https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards daily 0.75 2026-08-08 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/valetta-malta monthly 0.5 2026-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d00014dd-6700-41e2-9451-3d51ffffc140/MT_Lino01.jpg Postcards - Valetta (Malta) - Lino traveled to Malta just over a quick weekend with some friends. I haven’t been to Malta, yet, but I’d definitely love to go! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2-postcards-in-envelope-germany monthly 0.5 2026-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1786058961731-UVWQCUHPMZRL8SBG6QPU/FR_Dominique200.jpg Postcards - 2 postcards in envelope (Germany) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1786058961740-QNUDJ19LOAIKP9W3NZCU/FR_Dominique199.jpg Postcards - 2 postcards in envelope (Germany) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/old-mission-tavern-michigan monthly 0.5 2026-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/18a0f68c-1be2-40d6-9ea2-cfa508021b95/US-MI_EmilyCarter13.jpg Postcards - Old Mission Tavern (Michigan) - They also ate at Old Mission Tavern, the newest tavern in Traverse City. It was opened by their former coworker. They said it was fantastic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/brys-estate-vineyard-michigan monthly 0.5 2026-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf14552a-97a4-49c1-afc1-51b49bde4573/US-MI_EmilyCarter12.jpg Postcards - Brys Estate Vineyard (Michigan) - Among the four wineries they visited in Traverse City, they enjoyed the Pinot Noir at this one! I’m glad to know we have similar taste in varietals. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/platte-river-michigan monthly 0.5 2026-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0d8e9e64-a0fe-4100-be67-a5f352b965d3/US-MI_EmilyCarter11.jpg Postcards - Platte River (Michigan) - Our niece and nephew spent a few days up in Traverse City environs of Michigan; on the fourth day, they.canoed down the Platte River and enjoyed the day in true Michigan fashion. She writes “My canoe, (team Voldemort), tipped around halfway through. The sight of all our things floating down the River as we attempted to right the canoe was incredibly funny to drunk Gedas.” I have been in those very shoes! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mirabellekeche-france monthly 0.5 2026-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2d776205-acfd-4450-85fb-b45e0d88d07b/FR_Dominique198.jpg Postcards - Mirabelleküeche (France) - Andy knew immediately upon seeing the headline of this card that it was Alsatian. “Mirabelle” is clearly French, and “küeche” is clearly Germanic. What other option could there be?! Aww, we miss Alsace dearly. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/japanese-koi-iowa monthly 0.5 2026-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6195eee2-b1c9-4d58-9b81-3256a8bf217b/US-IA_Nozomi04.jpg Postcards - Japanese koi (Iowa) - Nozomi sent this postcard from her recent trip to Japan, the first in several years and the first time for her husband. She offers some very practical advice: if visiting in the summer, leave time to freshen up between appointments! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/maid-of-the-mist-new-york monthly 0.5 2026-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f7255cf4-dcbf-4390-a8e1-6f41f2ff8d88/US-NY_Dhruval01.jpg Postcards - Maid of the Mist (New York) - My former student Dhruval took a trip around North America with his family this summer. He took the time to send this stunning postcard from his experience. He writes beautifully “I was totally astounded by its deafening sound and raw, off-the-chart energy.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-love-singapore monthly 0.5 2026-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/215ce3bd-ffbf-459f-82ed-e18984255b34/SG_Andreas01.jpg Postcards - I love Singapore - My penpal Andreas went to Singapore and sent this absolutely beautiful postcard of some of the icons of Singapore! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/berlin-pan-am-germany monthly 0.5 2026-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f3987f86-3836-489b-a206-72a13d1a2cf9/DE_QuinnLorris03.jpg Postcards - Berlin Pan Am (Germany) - Katie and Walter were traveling in Germany on vacation and took the time to send this arresting image. Thank you! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monte-santangelo-italy monthly 0.5 2026-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8af77694-721e-4167-963d-3a0610253d99/IT_Lino37.jpg Postcards - Monte Sant’Angelo (Italy) - Oh, if this vintage postcard isn’t a slice of delicious, I’m not sure what is! Lino visited recently and writes “It’s a place where faith and silence are perfectly combined! There’s a church here - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - dedicated to the cult of Saint Michael.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/booksmith-turns-50-california monthly 0.5 2026-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/593f2161-35c8-45a9-b084-ad4792519558/US-CA_KimeeMichael61.jpg Postcards - Booksmith turns 50! (California) - Kimee and Michael met at Booksmith, so of course they went to help celebrate its 50th birthday! What a community space, and an offering of peace and learning, discovery. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/guty31mridsnk5mpm56q1yqy8fyhzi monthly 0.5 2026-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ec1bc98b-92a6-4fc5-9c65-6c6f993963fa/US-CA_Matt04.jpg Postcards - June 14, 1914 eruption (California) - Matt took a camping trip to Lassen Volcanic National Park and really enjoyed his time there, even in the wake of the Dixie Fire. He writes “While the devastation of that even is plainly visible, it has its own beauty. And among the charred trunks, a riot of green shrubs and yellow, white, orange, purple, pink wild flowers!” Beautiful. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/batorama-france monthly 0.5 2026-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/37771ddb-3f4a-49c4-a5d3-e0fd566bf386/FR_Dominique197.jpg Postcards - Batorama (France) - Dominique écrit que le Consulat Général des États-Unis à Strasbourg peut-être se fermera. Ça me rend triste car, comme Dominique écrit, en 2016, la consulat général a fêté ses 150 ans de présence à Strasbourg. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-love-chicago-illinois monthly 0.5 2026-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/39cfab5b-17e0-43fb-a38d-4628ec91d07e/US-IL_Phoenix01.jpg Postcards - I love Chicago (Illinois) - Our niece Phoenix traveled to Chicago for the Noah Kahan concert. They had a great trip to the city, which was her first time there. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/el-amor-espaol-spain monthly 0.5 2026-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/993c2479-5666-4b32-a590-e11aa80c8de7/ES_JulianSalvo30.jpg Postcards - el amor español (Spain) - On the back of this postcard, there’s a thermometer to be filled in, indicating the day’s temperature; loos like its as 28C (82F) which seems quite pleasant for summer in Spain! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/leather-man-australia monthly 0.5 2026-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d0ac809c-164f-4f49-9145-0a5b10c84eda/AU_Matty47.jpg Postcards - leather man (Australia) - Matty writes about travel and the World Cup. I wonder what the fever of it all is like in Australia right now? I’m surprised at how big it is in the US; I always thought the US didn’t care about the World Cup but I think I’m wrong. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/s1odffdv0bk8hvvze5iqv068c8bxre monthly 0.5 2026-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/358fd477-0ebd-44c1-8dbf-eed5c5910d4a/ES_JulianSalvo29.jpg Postcards - Luna de Valencia (Spain) - J&S write about the lovely friends they made during the competition, which was hot and sweaty and not in the great way. The weather really does seem like it was quite the damper on the event, although J&S in true style found the best parts to enjoy and hold close! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/992cpvj9cowoay52zxwnfzbmgwwvx1 monthly 0.5 2026-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7eba82a9-8060-4c88-b079-8d7133e3a5f1/AR_LauraHernan01.jpg Postcards - Argentina - I can’t believe this is my first postcard from Argentina! Our old neighbors from Pittsburgh Laura and Hernán traveled to Argentina with their now-adult son Benjo whom I remember as a pre-verbal kid. They also visited Uruguay and enjoyed the lovely weather. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/angry-paella-spain monthly 0.5 2026-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/51b0ef74-d3c9-4c32-8343-2934c09804d4/ES_JulianSalvo28.jpg Postcards - angry paella (Spain) - I’m not sure why this man looks so angry, or perturbed. It looks like he’s responsible for a delicious paella here! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jx2gy93inktgpcemqovbcfelwyzhnf monthly 0.5 2026-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e4f284a4-5fd8-4a7b-be40-0c861466e9ca/US-CA_KimeeMichael60.jpg Postcards - Sherald thank-you (California) - What a lovely thank-you card from our dear friends Kimee and Michael, who joined us for an Alsatian meal last week to celebrate our return to a safe and happy puppy (thanks to them)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/plaa-de-lajuntament-spain monthly 0.5 2026-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a86427a2-9870-4f3d-b200-bc551f58fad7/ES_JulianSalvo27.jpg Postcards - Plaça de l’Ajuntament (Spain) - I love receiving these cards from J&S after their trip; although it was unbearably hot in Valencia, they enjoy their time at the Gay Games and were even able to march in the Parade of Nations! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/niagara-falls-multi-view-canada monthly 0.5 2026-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6f8569ba-a599-45cd-b249-b4e2a85b071d/CA_Walter01.jpg Postcards - Niagara Falls multi view (Canada) - Our nephew Walter wrote us this great card from his time in Canada, passing through they stopped in Niagara and visited the falls and a water park. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8lokowolmkzpvg0pgv6rniet0saunn monthly 0.5 2026-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0c01e876-8137-46e4-81fe-d651bd53d112/CA_Ray30.jpg Postcards - porch anniversary (Canada) - My penpal Ray had the brain space to send us a lovely anniversary card, including this romantic image. There’s something about the houses that gives me Pittsburgh vibes; was that deliberate? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/french-duo monthly 0.5 2026-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1784051557196-LVNCCXWAQ35C0EK764BA/FR_Dominique196.jpg Postcards - French duo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1784051557207-DRQANMSMO0RL871GQ1O5/FR_Dominique195.jpg Postcards - French duo https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nyc-skyline-at-night monthly 0.5 2026-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/628d10e8-d1df-412c-b1bc-34107fb28375/US-NY_Mom02.jpg Postcards - NYC skyline at night - Mom really enjoyed her trip to NYC with my little brother and his family last month. She found the Statue of Liberty — a bucket list item for her — to be “an awesome experience.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/figura-en-una-finestra-spain monthly 0.5 2026-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/451eb299-e91c-4f07-8076-89e226f5151f/ES_JulianSalvo26.jpg Postcards - figura en una finestra (Spain) - I suppose the title is exactly what we’re looking at. J&S enjoyed the Reina Sofia and enjoyed the art from Dalí, Picasso, and my favorite Miró. figure en una finestra, 1925 Salvador Dalí https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/palacio-real-spain monthly 0.5 2026-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2c71bcf1-4f49-4a7a-b0b6-7fbee713b702/ES_JulianSalvo25.jpg Postcards - Palacio Real (Spain) - I’m fairly certain these postcards and this art style are AI-generated but I do love them so much. It’s clean and identifiable at the same time. You know when there’s something you don’t want to like but you do anyway? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gazpacho-spain monthly 0.5 2026-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3c07e0a6-772b-4813-806c-27b405a06cd6/ES_JulianSalvo24.jpg Postcards - gazpacho (Spain) - Gazpacho is such an essential component of Spanish cuisine to me, I wonder what it looked like before the introductions of tomatoes from the new world. What was it made from then? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/spanish-strongman monthly 0.5 2026-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/842404c0-25dc-42d3-947c-67b2af9bfa53/ES_JulianSalvo23.jpg Postcards - Spanish strongman - Julian and Salvo traveled to Spain to compete in the Gay Games but still found time to send these great postcards! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/aotearoa monthly 0.5 2026-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5a85b940-01cb-458d-8b97-6be20a86cd26/NZ_Nozomi.jpg Postcards - Aotearoa - This beautiful, metal postcard comes from Nozomi who was visiting recently for the Austronesian Formal Linguistics Association meeting, for the first time in ten years! I love New Zealand so much. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/niagara-falls-canada monthly 0.5 2026-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9400acd5-05a6-4855-8354-3ca166a921d6/CA_Mom01.jpg Postcards - Niagara Falls (Canada) - The last time that I or my mother were in Niagara Falls was back in 2000, when my penpal Eulàlia visited me for a month! I remember drove to Niagara Falls and took some photos, and I realized while I was there that I had forgotten my ID. I was in a foreign country without ID, but back then it was so easy to cross the border back and forth. Mom writes that the area has built up quite a bit since we were there 25+ years ago. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stuttgart-germany-1 monthly 0.5 2026-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7bcb5abf-a74c-4692-b054-4450d953f3b7/DE_Lino.jpg Postcards - Stuttgart (Germany) - Lino, my penpal, is on a trip to Stuttgart visiting his daughter. They had a good time being together and enjoying the summer weather, which always brings good moods! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hockeys-our-game-canada monthly 0.5 2026-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c577a55d-44ab-45b0-823d-a15017dadf9c/CA_Arthur01.jpg Postcards - Hockey’s our game! (Canada) - My brother took his family to New York City, passing through Ontario on their way from Michigan. They spent some time at Niagara Falls, from which our nephew sent us this postcard. He even is playing hockey now, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/new-federal-housing-oregon monthly 0.5 2026-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/483e342a-c7eb-406b-a384-ab1161f774c8/US-OR_Linda75.jpg Postcards - new federal housing (Oregon) - I love this postcard so so much. Linda knows how to find them! All I can think of is: this is the future that liberals want. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/iwggo4qx850fd98x1iapzqazmuf4h7 monthly 0.5 2026-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/49d1a784-ab87-407b-9288-8ce1b48bd3a4/US-NY_KyleJacquie02.jpg Postcards - Statue of Liberty (New York) - My little brother took his family to Connecticut and New York with my mother; now she’s asking me what I’m planning to do for her! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/skf6f91f7jh4r03fg3nmn36kedoh8b monthly 0.5 2026-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7993cdf1-0e0e-43b0-aaec-013e1e44f89c/FR_Kristopher02.jpg Postcards - carte des vins d’Alsace (France) - Here’s another of the postcards I sent to Andy as thanks of organizing the great trip we had in Alsace and Burgundy. We had a terrific time tasting wines, eating food, and meeting people. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/midsummer-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2026-07-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2857b527-1452-4f32-8f21-12d95cdd495a/FI_Jussi27.jpg Postcards - midsummer meetup (Finland) - My dear penpal Jussi sent me this postcard from a virtual MeetUp in Finland. I’m always impressed with how so many people attend and put their signatures on it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lquilibre-perdu-france monthly 0.5 2026-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7fcb989d-e3fa-4af3-a7bf-e0e348b22c17/FR_Dominique194.jpg Postcards - “l’équilibre perdu" (France) - Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte postale de cet artiste qui a ouvert une exposition de son art juste à côté de l’hôtel où nous sommes restés à Strasbourg. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/carte-des-vins-de-france monthly 0.5 2026-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/50ea2ff0-2edc-4847-a778-509d2d694f80/FR_Kristopher01.jpg Postcards - carte des vins de France - I sent this postcard to Andy while we were in France doing some lovely wine tasting in both Alsace and Burgundy. It’s a nice reminder of our trip together. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xhdmmy7yzed72ls90m1sabwsylig6y monthly 0.5 2026-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/31f39399-8ca8-4a2e-a9c3-7d275d8a8ee1/AU_Matty46.jpg Postcards - Hahndorf (Australia) - What strange hotel with a stranger history! Do all hotels in Australia look like this (outside the big towns, I guess)? I swear I’ve seen many before in other images. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/muni-dogs-california monthly 0.5 2026-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5f9e0ee9-28e8-4623-924b-dc0abb1ad229/US-CA_KimeeMichael59.jpg Postcards - MUNI dogs (California) - Look at these great dogs trying to get to the store or museum or home! I love a good dog on public transit. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jjqthknc03h94n8uvkq439dlvbhdm9 monthly 0.5 2026-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7b8e2b36-b46d-44f2-8bce-b13c5eb423fc/AU_Matty45.jpg Postcards - Adelaide multiview (Australia) - Yet another place for me to visit some day! I just learned that the Adelaide River is named after a Queen Consort! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/s1bj2xtdxknd32dmjkc2rfijoxk5qd monthly 0.5 2026-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a5b7cc68-423e-4208-ab05-9c136624f941/US-CA_JulianSalvo40.jpg Postcards - troubled birds (California) - Julian and Salvo sent this postcard to us, timed to arrive as we got back from vacation! What a lovely welcome-home gift. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/t42u8ovxezc98wsdo58zx41dzpcrbf monthly 0.5 2026-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/50e3f0ce-f670-4aeb-a9b3-980c6af93046/US-IL_EmilyCarter32.jpg Postcards - Who? Who is it?! (Illinois) - We got a great postcard from our niece and nephew in Chicago who were hosting friends and family for the weekend. I miss family gatherings sometimes. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/d58qdrqjj1iz7sluz654ndu3u0ija6 monthly 0.5 2026-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f753212f-c121-4a49-b735-59db643a28d7/AU_Matty44.jpg Postcards - all of Australia - I love all of these stereotypical views of Australia; I’m not going to lie — if I were to travel there, I’d want to see so many of these! But it’s a big country/continent so I’m not sure how realistic that is. I wonder how many of them Matty has seen? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/normandy-is-beautiful-france monthly 0.5 2026-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3ba43be0-9800-4348-acd8-a6ae8f3bc667/FR_Dominique192.jpg Postcards - Normandy is beautiful! (France) - Dominique went to Normandy two weeks before our visit to France, stopping in lots of beautiful places there! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/orange-world-florida monthly 0.5 2026-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7a1224ba-6e59-474d-81e8-023858dd893a/US-FL_EmilyCarter01.jpg Postcards - Orange World (Florida) - Emily and Carter joined some of their coworkers on an annual trip to Typhoon Lagoon and or places in the area. Florida is full of strange and curious places, like Orange World, I think! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/obernai-france monthly 0.5 2026-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3ff8fe24-d90b-43c2-a138-e5260a7f3a2b/FR_Dominique193.jpg Postcards - Obernai (France) - Dominique sent this postcard before we departed for France, doubting it would arrive before we did; he was right! But I got it upon our return. Obernai is a great town with very expensive housing and delicious restaurants. It’s on the list for next time! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-1112 monthly 0.5 2026-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2be397ec-4a00-484b-bbd3-3fe1feae5d71/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries11.jpg Postcards - bear series 11/12 - Did you notice the little peach icon in the lower right hand corner? That’s not an accident, I don’t think! ;-) Tickle My Belly Pink Jason Lloyd Art https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/australian-magpie monthly 0.5 2026-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8151b946-f393-4458-8001-642794af1b4e/AU_Matty43.jpg Postcards - Australian magpie - I asked Matty about wildlife in Australia and he sent this postcard about the magpies, which are apparently a real menace! He writes that he regularly sees kangaroos in nature parks near his home and he saw an echidna on a walk last summer, and had a blue-tongue lizard in his backyard. A PS written along the side says he won’t mention the spiders (thank you!). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3d-printing-california monthly 0.5 2026-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e3742343-5a1a-4b29-bbd3-99d0d91642bb/US-CA_Han03.jpg Postcards - 3D printing (California) - My student Han sent this postcard, which I presume she designed! It’s really beautiful and printed on excellent card stock. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-1012 monthly 0.5 2026-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/88f2b26f-3e2a-47d6-9e1d-255123503201/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries10.jpg Postcards - bear series 10/12 - This was the last postcard I sent before our trip, and of course the last one to arrive. Drinking coffee in pajamas is apt right now since we’re very jet lagged and awake at 3:15a Coffee Bear Gufiart https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mount-athos-greece monthly 0.5 2026-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9b8240f2-3be9-40de-a669-ecf4db122bdf/GR_Dominique03.jpg Postcards - Mount Athos (Greece) - This postcard, Dominique sent at the end of May! It depicts the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos, a unique autonomous entity. The only females permitted in the area are hens and cats, apparently. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/baseball-players-japan monthly 0.5 2026-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2ebf67ad-3c38-4db6-ad26-a67e6c4eb19c/JP_GregJames01.jpg Postcards - baseball players (Japan) - Our friend Greg went to Japan to visit family, where Greg earned his new name “oji” (uncle) after visiting his new niece! by Moriuo https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-912 monthly 0.5 2026-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d7fb9d65-2ef5-41b2-b9ee-e692566af83d/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries09.jpg Postcards - bear series 9/12 - What a tender image! It was waiting in the mailbox for Andy when we got back from our trip. Adam Loves Ben Bobobear https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-bretzel-alsacien-france monthly 0.5 2026-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/602ac3af-aafd-4a00-af8b-5afac1ae30d2/FR_Dominique191.jpg Postcards - le bretzel alsacien (France) - Voici une recette authentique de l’Alsace. J’ai préparé des pretzels mais jamais avec le méthode ici. Je m’interesse à la badigeonne d’oeuf, bière, et lait! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/p9z3f6bzzbw9lxxj2rwvmexlldyp1y monthly 0.5 2026-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/66373b40-3664-41c6-9185-fc4d680e856a/US-UT_Matt01.jpg Postcards - Capitol Reef (Utah) - Matt sent this postcard from his photography trip to Utah. These photos pale in comparison to the ones that he took! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/m7uy1z9jszoefs78fg5pgx5g5ju4yt monthly 0.5 2026-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7a17d0ff-9224-4e02-ade9-13d9629ee19e/US-CA_KimeeMichael58.jpg Postcards - Booksmith Bingo (California) - How many of these can you check off? Kimee and Michael did this one and it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-rivire-strasbourg-france monthly 0.5 2026-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0b1dd65f-3c0d-4258-9cad-eb737d3a62ae/FR_Dominique190.jpg Postcards - la rivière à Strasbourg (France) - Although this postcard arrived at the end of May, it’s only making it to the blog today, which is perfect because our trip to France is approaching and I’ll soon be in Strasbourg! Dominique wrote it exactly one month before our departure, so it’s perfect to be posted today. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/spello-italy monthly 0.5 2026-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/73593a4d-2d8e-41cf-8e56-48fa1cd65a6c/IT_Lino36.jpg Postcards - Spello (Italy) - Lino continues to set many of my own life goals with his frequent travels around Italy. Each town he visits seems to be more picturesque than the last! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-812 monthly 0.5 2026-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/062487be-ae14-42fa-875a-cecdcb059e4e/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries08.jpg Postcards - bear series 8/12 - This is the graphic version of “show don’t tell,” counter-intuitive though that may seem. Yes Jason Lloyd Art https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3b5xoj3afok2pp4n3w514dr0o3uuv9 monthly 0.5 2026-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8a7314bc-144f-42e9-b0a3-01baca74f813/IT_Dominique02.jpg Postcards - Neptune Fountain by Giambologna (Italy) - Dominique m’a récemment demandé sur cette carte postale qu’il m’avait envoyé le 18 mars 2026. Je ne l’avais pas encore reçue, mais elle est arrivée il y a une semaine! J’adore les cartes retardées! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/weingenuss-pur-germany monthly 0.5 2026-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/002a6c66-da57-4f0c-8147-c0b82f7c6868/DE_Dominique41.jpg Postcards - Weingenuss Pur (Germany) - As the date of our trip approaches, and our meeting Dominique face-to-face, I’m getting more and more excited! In this postcard, Dominique asks about what we like to drink. The short answer is: nearly everything! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/iowa-state-bird monthly 0.5 2026-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ef9af6dc-48ab-4dfd-b200-3af15ac8c45f/US-IA_Nozomi03.jpg Postcards - Iowa State Bird - Apparently Nozomi has been trying to send postcards for a while but for some reason, they’re not showing up? This one did, however, which is terrific! Eastern Goldfinch https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-52100 monthly 0.5 2026-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b7fe7b24-28da-46bc-8af8-98d769d9b4d4/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_052.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 52/100 - I think this is the last postcard in the series that I’ll receive, sadly. But the good news is that I’ll likely receive most of the remainder to send out to some of my friends! Stars - Celestial Dress From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-712 monthly 0.5 2026-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7e8ef358-8a5d-436d-be59-fa43c22034c3/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries07.jpg Postcards - bear series 7/12 - Well, am I? Bellies Jason Lloyd Art https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-51100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/55e51b96-c0c7-4e03-a037-e29a27013959/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_051.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 51/100 - Is it me, or did this one already arrive? Maybe there are two of each of 50 postcards in the pack? I think that’s the case. They’re really beautiful nonetheless. Princess Kaguya Japan, Japanese Fairy Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-50100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1174e289-3fdd-4e3f-a6c8-5189436f5a08/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_050.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 50/100 - Julian has invited us over to read in the warm sunshine of their glorious backyard, but admits that it will likely devolve (my choice of word, and a bad one at that) into wine and laughter! Pele Hawai’i, Hawaiian Deity https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-49100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a4df9f74-6af9-4f15-a261-02e22c228f8f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_049.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 49/100 - I like this series of Speak, Hear, and See no evil! Tiger See No Evil From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/w6kp8o3v82dchmovfa5xud2rxidn9z monthly 0.5 2026-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8f2aa10c-3233-4e4f-8320-0ec04ad71d48/US-PA_T13.jpg Postcards - Moravian Pottery and Tile Works (Pennsylvania) - T sent this postcard from the Henry C. Mercer tile factory, which she highly recommends the next time we’re in Philadelphia! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-48100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/687dd271-2c40-4a14-90de-bc14111dbd21/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_048.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 48/100 - This postcard comes with some spicy takes, which I’ll spare my dear readers (and Julian’s reputation!) :-) Tiger Hear No Evil From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cqzmqp01oif2fdbmr51qtzeowzp9gu monthly 0.5 2026-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d65a239e-208c-4d18-8b70-63e19ea3c707/DE_Dominique40.jpg Postcards - Traces XVI (Germany) - This is a postcard from my penpal Dominique; I don’t know why I waited so long to ask but he’s fluent in Alsatian! That explains why he travels to freely and easily in Germany. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-612 monthly 0.5 2026-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ad987509-a4d6-4c88-898c-debf829fc0b4/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries06.jpg Postcards - bear series 6/12 - It takes all kinds! Bears Bears Bears Gufiart https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cnydntl94ji54lbz79a1aq2o5loyci monthly 0.5 2026-05-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0df84715-3e88-4c6f-99cb-7af2f1b0ac29/IT_Lino35.jpg Postcards - Brindisi (Italy) - These postcards make all of Italy look like a coast line! Of course that’s not true; this one is from where the two Lini spent Easter, in the southern part of Puglia. The name of the town makes me think, of course, of this song. