great picture to send to people!!" (Funnily enough, it's the one I love sending people the most) Just so you know, I'm Lisa from Oz

Aussie Aussie Aussie

[dzurlady.livejournal.com]

That is a *quality* postcard, and sends a great message about our beautiful country to the rest of the world. Stick a kangaroo on it, it'll be a winner for sure!

[wednesdayschild.livejournal.com]

There are people who don't want postcards? Pfft.