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hnehohvl81rkktorwr8n81t2xilfht monthly 0.5 2026-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ddb74533-164b-4ac3-8bd2-0e0e6102cd7b/US-CA_JulianSalvo39.jpg Postcards - Ovid Winery (California) - One of the (many) problems with my blog is that the scans don’t represent the physicality of these postcards. The last one from Napa was one such beautiful, heavy card stock. This one is a ginormous card (14x21 cm) and it mailed with just a simple postcard stamp! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-512 monthly 0.5 2026-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d67c3cd4-51cc-4699-bb78-0654e9791568/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries05.jpg Postcards - bear series 5/12 - I sent this postcard to thank Andy for organizing a great Saturday during which we attended Hella Chenin, had Peruvian food for lunch, and then congratulated our friend and barber on his new salon! Adam Likes Sun Lotion Bobobear https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-47100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/de1eaf32-467d-4f1d-9e1b-4742de749daf/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_047.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 47/100 - Today I learned about the Palace Theater in Chinatown, just a few days after Julian and Salvo learned about it! Tiger Speak No Evil From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7r5fixarss3ybnkcjjwaua5kmuxlfg monthly 0.5 2026-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/16c8890d-2a4e-4d92-8f0c-fe6e7e2def38/IT_Lino34.jpg Postcards - Manduria (Italy) - Lino continues his tour of Italy, sending this one from Manduria which makes a delicious wine called Primitivo di Manduria. I hope to try it some time! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5tigkdnsxy6nwm2vguyei6ybx30o7n monthly 0.5 2026-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2d64f883-8383-457e-89aa-f3bc084219c8/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_046.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 46/100 - Julian and Salvo write about a documentary about an architect named Schindler that they really enjoyed! Ishtar Iraq, Mesopotamian Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/0ma1m4ct5en7u8osxm82h0dxoryp3j monthly 0.5 2026-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ace41b0f-6cb1-47ac-bf63-8446afe7bd12/US-CA_JulianSalvo38.jpg Postcards - Senza Hotel (California) - Julian and Salvo sent this great postcard from a weekend trip they took to Napa, which was overcast but beautiful nonetheless. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-45100-1 monthly 0.5 2026-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f67adb16-828e-4097-9ee6-94cafb4d6490/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_045.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 45/100 - We wowed our dear friends with some photos of an incredible opportunity we had to taste some very vintage wines, including a 1976, 1978, 1991, 2000, and 2010 Chardonnay, as well as a 1981 Zinfandel! The Magic Skin Mythological Archetype https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5kdc3lp8192i9igwzrpfd7364fghxn monthly 0.5 2026-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3f5aa45b-1837-47dc-8a03-5f320ff0b5a9/US-CA_Han02.jpg Postcards - the Sphere (California) - Amazingly, Han also took this photo! Too bad the postmark marred the upper portion of it, but the composition is still quite striking. Well done! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-44100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6bdd7081-c701-4715-bc4a-92504e4998df/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_044.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 44/100 - Julian and Salvo write about the Decorator Showcase and highly recommend it. We’ll have to find time! Hun Hunahpu https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-412 monthly 0.5 2026-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6ec71098-ae7a-48c1-8009-7a68eb283fe6/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries04.jpg Postcards - bear series 4/12 - Sometimes some clothing is better than none, yeah? Hot Bear Jason Lloyd Art https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/one-more-garden-of-the-gods-colorado monthly 0.5 2026-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c0693b18-52c9-4101-82d4-c0f91d184a8a/US-CO_Mom02.jpg Postcards - one more Garden of the Gods (Colorado) - Mom sent one last glimpse of the beautiful Garden of the Gods which she visited last month while seeing my nephew, her grandson. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-312 monthly 0.5 2026-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6dbd9a61-5522-4d40-986c-9d5b5507d20d/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries03.jpg Postcards - bear series 3/12 - I don’t think I would have believed you twenty years ago if you’d told me that “chubby” would be a word of praise instead of disdain. But here we are! Chubby Pop Art Jason Lloyd Art https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hoover-eclipse-california monthly 0.5 2026-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5d1a72b6-67cc-401e-941d-f743530e366c/US-CA_Han01.jpg Postcards - Hoover eclipse (California) - I found a kinship with a student this quarter, Han, who is not just a HAM radio enthusiast, but also a snail mail enthusiast. We share a love for postcards and letters; add to that, her talent for photography and you have one quite impressive person! She took this photo during the total lunar eclipse at 3:30a on 3 March 2026. Really cool! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/another-garden-another-god-colorado monthly 0.5 2026-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/381e2bde-2ed4-422a-98e4-fc5a305ff719/US-CO_Mom01.jpg Postcards - another garden, another god (Colorado) - There have been so many Gedas in Colorado recently; my mom and dad went to visit my nephew and his wife, and they too visited the Garden of the Gods. Beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-02 monthly 0.5 2026-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8191c333-aebc-4175-b73a-8b477c1017f6/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries02.jpg Postcards - bear series 2/12 - Here’s the second in the series. This one is called “Causing Tunnel” by Tony Cabralre. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/q0l15n41a5avx68to48vmdbvdf3irf monthly 0.5 2026-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/55a0e5ca-a693-49c3-b605-7a4e0ae48800/AU_Matty42.jpg Postcards - cubbylicious (Australia) - Matty writes about planning a trip this November holiday season to places near his home in Australia. If this postcard doesn’t provide some inspiration, I’m not sure what will! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bear-series-112 monthly 0.5 2026-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/266e022b-6671-4210-aa07-4e2eb46ba1e3/US-CA_Kristopher_BearSeries01.jpg Postcards - bear series 1/12 - I decided to include Andy in the postcard series practice that Julian and Salvo started with the Miyazaki series and are continuing with the Yoshitani series. Here is the first in a planned series of 12 postcards that I’m sending to Andy. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xjinazat9k9fh447thwlykcw10ali3 monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b0a430d5-1020-4f88-9a22-6e4cd7dea3f2/US-CA_Pauline01.jpg Postcards - just say the word (California) - I’ve actually been to this bookstore! It’s really charming and very historic. I highly recommend a visit if you’re in London. The postcard itself comes from a new penpal, Pauline, whom I met at WESTPEX 2026. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-43100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4be7f8df-5be7-4b76-8299-6800b8b7bcbb/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_043.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 43/100 - I was just speaking with someone from Peru this past week and they were talking about the Andean cultures there. What a great reminder of the diversity of these American continents! Chaupí Ñamca Peru, Huarochirí Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-45100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/19c4e23b-9fff-4d86-afb6-dc271670f5a9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_042.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 42/100 - When Julian and Salvo sent this postcard, the weather was teasing them with some sunshine and warmth but by the time it arrived, we were back in the normal weather for May: cool, gray, windy, overcast. I don’t mind it, but I know it’s not for everyone! Ku’ula Stone Shrine Hawai’i , Hawaiian Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/g80d9kb97qy0zd0k4g50o15vo765v8 monthly 0.5 2026-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fe6e0258-4435-4293-b47f-f3f903dbd674/FR_Dominique189.jpg Postcards - autre Palais des Papes (France) - J’ai beaucoup hâte de commencer notre voyage en France cet été, également pour être encore une fois dans le pays que j’aime tellement, et aussi pour connaître Dominique, que je connais par l’écriture seulement. :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-41100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/57fd1c7a-e205-46b5-92ec-50ae8432ac40/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_041.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 41/100 - Salvo and Julian wrote this postcard on Cinco de Mayo, a very curious celebration in the US. Many people believe it to be Mexico’s independence day, but of course it’s not. Why is it so big in the US?! The World Tree Mythological Archetype https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/g6xs3dp1wo4yz8u46h4ll8byu9vnrl monthly 0.5 2026-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d295151f-8098-45c7-943f-415eea023bc6/BN_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Darussalam (Brunei) - Several months ago, Matty was on a big tour and stopped in Brunei. He picked up this beautiful, scalloped-edged postcard and sent it to me from Palau due to postal restrictions at the time. I only just now re-discovered it and am posting it here. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xx1wrx57z7y4kqon6r1sb0m2atjaid monthly 0.5 2026-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/be927f53-451f-4372-ab38-23c40bf2c2db/US-CA_KimeeMichael57.jpg Postcards - Dolores Park (California) - Dolores Park, and especially this part of the park (the Fruit Shelf) is so iconic of San Francisco! And it’s well within walking distance. Well chosen, again, Kimee! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-39100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/61c61305-2862-419f-89d4-bfe93d65c9a8/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_039.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 39/100 - I guess I didn’t realize that Bodhisattva is a title or characteristic? I think I need to do some more reading about Buddhism! Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara India, Buddhist Bodhisattva https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/x138p53olkmhfhg25b00ihlypr24s7 monthly 0.5 2026-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/71667fbc-b650-46d8-a119-e86800678072/US-CA_KimeeMichael56.jpg Postcards - I ate so much… (California) - What more perfect postcard for me could there be?! It’s a good day when I can honestly report this. Kimee definitely picked a good one for me! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8qyeds1uct49wnr9ivinna4qm83569 monthly 0.5 2026-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1da98832-4497-43e6-ad78-d5246c46aa0e/US-IL_Arthur01.jpg Postcards - the Windy City (Illinois) - This postcard comes from my little brother’s trip with his boys to Chicago. Arthur reports that he “went to Chicago and it was fun.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-38100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0838da19-1e25-4d0d-9750-5e61b54b8880/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_038.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 38/100 - We had a great double-date together last week and this postcard celebrates that. What a great way to do it with an image of a beautiful couple! Hinemoa and Tūtānekai New Zealand, Māori Legend https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/uupr49ce4q0boi62kao3ay6zw5gl8w monthly 0.5 2026-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0a2207c5-fe50-44a9-bcec-776c8dfee36c/US-CA_KimeeMichael55.jpg Postcards - Hey from the Bay (California) - Kimee and Michael sent this delightfully cute postcard. Indeed, sea lions count among the sea mammals that I love so much, so I’m glad to receive this. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lmgy9rpuxovv5z7dt3ktxpp84qey1k monthly 0.5 2026-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0c27118b-8530-4b0c-be28-558889010591/US-IL_KyleArthurWalter01.jpg Postcards - Buckingham Fountain (Illinois) - My little brother Kyle traveled to Chicago a few weeks ago with his boys and Walter and he sent me this great postcard from their trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3ccazto1jrfdnuqse9rmf7ccmovkv5 monthly 0.5 2026-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4b61887a-60f0-4cd0-b072-8d87006c971b/US-CA_KimeeMichael54.jpg Postcards - keep going (California) - This postcard was made by a Minneapolis-based running store to celebrate grassroots community. Kimee found out about it on Instagram, so there’s at least one redeeming aspect to the site! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-37100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a068ba85-e185-405f-887f-f45394b97c35/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_037.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 37/100 - It was great to see Julian and Salvo this past weekend; we had a great time doing a tasting at a local amaro producer! Candra Kirana / Panji Semirang Indonesia, Indonesian Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jg8kjrys751j39qt0yjnjtwthxsxcx monthly 0.5 2026-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3746c640-35e5-4206-bbc4-529a74144988/US-CA_KimeeMichael53.jpg Postcards - Los Bagels (California) - This is a terrific later-postcard from August 2025 which is arriving just now. I love it so much! Thanks, Kimee! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-36100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9a4ca68e-79d8-4c16-90ca-14f1721e6c0d/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_036.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 36/100 - Now this looks like a deity I’d like to have a drink with! Energetic, musical, loves to eat - perfect! Coyote American Southwest, Cochiti Legend https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nice-to-see-you-illinois monthly 0.5 2026-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1517776d-f3bc-4426-aaeb-5c98c5caca57/US-IL_EmilyCarter31.jpg Postcards - Nice to See You (Illinois) - It looks like Emily got a new calligraphy pen, judging from the beautiful pen work on this postcard! This postcard comes from Warby Parker who offers free postcards in store. :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/casa-bonita-part-2-colorado monthly 0.5 2026-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e4c5afa8-0b45-4886-8f2d-fa1fb6bbefb0/US-CO_HunterGabby02.jpg Postcards - Casa Bonita, part 2 (Colorado) - This card must have come from the same visit that Alyssa made to Colorado with her mom to see Hunter and Gabby. Apparently, they really do have divers at this restaurant who dive into a pool that Gabriella writes “looks like the pool off of ‘Mako Mermaids’.” Cool! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-33100 monthly 0.5 2026-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d41d3f9b-b538-4312-b81d-4ed351e14cd0/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_033.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 33/100 - Julian finally cottoned on to my sending him a series of postcards, too! I didn’t explicitly say so, but after a few arrived, I think it became undeniable. Sadly, the ones I’m sending are not nearly as beautiful as the ones he is! Sleeping Beauty Italy, Italian Fairy Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-40100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/67a6f351-69a2-4afe-859a-827e6a107960/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_040.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 40/100 - Julian chose to send this out of order for two reasons, reversed here: 1) it’s appropriate because he received some weight-lifting equipment he’s excited to try out, and 2) it’s “hot as hell.” Who can disagree?! Enkidu and Gilgamesh Iraq, Sumerian Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2yzh1i6itjvqt8lpdz9l5c9pgqug35 monthly 0.5 2026-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f5aad3e7-8e25-4bf4-a6a1-8b838b3f96ed/AU_Matty41.jpg Postcards - relax in the pool (Australia) - Another delicious postcard from Matty. It’s AI-generated, I’m almost certain. I’m usually pretty cool on AI art, but I could be convinced… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-35100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7ddb2c67-0027-4b13-9c25-698db6cccafb/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_035.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 35/100 - Perhaps it’s ironically appropriate that a postcard from the frozen north of Sweden comes to celebrate the new oven installed at J&S’ house! Beaivi-nieida Sweden, Sami Deity https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/leaf159d6z4vt3aytmmg9vtr91xr1e monthly 0.5 2026-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/73159311-eba2-4498-9927-859b63f322b5/US-CA_PaulRob03.jpg Postcards - printed circuit board (California) - Paul ordered a printed circuit board from China and enclosed int he package was this terrific postcard. It’s kind of campy, yeah? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qnykrafv1eylenrlaml9pg1jrjcxnp monthly 0.5 2026-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a03941e0-c787-4182-be9d-7f8e6a4e0e97/US-CO_Alyssa03.jpg Postcards - welcome to beautiful (Colorado) - This is a final postcard from Alyssa’s trip to visit her brother and sister-in-law, which she took with her mom (and I think her step-dad went, too?). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-34100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aad0e76e-a022-4b43-92df-df18af6fab7a/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_034.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 34/100 - Perhaps it’s the pair of people in these windows that drew Julian to send it, to celebrate the return of Salvo to the home. Our houses often seem too small with them and too small without them. The Snow Queen Denmark, Danish Fairy Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kcreoufp8thbiocpmiukc9nw7y8784 monthly 0.5 2026-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e8847622-c283-45d6-8b8c-a750c43ee85f/US-UT_Andy02.jpg Postcards - Salt Lake City downtown (Utah) - A second postcard from Andy’s trip to Salt Lake City. It can’t be denied that SLC is a really pretty town (and crazy clean too!). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pw8clmod2p0tycgn649176s8oi30ut monthly 0.5 2026-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/edd86b6d-1d43-487a-be96-41c820883a99/DE_Dominique39.jpg Postcards - Hermann Fritsche &amp; Co. (Germany) - Voici une belle peinture de Jan Balet, et Dominique m’envoie ses interprétations de la famille vue ici. C’est ça la beauté et l’interêt de l’art: comment le voyent les autres? Qu’est-ce que nous avons en commun? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-32100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a1a94341-fd3a-4416-816c-8f1d52562e72/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_032.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 32/100 - Lots of house work kept Julian very busy while Salvo was out of town. It sounds like a lot to handle, but I’m glad it’s all behind them now. The Three Princesses of Whiteland Norway, Norwegian Fairy Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vintage-thanks-california monthly 0.5 2026-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/78b05916-5dcf-4402-9ecf-2a38bbbe633d/US-CA_KimeeMichael52.jpg Postcards - vintage thanks (California) - I love these vintage postcards. Not only is the size very cute, but I also appreciate the texture of these postcards. They’re almost 3D, at least in a light way. Where do Kimee and Michael find these gorgeous postcards? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ip7wdn56byabhq14y5t0434chi3cnn monthly 0.5 2026-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/76b5ad0b-7267-463f-a802-f0d09668d2bd/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_031.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 31/100 - It seems appropriate that Julian should write about overindulgence when sending a card featuring Chiron, how was reputed to not be so bacchanal as his species-mates. Chiron Greece, Greek Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6c7syysprvs5v3hue2h4w8hkxo902l monthly 0.5 2026-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9e04b656-9701-49dc-842e-8ad86356bbc1/US-WA_Linda01.jpg Postcards - Pike Place Market action shot (Washington) - Our dear friend Linda traveled to Seattle for the first time in a long time and really enjoyed her tourist-ing while she was there. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/58bwqns3rwdgkyji4ukvumx1tj35sv monthly 0.5 2026-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/69177a51-ab47-4547-939f-571d7de9640b/US-CA_KimeeMichael51.jpg Postcards - cute stationery (California) - What a darling postcard! I love the cats and of course all of the stationery. Kimee writes that she hasn’t tried her fountain pen in a few months but maybe this postcard will inspire her? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qizci5u83nb2hu1mflea8aydukfgw3 monthly 0.5 2026-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bcdaf481-e36a-45b3-ba8f-ab05fabcd33c/US-IL_Alyssa02.jpg Postcards - Chicago skyline Willis Tower (Illinois) - Alyssa also traveled to Chicago with a friend and enjoyed her trip there, which was adjacent to St. Patty’s Day and they dyeing of the river! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/d6b8a6a59xswsfr02vb2z00ezlxkmq monthly 0.5 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cdcc71f1-ab78-4cd6-b637-cfba3cb2a71c/US-CO_Alyssa02.jpg Postcards - Garden of the Gods (Colorado) - This is a gorgeous panoramic postcard that Alyssa sent from their trip to Garden of the Gods. While in the parking lot there, she saw an Alaska license plate, which is pretty cool! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/z42s2w5daj2rmthlocnqr8hrwt2x46 monthly 0.5 2026-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/34f5f059-082d-4131-916f-c9427e7ebbf4/US-UT_Andy01.jpg Postcards - the Inn Sundance Mountain Resort (Utah) - I so love this geometric, brightly colored postcard! Andy sent it from his stay last month at the Inn at Sundance Mountain Resort! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-30100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6e8a5e5c-f3ac-4917-9f4e-bbb84e4f8996/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_030.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 30/100 - Julian writes that Salvo is away for a conference and that it’s a mixed experience. That mirrors my own; it’s nice to have the place to one’s self once in a while, but you also miss your partner dearly. Bai Suzhen China, Chinese Legend https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/casa-bonita-colorado monthly 0.5 2026-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a5667c26-7c5f-40b0-9bee-34b402bd8383/US-CO_Alyssa01.jpg Postcards - Casa Bonita (Colorado) - I had no idea what the Casa Bonita was before Alyssa sent me this postcard from there. She’d heard about it in South Park! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bli982yvedm636slfqd4zg1n1tcek7 monthly 0.5 2026-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2a98f652-0f78-4f8c-94c6-0bc2aa87df6c/US-CA_KimeeMichael50.jpg Postcards - 20th Century poppies (California) - Kimee and Michael were battling seasonal allergies, but that didn’t deter them from enjoying the Community Fest in Cole Valley where they got this postcard and a terrific “MUNI Slut” t-shirt! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-29100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/af61f524-b37f-45e4-a948-d7f1653e1f29/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_029.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 29/100 - Julian and Salvo write that this reminds them of the Alhambra, which I haven’t visited yet - unbelievable since I love pomegranates so much! The Pate Kingdom Kenya, Swahili Epic https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/y1lhwtf8o0kj7cnee15d7iuop44u9z monthly 0.5 2026-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ebb10077-ea01-4a35-a999-0bda161fa7a0/US-CO_HunterGabby01.jpg Postcards - Garden of the Gods comet (Colorado) - Hunter and Gabby spent some time just enjoying the beautiful park and a great meal with Alyssa. They found time to send this postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-23100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/28fee798-98d1-4452-868b-a9b97d550d9f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_028.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 28/100 - Oh the joys of home ownership, indeed! Not long after replacing their dying tree, they discovered a problem with the water heater. Here’s hoping for a simple, permanent, and cheap fix! The Phoenix East Asia, East Asian Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-27100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a32451d4-dbc5-4090-aa61-223e391e4ff4/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_027.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 27/100 - What is it with the weather? Can it be true: we’re never actually satisfied? When it’s rainy, we want sun. When it’s sunny, we want rain. All well, at least everyone is getting a little bit of what they want! Officiant-Fox Wedding From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ntpfxh0bexxhkh8opxfn4dtiiqbr9a monthly 0.5 2026-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/606d34d1-9a85-4e18-83b7-931789d28ad8/US-CA_KimeeMichael49.jpg Postcards - upright collage (California) - Kimee writes that this postcard is one she bought almost a year ago, intending to send it, but never got around to doing so. I’ve written before how much I love the later-cards, and this one is no exception! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tp8q3zyi4was3xkq9nllejctoe6ers monthly 0.5 2026-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0503cc79-83c3-4bea-8ff8-a3b2d28f66a5/US-VA_Andy01.jpg Postcards - Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (Virginia) - Andy was visiting his father and step-mother recently in Virginia and they toured these gardens. He writes that the cherry blossoms were in full bloom! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-26100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9f324f07-c212-4554-b1ee-65479c987096/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_026.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 26/100 - Julian and Salvo are getting their dead tree replaced with a beautiful galaxy magnolia. Not only are they beautiful, but they’re fast-growing, too! Tam Lin Scotland, Scottish Fairy Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i0d3vdxh08uc5q7bd1u0xbgrktq7cz monthly 0.5 2026-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/760945d2-23ec-4186-87af-ae99ee252862/US-CA_KimeeMichael48.jpg Postcards - Boy Hungry (California) - I feel personally attacked, Kimee and Michael! :-) I love these old pulp novels; I wonder what it was like to write them? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-25100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7edc1dda-daea-4326-9eb1-53784b51503e/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_025.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 25/100 - I didn’t know that China had a beauty and the beast fairy tale, too (or maybe we stole it from them?)! The Beauty and the Beast China, Chinese Fairy Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/0m9tx8wdbbttc2nas0ghrjp6xfzc2p monthly 0.5 2026-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8dab1987-9ef7-41f6-b9a0-4009a4b0a4d4/AU_Matty40.jpg Postcards - who’s bad (Australia) - It’s too bad when a beautiful card like this comes with sad news; unfortunately, Matty had to say goodbye to his eldest cat, Dexter. Losing a beloved family member is such at trauma; I hope Monty and Fred can bring Matty some solace during these difficult weeks. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-24100 monthly 0.5 2026-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5e61f3fc-08bf-4521-8c32-797db409cbc9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_024.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 24/100 - Julian got back from a work trip to Denver where the altitude (and cold) made him feel very dehydrated. Perhaps it’s appropriate, geographically, that this be the card to herald his return from the mountains region! White Buffalo Woman North Dakota, Lakota Deity https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-joyous-easter-california monthly 0.5 2026-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c5884f50-1ebd-4666-b36a-97c26e6b2dd1/US-CA_JulianSalvo37.jpg Postcards - a joyous Easter (California) - This postcard was unsigned but I was able to track down the handwriting to see that it came from Julian and Salvo. They say they found it in a vintage store in San Diego and sent it! On the back, there’s some light handwriting in pencil. What a fun bit of history! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/1jlphqo8aamsnyf046sd8wagzcqejb monthly 0.5 2026-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/370978be-47d9-47bf-8322-b2f0482c72c5/US-CA_JulianSalvo36.jpg Postcards - dogie style (California) - Julian and Salvo sent this vintage postage from a shop in Hillcrest! Given how busy they were, I’m really touched that they took the time and effort to send not one, but three postcards! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8egob6ntzcl2eqx0kb2q0svbudsokd monthly 0.5 2026-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/da63e4d0-7478-495a-b7c9-2f0befa2637d/US-CA_JulianSalvo35.jpg Postcards - psychedelic San Diego (California) - Salvo writes about the very strong sun in San Diego, something I also noticed on a brief trip I took last year! I think overall the sun is stronger in California than other parts of the US. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/m2m3s128go0ymtjnv9jkzjzl2jrbk0 monthly 0.5 2026-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f498b3d6-c448-4422-b40f-6ddc2ac2d14b/US-CA_JulianSalvo34.jpg Postcards - Bluestocking Books (California) - What a cute bookstore for Julian and Salvo to find during their trip to San Diego! I didn’t get to visit it, but it’s on my list for my next trip to SD. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fy8fyxvq39s2nxt5tyhhtvx38u9qic monthly 0.5 2026-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1b6f11d0-54a3-458c-996b-4b08f8e54577/US-NY_TobiasPhilipp01.jpg Postcards - Statue of Liberty National Monument (New York) - Tobias and Philipp were visiting New York City last month, and despite the heat, they really enjoyed it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ai-god-australia monthly 0.5 2026-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3d0e554b-8547-4a85-85ea-f9cf8e128861/AU_Matty39.jpg Postcards - AI god (Australia) - This is a very pretty image, titled “1st Image in the Series of Men in Cloth”. I wonder if there are more to come? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hear-hear-oregon monthly 0.5 2026-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c646d41e-eb37-4399-aada-cdd8ea8c1b3a/US-OR_Linda74.jpg Postcards - hear hear (Oregon) - I can only say: I completely agree. Deport that laminated-face of a sunnuvabitch. Thanks, Linda, for this great postcard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tymtomv1o705wtyh8i5v94udpumm79 monthly 0.5 2026-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/707cc0e6-c9bb-4cbd-af0a-15c4f0a3c798/US-WA_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - Puget Sound (Washington) - What a fantastic, illustrated map card - among my favorite genres! Kimee sent this from Washington while she was braving a travel nightmare. <3 <3 <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sur-le-pont-davignon-france monthly 0.5 2026-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aac83e80-efb0-4269-9b53-5235fa465957/FR_Dominique188.jpg Postcards - sur le pont d’Avignon (France) - Vous le saviez déjà, mon cher lecteur/ma chère lectrice, qui m’avait envoyée une telle belle carte postale: c’est mon ami Dominique qui j’ai beaucoup hâte de voir en juin! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ocbj66701mj5iokig1r03ce9zaxuk6 monthly 0.5 2026-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a077b47c-d460-4d16-91d5-19b08a46a828/US-WA_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - I am searching… (Washington) - What a beautiful postcard with a great poem attached from our dear friend Kimee who was forced to make the best of a very bad travel situation in Seattle. I’m glad this coffee house could come to the rescue! “I am searching for the moment, I’m so intoxicated with love when Saqi says ‘Take one more glass’ and I could not take it!” -Omar Khayyam https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lavaloha-chocolate-hawaii monthly 0.5 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3d77e99c-dde1-4322-bb96-42af93644a61/US-HI_Tristan08.jpg Postcards - Lavaloha Chocolate (Hawai’i) - My brother-in-law Tristan was just in Hawai’i and sent these beautiful greetiLavalohangs from Lavaloha where he had some delicious, authentic white chocolate! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/poulet-flamb-valle-dauge-france monthly 0.5 2026-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0d938d8a-5bbb-41c0-839c-46f6f5446eb0/FR_Dominique187.jpg Postcards - poulet flambé Vallée d’Auge (France) - Les cartes postales arrivent quand ile veulent, et Dominique écrit que les miennes sont arrivées il y a quelques jours depuis mon séjour à Vancouver, Canada. Voici autre recette que je n’ai jamais goûté, main j’en veut bien! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/j0e4kgt4kc7sph439injea3l1vtd4l monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1d8def3d-1aac-46ca-aa16-ca82a33411b9/US-CA_Matt03.jpg Postcards - Death Valley Nat’l Park (California) - Matt took a solo trip to Death Valley earlier this month for some photography. Despite the loneliness of the trip, it sounds like it was a good one! Lots to photograph; I can’t wait to see them! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/g9i78d8f5vtoa1nur00x7oz2a3jwnf monthly 0.5 2026-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f7f1322c-121c-4c74-867d-f25bc2a7af5b/US-CA_MichaelKimee48.jpg Postcards - Big Country (California) - Michael sends this as thanks for hosting him for a quick pop-by on his way to the Roxy to see the Best Shorts! It’s such a privilege to live in a city where your friends are passing through all the time. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/n29l1z1hzzq6coetu5gzurwglv5fd5 monthly 0.5 2026-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7881db33-32dd-40d1-86ee-0353f1d4e3a6/US-CA_JulianSalvo33.jpg Postcards - Lookout (California) - How did I miss the postcards when we were here earlier this month with my cousin and her boyfriend, and the inimitable Julian and Salvo. I’m sure I wouldn’t have missed this soccer player had he been there! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chinese-new-year-wishes-new-hampshire monthly 0.5 2026-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d8b2f692-16fe-464d-8ab0-e707317aa83d/US-NH_KayPei.jpg Postcards - Chinese New Year wishes (New Hampshire) - Kay and Pei send us their greetings for a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year, along with these symbols that bring all of the good luck and fortune for the holiday. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/how-stars-dine-canada monthly 0.5 2026-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bf056aca-8489-456c-b958-d9f57cbd849b/CA_Ray29.jpg Postcards - How stars dine (Canada) - It’s such a pleasure when someone knows you well enough to send a postcard like this one. Thanks, Ray - it’s divine! “How Stars Dine” (1950), Frederick March (Photography by Philippe Halsman) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/715tvvt5nvhk0su26f9uei37ff6nyh monthly 0.5 2026-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0383f4bf-d46b-40fa-abb2-c1d0e151a0bd/SE_Jorg01.jpg Postcards - Hjort’s deer (Sweden) - My friend Jörg rented a cabin in Charlottenberg, Sweden and found this beautiful painting in a charity shop. It’s still quite frozen there in Sweden, with lots of snow and frozen lakes! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ce51iiz5mkfni2ci8qbo64wzr29res monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5480c710-1e1e-4814-a738-b4469ad88932/ES_Edmundo04.jpg Postcards - El Perro de Pavlov Café (Spain) - Edmundo sent this postcard from the café where he’d been working while staying in Spain for a few weeks with his family. What a beautiful place it seems, and I can’t help but love any canine-related names. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/grausee-france monthly 0.5 2026-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/352a49b2-c788-47c0-a328-e3338be2ea0e/FR_Dominique186.jpg Postcards - Grausee (France) - Voici un très beau peinture d’un artiste allemand, envoyé par mon ami Dominique qui nous verrons en juin quand nous serrons en Alsace! “Grausee” 2025. 150x220 cm. Acrylic on Canvas. 2025. Leo Stachle. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wagga-wagga-australia monthly 0.5 2026-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/941abdc6-7a9b-4817-982d-8e76ec23e748/AU_Matty38.jpg Postcards - Wagga Wagga (Australia) - Matty writes that Wagga does not have the same climate as Canberra where he lives; it’s hotter and drier. It’s funny how language can impact these things: I think of Australia as a country, but it’s as much a continent, too. Of course there will be a big diversity in climates. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7vifo91f5haghbxcpwcbp8sjl3184i monthly 0.5 2026-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b7e93abb-4206-4e8a-95e2-a13c4764c0cf/FR_Dominique185.jpg Postcards - Deauville (France) - Toutes les villes du monde doivent réserver la territoire à la côte pour les parcs, comme à Deauville. Parfait. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5rlhxcz7vuxgft1keazcpez85bi716 monthly 0.5 2026-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/66987830-a5e3-4397-9ecb-fb8a44832e47/US-CA_Zhongyan02.jpg Postcards - NY MoMA (California) - LOL Zhongyan couldn’t decide between two postcards to send, so she sent two! I really love this one; it’s also quite funny. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8me11nofa2l6nedzha38h2wc7vijxn monthly 0.5 2026-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9500faf5-2805-4e57-90a1-fe727e941276/AU_Matty37.jpg Postcards - Bobo Bear (Australia) - Even though I intellectually know that the seasons are reversed between the US and Australia, it always takes me a few seconds to grok it when Matty writes in January that it’s been 35-43C (95-109F) lately. I certainly would be over it, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-22100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dece7784-a74a-43b8-aeb2-9f477244dd92/US-CA_Yoshitani_023.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 23/100 - This postcard is less joyous, I’m afraid to say. Home repairs and finding good help to effect those repairs! Oh no! Bida, the Seven-Headed Snake West Africa, Soninke Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-22100-1 monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6bddc59c-830f-447b-8fba-40dbda4e3a98/US-CA_Yoshitani_022.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 22/100 - Julian and Salvo got an unexpected opportunity to see Don Quixote and really enjoyed it! King Arthur Britain, Celtic Legend https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jm10lfmaducy0hnphoe9z0aszjl9r1 monthly 0.5 2026-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/65bcf673-4f41-44d6-9226-766f301e1909/US-CA_Yangfan01.jpg Postcards - Why study? (California) - This postcard I got from a student of mine, Zhongyan, who recognizes the deep irony of sending this text to an instructor! I appreciate the wry sense of humor. She was careful to extricate this sentiment from whatever feeling she may have in our class, which is both wise and very witty! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2nepibvsnfwal8woc1v3wup8wqtb50 monthly 0.5 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/54c8134d-d726-4948-9bca-bb3661487e65/AU_Matty36.jpg Postcards - Wagga Wagga, NSW (Australia) - I must have asked Matty in a letter once about suburban sprawl in Australia, which he writes must be as bad as here in the US. I hate it so much; it’s so inefficient, wasteful, and plain ugly. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-21100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e51bc4e5-7954-4d52-bb8c-1c92e5a9f7fc/US-CA_Yoshitani_021.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 21/100 - And this postcard reports the first new wine shipment of the spring; what other reliable signs do you have of the seasons changing? Are there more welcome signs than a wine delivery? Our Lady of Guadalupe Mexico, Catholic Saint https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-20100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2297edbf-a66f-456d-bf9b-944cdca7cce2/US-CA_Yoshitani_020.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 20/100 - Julian and Salvo were in San Diego for a while and enjoyed their visit; but like all good Northerners, they were happy to be back in Northern California! The Monster Marriage Mythological Archetype https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gulcgtl1zwjud3rlnul55h5o8sciip monthly 0.5 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6398336e-c07b-4138-b71e-68202bf5d53c/AU_Matty35.jpg Postcards - blue singlet (bis) (Australia) - Matty sends this image and writes about planning his next holidays for 2026-2027. This year will be Pacific-based, and next year will feature another round the world trip. I hope he can stop by SF! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/zcjadc8z0192hqjesygrt5z9035gxr monthly 0.5 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/28025baa-2fa6-4abc-b128-a4b46d5c469c/CA_Kristopher01.jpg Postcards - lenticular octopus (Canada) - I sent this lenticular postcard to Andy during our trip to Vancouver last month. We had a great time! Ernest Swanson, Haida “Octopus (Nuu) / Pieuvre Octopus (Nuu) are known for their intelligence and transformative abilities. They are often depicted on the shamanic art of Pacific Northwest tribes.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-19100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f7d06419-19d2-4f13-b775-96fd7078a627/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_019.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 19/100 - Julian and Salvo sent a lovely suggestion for visiting friends and family: all of the lovely stairs in San Francisco! Sky Goddess 2 From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-18100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ac86f544-f09e-4f0c-b56f-61d1b3e72af9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_018.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 18/100 - I’m surprised to read that Julian and Salvo found our recent heat wave a bit too much! They usually are such solar-powered individuals; but I agree: it was definitely uncomfortably warm! Amaterasu Japan, Japanese Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ud3yxnryrece1xtilv3k8yrp8j9d5o monthly 0.5 2026-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3a90b2ed-8633-4d5e-95e2-8f98b08d73b6/FR_Dominique184.jpg Postcards - poulet à la normande (France) - Encore une jolie recette française, et encore une que je n’ai jamais ni préparée ni mangée. Dans le futur! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ujy6wcgnyv5n4rgyupy1k34xxyi3ug monthly 0.5 2026-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1771953779414-T7EB9BUWZMAEET0Q635O/IT_Lino32.jpg Postcards - Italian collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1771953778504-H5WPKGEIY6IPP6BW2ZM1/IT_Lino33.jpg Postcards - Italian collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1771953781957-CSLDMTS87JUYDWOBWR81/IT_Lino31.jpg Postcards - Italian collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-17100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5f3e99bf-1d75-4158-be5d-1266dd2910fc/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_017.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 17/100 - Julian started training for the Gay Games; it’s really exciting to see another of his many accomplishments taking shape! Amhaeng-eosa Korea, Korean Legend https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2b4qakkhidd8f0j1b54et6xbayomew monthly 0.5 2026-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/40e5b220-909c-4cae-82bd-3a0a8190f327/ES_Andreas02.jpg Postcards - LGTB Maspalomas (Spain) - My Lithuanian penpal traveled to Gran Canaria and really enjoyed himself! It was 28C every day. Wow! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-16100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cbf7d79d-68cd-4a72-8fd0-e71318b03967/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_016.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 16/100 - It was great to see J&S just a day before they wrote this postcard; we hosted an Oscar’s watch party and enjoyed lots of wine. Griffin Persia, Persian Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-15100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7dda3c8a-58c6-4106-804c-33ea0f44d1d9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_015.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 15/100 - Julian and Salvo got to enjoy a day in Napa with dear friends, including Mustards and Antinori. What a banner day! Anansi Ghana, Akan Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6xd670efpqjbaae8p3pa31k3v6g1lx monthly 0.5 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c7dbafc6-d22a-4e6a-b985-8ee60e0429d2/US-CA_KimeeMichael46.jpg Postcards - redwood road (California) - Kimee was inspired by a postcard I sent from Muir Woods and found this one she’d bought when she was in Humboldt for a run! I love those postcards, the ones that sit around in your desk waiting for a recipient. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-14100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/60a547ea-0f60-47c3-b063-0da810988b53/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_014.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 14/100 - As this warm spell drags on, Julian and Salvo are articulating what I think we’re all thinking: is this climate change? Well, we’ll enjoy the lovely weather when we have it, because we won’t always have such nice temperatures! Sun Wukong, the Monkey King China, Chinese Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qb1sqc146anbft40vdwyeh5en314mc monthly 0.5 2026-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9fc03682-f96e-4c44-afef-5c6b2f883b87/FR_Jo07.jpg Postcards - La Mongie (France) - My dear friend Jo wrote from the Pyrenees where she was vacationing with her family; the boys are working on their various snow sporting certifications while staying with their grandparents. This means Jo and her husband get a break! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peace-pagoda-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2026-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e089d1af-9f9a-486d-a34b-39379b0ae58f/US-NC_KimeeMichael08.jpg Postcards - peace pagoda (North Carolina) - I love this monument so much; it’s been under construction/renovation for a bit now and I’m looking forward to its re-opening/reveal! I love exploring the stationers in Japantown, the same as Kimee. There is so much to admire and love. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-13100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8ffbe41a-2b59-4c46-a054-54f6239fcec8/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_013.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 13/100 - This postcard arrives at a very appropriate time; the weather has been sunny and warm! It’s a nice preview of our summer, which probably won’t arrive in earnest until September or October Sun God Ra Egypt, Egyptian Deity https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-12100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c06feae2-de46-4794-8dab-41a3cf054612/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_12.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 12/100 - Wow! They got to taste a 1973 Stag’s Leap SLV! How!? Perhaps the Sun is the best messenger for this news! Sun - Celestial Dress From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ue52vs0v72hx7pri03xv8jd0bq0fyz monthly 0.5 2026-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a7ab4b7e-467a-4f06-9d6e-9b587e5364f5/US-OR_Linda73.jpg Postcards - frogs against fascism (Oregon) - I absolutely abhor frogs but this postcard can’t help but make me smile. It’s a great message. ICE melts in hell. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/btk5rojck089iusxbckqph0g1dqmi8 monthly 0.5 2026-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7329a325-0da1-45b2-9a57-6efb84e609f7/US-VA_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - take public transit (Virginia) - Kimee writes that this postcard came from a trip on MUNI, not BART. But in the end, it’s all the same great public transportation system we have in the Bay Area! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-11100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a8ee049f-ede3-4628-9597-457d294c210c/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_011.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 11/100 - The new oven is on the way, but it will take some time to arrive. As they say: nothing worth having comes easy. Good luck to you both! Moon - Celestial Dress From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/es6jtk3yvgh3h1aq7jny4e8xqumakq monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/80451479-7eae-43a0-9e21-45db542e513f/US-CA_JulianSalvo32.jpg Postcards - DropBox poppies (California) - Not only is this postcard beautiful to look at, it’s gorgeous to hold because of its terrific texture. Julian writes that it was made by DropBox’s in-house team! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-10100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1f03df4d-7190-45b4-a4a5-9beee9112b27/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_010.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 10/100 - I’m in love with this drawing; the dark skin and six arms, dripping jewels. As the kids used to say “hash tag goals.” Stars - Celestial Dress From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/emerald-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2026-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c346b525-fddd-4139-ada5-36f2005f9bf7/US-NC_KimeeMichael07.jpg Postcards - emerald (North Carolina) - Kimee writes that North Carolina is one of the few US states where emeralds can be found. I didn’t know that! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-9100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aa39e90b-25cb-41af-8151-40b1b637cb58/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_009.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 9/100 - I love getting updates on the upcoming Gay Games. I’ve never known anyone to compete in such a high-profile event. This is very exciting for me, even if it may be a bit nerve-wracking for our dear friends Salvo and Julian. Version 4 - Water Series From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-8100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/94b4fa44-bebd-4b26-8b0a-5c8547c666c9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_008.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 8/100 - Unfortunately, Julian and Salvo’s oven has finally given up the ghost! Lucky for them, they too have a toaster oven, which we love for small-batch baking and supplementing when the oven is full (or otherwise inoperable)! Version 3 - Water Series From the Artist’s Collection https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/v1dxehawy7niu71n7inklj6xvkkcpi monthly 0.5 2026-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6906c0a5-fc9c-4aea-9416-fef71a0869a2/US-IL_EmilyCarter30.jpg Postcards - Echelon (Illinois) - Our nephew assisted his former chef in a pop-up event at this great restaurant in Ann Arbor. I hear big changes are afoot for them, so there’s lots of cool news to look forward to! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/foreign-cinema monthly 0.5 2026-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0e38aa69-a26f-4354-ba79-9b9c5c7b0534/US-CA_JulianSalvo31.jpg Postcards - Foreign Cinema - J&S also ate at one of their favorite restaurants. They have great taste! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6tv4jnlbbarco6biiec869oq1uztqy monthly 0.5 2026-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/778af45a-b21c-4fcd-a028-c00e85fcbfbe/US-CA_JulianSalvo30.jpg Postcards - a mano (California) - Julian and Salvo visited this restaurant on a night out, including a concert at our favorite venue SF Jazz. What a great night! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-7100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b5ebea2f-ab3e-485d-8581-02276f4e766a/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_007.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 7/100 - Julian and Salvo hosted J’s parents for an impromptu visit at which the smoked salmon we picked up in Vancouver made an appearance. I’m glad it found such a great audience! Scheherazade Turkey, Arabic Folk Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fsm1qz0jl0w30iao4q5ufilhor2nov monthly 0.5 2026-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2c9a51f-0ac9-4741-8a24-f7b066c98a06/US-NC_KimeeMichael06.jpg Postcards - Petaluma Pumpkin Patch (North Carolina) - So I’ve definitely been to a pumpkin patch, but never the one in Petaluma! I’m putting it on the list for this Fall 2026. California is deeply lacking in the kinds of fall activities that the Great Lakes features. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-6100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bfc09986-4934-4632-a367-e9e1d5c8a3b0/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_006.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 6/100 - Julian and Salvo write about the glorious day of 70 degree weather we had that weekend, which was indeed a beautiful surprise. Something tells me it’s a false start to Spring and we’re not quite yet into the warmth for the year. Hah-nu-nah, the World Turtle North America, Iroquois Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-5100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ffb1783c-f153-4afc-a826-426a5e870eb0/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_005.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 5/100 - So many incredible things happened on this evening, including an ambush by an adorable labradorite puppy and great food and wine. Between that and the celebrity encounter, who could complain!? The Wife of Gold and Silver Finland, Finnish Mythology https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/r8zhfzf87xx6fglt7dp33vkc7vek73 monthly 0.5 2026-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7b656c91-0238-4793-8822-19b0e555da8e/US-NC_KimeeMichael05.jpg Postcards - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences - Who doesn’t love a museum of natural sciences?! Kimee and Michael visited this one and learned so much. Beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ql8o8oqw7f9qzvw090plelrbc69gr6 monthly 0.5 2026-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2784524b-6614-4452-a97f-66ee3aec09a0/US-FL_PattiBill02.jpg Postcards - Hallucinogenic Toreador (Florida) - Lenticular postcards never scan well because the scanner wants both images but they just don’t shake out well. This one came from my Aunt Patti after they visited the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. I guess it’s affiliated with the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí Figueres, which I’ve visited myself! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-4100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/784313ef-c1f7-4b90-b714-3bb431a6034c/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_004.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 4/100 - Julian and Salvo have decided to compete in the gay games! This is very exciting indeed; Salvo will compete in chess and Julian will start training in weight lifting. What a thrill! The Boy and the Dragon Pearl China, Chinese Legend https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ntgjvazhoxxcwd7cuid24t7clbcrkc monthly 0.5 2026-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8e42603f-3d39-4eaa-b836-f931a60890da/US-NC_KimeeMichael04.jpg Postcards - Gateway to Raleigh (North Carolina) - I can’t remember the last time I was in North Carolina. It must have been longer than a decade ago when I visited from friends in the Outer Banks. I’m not sure I’ve ever been to Raleigh! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-3100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0a04dd3d-e579-42fd-8d43-c8dc7a5b9f73/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_003.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 3/100 - Julian must have taken a batch of these postcards to the automated stamp machine, which spit out the QR-code stamps. He writes, endearingly “The machine in the post office gave me these monstrosities… Thank you for your patience in these trying times.” For such a best friend, patience isn’t even worth mentioning! Yemoja Nigeria, Yoruba Deity https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/iyy6gmw1l5z2jujnd96qufd0qaznds monthly 0.5 2026-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/99349347-cd66-42c9-9734-653f27dbe46c/US-WA_Tristan01.jpg Postcards - Sun Tzu (Washington) - This is another beautiful poetry card from my brother-in-law. They appear to be of a series, so I wonder if he too is carrying them with him when he travels? This one came from Seattle! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yoshitani-series-2100 monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a93b2349-9c27-4a05-9916-98a9fe79fe9b/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_002.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 2/100 - I just love the check-ins, hearing what’s going on in Julian and Salvo’s lives. Druid and White Stag Ireland, Celtic Legend https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lq79g5snxhz4bx9b36krx47bnxkoa2 monthly 0.5 2026-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fa6b9c27-1233-4d1d-a80e-12e1f43bdfdd/US-CA_JulianSalvo_Yoshitani_001.jpg Postcards - Yoshitani series 1/100 - I’m so excited to receive this postcard from our dear friends Julian and Salvo. You may remember them from the Miyazaki series of 100 postcards. Here we are again with a new series, this one of illustrations by California artist Yoshi Yoshitani! Princess Kaguya Japan, Japanese Fairy Tale https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8slgn1afj3qgmzt9akxve1p7bxcmd9 monthly 0.5 2026-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/350b6620-60aa-4eb0-9628-46a5e9392a79/US-NC_KimeeMichael03.jpg Postcards - vintage SF expo (North Carolina) - It is bizarre to receive such a deeply San Francisco postcard from North Carolina, but count on Kimee and Michael to make the bizarre beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rs2bwha2kt13ati8ar4b75fy44qmo8 monthly 0.5 2026-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0fd8350c-d111-463c-95ad-3c108c7f94c2/US-WA_Heidi01.jpg Postcards - wine shopping (Washington) - My mother-in-law selected this postcard to accompany an unexpected gift of Japanese stationery. Is there a better kind?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qcjsy5xmzbqgpwvd8h0droun88flgn monthly 0.5 2026-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/14c731cf-e733-4794-868d-295cc188ff3a/US-NC_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - in the hills… (North Carolina) - I wish I knew who wrote this! A simple web search isn’t turning up anything reliable. If someone out there knows what it is, I’d love to know whom to give the credit to. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/psi6te9qernieprqvhhxsggkvigztw monthly 0.5 2026-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/24932b21-812c-46e5-a435-80c3179c8a11/US-CA_TracyCynthia22.jpg Postcards - Ocells de les grutes II (California) - How did Tracy and Cynthia know that Joan Miró is my favorite painter!? I love all of his work, but this one is really great, too. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/v6k46z2zmzpqljvyoa5cjbjizrnutd monthly 0.5 2026-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a9e3f7dd-20a0-4c7b-91a6-81c6d79033c1/US-NC_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - the Booksmith (North Carolina) - Kimee sent this postcard from a trip to North Carolina; she must have addressed it and prepared it, but written it and sent it from NC. I’ve done something like that before! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cabourg-france monthly 0.5 2026-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a2828db5-afbd-4e23-98b3-c52490ccb21b/FR_Dominique183.jpg Postcards - Cabourg (France) - Voici le Grand Hôtel à Cabourg, près de Calvados à la Côte Fleurie. Dominique a également mis un timbre aver un chien Labrador. Tellement mignon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/adler-planetarium-illinois monthly 0.5 2026-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/57917960-723d-4b8c-abb7-f27d69115cc5/US-IL_EmilyCarter29.jpg Postcards - Adler Planetarium (Illinois) - Emily and Carter took advantage of the free admission for Chicago residents on Wednesday night! It was a rare opportunity for them given their demanding work schedule. They enjoyed seeing what the night sky would look like without light pollution. Next on the list, the Art Institute of Chicago! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6gon9yn0tpdmabs3vt9ifz2898urbr monthly 0.5 2026-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/22886093-938a-4587-9bdd-4087f2652261/US-CA_JulianSalvo29.jpg Postcards - we shape our buildings (California) - “…thereafter they shape us” continues the recto of this beautiful postcard. Julian and Salvo sent it from their new social hub, the Battery. It must be some place to have such great postcards! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7fv550ehewlotf2pzdhlwmwldn6anb monthly 0.5 2026-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c334f802-2315-4d46-9eae-b5b97760b03c/FR_Dominique182.jpg Postcards - Bischwiller (France) - Voici l’Ancienne Pharmacie Princière, datant de 1681 (tellement vielle!) à Bischwiller en Alsace, pas trop loin d’où habite-il mon ami à lettres, Dominique. Je trouve cette edifice très charmante. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7l41lf8jiij6xay3luz6q6kdbelu3f monthly 0.5 2026-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/48f45981-2de8-4ff9-93c1-987ba85604ca/US-NY_Kathrine05.jpg Postcards - tangled drawing (New York) - This beautiful postcard comes from our friend Kathrine who’s planning a visit to the Bay Area and we’re excited to see her! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kalbk7rkihotj4ezdlkez6aua9l01g monthly 0.5 2026-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bcf8c0ba-57ec-4f3e-8f1a-c5b792a02be9/DE_Dominique38.jpg Postcards - weinlust again! (Germany) - Ici Dominique écrit sur le vignoble le plus proche à chez lui, qui est situé au Forêt Noire en Allemagne. Là-bas, on n’est pas limité avec les vins qu’on produit, comme en Alsace (où on ne fait que pousser sept). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/szj4s4pvfar4pwa5d1zuwv1fp23q2e monthly 0.5 2026-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b0674dc2-6c06-463b-910b-218a0a607223/FR_Dominique181.jpg Postcards - weinlust indeed (France) - Mon ami Dominique toujours m’envoie des tellement jolies cartes postales. J’adore cette series qu’il a trouvé en Allemagne, pas trop loin d’où il habite. J’ai beaucoup hâte d’aller dans les vignobles français et peut-être allemands aussi! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rf5m8pgpi4obr5bjc5h2dikk3neld2 monthly 0.5 2026-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d3d87b6f-709e-40ef-a121-e4aad1ee823f/FR_Dominique180.jpg Postcards - cosmobile collection (France) - Comment peut-on designer une voiture qui est à la fois dans son époque et aussi futuristique? Voilà l’artiste. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3sq9w0si3gph6ccps2pd7l6e019z6p monthly 0.5 2026-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e637628b-8429-4617-ab03-87c5be2c0534/DE_Dominique37.jpg Postcards - Schwarzwald (Germany) - Je me demand pourquoi pas les régions américaines ne font de tels efforts de publicité comment cette cartes allemandes. Elles sont tellement jolies! J’ai envie d’y aller visiter. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jxpvum6xn0eyq3p25bkrxkm5keap9c monthly 0.5 2026-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8725e235-dab0-4f24-aab4-4f2eb9dadc9f/DE_Dominique36.jpg Postcards - Peu importe où se déroule ta vie (Germany) - Une de joies d’habiter près de la frontière est la possibilité de la croiser sans beaucoup de souci. Dominique m’a envoyée cette carte postale depuis l’Allemagne, ce qu’il a achevé à vélo! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/48waa7xo2bm7c02uwyugmyp6rigko8 monthly 0.5 2026-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/035d0504-4af4-4162-b7ca-af3a07542509/FR_Dominique179.jpg Postcards - Trouville-sur-Mer (France) - Cette ville se trouve dans la Normandie. Je me demande si le nom vient des mots “trou” et “ville” ou peut-être quelque chose d’autre! Bonne chance, Dominique, avec le cataracte! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/u6szkzvx9uv3ercjff9x7yg2l50413 monthly 0.5 2026-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6e996667-52ab-4eee-b4bf-37089cb1cb22/IT_Lino30.jpg Postcards - Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli (Italy) - Indeed this place is located in the beautiful city of Assisi, of course associated closely with Saint Francis (or San Francisco). It’s so funny that Lino that thinks about that! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/aelhqid6yenh88r5yvsrovqxfbcdqf monthly 0.5 2026-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/16076e4b-4690-4927-8e00-e72377d95bf6/IT_Lino29.jpg Postcards - GiroVagando (Italy) - This beautiful postcard comes from the statue dedicated to Domenico Modugno in Puglia. Thanks, Lino! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/g6l0eh1w0xzgkp7r1d63vvcjaap7gp monthly 0.5 2026-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ad11d6c2-23d7-4c7b-884d-33c0d8db1fae/PH_Matty02.jpg Postcards - Palawan (Philippines) - The postcards will likely arrive out of sequence, based on when and where they were sent from. This one, Matty sent from his trip in the Palawan Islands, Philippines. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/klmwk4jo4eublhskff4auqhmtkqbp5 monthly 0.5 2026-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9aaf7f07-415f-40dc-948c-9adb0efe2b62/IT_Lino28.jpg Postcards - Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Italy) - Traveling around Italy and Europe at large, Lino even took the time to send me this great postcard from the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Rome). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ykvr77rxlahv2s2y3fr9cqlzfret6p monthly 0.5 2026-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b406b2f3-f43d-4acc-b71b-ad7f13ea993c/DE_Dominique35.jpg Postcards - Frau mit Katze (Germany) - Cet oeuvre a été fait par Alexander Archipenko (1910). Dominique s’est inscrite dans un cours sur l’art contemporain à une université à Strasbourg. Il apprend — et se rappelle — beaucoup! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gt4j9540u5xbeyh4j94gd7k86fmnd6 monthly 0.5 2026-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1743ecf5-ebb6-4805-aca6-c9470cb5af71/US-IA_Nozomi02.jpg Postcards - round hay bales (Iowa) - This is truly a beautiful image. It’s so quotidian and driving across Iowa it starts to feel very boring. But this photo is really incredible. Thanks to Nozomi who sent this from her new home. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/t9nviltzugitd190ckrr62hguqf3ye monthly 0.5 2026-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a65d4b2e-be81-4d2e-ad81-3583609667fa/AU_Matty34.jpg Postcards - windmill (Australia) - Matty is back from his incredible tour and sent this first postcard as he’s settling back into the heat of the summer and returning to work. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-battery-california monthly 0.5 2026-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9967176f-cab5-4828-94f5-5802e6c5176a/US-CA_JulianSalvo28.jpg Postcards - the Battery (California) - Our friends spent New Year’s Eve at The Battery and sent this truly beautiful postcard from their time there. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ota00ig8qombsz1neu7diwr6n1jbee monthly 0.5 2026-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/381355a3-ed9d-4f8f-87b4-ebb993a9ee31/FR_Dominique178.jpg Postcards - moules marinières (France) - Les moules marinières doivent être un de plus célèbres plats français; je ne savais pas qu’elles sont normandes! En plus, Andy adore les moules, également les marinières que d’autre tradition. Moi aussi, je les adore. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/californian-octopus monthly 0.5 2026-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd45d984-50e1-4e6b-a01b-ac404caef1c9/US-CA_PaulRob02.jpg Postcards - Californian octopus - Rob and Paul sent this beautiful illustration as thanks for a gathering we hosted late last year. Truly beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/glittery-istanbul-trkiye monthly 0.5 2026-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bf8d5176-5fec-413f-9b93-33de162e96fc/TR_Lino01.jpg Postcards - glittery Istanbul (Türkiye) - My penpal Lino stopped in Istanbul late last year on a trip he was taking in East Europe (and evidently far West Asia). I’ve never been but I’d love to go. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6mcqjaq9fpli91ebtqk0b3isahcwqw monthly 0.5 2026-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6958642e-5b10-4dd9-b9e7-8554b7a80fa6/US-MI_Hal01.jpg Postcards - Casa Vizcaya (Michigan) - Casa Vizcaya is in Miami, Florida of course, but Hal sent it upon return to Michigan! They were there for a vacation and while Diego was ill, Hall visited this great historic house. I’ve also seen it and it’s very impressive! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/old9orqq27k4vt1q980i18x89e2zr4 monthly 0.5 2026-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/eca21d7d-54c3-444e-988e-516215f7e81d/US-MI_EmilyCarter10.jpg Postcards - Michigan map - Emily and Carter took a winter trip to Michigan to pick up her car and meet her family for some gaming and shopping and general family-time. Lovely! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dlunn8nvs885p121zrchqi2lkcxg4p monthly 0.5 2026-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2ab7983-7ec1-4728-8007-2a5fa7e60d2a/US-PA_T12.jpg Postcards - Shenandoah National Park (Pennsylvania) - I think I just need to quote Thea because it’s so eloquent: “The Great Depression and WW2 looms large in the nostalgia of a certain American Story. What blessed reason has forced us to be characters in that store? I don’t care, just grateful these gorgeous places exist to be seen.” That’s right! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/z7zbmxyl4tdwgutlv6c8xi5n6qgab1 monthly 0.5 2026-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ec6db047-39fd-40c9-bb1c-c4d257649750/GR_TracyCynthia03.jpg Postcards - rooftops of Greece - I love a later-postcard so much! This one arrived in early January but was sent on 23 October 2025 when Cynthia and Tracy were on their cruise to Greece. They write about how beautiful both Santorini and Mykonos were, but were really taken by the latter. We were also there in 2017 and so enjoyed ourselves in the Cyclades. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/1z5k3ar4eeemlciwu5m3mhwy2l2iit monthly 0.5 2026-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9d7354e7-83d2-4fcf-b2ac-04725bbcdd78/FR_Dominique168.jpg Postcards - les sept crus d’Alsace (France) - Vous pouvez voir, j’espère, que cette carte postale est dan la forme d’un casse-tête! Elle liste les sept crus d’Alsace, que je connais (quelques uns plus que des autres). Mais je ne connais point l’Edelzwicker! J’en vais goûter sûrement quand nous serons en Alsace cet été. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/banana-slug-california monthly 0.5 2026-01-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/84578c5f-ce07-4aeb-9931-ea7cdb03ccac/US-CA_HunterGabby01.jpg Postcards - banana slug (California) - Our nephew Hunter and his wife Gabby were visiting last month and they sent this postcard, which they picked up on our visit to Muir Woods, as thank you for what was an excellent trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wdtxbf75aa7dd27sglq9g22tlfhti1 monthly 0.5 2026-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6219cb04-be84-4ad8-854f-5fc06e767797/JP_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Imperial Palace Main Gate Stone Bridge (Japan) - Matty is in Japan for the first time in 10 years (sadly, I haven’t visited once!) and is doing a few more touristy things this time. He writes about a go-kart tour of Akihabara, which sounds like fun! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rvlzc4ozruthzcq3zlukcv9q9vz2oa monthly 0.5 2026-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f396c739-f020-4a89-aa54-2d752b54ae53/FR_Dominique176.jpg Postcards - Honfleur (France) - Dominique est allé en Normandie pour une visite et a profité de visiter cette ville, qui est connue par ses galeries d’art, où il en a acheté! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alf54kybrr00c8ia39i9y2xb6bgq6p monthly 0.5 2026-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/faae8a8a-01d4-4857-be93-6fbc2193a6c3/US-FL_Kimee10.jpg Postcards - vintage cartoon collection (Florida) - Kimee found herself in the same situation I often do: “There was so little time at Disney that I fell behind on my correspondence.” I resemble that statement! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jeepney-philippines monthly 0.5 2026-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a99ea467-3895-41b5-be7a-03d2655fbb33/PH_Matty.jpg Postcards - jeepney (Philippines) - Matty stopped in the Philippines and sent this postcard. I too have walked around Manila - Intramuros, and I even rode a jeepney when I was there ages ago for a friends’ wedding. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/c7z1ybp7yerl5fk4obt1ir319njqnf monthly 0.5 2026-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e7616cc7-29d6-466c-a0d1-7d2e8c97f39f/CA_Andy08.jpg Postcards - watercolor whale (Canada) - Andy sent this postcard months ago while on a business trip to Canada; it got held up in the postal strike and only just arrived. Every time he sees a whale postcard, he sends it to me. They have to be my favorite animal (apart from the obvious, of course). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/l4b0i7qcc4isylrx3cge53xkg5yo2o monthly 0.5 2026-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9f52aeb2-855a-4c12-9806-355983fc93f5/US-FL_Kimee09.jpg Postcards - vintage Walt Disney World map (Florida) - This postcard arrived quite a bit later after Kimee returned from Walt Disney World. I too have visited although it was probably 35 years ago. I wonder how much it’s changed. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8xgd6kevyebovxpt4znvhq75g16xo4 monthly 0.5 2026-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf3e35d8-f4f5-4333-99c4-07a71e63a1c3/PW_Matty01.jpg Postcards - coral reef (Palau) - Matty is on another big trip and sends this postcard from Palau! It’s my first one! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/h5tnc7vwswwvzd6q6dgx287m5fduni monthly 0.5 2026-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/94f7266e-b421-419d-bf65-159c54795cbe/US-CA_Kimee07.jpg Postcards - Roxie theater (California) - Kimee went to see “the Muppet Christmas Carol” at the Roxie last month, asking what was the last movie I’d seen there. I’m not sure I’ve seen a movie at the Roxie? That’ll have to be rectified! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hunky-santa-canada monthly 0.5 2026-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bf2ad8c8-8dcf-4c57-963b-8efe81ca9eb3/CA_Ray28.jpg Postcards - hunky Santa (Canada) - My penpal Ray always finds the best postcards (and stickers, which always go on the obverse so you don’t see them). This one is just so funny! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/4egud0azu09sr3p6gjk2j8ngkaumdp monthly 0.5 2026-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/48d278bf-3829-4a39-bc0a-5ea1c21e52eb/US-FL_Kimee08.jpg Postcards - ferruginous hawk (Florida) - I don’t know anything about this particular hawk but this watercolor is stunning. Thanks to Kimee for sending while on her great vacation! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/frosty-colorado monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/572d514a-927e-4e83-8cd2-3706967bb4ac/US-CO_Tristan05.jpg Postcards - frosty Colorado - My brother-in-law recently took a trip to Colorado to visit a friend and sent this great quote. All you need to read are these seven words, and the whole poem unfolds in your head. What great art. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3uu8spexuwjwo6sh988po1r16bzeh6 monthly 0.5 2026-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6eef2ebd-3424-4c2a-88b6-93c65324f4ab/US-FL_KimeeMichael07.jpg Postcards - icons of Walt Disney world (Florida) - I don’t know why but Figment looms VERY large in my dim memories of my two trips to Disney World when I was a very small child. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ribbons-and-bows-florida monthly 0.5 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/75d3146a-1e61-4dd1-8521-4a07e6d63a9f/US-FL_KimeeMichael06.jpg Postcards - ribbons and bows (Florida) - Kimee writes something that’s a very astute observation: “They do Disney Princess Drag in the castle, but only for kids under 14. Starting at $250, you can get your child glammed up as the princess of their choice.” Why did I never think about kids dressing at Disney princesses as drag? That’s exactly what it is. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kougelhopf-recette-france monthly 0.5 2026-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cd097728-e64a-47d4-90c6-b6c00618d983/FR_Dominique175.jpg Postcards - Kougelhopf recette (France) - I’ll have to try this recipe, which looks quite complete. I don’t have the appropriate pan but the silicon Bundt pan I have should work? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/disney-family-florida monthly 0.5 2026-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/597dd3be-4a66-4a6e-b17e-620b41541b91/US-FL_KimeeMichael05.jpg Postcards - Disney family (Florida) - Kimee wrote this postcard on her way home from the family trip to Florida. It sounds like it was a major trip; I’m glad she’s coming back. It’s been too long since we saw her! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/32qm5kf5ie78n93fzt9hgjsyudtjl8 monthly 0.5 2026-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f686644f-0761-488e-8106-366a57ee8269/US-FL_KimeeMichael04.jpg Postcards - lack of imagination (Florida) - Kimee was on a hunt to find as many postcard designs as possible; it looks like a limited offering (not her fault). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gardens-by-the-bay-singapore monthly 0.5 2025-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c14f0d8c-5fef-4641-a39f-b811a9360426/SG_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Gardens by The Bay (Singapore) - Matty is off on his grand tour again, stopping in Singapore with hot, humid, and stormy weather. The last time he was there was in 2013, so it’ll be interesting to hear how much (or how little) it has changed. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/1j4b640r8jyrdmumltopimtfjn0h5h monthly 0.5 2025-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4ec5f17b-a426-457e-abba-44e5d8cb9465/US-FL_KimeeMichael03.jpg Postcards - the most magical (Florida) - Kimee had the same trouble I did traveling to Disney parks; a dearth of postcards. They have a VERY limited selection, so this one is to be “[c]onsider[ed]… from any of the three Universal Studios parks…” Too bad. Talk about a lack of imagination! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sf-transit-florida monthly 0.5 2025-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/255ade7b-0484-4e67-803d-3d2ebe136b59/US-FL_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - SF transit (Florida) - Kimee must have brought some SF cards with her to Florida because this was posted from Orlando. She writes that she asked a cast member in the Disney park where she could find the bus timetable in the app and that feature had been disabled! “Happiest place on earth my ass!” Co-signed. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/porto-portugal monthly 0.5 2025-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3785f4f7-c107-4bca-8c5d-0a9a3ede93c4/PT_Jorg01.jpg Postcards - Porto (Portugal) - My penpal Jörg is traveling through Europe and sends these greeting from Northern Portugal, which he had never visited before. That makes two of us! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/p9b3gzxw1f69mx5dgneujcpn2tpu9m monthly 0.5 2025-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2d097792-02ee-466b-aa20-3911becf1602/US-FL_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - what kind of pot roast? (Florida) - Kimee took a family trip to Florida with toddlers and several days in Disney! This is the great postcard she sent from the beginning of the trip. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/salt-and-flickers-california monthly 0.5 2025-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7a11413b-6264-4596-be8d-15447c4f9099/US-CA_KimeeMichael46.jpg Postcards - salt and flickers (California) - I just don’t know how Kimee does it, finding all these terrific postcards. But here’s a great example of the kind of lovely things she consistently finds! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lbjmd8ousbmu3sts6r4k8cl7ufph32 monthly 0.5 2025-12-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2ef98a25-44d4-48d6-b9fa-16126f16a605/US-IL_EmilyCarter28.jpg Postcards - Windy City (Illinois) - Emily and Carter sent these winter greetings, signed by the whole Jason clan, since they were spending a long weekend in the Windy City! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/entering-bean-town-iowa monthly 0.5 2025-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0ba460d9-6e22-43c5-909a-a190e922e1fa/US-IA_Nozomi01.jpg Postcards - entering Bean Town (Iowa) - Nozomi was in Boston again for the annual BUCLD conference - its 50th anniversary meeting — and sent this great postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6ielqa5qw2x1qb2q0dr3kfqsh4hszy monthly 0.5 2025-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/06d4cf97-4e87-4e8e-b512-310a8307b01b/US-PA_T11.jpg Postcards - miracle card (Pennsylvania) - Thea knew very well that this postcard could never scan to its true glory; it features a cellophane overlay that spins on the central nut, creating a very trippy optical illusion. Come visit and I’ll show you in person! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bz5u1fyr9qkx1vl3fwszlio6divkoa monthly 0.5 2025-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4fa35c6d-224a-4388-b9e2-f2445c30a5bf/FR_Dominique174.jpg Postcards - Cosmobile (France) - Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte postale avec une création d’André Ferrand. Il a été en Normandie où il a reçu cette carte postale d’un antiquaire. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/canadian-pride monthly 0.5 2025-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/eb9616d6-c782-47fd-9c80-0cc2b24c10ad/CA_Ray27.jpg Postcards - Canadian pride - Ray sent this great illustration and on the back included the fantastic pride stamps from Canada Post. If only the USPS could get on board with that. Although we do have a great Harvey Milk stamp. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sy59pz4p7i7at1auibciszutulnybn monthly 0.5 2025-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ebe95215-105d-4263-8fff-6243d02a6624/AU_Matty33.jpg Postcards - Yued Boodja (Australia) - This beautiful postcard comes from my penpal in Australia, Matty. I love indigenous art, especially what I’ve seen from Australia. The illustrator for this card is Kevin Bynder. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hnq38ong8xt71wv79vcxuodlw675to monthly 0.5 2025-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8d5e81af-8283-4a4c-8811-1c4d4bf3bd02/US-IL_EmilyCarter27.jpg Postcards - Prehistoric Scene at Rancho La Brea by Charles R. Knight (Illinois) - Make it stand out This art style is so iconic! I’ve even been to La Brea, which is pretty cool. I wonder if Knight did lots of this artwork all over, and not just at the Field Museum, which Emily and Carter visited. They enjoyed Sue, of course, but mostly Emily was fascinated by the mummies! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3umid5e9b2p8mwuw9741dummrgnq09 monthly 0.5 2025-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/010dae83-f48d-4fb4-89d1-802c67e6e084/FR_Dominique173.jpg Postcards - Avignon - le Palais des Papes (France) - J’aime bien voir les figures en bas de cette image pour bien comprendre la taille massive de ce château. En pensant à sa construction à l’époque-là, c’est vraiment effrayant de l’imaginer. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/loupaper-thanksgiving-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd4ade95-4f2d-4d65-a4ef-2adbb5faa9de/US-OR_Linda72.jpg Postcards - LouPaper Thanksgiving (Oregon) - I so love the artwork for LouPaper and I haven’t seen this Thanksgiving one before! Of course Linda sent it - she has such a great eye for postcards. <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/deauville-france monthly 0.5 2025-12-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/82683ed0-2b14-4b87-a9b5-f7425bc263ce/FR_Dominique172.jpg Postcards - Deauville (France) - Dominique a pris quelques jours de bien être en Normandie ici à Deauville, pas trop loin des places de débarquement de D-Day. Comment dont parlent-ils les français, je me demande… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/two-black-cats-virginia monthly 0.5 2025-12-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/999f7b38-d0eb-40bd-8c99-8cc4b2ed29d4/US-VA_Quinn01.jpg Postcards - two black cats (Virginia) - Our friend Quinn was in the US to visit a friend and sent us this postcard from the Poe Museum in Richmond, Virgina! I wish I’d visited when I was in Richmond all those years ago. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xsh0qgyu3i0r41njob3bmngxb0o2ro monthly 0.5 2025-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7b872b94-bc0f-4e1d-9b1d-6fc3a69ec7fe/FR_Dominique171.jpg Postcards - Avignon par Gordot (France) - Voici une peinture d’Avignon par Claude-Marie Gordot (1722-1804) que Dominique m’a envoyée. Il a écrit que le facteur lui avait dit que parfois il entre dans la rue que pour lui donner du courriel à lui tout seul - surtout des cartes postales. Moi aussi j’ai eu des conversations pareils avec le facteur, qui se rend compte que j’en reçois beaucoup de carte postales! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vienna-multiview-austria monthly 0.5 2025-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6891a5ea-8228-49ca-b9e6-4757a98977f1/AT_Jorg01.jpg Postcards - Vienna multiview (Austria) - Jörg was visiting Austria recently and sent his best from this beautiful city. I’ve only been to Salzburg, so there’s lots more Austria for me to discover! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ytc6r4zwdovr2g5sas2ztjcr9ryw35 monthly 0.5 2025-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5dbbb900-89fd-4cc1-bee4-ec18a7aa0f3f/CN_4035473.jpg Postcards - police feline (China) - This postcard comes from a 35-year old in China with really nice handwriting and beautiful stamps. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/art-nude-australia monthly 0.5 2025-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/370dcde8-64b5-4cde-a2ab-f55ca3abae44/AU_Matty32jpg.jpg Postcards - art nude (Australia) - Matty is getting ready for his big trip this year; he’s visiting Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Palau, and Japan! What a world traveler! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cjmh9ew6ef6tj76e0abvt21jm94w3n monthly 0.5 2025-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/904af8d7-0e49-40ed-9d62-6d84feb47020/US-CA_Andy07.jpg Postcards - “baleine” by Paul Windsor (Canada) - Andy picked this postcard up while he was in Vancouver on Granville Island! I’m excited to visit it myself in 2026. This postcard is strange because it has a Canadian stamp on it but US Postal Service cancellations. Weird. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6qc9kmchrrfo3vo5hii82jz7a0elzo monthly 0.5 2025-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5ac6f1fd-85bf-42d3-8888-a8573d057b70/US-MI_LaurenG03.jpg Postcards - sea turtle facts (Michigan) - Our niece Lauren sent this postcard with an update about the diving season, which by all accounts is going quite well! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qekt74ucp9o6jhm7cd6nor28siojwf monthly 0.5 2025-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5bb226df-7613-4c08-a241-22d69fd34a56/US-NY_Aleksa01.jpg Postcards - Woodstock (New York) - My dear friend Aleksa traveled to New York recently and even visited Woodstock! I’ve never been there at all. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/senkw-canada monthly 0.5 2025-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e178643e-0c7d-4d9c-bc11-d0e6e9e32967/CA_Andy06.jpg Postcards - Senák’w (Canada) - Andy sent this postcard from his more recent trip in early November to Vancouver, and it arrived just a week or two later. I’m eager to visit Granville Island when we both travel to Vancouver in February! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/if-looks-could-kill-france monthly 0.5 2025-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1e1898fc-8704-4c2a-95c0-871d57915a5f/FR_Dominique170.jpg Postcards - if looks could kill (France) - One more arresting piece from the Museum that Dominique visited. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/z0168nvlnzzu6piwnee7val2e5rut8 monthly 0.5 2025-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b4cf1f8e-4c3d-45df-882c-aec9f7f3b8ef/FR_Dominique169.jpg Postcards - épingle au paon (France) - In Oyonnax, there is a museum of combs and plastic arts that Dominique visited, with tons of incredible things in the collection! This peacock peacock pin is particularly beautiful. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ra2movjlm5eedip4owu6e8g3i8pmny monthly 0.5 2025-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dabc5971-aef3-4837-869e-1a470e4354ce/IT_Lino27.jpg Postcards - cathedral basilica of Oria (Italy) - Lino sends this postcard from a visit he made to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The translation on the back is curious: Dedicated to Maria Ss Assunta in Cielo stands on one of the hills of Oria where in the past stood Romanic Cathedral damaged during the violent eartquake [sic] of Nardò in 1743. From this church there is access to the charming but gloomy Crypt of the Mummies, a cave modified by man over the years that contains the mummified bodies of brethren of the Order of the Death, this Order still controls the crypt. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/later-postcard-canada monthly 0.5 2025-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8323a77d-b283-4c59-9b29-99cb051fb7e1/CA_Andy05.jpg Postcards - later postcard (Canada) - Here’s another postcard Andy sent at the end of September which didn’t arrive until mid-November. I do love the later postcards, those sent well after their purchase and/or writing. No shade to Canada Post - I will (almost?) always support striking workers! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-baeckeoffe-france monthly 0.5 2025-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/319e406f-5fd7-44c2-9fa2-b3fc652d1293/FR_Dominique168.jpg Postcards - le Baeckeoffe (France) - This is a recipe that Dominique really enjoys, although he cautions that it must be homemade and in the proper baking dish! I may pick one up while I’m in Alsace next summer! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rmzzp834rky2f20z86r13imvu05wgy monthly 0.5 2025-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/33bd3f3b-08d0-48f8-b754-e0abdf2f971f/US-OR_EbruMehmet02.jpg Postcards - Scotch Lodge (Oregon) - This is a postcard from one of the places we recommended to Ebru and Mehmet, which they reported enjoying via text message! If you haven’t visited Scotch Lodge, I highly recommend it both for the cocktails and the food! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/suspicious-calgary-canada monthly 0.5 2025-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/79172247-26b6-492f-9bae-1b49156666ec/CA_Andy04.jpg Postcards - suspicious Calgary (Canada) - This postcard didn’t arrive until mid-November; Andy was in Canada for business and bought a few postcards, stamping them and writing them. But due to the strike, he was unable to leave them in a mailbox, so he left them with the hotel staff instead. They mailed them for him after the strike! What great folks. I entitled this suspicious because Andy wrote that his hotel is right across the street from the tower. He wondered if it had been built before the CN Tower in Toronto and if it’s some dick-measuring contest between Calgary and Toronto? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/golden-portland-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bafa1df9-9809-43a4-950f-394794de3d11/US-OR_EbruMehmet01.jpg Postcards - golden Portland (Oregon) - Ebru and Mehmet visited Portland last month and we were delighted to make a few suggestions on restaurants and bars they might enjoy. I’m pleased that we have the same taste in a few of them! This scan doesn’t do the postcard justice; it’s truly luminous! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yawohqdwn63wv84no627mq2atuompy monthly 0.5 2025-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9ff0e75a-e062-4756-bf3e-890c16b7381b/US-CA_KimeeMichael45.jpg Postcards - Hell (Michigan) - Sometimes the sender (in this case, Michael) writes such a great message that it merits reproduction in full: “I can’t tell if this was a personal card or a mass production. Maybe this Spaniel was the most interesting thing in Hell, MI before they embraced the halloween camp? So many fascinating ephemera at the Pacific Grove consignment store!” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kritios-boy-greece monthly 0.5 2025-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6d81bb06-e943-4642-82b1-0165a10b1bd5/GR_TracyCynthia02.jpg Postcards - Kritios Boy (Greece) - I can’t imagine why Cynthia and Tracy thought of us to send this postcard to! ;-) They write about their awe-inspiring visit to the Parthenon and the beautiful Acropolis Museum. We touched down briefly in Athens before almost immediately leaving for the Cyclades. Athens definitely merits a visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/53fqrxpokvwm42m48io5vvikn0ie1t monthly 0.5 2025-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6b2036a7-9a8d-4d15-a474-365026dc8415/GR_TracyCynthia01.jpg Postcards - Acropolis (Greece) - This postcard arrived last month after Cynthia and Tracy’s grand tour to Greece; they spent some time in Athens taking in history and time before embarking on a great cruise of the Mediterranean and Aegean. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/another-meetup-from-finland monthly 0.5 2025-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/99584d74-bd82-4d40-a447-be322adcefd8/FI_Jussi26.jpg Postcards - another MeetUp from Finland - Jussi, my dear penpal, always attends these great PostCrossing MeetUps in Finland, and send the beautifully-illustrated postcards my way! He asks whether I know about Moomin, which I’m sad to say I don’t. But I know it’s very popular! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dutch-sticky-buns-new-jersey monthly 0.5 2025-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a1bd8bad-fcbe-47fb-9632-19e335f7e75a/US_11809013.jpg Postcards - Dutch sticky buns (New Jersey) - I received this postcard from a polyglot in New Jersey responding to my request for recipe postcards. I wonder what makes these sticky buns “Dutch”? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/zyxmmo167iwnf89i6m3c97z824teya monthly 0.5 2025-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/57b7292d-a8de-4371-97bc-235f1f9a76d7/US-MI_Mom.jpg Postcards - French Lick Springs Resort and Spa (Michigan) - Several months ago, my mother traveled to French Lick with a friend. She picked up several postcards and sent some to me. This one didn’t make it into the mailbox until just now (hence the Michigan tag). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/e4k4rfzaopn2f9b2n5h3n66iqa2sbx monthly 0.5 2025-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/98ef5544-2a2f-4f24-bc58-50b10db7cd2c/DE_15914735.jpg Postcards - greenery (Germany) - At first I thought this postcard was from a tropical area - due to the verdant forest - but it's actually from Germany! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ostuni-italy monthly 0.5 2025-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/96126209-9abb-4e61-a2e1-f662eb32f753/IT_Lino26.jpg Postcards - Ostuni (Italy) - This postcard arrived to celebrate World Postcard Day (although it didn't arrive until Halloween)! I'm very grateful to all of my friends, local and not, especially those who exchange postcards with me. <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5cqvra21sl2gxgbu2g988ur3gft4d5 monthly 0.5 2025-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/89828c85-8e95-4ea3-9788-9c836f888a4c/TW_3917484.jpg Postcards - Taiwanese calendar - This sender is also an English teacher but teaches in a middle school; what a delight to receive this interesting postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/umgmu2hpdd3iv3izi93n7mck9jdbf3 monthly 0.5 2025-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2aa5dd5-3d21-4c37-a598-888436ea2406/FR_Dominique167.jpg Postcards - le Palais des Papes d’Avignon (France) - Voici le Palais des Papes d’Avignon, et—comment écrit-il Dominique—c’est un des 10 monuments les plus visités de France. Moi, je ne l’ai pas encore visité! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tk6yrqa2499mejhj0fkazmr5wum13c monthly 0.5 2025-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/515dc818-8244-4343-953e-1c9eea8d49e8/US-CA_GregJames19.jpg Postcards - San Joaquin Valley (California) - Greg and James came for a visit last month and this beautiful postcard was sent in thanks. We truly enjoyed seeing them and hosting them, and are looking forward to doing it again soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/multiview-of-prague-czechia monthly 0.5 2025-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/35de073a-dc84-4251-b83b-74eee40b2be9/CZ_Jorg01.jpg Postcards - multiview of Prague (Czechia) - Jörg was traveling recently and took the time to send me this postcard. Among the things he enjoyed in Prague was a great number of vegan restaurants (did I not know my penpal was vegan?!)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/place-djama-el-fna-morocco monthly 0.5 2025-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5e058a5a-ac8b-4f6f-a3ab-55c97f2d6601/MA_Lino01.jpg Postcards - Place Djamâa El Fna (Morocco) - This beautiful postcard arrived from my Italian penpal Lino who traveled to Morocco recently. He and his husband saw lots of great sights and sites! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tfh5wg2g7ajekcuw55p8jxbdn4btj7 monthly 0.5 2025-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ba619aa5-4e11-46f8-aa1c-3b6a35add538/FR_LaurenC01.jpg Postcards - French flamingos in flight - This terrific postcard arrived from Lauren who was traveling in Camargue where they saw thousands of gorgeous flamingos in the salt flats. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lenticular-alaska monthly 0.5 2025-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4bd3e796-0b40-4f4d-b2fb-3f5668dc0be7/CA_Ray26.jpg Postcards - lenticular Alaska - Unfortunately lenticular postcards just don't scan well, so this looks a mess on the computer. But in person, it's a stunning representations of the northern lights over a bay alternating with them over a beautiful pond. Thanks to Ray in Canada for sending this! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5nh3ewepoubnky8h0as40cd64hd2jm monthly 0.5 2025-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fc8ccc37-e7be-4f9d-9c67-42f02040d500/DE_Jorg03.jpg Postcards - Gronau (Germany) - Jörg writes that his family moved to Germany decades ago and he visits regularly, so he's seen how the city has changed these past few years. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xknv4kp5y5dr8etmc5vqvjtzif2a5f monthly 0.5 2025-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8473da28-9f51-4ce6-a219-116a166ebb53/US-IL_EmilyCarter26.jpg Postcards - Queenie (Illinois) - I love it when people find postcards in one location that come from another location. In this case, our niblings Emily and Carter found this postcard in Michigan City, Indiana but it features Queenie, an African lioness who arrived at the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1943. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nb71j5ih8ef1d2uwhycy7xoei206sg monthly 0.5 2025-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8cf60e8e-1067-48a0-83f5-f4ae32f1ba28/US-NY_KatieLEwis01.jpg Postcards - Waterford, Virginia (New York) - Katie and I took the 5-day Artisan I baking course this past summer at the San Francisco Baking Institute, and apart from bonding over bread baking, we also bonded over a shared love of postcards! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/27losd79nga52qqbzgavvf9xokjwdg monthly 0.5 2025-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/099c26b1-b4a1-4a3b-9f3a-ce4a8a5cda76/US-CA_KimeeMichael44.jpg Postcards - welcome to Petaluma (California) - Kimee and Michael were up in wine country to celebrate a friend's wedding! I really like Petaluma. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rvilsrznea38z7k52oribp0282bfob monthly 0.5 2025-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6d8b11c2-4019-4fda-b0f7-f9e231b647f3/CH_Dominique2.jpg Postcards - Musée Richard Wagner (Switzerland) - Voici le Musée Richard Wagner à Lucerne. Dominique écrit que les visiteurs qui savent jouer le piano sont autorisés le faire! Tellement cool! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bdq73wm7caz8uxn3qqkxk95b3xfn3i monthly 0.5 2025-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4ff4ad54-265e-449b-82f1-b4edc601687d/CA_Matt01.jpg Postcards - Banff map (Alberta) - This postcard took a while to arrive due to the postal strike in Canada, but Matt took the time to find and send a postcard while on an amazing photography trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5eae6u7rsc6mwqqseta29q19228a0j monthly 0.5 2025-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6a8ee791-de4f-45f0-aa7d-dbb71454b322/AU_Matty31.jpg Postcards - Chris Rockway (Australia) - Here's another great postcard in Matty's informal series of beautiful men. This model is named, although I don't recommend your web-searching the name unless you're on a privately-owned computer at home. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/unexpected-fortune-taiwan monthly 0.5 2025-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e8009d5a-cba5-4a41-9216-d9ee4e619912/TW_3917493.jpg Postcards - unexpected fortune (Taiwan) - This translates, roughly as, “may you have an unexpected fortune” which is something I think we could all benefit from! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nd0kt40km6y5t4g3mr790a6mc0o6nf monthly 0.5 2025-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/251b4fdd-10ac-42ba-a971-8a96c8fde904/US-CA_KimeeMichael43.jpg Postcards - Napa wineries (California) - What a lovely postcard to get from our friends Kimee and Michael who were enjoying some wine tasting in Napa. The question is : how many of these wineries do we recognize? For me, I can say: 15 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ijqa7y1s3yq8dl0e4xgchyt8s17t82 monthly 0.5 2025-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5b064f99-66af-4c5a-9b4f-f4cc87135139/US_11809243.jpg Postcards - fan service (California) - There's always been something very queer about superheroes, so this fan art about Superman and Batman sharing a passionate kiss is not surprising at all. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/world-postcard-day-2025-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/875d1195-df24-4f74-99ed-f8f4a0dfc5e5/US_11809213.jpg Postcards - World Postcard Day 2025 (Oregon) - This postcard arrived in celebration of World Postcard Day 2025 and I really love the art! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/munchen-multiview-germany monthly 0.5 2025-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/02530639-2189-468a-a8f9-7df4f5a448c9/DE_Jorg02.jpg Postcards - Munchen multiview (Germany) - This postcard arrives from my penpal Jörg who's visiting his best friend in Munich. It's the only place in Germany I've been! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cykfua43snjkb8c1tcp7dklbl2ao0t monthly 0.5 2025-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bb6b6666-f3bb-40f6-a675-fb45f483b68c/US-CA_Student01.jpg Postcards - Yellowstone National Park (California) - I received this postcard with wishes for me to visit Yellowstone, which I've never done! The handwriting tells me it's a Chinese-speaker who wrote it, but unfortunately they never signed it. I'm not sure who sent it to me (I think it's a student)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/iwhzrtl4k15kl9234ofw458xofv49j monthly 0.5 2025-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/66e6d45f-7f4c-440d-bc32-52041c823733/IT_Lino25.jpg Postcards - Pulsano (Italy) - This postcard arrives from Lino's vacation to Pulsano and features an image of this beautiful little fishing port. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/w976tcux39v6dsx460v45gh97vbluq monthly 0.5 2025-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7c984de4-3fa3-4139-b3be-40337de0cc54/US-FL_PattiBill.jpg Postcards - Graceland (Florida) - Of course Graceland isn't in Florida (it's in Tennessee) but this postcard arrived from my aunt and uncle, having passed through TN and stopped at Elvis Presley's home on their way from their summer home in Michigan to their overwintering grounds in Florida. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pavi0zoy58pzyxmuuy1fj8rwkegj3e monthly 0.5 2025-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6efdb7fa-4178-4942-84e1-7eeb8f24fd20/FR_Dominique166.jpg Postcards - Maison Empereur (France) - What a fantastic image! The reverse of this postcard says that this a sundry store. So cool! And it's still in operation, near as I can tell, having been founded in 1827. Do we in the US have any business still in continuous operation from such an early date? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hdknjn4iu6nkmj3bhmajlyesllbmvp monthly 0.5 2025-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/11c451bf-9399-47db-b2c9-7b8a443dcc48/FR_Dominique165.jpg Postcards - Niedermorschwihr (France) - Dominique écrit qu’il y a des lieux dans l’Alsace avec des noms imprononçables pour les non-auchtoctons. J’imagine que cette village y forme partie du groupe! La fameuse Christine Ferber y habite! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/4h2itj479nsthrq4u97ouas9ushhmy monthly 0.5 2025-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2ad1ff8c-f716-4dea-919d-60677be9f0a6/VG_Mom01.jpg Postcards - Road Town, Tortola (British Virgin Islands) - This is the first postcard I've received from the British Virgin Islands. It arrived in early October after my mom's cruise stopped there in August. The cancellation is 28 August, so it did take a little over a month to arrive. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2xpgqrs0y7mi37aim94bkq8zgtxd2j monthly 0.5 2025-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/27063d7d-a3e0-48d2-b5d8-2c6003adba6a/US-OH_FrancisDavid01.jpg Postcards - le fromage, c’est la vie (France) - Mon ami Francis s’est échappé à la France avec son mari pour fêter ses 50 ans. Là-bas, ils ont “trop bu, trop mangé…” quel voyage! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-followed-my-heart-germany monthly 0.5 2025-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f19b7343-5de9-4052-ba62-05775d51f3a6/DE_Dominique34.jpg Postcards - I followed my heart (Germany) - J’adore tellement ces cartes postales que Dominique m’a envoyées d’Allemagne. Je suis tout à fait d’accord avec la phrase ici: J’ai suivi mon coeur et il m’a emmené vers un café. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kj14dl5dywouvdwzfps4z6kw3mbgp1 monthly 0.5 2025-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2a042a8d-b5cb-4890-82a7-94cffdeff944/AU_Matty29.jpg Postcards - Folsom uniform (Australia) - Matty always finds the most delightful postcards to send! This one arrived during Folsom weekend so the timing was quite appropriate. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-tarte-au-fromage-blanc-france monthly 0.5 2025-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/483f1126-fa30-4f71-994f-8621362c5d1f/FR_Dominique164.jpg Postcards - la tarte au fromage blanc (France) - Voici autre recette d’Alsace, cette fois une tarte au fromage blanc (qui me paraît peut-être comme un cheesecake). Mais avec les blancs d’oeufs battus en neige, je me demande si peut-être elle serait plutôt comme une cream pie? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/on-the-go-with-treats-in-tow-germany monthly 0.5 2025-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3e3fb517-898a-4559-aac2-fe380fe2822a/DE_Dominique33.jpg Postcards - on the go with treats in tow (Germany) - Mon ami Dominique a bien aimé son séjour à Baden Baden, ou il a profité des magasins, restaurants, et cafés. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/turkish-delight-trkiye monthly 0.5 2025-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a45142e0-7643-479d-a96c-1c240d528d57/TU_EbruMehmet02.jpg Postcards - Turkish delight (Türkiye) - This is not that kind of Turkish delight, but instead the kind that comes from having a great colleague whom you enjoy seeing alone and also with her husband. They had dinner at our place last month and brought this postcard with them (along with some other goodies)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/todo-un-desfile-spain monthly 0.5 2025-10-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0ac38e4f-ade2-4e87-ab26-f30e56c4064c/ES_JulianSalvo22.jpg Postcards - todo un desfile (Spain) - I know the word “desfile” for parade, but here it's translated as “runway show.” I suppose that could work but I think I prefer the sense of “parade” for this image. Julian and Salvo sure know how to pick them! I wonder which one they've decided to bring home for me?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qgd8mttsvja6dl3moodbzx86owk9r9 monthly 0.5 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b6862423-8f99-4cea-8695-32a0ca9fe813/DE_Jorg01.jpg Postcards - Passau (Germany) - My penpal who lives in Norway grew up on the German/Dutch border. I wonder if it still feels like coming home after all these years, especially in a place so far from his home? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/amiguitos-spain monthly 0.5 2025-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f7ce7fb8-a21f-47f4-90e9-5029fe5fef85/ES_JulianSalvo21.jpg Postcards - amiguitos (Spain) - It's funny how the diminutive -ito can do double duty. Sometimes it diminishes the size, but sometimes it's endearment. Here, I'm not sure it's reducing the size of anything (except the swimwear, but then that would also be endearment I would think!) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tarte-aux-myrtilles-france monthly 0.5 2025-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/928d17b9-d6bc-44d3-a45e-073ce880dc62/FR_Dominique163.jpg Postcards - tarte aux myrtilles (France) - Comment j’adore les cartes postales avec les recettes! Et celle-ci avec la recette en trois langues?! Ma rêve! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/axf8dc0y73nddormkowd9sng1ba8vc monthly 0.5 2025-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/46f28fe5-1f38-49a7-9f50-48a92f322783/ES_JulianSalvo20.jpg Postcards - Palau de Maricel (Spain) - Or should I be captioning them “Catalunya"? Well, I don't shy away from the political, but maybe it's premature to do that? Although I've visited Sitges, I didn't see the Palau de Maricel when I was there. I guess we'll have to visit after all! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sitges-beach-spain monthly 0.5 2025-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a90d4a2a-54f0-47ac-999e-d913a6b8eaed/ES_JulianSalvo19.jpg Postcards - Sitges beach (Spain) - I have been to Sitges before but it's been over 24 years now! J & S made it to their beach vacay despite the pouring rain that caught them on their way out of Barcelona. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stravinsky-bottle-spain monthly 0.5 2025-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d7c8e2bb-5e67-4138-b097-3198f79673c4/ES_JulianSalvo18.jpg Postcards - Stravinsky bottle (Spain) - Hrm, what's the art-work style on this postcard? It's really captivating. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pan-am-bull-spain monthly 0.5 2025-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ec21aa63-c105-426a-9462-a872ae04c41a/ES_JulianSalvo17.jpg Postcards - Pan Am bull (Spain) - I know I've written before about how touched I am when people take the time to find postcards, write them, get postage, and post them to me - all while on their long-awaited vacations. That Salvo and Julian had the time and energy to do so for me on their trip to Catalunya, I'm just really overwhelmed with gratitude and love. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tallinn-skyline-lithuania monthly 0.5 2025-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b9254110-ecaa-4052-b846-9ee7c093fa79/LT_Andreas03.jpg Postcards - Tallinn skyline (Lithuania) - No, your geography is fine. Tallinn is not in Lithuania; it's the capital of Estonia. But this postcard was posted from Lithuania when Andreas got back from his trip there! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/casa-batll-spain monthly 0.5 2025-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/27870e6e-4ef9-438f-90bf-47210b8556c8/ES_JulianSalvo16.jpg Postcards - Casa Batlló (Spain) - I love the Casa Batlló! Julián and Salvo wrote that they had their first experience at Enigma last night and I'm very envious! This postcard is quite large so there's ample room for their enticing description of the experience. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/resa-med-james-ensor-sweden monthly 0.5 2025-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f4f79333-2ed2-4788-8137-ca459d7271a9/SE_Johanna03.jpg Postcards - "Resa med James Ensor” (Sweden) - My friend Johanna has moved to a new place on the outskirts of Stockholm and sent this great postcard featuring a 1987 painting by Leif Ericson (surprisingly difficult to find on Google due to the similarity with Leif Erikson). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cosmos-dr-stravinsky-spain monthly 0.5 2025-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/33bfda60-d630-41e6-a545-3f8ba9dc9e72/ES_JulianSalvo15.jpg Postcards - Cosmos Dr. Stravinsky (Spain) - This is the first of several postcards that Julián and Salvo sent from their trip to Spain. They had also visited Italy but I think those postcards may still be on the way? This postcard is from Dr. Stravinsky. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/australian-pride-1 monthly 0.5 2025-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758499885397-VMIQ0L0VC7P87HWDBWGN/AU_Matty27.jpg Postcards - Australian pride https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758499884834-TMMMIO92XJ8H5I28CPX0/AU_Matty28.jpg Postcards - Australian pride https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qtu412abu6efc6tdsjpn3bii50asg4 monthly 0.5 2025-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408573471-OMUGQMZY3IQTIGGUCRHA/US-CA_GregJames11.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408572572-DK0OJUUC75RXFQ93ZSTW/US-CA_GregJames12.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408575482-0C54Y23NZWVKZZ17ITC1/US-CA_GregJames13.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408577034-ARWESLLM7H7YHYMVITRW/US-CA_GregJames14.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408578561-4F98RX47ML0SVD0RVWB1/US-CA_GregJames15.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408579723-6VY2DJ752ENQIL9S189G/US-CA_GregJames16.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408582681-20H07438JDL4KSD64TKC/US-CA_GregJames17.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1758408583489-T9KZJDHWXKF556OJK7X8/US-CA_GregJames18.jpg Postcards - postcard bonanza! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rekgg1k34hylpdyty7xytgz00q7gwp monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a5e2504f-be7f-4de8-a21c-49fdadbc5023/JP_2253831.jpg Postcards - Hokusai - Red Fuji (Japan) - I'm not sure how I got back on the PostCrossing list since I haven't sent anything in ages, but this lovely postcard arrived and I'm very happy to have it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lfuayg2wot6scxdb5bxgfc8cm1v55a monthly 0.5 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e8da4b3f-e1ac-4595-88cb-e7146fa924fa/AU_Matty26.jpg Postcards - baby Tasmanian devils (Australia) - Who knew Tasmanian devils could be so cute?! Maybe all baby mammals are cute… wait, are they mammals?! They're marsupials, but are marsupials a subset of mammals? Yes! Thanks to Matty for sending me on this biological rabbit hole. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jq4l8rdeqvecd0xvnlxlrpbmclezvz monthly 0.5 2025-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1dc33a1d-02ea-4de9-a07a-437a2b18549d/FR_Dominique162.jpg Postcards - tarte aux mirabelles (France) - J’ai l’impression que préparer des tartes de fruit avec tellement de précision est quelque chose typiquement français, et cette carte postale me l’enseigne si clairement! Dominique écrit que la fruit désirée se change avec la géographie: en Lorraine, ces sont les mirabelles. En Alsace, les pruneaux (tarte aux quetsches), et dans les montagnes, myrtilles. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ycn83jcd7hjw2cwzliqr9jzha7bvba monthly 0.5 2025-10-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/084593de-094a-4c43-8204-70366de9bbf9/US-ID_Mom01.jpg Postcards - French Lick (Indiana) - I find the name of this town so funny; I'm sure I can't make any jokes that haven't already been made. My mom spent a week here with her friend basking in the summer of it all! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/e4b53yuz19qnb00zo643ov4uurmuuf monthly 0.5 2025-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/28a38b7e-7cad-4c86-acb3-e84eb8d92c31/CZ_Milan02.jpg Postcards - Castle Karlštejn (Czechia) - My penpal Milan sent this beautiful postcard from the 14th century Castle Karlštejn. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-new-jersey monthly 0.5 2025-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b0c26513-52b3-4c0b-ac2a-4542772318e4/US-NJ_KimeeMichael03.jpg Postcards - Greetings from New Jersey - How much fun is this postcard?! I love an irregularly-sized postcard, even though they can be tricky to fit into my album (especially this one, which is about eight inches from top to bottom). Thanks to Kimee and Michael for always finding such great postcards to send. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wqvnpzm3q87imy8kydi9eu9bq9q4lz monthly 0.5 2025-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/edab56b6-eef0-4c89-8e88-b4b6e9bf1753/US-CA_KimeeMichael42.jpg Postcards - icons! (California) - This is a portrait of Gertrude and Alice (2019) by Maira Kalman. Naturally Kimee enjoyed reading about Alice's culinary skills in the New Yorker. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lpp0dtl37pgivb6twatirqa4b3mhe5 monthly 0.5 2025-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cb11b8e2-3e96-45a4-a4ce-651e226c7f00/US-IL_EmilyCarter25.jpg Postcards - Morrison-Knudsen 3200 (Illinois) - What is it about blueprints that are both so fascinating and aesthetic?! And why blue and white and not some other color? I wonder if Emily has a blueprint of her new espresso machine? What a danger to have it in the house - I'd never sleep again! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/b7ie7hw1oufl9aa015mfne4hiryrrb monthly 0.5 2025-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1381dfbf-23db-4b58-8279-31dcbe883183/US-CA_KimeeMichael41.jpg Postcards - college crews (California) - Crew is such an East Coast sport to me, and having grown up in the Great Lakes region with little aspiration (or chance!) to go to one of these illustrious schools, I never learned much about it. Kimee writes that Brown is her favorite but that MIT has a cute tattoo; I think it's the one on the left bicep but it might be a mismark from the cancellation. I think NYU is pretty good too but I've always been a sucker for a widow's peak. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/butterfly-mosaic-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/36392b34-1b6d-4095-95b5-87e39608907d/US-CA_TracyCynthia21.jpg Postcards - butterfly mosaic (California) - We recently spent the day with Tracy and Cynthia, having a great visit in the East Bay. We're so lucky to have them in our lives. This gorgeous monarch mosaic is a great reminder of the beauty and endurance of friendship. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/697gjl1tb172lq7p43jpyiy274gre0 monthly 0.5 2025-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/df1a3523-19d2-4a9b-a4f1-4a0c9d988dc9/US-NJ_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - Kobra's kiss (New Jersey) - Another card from her East Coast trip, Kimee sends this image of a mural by Eduardo Kobra from the High Line and 25th Street. Kobra is referencing, of course, Alfred Eisenstaedt's super famous image of the sailor kissing a woman. Kimee and I see, too, Amy Sherald's reimagining of the same piece. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/les-baux-de-provence-france monthly 0.5 2025-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a2398c22-a05a-4c98-a89a-4b385fba4b5d/FR_Dominique161.jpg Postcards - les Baux de Provence (France) - Ouau. Dominique a visité les Baux-de-Provence (dans la Provence). Il écrit que même si 262 habitants y habitent (et seulement 22 vivent dans la partie haute du village), les Baux reçoivent plus de 1 million de visiteurs par an! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/from-the-faraway-forest-wallys-route-new-jersey monthly 0.5 2025-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/444ee129-cac2-4acc-9c26-1ef41436f2e7/US-NJ_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - from The Faraway Forest: Wally's Route (New Jersey) - Kimee sent this from her East Coast trip, having found it in Jersey City. What a lovely postal carrier! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lbiwq0ikmh36351joixhrdm747vj4p monthly 0.5 2025-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2b54a77f-87af-4bac-800c-27c39464c999/FR_Dominique160.jpg Postcards - Bière Schutzenberger (France) - Dominique ne connait pas ce restaurant mais il a lu que la qualité des tartes flambées — une de mes nourritures françaises préférées — et des plats de viande sont bons! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/eddie-gardner-turkey-bird-australia monthly 0.5 2025-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/325b61bf-c0ce-4aae-a3f6-616dbd8bc478/AU_Matty25.jpg Postcards - Eddie Gardner “Turkey Bird” (Australia) - My question to Matty was whether he would ever consider a cruise. In writing in the negative, he chose this photo - I wonder if it was deliberate but I'll leave it to you to decide whether he'd consider such a mode of travel! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/st-rmy-de-provence-france monthly 0.5 2025-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/16bf1e30-8e15-46a6-8206-e3a7d330edae/FR_Dominique159.jpg Postcards - St Rémy de Provence (France) - Dominique écrit que ce village est beau et aussi connu. En fait, plusieres personnages y ont habité, inclus Charles Aznavour. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xio5sa58rodssne377msdl5hy7fodm monthly 0.5 2025-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/99a2674c-0c51-4a10-95aa-a771e747288b/US-KY_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - Aloha from Louisville (Kentucky) - These postcards are scream! We saw something similar in Portland, Oregon and I had to hold myself back from buying all of them. From what she wrote, Kimee had the same trouble! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-97100-california monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2446e0fd-559c-423b-a6f9-f88902f488f4/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-97.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 97/100 (California) - Julian writes that this is the last card, one he saved from the very beginning. It was, he writes, the first card in the box and here we are now receiving it. “Save the best for last,” as they say. What a delightful project - I'm so honored to have been part of it. Thank you, Julian and Salvo, for this experience. It's been truly very beautiful. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-diego-greetings-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d6a41da7-1540-4ecf-86d2-c70630cbdd6e/US-CA_Tristan02.jpg Postcards - San Diego greetings (California) - My brother-in-law was visiting some friends and really enjoyed San Diego. He writes it's “less bustle and isolation than LA. Great tacos abound.” That sounds great! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/louisville-vs-san-francisco-kentucky monthly 0.5 2025-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9fc25acc-8e77-49ef-b6dc-603d9d70982f/US-KY_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - Louisville or San Francisco (Kentucky) - Kimee found this card in a bookstore in Louisville while celebrating her friend's book release! I can't stop laughing, either. Too funny! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-96100-california monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e6eab92f-1f7f-41ed-9196-638542f6eba1/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-96.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 96/100 (California) - I'm not sure what to do with the double-scrunchie ponytail on this character. I just don't like the aesthetic! Too bad Miyazaki didn't consult me before approving the art, huh? LOL https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/magnolia-2-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f342ab6b-4100-4fb1-b6d8-22b2a16b0a7c/US-CA_JulianSalvo27.jpg Postcards - Magnolia 2 (California) - What a beautiful card from Salvo and Julian sent just before their departure! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-95100-california monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b9db467b-de19-4d8f-878f-ba96532ec830/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-95.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 95/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo write that their good friends had to say goodbye to their beloved dogs. What a tragedy, and a somber reminder that our days - no matter how many - are too few when it comes to those we love. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-94100-california monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7ab2482f-0c08-4982-971b-206ec9333bf4/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-94.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 94/100 (California) - This is that lovely happy ending scene that is so touching! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/his-new-seat-australia monthly 0.5 2025-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1756761076139-JXDIR78R10MC5VMU4GGG/AU_Matty24-censored.jpg Postcards - his new seat (Australia) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1756761076721-U6Y64QTHHPYTJQWN3KAC/AU_Matty24.jpg Postcards - his new seat (Australia) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cruising-to-the-bahamas-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/de63958a-d0bc-4e99-920b-27de3b0bc1ca/US-IL_EmilyCarter24.jpg Postcards - cruising to the Bahamas (Illinois) - Our niece and nephew were among the strong contingent of Gedas who cruised the Caribbean last month and this postcard originated there. This wasn't the ship they cruised on but Emily writes that the selection was a bit limited. I can imagine! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-92100-california monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b0ce8465-49c9-49a4-8501-8bc464e72a5b/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-92.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 93/100 (California) - The aggressive green in this still reminds me somehow of Michigan, even though I know the place depicted here is more (sub)tropical than Michigan. But living in the Golden State (which I think is named for the golden hills more than for the Gold Rush) really puts into sharp focus the verdant landscapes in Michigan whenever we visit. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-91100-california monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3419af91-81d2-4a9a-817c-35afc36e3f8e/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-91.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 92/100 (California) - I can't believe we're nearing the end of the Miyazaki series of postcards! This is a very sweet image to end on I think. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/east-tawas-in-1914-michigan monthly 0.5 2025-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2f2a140c-8791-43ff-be4a-f23153df340b/US-MI_Daniel01.jpg Postcards - East Tawas in 1914 (Michigan) - My childhood friend Daniel writes that “from this utterly bizarre and creepy image, this is a time to celebrate!” What a great birthday wish - I have so many questions! Many more to be answered I'm sure that the postcard's source. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-91100-california-1 monthly 0.5 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/945abf6a-314b-4b31-b09a-bcb09f81117c/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-91.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 91/100 (California) - Julian writes, aptly, “I can't help but feel like this card is capturing the image of a group of wine lovers, mapping out their next pairing!” Hey! I resemble that comment! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chteau-dif-bis-france monthly 0.5 2025-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/76676d4a-87fb-4ce4-b9ab-5524e598465b/FR_Dominique158.jpg Postcards - Château d’If (bis) (France) - Encore une grande carte postale de mon très bon ami Dominique. Il a fait des liaisons entre cette île et la nôtre ici à SF que je n’écris pas ici. ;-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-90100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c5487e1e-0d09-4a76-acb6-31e64e71b892/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-90.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 90/100 (California) - This postcard arrived just after Folsom Weekend, or as my yoga instructor put it: the Gay High Holy Days. On a completely unrelated note, I don't think I've received a card from this film, let alone seen it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/art-style-castro-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/56cb35c2-47da-4ff6-82c0-7028bc5e4c8d/US-CA_KimeeMichael40.jpg Postcards - art style Castro (California) - I'm not sure what to call this art style, but I do love it! It depicts a corner just a quick 10-minute walk from our home! One of my favorite views is rounding this corner on our way to the wine bar. Who else but Michael could have sent birthday wishes like these? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/crashing-waves-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a45a3dcf-4140-4520-84a5-90b5e3c0f402/US-CA_JulianSalvo26.jpg Postcards - crashing waves (California) - This is another wish for a great birthday - again, perfect subject matter. What else do you expect from Julian and Salvo? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-89100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d00eccf3-8d53-42e9-b850-8e52dc48b50c/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-89.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 89/100 (California) - More on the recognizable art front! These soft pastels and the simple lines in the faces makes me think immediately of The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xsawxf0mdt867w6ulpl51gaigh2ijh monthly 0.5 2025-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ef2006fa-28f7-4c4a-9392-5ec98b90d146/US-CA_JenniferW03.jpg Postcards - Cakes and Pies (California) - I wonder if Jennifer visited the same exhibit we did? I loved it so much! She sent this postcard to me to wish me a happy birthday; perfect subject matter! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-88100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a500be8a-71b3-44c9-9fcf-75fcec00b973/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-88.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 88/100 (California) - We're nearing the end of this incredible journey! I've so enjoyed receiving these postcards and of course all of the time and effort and thought that Julian and Salvo have put into them. What an iconic hat, by the way! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-87100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d7d6b17c-6e2e-4acd-9f54-5dc373681be7/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-87.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 87/100 (California) - This postcard was sent as Salvo departed for Las Vegas with his family; Julian writes that it's hard to be separated from him, but there's also a little sweetness in the solitude of an empty house (for a few days at least). I certainly agree! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/puglia-castel-del-monte-italy monthly 0.5 2025-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2580f994-2845-4584-929b-c19b5a34f2a5/IT_Lino24.jpg Postcards - Puglia - Castel del Monte (Italy) - Lino sent this card as he and his husband prepared for their first trip to Africa. They're visiting Morocco! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-86100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e553c9f3-62c6-4f6b-b34d-33bf64e2c7c9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-86.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 86/100 (California) - This one I couldn't tell right away from the art style, although I guess others might be able to. I haven't seen the film, which I'm sure is a major contributor to my lack of recognition. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/watercolor-wine-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7a864537-02a7-41e6-b878-4aebe29e121d/US-CA_TracyCynthia20.jpg Postcards - watercolor wine (California) - This postcard comes from Monterey, where Cynthia and Tracy had begun the count down to the end of their time there. They write that the time had been productive and relaxing, very fulfilling. What more could you ask for? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vaasa-postcrossing-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2025-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dfdea6da-59e6-4e1c-83cf-3ac2be11c7f0/FI_Jussi25.jpg Postcards - Vaasa PostCrossing MeetUp (Finland) - Another great MeetUp postcard from Jussi, my penpal in Finland. I'm interested in what it means that Vaasa is “the sunniest city in Finland"! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-85100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f3f3ed90-e0e6-4395-93cd-4e333af7035c/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-85.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 85/100 (California) - The tribal-esque face always points me to Princess Mononoke. Even though I'm back-dating these for continuity's sake, this came in the wake of an absolutely terrific party! We were honored to be included. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-84100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/be82f7cb-8a71-4630-ac24-e9d4ab036f12/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-84.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 84/100 (California) - Is it true that if it has strong aquatic vibes, it's necessarily Ponyo? In this case, it's true but I wonder… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lh6a1rhia2czqtr35h9casyusoa8cz monthly 0.5 2025-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d98c662e-6f56-454b-8f9b-9477f0d03ca7/AU_Matty23.jpg Postcards - kiss me love (Australia) - I don't know why it continues to surprise me that Australia (and many others) are on the opposite season than we are! So when Matty writes that it's dull and gloomy in Canberra, it gives me a start to realize that! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-83100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/db683ba1-8c9f-4f52-b0f8-a80e8351d3ec/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-83.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 83/100 (California) - I still haven't seen this movie, even though every time I post a postcard of it, it reminds me that the artwork looks compelling! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oqk0izvwnx3jwyfi6rrlyiqle32z9n monthly 0.5 2025-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f34215a4-88a6-4a0c-a330-c54703956753/GB_FrancisDavid03.jpg Postcards - Ballater, Scotland (United Kingdom) - While Francis and David were in Ballater, they did have an unexpected sighting of King Charles III! He was in town presenting someone with their new livery! How cool! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nevermind-it-stinks-michigan monthly 0.5 2025-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b3e1dc13-b64f-41d6-abfe-14f61533f268/US-MI_Jasper05.jpg Postcards - nevermind… it stinks! (Michigan) - In this postcard, our nephew Jasper writes: “My mom said that you have earthquakes.” That's true! Now to find a postcard that illustrates that… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-82100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c14c3718-7565-4172-b199-91ddf94e0bd1/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-82.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 82/100 (California) - In this postcard, Julian writes about enjoying a particular pen and how it writes. Welcome to the club! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-81100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/503f0c9a-4cf6-4204-9b96-10e330cf65d1/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-81.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 81/100 (California) - This film looks really pretty in this shot! Julian and Salvo managed to send this shortly after their return from a long European trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/clementine-yountville-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/140ece11-b669-4031-a59d-97ca6ea2301e/US-CA_JulianSalvo25.jpg Postcards - Clementine, Yountville (California) - Julian and Salvo sent this postcard from their dinner at the restaurant to celebrate the latter's birthday! I love a restaurant with its own postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/scottish-highlands-and-islands-united-kingdom monthly 0.5 2025-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7e8a309e-ef61-43c1-a89d-0c74931129fd/GB_FrancisDavid02.jpg Postcards - Scottish Highlands and Islands (United Kingdom) - Francis and David are having a great — if rainy — trip to Scotland, including Oban, Edinburgh (and they took my recommendation to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia!), Ballater, and St. Andrews. I have to admit I'm envious! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-80100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5a1c0602-5772-4d80-9ab3-10a35c200892/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-80.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 80/100 (California) - Maybe it's the big, dead eyes of the sea creatures that turns me off from films like this one? It just looks like a fish in a market and that's not particularly compelling for film purposes? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/david-mit-dem-haupt-des-goliath-germany monthly 0.5 2025-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1ea5697a-f51b-4b4c-b832-bdc3dd9b1f00/DE_Dominique32.jpg Postcards - David mit dem Haupt des Goliath (Germany) - This is Dominique's favorite painting, by Caravaggio. I knew immediately what the story was, although I didn't know the artist off the top of my head. I probably should have! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-79100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/24e5ed4d-9704-428f-8015-e491b2e01c9b/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-79.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 79/100 (California) - Who could confuse this look of determination on Sen's face? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stormking-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2025-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8cd602b1-f64d-4771-85c9-9765276fb6ad/US-PA_T10.jpg Postcards - Storm King (Pennsylvania) - Oof! T did not like this place at all. They wrote: “Have you ever wanted to travel to the Hudson Valley, pay $25/p to wander around a few 100 acre art center & wonder over about 80% uninspired sculpture & 20% interesting, so much so that the gift shop only has one postcard showing any sculpture? Then Storm King is the place.” Honestly, a review like this makes me kind of want to visit? Is that crazy? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-78100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/856dcf8f-0d39-4878-bddd-17c80f03ebad/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-78.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 78/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo share my love of writing utensils; when you find one that works for you, you just can't stand the idea of potentially parting with it, especially if you know you'll need it for its perfect purpose! from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/humboldt-bay-oysters-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d8e41e0c-9e67-449c-876e-77ae626a1802/US-CA_KimeeMichael39.jpg Postcards - Humboldt Bay oysters (California) - Kimee and Michael were up in far northern California for a marathon and sent this lovely illustration. I don't think I've had Humboldt Bay oysters before! I wonder how different they are from Bodega Bay oysters? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-77100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dffa957b-e568-4862-b849-2a7e30fb2f67/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-77.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 77/100 (California) - We're back to this weird animation style. Maybe I shouldn't knock it until I try it. But do I really want to sit through a whole 82 minutes of this film? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-76100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4cf17eb8-6e7e-462a-9303-87905f6a68fd/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-76.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 76/100 (California) - This postcard was sent on my actual birthday to thank me for being “such a marvelous source of class and crass, joy and sass, and the ergative-absolutive alignment!” Thanks to J&S for making all of this possible! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-need-a-barber-us-virgin-islands monthly 0.5 2025-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/336d35fc-f889-403d-bd0e-ea7ce99d9900/US-VI_Mom01.jpg Postcards - I need a barber (US Virgin Islands) - Apparently the story is that Jason swapped this postcard out for the one my mom originally thought she was sending. It's pretty funny - although I have to suspect that a person who's gone through the trouble and lengths (ha!) to grow their hair out so much would want nothing to do with a barber! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-75100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/03daae1e-58cb-4e3a-be89-3e85bba2fffe/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-75.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 75/100 (California) - Not my favorite film, but Julian and Salvo had a great time doing a Bordeaux wines tasting (with a few lovely surprises thrown in)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/east-end-us-virgin-islands monthly 0.5 2025-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dfe3172a-7e91-423b-b4bf-a0af211d16fa/US-VI_JasonMary01.jpg Postcards - East End (US Virgin Islands) - The message on this postcard is remarkably cogent, given the level of drinking the whole family was engaging in (or so I hear). Jason and Mary are whom we have to thank for the great experience had by all! Add to the thanks this great postcard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-74100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6f620d2c-e81b-4821-ac00-5f276164fb21/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-74.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 74/100 (California) - And this may be an actual photo of me waking up after we've over-celebrated (is there such a thing?!) with our chosen family! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cruising-the-caribbean-us-virgin-islands monthly 0.5 2025-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/266a4922-bdd0-4332-b84a-4b7a8584c203/US-VI_Lauren01.jpg Postcards - Cruising the Caribbean (US Virgin Islands) - So many of my family members were all on the same cruise to the Caribbean, and I received a flurry of their postcards. What a beautiful view this is from our niece Lauren and her boyfriend Liam! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-73100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2903be9-143a-43e1-82c1-a5d20bc8e68f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-73.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 73/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo are planning a terrific party to celebrate their marriage and they had just been tasting some of the wines that will be on offer. This is an actual photo of the two of them after the tasting. <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/beach-at-point-conception-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2025-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0c22747c-e54f-43df-9457-17e7ded446d5/CA_Ray25.jpg Postcards - “Beach at Point Conception” (British Columbia) - This is part of the birthday wishes that my penpal Ray sent me. It's funny, because I may have sent this same card (purchased in New York City) to him a few weeks ago! Well, at least I know he'll like it, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yale-university-connecticut monthly 0.5 2025-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9290b305-0a5a-41d0-a12d-341f1306c410/US-CT_Patti01.jpg Postcards - Yale University (Connecticut) - We had the opportunity to see, among others, my Aunt Patti and Uncle Bill a few weeks ago. I'm not sure when I last saw them, but I think it might have been back in 2005! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-72100-california monthly 0.5 2025-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9dd250f0-2b8f-445c-a098-b112ff3ab29f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-72.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 72/100 (California) - This postcard arrived in advanced of some great meals we had planned together. What a great group of friends we have - chosen family, really. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-71100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e357f3ce-852d-4ea4-859e-ddb96a74ab7c/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-71.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 71/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo write that they recently took down the scaffolding on their house from the painting that was done. It had been blocking the light which was particularly frustrating because it was during the summer. I wonder though whether it would have been worse during a dark, rainy winter (not that you paint during that time, but anyway)? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/63add4dfq5dq4yokfz3lejxlbf8jvz monthly 0.5 2025-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0cc80f87-2ff9-4d23-b8e6-f87e51972474/CH_Dominique1.jpg Postcards - Exposition Galerie des Artisans-Créateurs (Switzerland) - Dominique a acheté un horloge pour sa nouvelle maison, un horloge suisse “bien sûr"! :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7itspmxrynxhbazrs8brhsn7lv2myn monthly 0.5 2025-08-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ecc273ad-9aea-4b7b-8f05-2b25393ad090/IT_Lino23.jpg Postcards - Bari (Italy) - Even without the label, you'd know exactly what part of the world this postcard pictures, wouldn't you? What could be more iconic than the sun-bleached walls of a Mediterranean port town? It looks truly idyllic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-70100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/324623a1-f811-492e-9e4e-699f32f58805/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-70.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 70/100 (California) - There is something about the extra-large noses on some of the Miyazaki characters. I wonder what a large nose signifies for Japanese people? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/california-sights monthly 0.5 2025-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/470f2aef-d3a6-414f-ac3a-c921b300a633/US-CA_KimeeMichael38.jpg Postcards - California sights - Leave it to Kimee and Michael to find a delightfully illustrated card of the many natural sights of California. How many have you seen? Me, I've seen: Muir Woods, Lassen Volcanic, Big Sur, Point Reyes, Yosemite, California poppies, Golden Gate Park, Lake Tahoe, Pinnacles, Mount Shasta, banana slugs, and redwoods. Not bad for 12 years! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-68100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8cb3e1ff-d6eb-49cb-a0e6-419af7c91e75/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-68.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 69/100 (California) - This postcard is my notice that the project will be taking a brief break while J&S are out of the country. I can totally understand that. They write that they'd “hate for [me] to only get 93 cards!” Too thoughtful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vh3m2nlmzpl0zg8wapuxv0it87oaqz monthly 0.5 2025-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a570c25a-50b0-4845-bde3-4c01d027e493/FR_Dominique157.jpg Postcards - Château d’If (France) - Je pense que Dominique m’a déjà envoyé une carte postale du Château d’If, car le nom est très mémorable. Ce château est connu pour avoir été la prison du Comte de Mirabeau du Marquis de Sade parmis d’autres très célèbres aussi. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-67100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4e294791-759d-48c4-ac4a-384ba642211d/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-67.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 68/100 (California) - This postcard comes hot on the heels of Julian and Salvo's trip to Stag's Leap (note the apostrophe, please) to celebrate Salvo's birthday! What a great way to do so, especially under the beautiful August sun of Napa. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sea-star-or-star-fish-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/40825845-f0ea-4cf5-a3af-5b3610949fc9/US-CA_TracyCynthia19.jpg Postcards - sea star or star fish? (California) - I overheard a discussion last night between two friends about whether one should call these animals “sea stars” or “star fish”since they're not really fish. I like the idea of accuracy in naming for sure. In any case, this postcard arrived from our own dear Pinot who was vacationing in Monterey while we were off on the East Coast. He wrote: “Dear Bà & Daddy, I am having a very good time at camp. There are lots of good smells here. Mira is a great buddy. I get treats for just being a pretty boy, too! Pinot (wet kisses too)” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-69100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f104233f-9739-4c81-9910-0bffc98913a4/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-69.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 67/100 (California) - This postcard brings greetings from sunny, hot Napa where Julian and Salvo are enjoying — to their bones I read — pool, wine, champagne, and incredible food! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/coco-mat-hotel-athens-france monthly 0.5 2025-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/88f2058e-6483-42e0-a99a-7b85c08e1ea9/FR_Dominique156.jpg Postcards - Coco-Mat Hotel Athens (France) - Dominique writes that you can also buy bedding here! What a strange, but special place it must be. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-66100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/291fab06-3b6a-478c-8ae2-7c14a03c4cc3/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-66.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 66/100 (California) - It'll be interesting to go back and see which films get the biggest footprint in this set? Could it be determined based on the popularity or the relative recognizability of the artwork? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-65100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/86565dd2-f266-4f35-8145-20312589a822/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-65.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 65/100 (California) - I recognized this one right away! Julian and Salvo inquire about our state, having just returned from vacation. Sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation before jumping back into work! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rqqwk6p35c1vbgn40h98zjrodb5h0n monthly 0.5 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d63be279-70ab-4460-bc8e-6ea2e51cf3cc/US-CA_KimeeMichael37.jpg Postcards - Moby Dick (California) - It's so appropriate that this should come from Kimee and Michael, the two most avid readers I know. Confession time: I've tried to read Moby-Dick twice but I haven't made it through it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-64100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf0e4677-447e-4858-9cd3-c163125ff775/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-64.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 64/100 (California) - This witch is one of my favorite characters, aesthetically speaking, although I remember finding her very scary (especially her familiar)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ebt6ylm6oa7delug0j8xu8xeqff3ur monthly 0.5 2025-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a716f655-4179-4770-9395-a32698ff09ef/IM_LaurenC04.jpg Postcards - poetry contest of zodiac animals (Isle of Man) - This image is from a free museum in Dublin featuring an exhibit on the history of books and writing. Lauren chose this one to send from the Isle of Man featuring her favorite exhibit. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-63100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6e63f4ab-8a82-4e81-b1f5-380f9fde6078/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-63.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 63/100 (California) - This is one I haven't seen, but it was sent on a dear friend's birthday so let's celebrate even if it was a Monday! It's hard to celebrate as we might want to when we have to go to work in the morning. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sdfk4hh6svawxjaybmftxyhv5m39tf monthly 0.5 2025-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6fc7b8c3-33d8-4418-b27c-d582a28d4549/US-CA_KimeeMichael36.jpg Postcards - come be my friend (California) - I love these vintage book covers; not much really needs to be changed (although I suspect this one has been changed a bit) because they're so zany and campy sometimes. Thanks to Kimee and Michael for sending this delight! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/culture-vlo-vlorution-france monthly 0.5 2025-08-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/874942ed-58ee-46d7-b8df-ec125aabcd01/FR_Dominique155.jpg Postcards - culture vélo - vélorution (France) - Voici une carte que Dominique a trouvé chez son bike-shop avec un néologisme “vélorution” qui combine “vélo” avec “révolution” pour le mouvement d’encourager des gens d’utiliser des vélos et les autres moyens de transport sans pollution. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-61100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/02b00ec5-0385-456a-83f9-63a3f3af4e04/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-61.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 62/100 (California) - I'm glad I'm not the only one who often writes the wrong year; sometimes it takes me until February before I stop writing the previous year! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/australian-sheep-dog monthly 0.5 2025-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/95a30337-fa28-40a7-afdb-ea48c01dad72/AU_Matty22.jpg Postcards - Australian sheep dog - As someone who was once interested in bringing his dog through Agility, I have a sour taste in my mouth every time I see an Australian sheep dog or a border collie because they dominate the field so much! Who can compete with their drive, speed, and intelligence on the agility field?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/real-regions-of-the-us-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/06bd6e29-fe8e-46cd-9c18-b33ccdb9edc1/US-OR_Linda70.jpg Postcards - real regions of the US (Oregon) - What's great is the map on the back of this postcard showing areas of the US that were “pro-slavery” and “open to slavery” which correspond very nicely with “Dumbfuckistan.” Also, lest the print be too small, let me reproduce below the quote printed by H.L. Mencken (1880-1956) “As democracy is perfected, the office of President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-61100 monthly 0.5 2025-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/250cb6f3-a68c-4ec7-8805-de1541b9b8a6/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-61.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 61/100 (California) - This postcard is from my husband's favorite movie, and Julian and Salvo are memorializing that on the same date, we ate at a vegan restaurant while they ate at a very meat-forward restaurant on opposite sides of the country! What a great life! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-60100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/adeaa0e6-f584-4324-8a04-d0d128bc383b/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-60.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 60/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo are celebrating so many things this month: birthdays and an anniversary. As part of that, they had a great dinner at one of my absolute favorite restaurants: Saison! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-59100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/00db6191-0eaf-433c-90d0-17c4021583be/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-59.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 59/100 (California) - I think this must be one of the most famous of all Miyazaki stills, and I'‘m pretty sure this is the image on the box of postcards that Julian and Salvo bought. I can't believe I haven't seen this movie yet. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/isle-of-man-illustration monthly 0.5 2025-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/188c4708-a63f-4fff-916c-dd973575f7d1/IM_LaurenC03.jpg Postcards - Isle of Man illustration - My friend Lauren was on the Isle of Man and took the time to practice her conversational skills in Manx. She even wrote half of this postcard in Manx, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-58100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a71f9d73-4226-4fde-befc-bc098ca87e63/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-58.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 58/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo were celebrating the long awaited emergence of the sun when they wrote this postcard! I like the cooler temperatures, but I also know that the sun is a huge balm to our moods. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-fleuve-strasbourg-france monthly 0.5 2025-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/013cd11e-820d-405e-bfbe-3f80d227aa34/FR_Dominique154.jpg Postcards - la fleuve à Strasbourg (France) - Ici Dominique écrit sur la visite en bateau qu’on peut faire à Strasbourg. Après le train, je trouve un bateau de rivière le transport le plus civilisé. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-57100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ba9510dc-1231-4ee8-a561-f78119b67d24/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-57.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 57/100 (California) - In advance of their big trip abroad, Julian says that of course work is getting crazy. Isn't that always the way?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-56100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/92356b35-1f10-420b-b223-ec6a5e8741be/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-56.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 56/100 (California) - I think this is the first card from this movie as I'm not sure I've ever heard of it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-55100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6ac167af-7bc3-4dc4-b71e-35092d51121a/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-55.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 55/100 (California) - I don’t think I like this art style as much. It looks computer-generated in a way that's unpleasant to me. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-54100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7267235c-8373-487b-82be-4cd25cdbd5a8/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-54.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 54/100 (California) - What great art! Salvo and Julian took a walk through Golden Gate Park to see our newest art installation — the Naga — but were unfortunately dismayed by the garbage left behind by the Grateful Dead crowd. What a disappointment! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-53100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ce8b65ae-04d8-45cb-9fcd-3ef0c5cd5ace/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-53.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 53/100 (California) - This is one of Andy's favorite films, but I never understood it. I have a hard time getting into war movies, anyway. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-52100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/95ee3173-8f04-4c2a-b4f2-691cbfe29df9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-52.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 52/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo have been quite negatively impacted by our June Gloom and then a very No Sky July; they're hankering for some sun and warmth! So far, August is looking to be more of a Fogust. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-51100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/568dfe8a-db6f-4210-91a3-7ef6531cc154/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-51.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 51/100 (California) - This is from the Tales from Earthsea, a collaboration with dear, sweet Ursula K LeGuin. I have to admit that I love her novels, especially the Left Hand of Darkness, but A Wizard of Earthsea I didn't love so much. Still, this is certainly worth a watch. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-50100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/574b989e-2c3e-48a0-9312-afea5fdd0e29/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-50.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 50/100 (California) - It's the half way point already - it's kind of hard to believe, but kudos to Julian and Salvo for this incredible effort! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-49100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f005ef78-e397-4ae5-9828-4c943256686b/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-49.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 49/100 (California) - In this postcard, Julian and Salvo recommend watching Vanderpump Villa, Season 2 for the “gold star trash television.” With a recommendation like that, who could resist?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-48100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3903f2fd-5604-403f-a94e-e42d3d4da82a/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-48.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 48/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo also enjoy the NYT game pack in the morning, but on this day it was a bit of a struggle. They, too, work on it in pairs, which usually means we can figure it out without too much trouble. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-47100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/be714bcf-c916-4c29-9106-abfd76f4bab1/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-47.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 47/100 (California) - I definitely remember this scene, even though I didn't like the movie. There's something about this giant sea goddess under the surface as a boat floats gently along. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yo-tambin-cantina-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8e5c444e-2bb3-46c0-9e61-f4ade7661621/US-CA_KimeeMichael35.jpg Postcards - Yo También Cantina (California) - The texture of this postcard is a real treat, which makes sense coming from the anniversary party advertised here. Kimee and Michael enjoyed the fish sandwiched enormously! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-46100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6eddf54d-69f5-44de-94cc-83a624157646/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-46.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 46/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo are totally right; this is an actual image of the four of us all packed up and ready for a great weekend in Napa! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/head-smashed-in-buffalo-jump-alberta monthly 0.5 2025-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d25e30be-4837-463e-9be9-2793aa8bac7b/CA_QuinnLorris07.jpg Postcards - Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (Alberta) - This absolutely gorgeous postcard comes from Quinn Lorris and Walter on their trip to Alberta. They visited the Buffalo Jump and the Tyrrell Museum. What a great way to experience the prairie high summer! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-45100-california monthly 0.5 2025-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6403d601-c67f-4285-88bc-36498a6b7b55/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-45.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 45/100 (California) - The art style here is so different from so many of the other films! I like the soft pastels of it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-44100 monthly 0.5 2025-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0cbf9354-5ba4-436f-9d3b-eafba30a6916/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-44.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 44/100 - Okay, this one I definitely knew right away. Who could forget about the little dust mites (as I call them)?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-43100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/22e501ab-aa5f-4013-811b-f7b762824b63/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-43.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 43/100 (California) - Julian has been going into the office this past week a lot. It's a reminder of how exhilarating but also exhausting it is to work outside the home. This postcard is from “From Up on Poppy Hill.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-42100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d5b328f1-664f-4ac8-8b1a-8cec84857474/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-42.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 42/100 (California) - Ha! Julian and Salvo had the same wondering I did earlier about this movie, which they hadn't heard of either! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/strasbourg-france-1 monthly 0.5 2025-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf72af6c-d0ad-4514-9d11-2690c5ca8513/FR_Dominique153.jpg Postcards - Strasbourg (France) - Avec un beauté comme ça, qui pourrait résister visiter une ville si belle? En fait, Andy et moi parlait aujourd'hui de peut-être y aller l’année prochaine. On verra! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-40100-california-1 monthly 0.5 2025-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7b97b1f6-5b7b-4fed-9ae6-05ac6a8994fb/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-40.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 41/100 (California) - This view is from Castle in the Sky, which I don't think I've seen but seems like an appropriate title for a movie if this frame is from it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-40100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f314d0d4-b789-496e-89ad-dc40c9624135/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-40.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 40/100 (California) - I'd never heard of this movie but I wonder if it's where the drag queen got her name?! The aesthetic checks out! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/blowing-rock-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2025-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/56b9c643-d86b-4f04-809d-d6cd9f372382/US_11580336.jpg Postcards - Blowing Rock (North Carolina) - This postcard comes from just outside the Blue Ridge Mountains. Apparently, the name of this town comes from a legend that commercializes supposed Indigenous stories. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-39100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/08fb90b4-3637-427f-bbf1-1ae5e571f37b/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-39.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 39/100 (California) - This one I definitely recognize, too! It comes on a day that went very differently for Julian and Salvo than they expected, but ultimately ended up a great diversion! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/istanbul-greetings-trkiye monthly 0.5 2025-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f9e09a83-24ec-4c21-a437-9536bb8f2f1e/TR_Andreas01.jpg Postcards - Istanbul greetings (Türkiye) - My Lithuanian penpal Andreas visited Istanbul and sent this great multiview postcard of his travels there! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-38100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aa1dbaff-0ab8-4636-8dcc-9f8c63ad51de/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-38.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 38/100 (California) - Perhaps one of hte most enduring secondary characters is the sublime Catbus/Nekobasu. Andy recognized it right away, and of course with Totoro standing nearby, it's a dead give away. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/0l1goe6118dlak9vzrztxo8ypaszux monthly 0.5 2025-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2a875ae-1aa5-4433-8102-3f8ac4b53aeb/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-37.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 37/100 (California) - Ah, young love! This is from “The Boy and the Heron” which I didn't see. Why do I think this is a really sad movie? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/science-tout-court-france monthly 0.5 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f3a63397-d133-47c4-a080-31996a5765ad/FR_Dominique152.jpg Postcards - science tout court (France) - Ce fin de semaine passé, deux amis sont venus nous rendre visite. Ils habite dans notre ancienne appartement, donc ils recoivent de temps en temps de la poste. Ils nous ont donné une carte de voeux du Noël et cette carte postale envoyée par Dominique le 21 décembre 2024. En fait, je ne suis pas fâché; par contre, j’en suis ravi! J’adore recevoir des cartes postales “en retard.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-36100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9625f09c-69ef-4cf0-ba50-00302ffe425f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-36.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 36/100 (California) - This postcard is from the inimitable Salvo who demands, among other things, carbs galore for his breakfast. He writes, “Am I reaching for the stars!?” I can't imagine how anyone could think that! This image is from “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/strasbourg-france monthly 0.5 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/59d8bed4-1d23-43e3-ab83-44ecc788234c/FR_Dominique151.jpg Postcards - Strasbourg (France) - Malheureusement, il a fait un chaleur insoportable en Alsace. Dominique écrit que pendant la journée, il a fait récemment 40C (104F)! Même pendant la nuit dans sa chambre, il a fait 28C (82F). Oof, les chaleurs comme ça sont vraiment un risque par la societé. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/exy75kdr4sye20g8ru08sj24thaz24 monthly 0.5 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1bff0ec6-07ed-4e93-9960-586d48195efc/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-35.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 35/100 (California) - This postcard is from Only Yesterday, a film that I've neither seen nor heard of. Add it to the list! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-34100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2b12fe76-6887-4ae8-a250-aab19df32c59/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-34.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 34/100 (California) - It's so funny! Julian and Salvo write that this is “[a]ctual footage of [them] waving at [us] whenever [they] walk by [our] house in the neighborhood!” But this is actually footage of us waving at them whenever we walk by their house! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/where-in-iceland monthly 0.5 2025-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d0dc1ec6-3926-445b-9496-9e3af152edf7/IS_KeyChen01.jpg Postcards - Where in Iceland? - My good friend Kay is in Iceland vacationing with her wife Peiyi and her sister Carol! I'm flattered they found the time and energy to share this charming postcard with me from their travels. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/umkzgzz7yqb7b6akmrune5uyh27d0v monthly 0.5 2025-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/57485688-abfd-4f52-a323-6616d18769b9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-33.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 33/100 (California) - The coloring of this postcard was definitely what I first noticed! Julian and Salvo are having their house painted and are hoping for a similarly colorful outcome despite the current room-darkening scaffolding! Fingers crossed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/adam-loves-ben-australia monthly 0.5 2025-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2e65a535-f80e-4662-84c2-904f2402f40a/AU_Matty21.jpg Postcards - Adam loves Ben (Australia) - Matty send this card way back in late April! I have no idea why it took so long to get here, but I'm glad it did arrive. Hello! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-32100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b3bd0076-3c8f-4d52-8594-d69beca0c69d/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-32.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 32/100 (California) - Even though I've never seen the film, maybe I'm getting familiar with the art style now to recognize it at a glance. Salvo and Julian write that this is one of their favorites! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tarte-flambe-france monthly 0.5 2025-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/af54789c-f92a-4d3d-a3b9-7215eb74e857/FR_Dominique150.jpg Postcards - tarte flambée (France) - Voici la 150ème crate postale que j’ai reçu de Dominique (d’origine française)! Et quelle fête pour un numéro spécial: la tarte flambée que j’ai tellement aimé pendant mon séjour au Nord. La recette, pour eux qui en veulent: Chop an onion and lightly fry in butter until brown. Mix with 40 cl. fresh cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Fry 80 g. of smoked lardons. Spread 150 g. of dough on an oven dish, and fill with the onion cream mixture. Baste with a tablespoon of colza oil and sprinkle with lardons. Bake in the oven at a high temperature. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wine-picnic-russia monthly 0.5 2025-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a5e139b1-fcf1-418c-8b47-3bcf41e08214/RU_10523747.jpg Postcards - wine picnic (Russia) - This postcard was a long time coming - it was sent on May 23! I'm glad it arrived, though, because it's really beautiful and perfectly captures the summer vibe. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-31100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2ddad397-9d75-4e03-ae08-8c6fce10df01/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-31.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 31/100 (California) - I definitely recognize this one from My Neighbor Totoro. I never quite understood the role of these little dust mites, though. They're cute and a bit creepy, but do they advance the plot? Maybe I'm asking the wrong question. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-30100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3ddc5c14-0ce3-4611-bcc8-2b4b91369150/US-CA_JulianSalvo30.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 30/100 (California) - I don't feel so bad since Julian admits to not having seen this film either! It looks like a hoot, for sure. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-29100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b3999c52-5382-4ca3-9e3d-0b983587d13d/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-29.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 29/100 (California) - I recognized this image immediately; it's from Ponyo, the only Miyazaki film I've seen (yet?) that I did not like. I just don't get it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chicago-skyline-illinois-1 monthly 0.5 2025-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b0bb9484-2644-4b01-b2e8-192509a4ec51/US-IL_EmilyCarter23.jpg Postcards - Chicago skyline (Illinois) - Emily and Carter are excited to see the new Jurassic Park movie and are hoping to get to the beach! It's already (!!) mid-July so they'd better make it happen before summer slips completely out reach! What plans do you have for summer before it's over? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/itg42ltplfx5x7pdl74spxq8mnx1dd monthly 0.5 2025-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d3e5cea9-7f44-41a6-bf43-f9bd630efab1/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-28.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 28/100 (California) - This one is definitely, to me anyway, about Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Also, I learned on the back of this postcard about “Tempranillo tummy.” Who among us…? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-27100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f19f0726-513a-43c9-9812-117367b2d3b6/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-27.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 27/100 (California) - Already you can see a big animation difference between this film (My Neighbors the Yamadas) and the other films we've seen so far. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-26100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3b7bc5c2-1586-4811-b9e2-1aa00aa17bb3/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-26.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 26/100 (California) - This postcard is from The Boy and the Heron. Julian and Salvo wrote it on Independence Day which didn't feel very celebratory to me. However, they had a great idea: liberate some wine from its bottle! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-25100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c992f1dc-3953-4435-8e0d-8abbdf3f71c6/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-25.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 25/100 (California) - This one is from my favorite film so of course I recognize it. Julian and Salvo chose this one in honor of the passing of a wine legend who helped us all discover some great wine at Paradigm. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wizarding-world-bis-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ca3ddb42-52b5-4615-a7ef-05e5462ec25f/US-IL_EmilyCarter22.jpg Postcards - Wizarding World (bis) (Illinois) - Emily and Carter continue to be enthralled with the new Harry Potter shop on Michigan Avenue in Chicago! Her coworker is watching the movies for the first time and it's fun to get her first-view thoughts on it. That's the strange thing about media: you only get to watch/read/experience it for the first time once. Thereafter, it's a repeat and some of the magic will be gone. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-10024-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/854d898c-9d67-46f5-9723-3b6fbf937037/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-24.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 24/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo write “Today's card is a portrait of me this morning.” I think they write for us all! From Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/strange-colorado-bookstore-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/68453433-b260-49f8-a320-19e5834b3b5d/US-CA_KimeeMichael34.jpg Postcards - strange Colorado bookstore (California) - While in Colorado, Kimee and Michael found this strange bookstore with sharpie-written navigation signs! Sadly, no dogs. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-23100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1acef561-5d61-496a-b767-648366495356/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-23.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 23/100 (California) - I think I need to rewatch all of the Studio Ghibli movies I've seen because I didn't remember that this image is from Howl's Moving Castle! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-bean-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0c297cb8-7bf9-4a8c-ab27-13c1bd6143f0/US-IL_EmilyCarter21.jpg Postcards - the Bean (Illinois) - Emily and Carter hosted his parents in Chicago last month and they all visited the Bean (or “Cloud Gate” as it's officially called). It was Emily's first time! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-22100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d128c4f8-2fc7-4a5f-9319-86c640ec7de8/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-22.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 22/100 (California) - After we attended the amazing Shakira concert and sent photos of the spectacular grand finale, Julian and Salvo couldn't help but send this one alone. If you haven't seen the concert, I won't spoil it for you, but it's a must-see! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/uppsala-sweden monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/83fa5388-239a-45eb-8b34-9981a2f9b7df/SE_Aleksa01.jpg Postcards - Uppsala (Sweden) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gdnsk-poland monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cbe3d938-d849-479a-acec-34942391e02f/PL_Jorg01.jpg Postcards - Gdánsk (Poland) - My new penpal Jörg sent these greetings from Gdánsk in Poland! Two days there by the time it was sent and he was enjoying it quite a bit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7uentkt79ibks4ea3qru0b2sbr90em monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/703b2418-2cac-4a5b-af30-834973a90d2e/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-21.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 21/100 (California) - Is there a more iconic image from a Miyazaki film? I'm sure there is, but this one is from my favorite film: Spirited Away. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/because-pepper-made-it-sneeze-michigan monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/12097167-47a3-49a6-89ee-d778e05302b7/US-MI_Jasper04.jpg Postcards - "Because pepper made it sneeze!” (Michigan) - Our nephew Jasper sent this postcard complaining about the hot weather! I can't blame him! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-20100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/74f8f805-f6c3-4ea9-81b3-5aa9b2513392/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-20.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 20/100 (California) - This postcard from The Boy and the Heron comes with the baited breath of Julian and Salvo who were waiting, at the time, for the new release of this year's Michelin stars! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-19100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f972589c-c8c1-4af1-b149-2fb513553c42/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-19.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 19/100 (California) - This one I didn't recognize but maybe it's because it's been a long time since I saw it: Kiki's Delivery Service. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bischwiller-france monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3b90136f-1f97-4926-a723-45336a81da68/FR_Dominique149.jpg Postcards - Bischwiller (France) - Dominique a du mal à trouvé des cartes postales maintenant qu'il habite un village de ˜6000 habitants. J’ai beaucoup de chance en habitant à SF où on trouve des cartes postales partout! Voici l’ancienne pharmacies de Bischwiller, une ville qui a gardé quelques bâtiments du XVIème siècle! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-18100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0b0a0535-6c74-4b1c-b30d-eb9a3feb7089/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-18.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 18/100 (California) - Who doesn't love an anthropomorphized dandy of a cat?! I haven't seen this film: Whisper of the Heart. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/blankets-are-always-sleeping-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/50de2d7b-e03d-4c76-8f89-8c3513a13a0c/US-IL_EmilyCarter19.jpg Postcards - Blankets are Always Sleeping (Illinois) - Emily and Carter visited a great shop with excellent postcards, and sent this one. I agree with Geneviève Castrée. I also think that sleep can be a form of anti-capitalist protest. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-paloma-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4998ac0d-46ee-4448-92e1-2b8f25c1ef57/US-CA_JulianSalvo23.jpg Postcards - la Paloma (California) - This postcard somehow got to the bottom of the pile and I'm only just now uploading it, even though it was sent at the end of May! Thanks to Julian and Salvo for always sending such great postcards, this one from a highly recommended restaurant: Colibrí. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-17100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/df241e39-5ce0-4a5b-8b8c-ac64f72bd3fe/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-17.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 17/100 (California) - This one I recognized but I had it associated with the wrong movie (Spirited Away). Now that I read it's from Howl's Moving Castle, of course I remember correctly. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kerrygold-colorado monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c9aa5b4c-27e6-4839-8dc8-030f0482a05d/US-CO_KimeeMichael06.jpg Postcards - Kerrygold (Colorado) - Amid training for a marathon at altitude, Kimee wondered “Is butter a carb?” As far as I'm concerned, if you can dream it, someone can carb it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-15100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f7753da8-a130-4b4b-ba6e-8570d3439f92/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-15.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 16/100 (California) - This postcard was sent after they saw their last Frameline film of the year: A Night Like This. I hope to see it and review it myself! This one I knew, but I can't remember if I've seen it: Porco Rosso. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-14100-california-1 monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd913438-cfe2-4aeb-acc2-5884c22eac50/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-14.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 15/100 (California) - J&S received a postcard I sent from our trip to Oregon and they were impressed I'd written the full Zip+4. I have these written down for all my penpals! This is from The Wind Rises. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/xa1n2g4d648ywsdkzdrc53l1b1euun monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/de9b7f80-9df4-432f-8a1a-76e37840a8e7/US-CO_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - the Joy of Cooking (Colorado) - Kimee and Michael report — appropriately for this postcard - that Amtrak food was better than expected! I have yet to take a trip in a roomette, but I'd really like to. Sadly, Amtrak does not permit large pets on board. :-( https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/meeting-in-the-middle-colorado monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8deaa350-fa54-4f1c-b96e-ab5c6b3a4969/US-CO_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - meeting in the middle (Colorado) - This is the California Zephyr train 5 and 6 crossing each other in the opposite direction! Michael and Kimee are the most dedicated to public transit-people I know! As part of this, they took the Amtrak to Colorado and back and have lots of stories to tell! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-14100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7f9e7cca-9f89-4c4c-9e46-e013b2820a7d/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-14.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 14/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo updated me on their wine country tour with a 5-star review of Antinori! Great views, great wines. This postcard comes from Castle in the Sky. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ballarat-victoria-australia monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aefc245b-541f-4924-87de-d28a20d699c3/AU_1009865.jpg Postcards - Ballarat (Australia) - The sender of this postcard lives in Ballarat and although we're in the summer here, of course it's winter there. I feel bad but this city has 120,000 people (perhaps incongruous with the images on the postcard) but I've never heard of it! It's only 1 hour outside of Melbourne. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-13100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/009f4806-4a2f-412b-97a0-7cd0c16ec519/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-13.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 13/100 (California) - Sent the night after seeing Plainclothes at Frameline, Julian was having residual thoughts about Russell Tovey. Who can blame him?! This postcard is from Kiki's Delivery Service. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-land-of-oz-colorado monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b63ffddd-c09a-4f1c-80ba-672e18a1f515/US-CO_KimeeMichael04.jpg Postcards - the land of Oz (Colorado) - No justification was needed whatsoever to get this great postcard, but Kimee and Michael offered one anyway: “Just climbing stairs at altitude feels like going over the rainbow.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-12100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fe831603-7f53-4e87-aeba-c6f30aea39fc/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-12.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 12/100 (California) - This postcard was sent on Juneteenth, so you can now see how far behind I am in posting (or how quickly the postcards arrive!). I've seen this film and it's truly lovely! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sacred-rock-of-acropolis-greece monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a7066c0c-0f96-447e-a2b0-72af13eacae7/GR_Dominique01.jpg Postcards - Sacred Rock of Acropolis (Greece) - Dominique a voyagé en Grèce, Athènes et il m’a envoyé cette carte postale. À première vue, je n’ai rien noté de special, mais maintenant en la révoyant, je vois que c’est une réprésentation des anciens bâtiments dans leur époque! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-11100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d0d366fb-ebd3-4c9b-be54-484633371c6f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-11.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 11/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo saw their first Frameline film about the time this postcard was sent: Four Mothers. They really enjoyed it and highly recommend it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-10100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ade31dcf-e7ce-4c8d-8633-29602f10b371/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-10.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 10/100 (California) - Another from From Up on Poppy Hill, J&S were getting excited about the impending warm weather when they wrote this. Now, they must be quite disappointed that June Gloom has returned! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cardboard-cathedral-new-zealand monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/55b99dd7-1adc-4434-8909-41e66b23f058/NZ_Matty04.jpg Postcards - Cardboard Cathedral (New Zealand) - My penpal Matty is on another great trip, revisiting New Zealand for the first time since 2011. He got to visit this new cathedral, which looks pretty great! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pullman-car-colorado monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0e519a49-3131-44d5-82a0-8ebff370b027/US-CO_KimeeMichael05.jpg Postcards - Pullman Car (Colorado) - Everyone should look up the Pullman Cars; what a sophisticated way to travel (for those who were permitted to do so, of course)! Thanks to Kimee and Michael for this great card from a stop over in Breckenridge. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-9100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/df2e8ccc-ae7d-408a-bd4e-16b331a7c45f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-09.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 9/100 (California) - They were looking forward to a three-day work week, thankfully! Why do we - as a society - just accept that we have to work five days per week when there's so much abundance? This postcard is from From Up on Poppy Hill. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/caf-campagne-new-york monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/45ffff3f-bd5d-4762-8220-705b335ab1f7/US-NY_Kathrine04.jpg Postcards - Café Campagne (New York) - What a lovely embedded postcard! This is from the Café Campagne in Pike Place Market (Seattle) sent from New York City by our friend's mother. It emulates a French café, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-8100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/705a1d8b-4760-477f-b13b-bb2ab3daf991/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-08.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 8/100 (California) - LOL I can't imagine why this postcard of all of them should make J&S think about father's day! Let's ponder that for a bit, shall we? ;-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kahlo-por-juan-carlos-espejo-nevada monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/056db4e5-1f3e-4b60-8073-c5aab3013fa3/US-NV_Tristan10.jpg Postcards - Kahlo por Juan Carlos Espejo (Nevada) - This lenticular postcard arrived from Las Vegas, sent by my brother-in-law. Terrific. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-7100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f59e025d-45d5-4775-8cce-c41263b36e9c/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-07.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 7/100 (California) - Embarrassingly, I have seen this movie, but I have to admit I didn't recognize the still! I'm just noticing now the earring, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-6100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/43682a86-8492-417d-9c98-c6e33b98d48f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-06.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 6/100 (California) - Ha! I love this image; it tells such a complete story (and reminds me of my childhood)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miss-schmoutz-france monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f63710de-20de-49bd-93d2-0186acca0202/FR_Dominique148.jpg Postcards - Miss Schmoutz (France) - Je ne connais pas Miss Schmoutz, mais je l’aime bien déjà! Dominique écrit que cette carte nous montre des plats alsaciens avec des influences germaniques. Il écrit néanmoins qu’il préfère un qui ne figure pas ici: la tarte flambée. Moi aussi je l’adore! Je l’ai connu au Nord pendant mon séjour là-bas comme assistant de langue étrangère. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-5100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8f0458fc-ea91-4809-8a7b-b203e38b1433/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-05.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 5/100 (California) - This has been a chilly and very windy June so far. That fits this scene; I think the girl in the back looks particularly chilly on this bicycle! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jumbo-restaurant-in-hong-kong-new-york monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4437aad8-8b73-4324-95e9-f501c216bc12/US-NY_Lisa01.jpg Postcards - Jumbo Restaurant in Hong Kong (New York) - We were lucky enough to host our dear friend's aunt and mother earlier this month. Aunt Lisa sent this beautiful postcard as thanks for the bread I served. It's I who should be thanking her for taking the bread off my hands! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-4100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/86479cb2-3b13-4219-bd7c-9a59efd91ff6/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-04.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 4/100 (California) - I haven't seen this movie, either! Sometimes I think I've seen a bunch of Miyazaki films and then I realize there's a whole catalogue out there! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/about-albania monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d40b88d2-bfba-4811-b71e-f1c745072850/AL_Jorg01.jpg Postcards - about Albania - My new penpal Jörg sent this from Albania (it's only my third postcard from that country!). He writes that his plan was to explore the country by train taking day trips out of Tirana. Turns out, there are hardly any trains anymore! “[He] did not expected that.” LOL https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/blucifer-colorado monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/24e9c1b7-9ca0-4a08-9837-fdc6ee8f17e5/US-CO_KimeeMichael03.jpg Postcards - "Blucifer” (Colorado) - Technically this postcard was sent to Andy and not me, but I often scan his postcards. Besides, it was sent by Kimee and Michael who are my friends, too! <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-3100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cd1ca96f-6a3b-4483-b1e8-cdb638660a9f/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-03.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 3/100 (California) - This came after I dropped off some bread at J&S's during my baking class. I love the pastoral view of this postcard. Is it from “Only Yesterday"? I haven't seen it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-big-book-of-polleiro monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c7e9a0f9-369d-4feb-b862-f41fd1f410b3/US-CA_JulianSalvo24.jpg Postcards - the big book of Polleiro - This is from the Bogos Book (beau gosse [fr.] = hot guy), and how. What a great way to ring in Pride Month! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miyazaki-series-2100-california monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5e7e50d6-f4a7-4d21-92b5-946f96b1bae9/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-02.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 2/100 (California) - Here comes another in our long series. J&S are planning their summer trip to Sicily and Catalonia. What a great travel-related postcard for such news; if only I could fly on my own broomstick like Kiki! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/topiary-toaster-garden-colorado monthly 0.5 2025-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5226bdf1-44a3-4603-b65e-850586558fea/US-CA_KimeeMichael32.jpg Postcards - topiary toaster garden (Colorado) - Meanwhile Kimee and Michael took a train trip to Colorado and send me a bevy of beautiful postcard! He's a very delightful one! I'm particularly interested in the unexpected scope of “topiary toaster garden” instead of “toaster topiary gardern"! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hfff9h2izdwxf8lsktnrrpmm3gttgj monthly 0.5 2025-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0ed7f750-5faa-4f27-9fea-462204585290/US-CA_JulianSalvo_100-01.jpg Postcards - Miyazaki series 1/100 (California) - Julian and Salvo got a 100-postcard collection of Miyazaki stills and have decided to send them all to me. I'm so honored to be the recipient of such a huge project! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gay-vancouver-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/91e37e59-c7b3-4410-b591-ee4ebee79c89/CA_Andy04.jpg Postcards - gay Vancouver (British Columbia) - Andy was in Canada most of this past week; he managed to find some time to get me a really great postcard. He wrote on it and stamped it but then couldn't find a mailbox in time to send it to me. So I got a stamped, hand-delivered postcard from Canada. Pretty great, yeah? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-river-walk-texas monthly 0.5 2025-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/13c55b4f-8245-4934-a30a-583c5fcad4ab/US_11419099.jpg Postcards - the River Walk (Texas) - I also love the River Walk, which is definitely a highlight of any trip to San Antonio. This postcard comes courtesy of PostCrossing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/denali-national-park-alaska monthly 0.5 2025-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/740d46b9-460c-4553-989d-c901f690aeea/US-AK_LaurenC01.jpg Postcards - Denali National Park (Alaska) - My friend Lauren traveled to Alaska to visit her family and made a trip to wild and beautiful Denali National Park. She writes how it reminded her of how important the work that our NPS is! As a side note, this postcard was mailed to our old address. Shout out to our great former neighbors, R and S, who texted me and allowed me to retrieve it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chicago-skyline-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/26ab2ff8-6231-4989-bb2e-8f84afae82d5/US-IL_Mejdulene02.jpg Postcards - Chicago skyline (Illinois) - Mejdulene was in Chicago, a favorite city of both of ours - especially because we have such fond memories of a trip we took there ages ago. How long ago was it? Must be fifteen years now! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vampire-sighting-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ac0cc75f-b9cf-4018-b8e2-2892cfca33ca/US-OR_Linda69.jpg Postcards - vampire sighting (Oregon) - Again with the excellent postcards. I don't know what it is about Linda, but she's always able to find some great ones! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/acadia-national-park-new-hampshire monthly 0.5 2025-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9337d01c-6c0e-4e1f-86b3-91b2a5f66698/US-NH_KayPei03.jpg Postcards - Acadia National Park (New Hampshire) - Kay and Pei spent Memorial Day in Acadia National Park where they saw lots of dogs hiking! Now that's what I call a national park! :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/daejeon-meetup-south-korea monthly 0.5 2025-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/df04a64b-bc3b-4a29-8383-ab40d098791c/KR_360967.jpg Postcards - Daejeon meetup (South Korea) - Many places around the world host PostCrossing MeetUps and people sign and stamp the cards and pass them around. It's really interesting to many people to receive them, this one from Daejeon, South Korea! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/haguenau-la-dernire-france monthly 0.5 2025-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/960e7f81-30d4-4b11-90dd-ac1beb81d7b7/FR_Dominique147.jpg Postcards - Haguenau, la dernière (France) - Depuis que Dominique s’est déménagé, j’imagine que celle ci sera la dernière carte postale de son ancien village Haguenau. Voici la Place du Général de Gaulle et la Tour des Chevaliers (XIV siècle). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/simple-mills-virginia monthly 0.5 2025-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bb254c3f-0e5d-4135-8ad6-05638fb6392d/US_11419082.jpg Postcards - simple mills (Virginia) - Sometimes people make their own postcards; they can be really creative and fun, a place for people to exercise their art. This one is cut out of a box that these cookies presumably came in. I guess it's a creative reuse of packaging that will otherwise be recycled (or worse: thrown away). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lette-italy monthly 0.5 2025-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/09b2ad4e-07f6-45a7-b950-891a87634a1b/IT_Lino22.jpg Postcards - Lette (Italy) - My penpal Lino visited this beautiful city for Easter weekend. There are just so many beautiful places in the world and not enough time (or money)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fort-nuestra-seora-de-la-soledad-guam monthly 0.5 2025-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8947a12a-c300-4afd-a57b-e5ae46e975f7/GU_6537.jpg Postcards - Fort Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Guam) - This is my first postcard from Guam and I couldn't be more excited! I'm particularly thrilled because I've learned a bit more about Guam in the past decade or so since we started going to our favorite restaurant in San Francisco: Prubechu. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/morning-fitness-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7e117d18-30f7-4eaf-8eb2-f96887056094/US-IL_EmilyCarter19.jpg Postcards - morning fitness (Illinois) - Emily and Carter visited a vintage street market and picked up a bunch of cool stuff, including this great postcard! Perfect. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rainbows-michigan monthly 0.5 2025-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b15ea86a-4de0-415c-ad67-041e6f6398d4/US_11419100.jpg Postcards - rainbows (Michigan) - This postcard comes from the state I grew up in, not far from my hometown in fact! I reminds me of a pattern I used for repairing a rainbow quilt my mom made for me years ago! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/get-what-you-need-germany monthly 0.5 2025-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3e8077ad-0077-40ab-909c-451939c38c8f/DE_Dominique31.jpg Postcards - Get what you need (Germany) - Ici une carte postale d’un club gay à Berlin que Dominique m’a envoyé. Parfait! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tous-les-bleus-france monthly 0.5 2025-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/238cf01d-e2f0-42e9-9b30-cba014c76e52/FR_Dominique145.jpg Postcards - tous les bleus (France) - Voici baptiste, 22 ans, musicien par une publicité de Levi's. Dominique a trouvé cette carte postale pendant son déménagement. C’est exactement le genre de carte postale que j’adore: celles qui sont oubliées, cachées, perdués et puis trouvées et finalement envoyées des années après leur achat. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/haguenau-place-de-lancienne-duane-france monthly 0.5 2025-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/83ec348b-294e-4b21-8f1c-ddea974e4079/FR_Dominique144.jpg Postcards - Haguenau - Place de l’Ancienne Duane (France) - Dominique est parti d’Haguenau après plus de trois decades, donc il m’amene une vue de la ville comme elle était à l’époque quand il y s’est déménagé. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wizarding-world-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f8b5eb24-3078-43b1-8d8c-a8637d3cede3/US-CA_EmilyCarter19.jpg Postcards - wizarding world (Illinois) - There's a new Harry Potter shop on Michigan Avenue which our niece and nephew visited. They enjoyed the butter beer and all the wands at reasonable prices! Our nephew got the Elder Wand! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lily-pads-washington-dc monthly 0.5 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0f52f8ac-a615-4962-af37-8df67cda22a5/US-DC_Quinn02.jpg Postcards - lily pads (Washington DC) - Due to a long weekend at work, Quinn is in Washington DC visiting a friend and enjoying the opportunity to write and see the sights. She visited the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, which I've never been to. I think I'd be too afraid to go! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/great-smoky-mountains-tennessee monthly 0.5 2025-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d9f2d2bb-ed89-48cf-ba16-e9e6768c7447/US_11418830.jpg Postcards - Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee) - This PostCrosser sent the card in an envelope, which I'm usually not a fan of - but in this case, it was really great because the card was stamped from the visitor center at this park, and he wrote me a two page letter! Such a personal touch! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dahlia-meet-up-california monthly 0.5 2025-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e51d15f2-f429-4f17-bb07-ee6e5d1d9b8d/US-CA_KimeeMichael32.jpg Postcards - Dahlia meet up (California) - We had plans to attend the WESTPEX event last month but when the USPS stamp unveiling was moved from Friday to Saturday, it no longer worked for us. So Kimee and I didn't end up going - but we'll go again some time in the future! This postcard is from a friend who made the WESTPEX event and the Postcrossing meetup! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gay-ufo-california monthly 0.5 2025-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/02278d07-b235-4ad5-8a54-f569466feb37/US-CA_JulianSalvo22.jpg Postcards - gay UFO (California) - We were lucky enough to host several people two weekends ago, including Julian and Salvo. Here is the thank-you postcard, perfect as ever, from our dearest friends. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/martini-sil-vous-plat-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9af7303c-56a3-44c7-956d-b0692643d1f2/US-IL_EmilyCarter18.jpg Postcards - martini, s’il vous plaît (Illinois) - Our niece and nephew sent this postcard from a cocktail bar in Chicago that they took us to a few weeks ago when we were visiting. I’m hoping they'll arrange a few stages here in SF and we'll be able to host them. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/money-cant-buy-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8a38a41d-1568-47b0-af0f-dc518485b159/US-OR_Linda68.jpg Postcards - money can't buy… (Oregon) - And the truth is, he doesn't even have that much money. He acts like he's the richest person on the planet, but he's a failed businessman again and again. Pathetic. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/easter-virtual-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2025-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7a2d1647-4b00-4541-80d4-3f789c2b05f2/FI_Jussi23.jpg Postcards - Easter Virtual MeetUp (Finland) - Jussi sends his greetings from another great virtual meet up! He also reports that Haka, his favorite team, has already played three games, winning to! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/foreign-cinema-california monthly 0.5 2025-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0207126d-2407-4e60-9368-f2d0cc358cfa/US-CA_JulianSalvo21.jpg Postcards - Foreign Cinema (California) - Julian and Salvo visited this SF institution not too long ago and picked up a postcard to send to us! I'm not made at all is it combines all the best things in life: best friends, great food, and excellent movies. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/butchart-gardens-canada monthly 0.5 2025-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a9a68179-aa22-4221-b2d5-ef838f1a6652/CA_Ray24.jpg Postcards - Butchart Gardens (Canada) - A few weeks ago, Ray and his husband went to Butchart Gardens to see the beautiful spring display. Andy and I are planning a trip to Vancouver, so we'll definitely see if we can find some time to visit the gardens! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/grupp-iv-nr-10-de-tio-strsta-lderdomen-1907-sweden monthly 0.5 2025-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d294e109-ce3b-4066-a528-622d3369ebd6/SE_Johanna02.jpg Postcards - Grupp IV, nr. 10 De tio största, Ålderdomen, 1907 (Sweden) - My friend Johanna found time to send this postcard just a few weeks after welcoming another child to her family! Congratulations! I've never heard of Hilma af Klint, but this piece is really beautiful. I'll be reading more! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fori-imperiali-italy monthly 0.5 2025-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3474fe42-291d-420d-b168-f85a568ab808/IT_Lino21.jpg Postcards - Fori Imperiali (Italy) - Lino has been traveling around quite a bit and sends this “hello” (or maybe "ciao") from Rome, “full of history!” He also saw Cirque du Soleil's “Alegria” while there. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jock-pack-australian monthly 0.5 2025-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/41ce6016-fc08-48ce-9ef5-a1a30548c50a/AU_Matty20.jpg Postcards - jock pack (Australian) - What a fun collection of drawings! Matty writes, "…Instead of one [jock strap], you can have 6 haha”! Who doesn't love abundance? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/teddy-sandoval-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2025-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d46e93df-6724-4142-a6a2-9fe063859c3a/US-MA_Mejdulene02.jpg Postcards - Teddy Sandoval (Massachusetts) - Mejdulene visited this exhibit and really loved Sandoval's work! i have to admit I have never heard of this artist but Mejdulene can only be right in recommending that I would love it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bottoms-up-canada monthly 0.5 2025-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/991753e8-8e08-4b72-b780-e40f4b46c70e/CA_Ray23.jpg Postcards - Bottoms up! (Canada) - What a fun photo! I wonder what the real context is? Ray sends this hello from British Columbia! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/scorci-vaticani-germany monthly 0.5 2025-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a9d04a56-4941-4372-9591-cea066ad417b/DE_Lino02.jpg Postcards - scorci vaticani (Germany) - Lino was traveling in Berlin for the weekend, and a few days prior he had visited the Vatican City. What a nice portrait of the late Pope Francis. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tower-bridge-bear-california monthly 0.5 2025-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/049e99aa-2d35-4ce7-9ddf-d88acaa4bf02/US-CA_KimeeMichael31.jpg Postcards - Tower Bridge bear (California) - Kimee ran a terrific half marathon race in Sacramento last month and still found time to send this postcard on her trip to Central California! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gregangelo-museum-california monthly 0.5 2025-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/da8acba1-03d9-48a1-8cd4-c04c3356cbd1/US-CA_KimeeMichael28.jpg Postcards - Gregangelo Museum (California) - One of the many things that make Kimee and Michael such great friends is their great dedication to the city we all call home. Kimee found out about this museum recently, which none of us had encountered before! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oakland-pitt-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/92805a79-68d7-49dc-86f0-403e57b3603e/US-PA_KayPei05.jpg Postcards - Oakland - Pitt (Pennsylvania) - Along with a terrific gift, our good friends Kay and Pei, sent this postcard that they picked up in Pittsburgh where we used to live! Thank you two so much! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-cole-valley-california monthly 0.5 2025-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ed9bbe48-4edf-416e-9d98-b4798423d185/US-CA_KimeeMichael29.jpg Postcards - Greetings from Cole Valley (California) - It's an embarrassment of riches with these beautiful, local postcards that Michael and Kimee are sending! Shouldn't all our neighborhoods have a town square? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/flora-grubb-gardens-californias monthly 0.5 2025-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b80c2476-2082-49cb-8cf2-326c133935c2/US-CA_KimeeMichael30.jpg Postcards - Flora Grubb Gardens (Californias) - Kimee and Michael attended Cole Valley Nights where there was an abundance of postcards! This is from local business Flora Grubb Gardens which provided the gorgeous planters outside the N Judah stop at Carl Street. Support your local businesses, please! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/canberra-anime-scene-australia monthly 0.5 2025-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4730a48e-7994-4acb-8f87-366cacfb9bd7/AU_Matty19.jpg Postcards - Canberra anime scene (Australia) - Matty is responding to a slew of postcards I sent him (in response to a slew of those he sent me! It's a delicious, vicious cycle). This is a great illustration entitled “The Canberra La Niña Sky Cetacea Migration.” This is no doubt a reference to The Skywhale. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stuttgart-germany monthly 0.5 2025-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/37b1bebb-4d27-4a9d-be5a-ec265146c746/DE_Lino01.jpg Postcards - Stuttgart (Germany) - My penpal Lino was in Stuttgart celebrating his daughter's birthday! I'm envious of his travel, but I'm glad he enjoyed the trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bookshelf-fantasy-australia monthly 0.5 2025-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6675017c-d33d-4bff-9bf8-94e88bf863ea/AU_Matty18.jpg Postcards - bookshelf fantasy (Australia) - My penpal from the capital area of Australia responded to a postcard I sent a while ago soliciting book recommendations. He demured, saying he's not much of a reader. Nonetheless, he recommended: Holding the Man, Picnic at Hanging Rock, Cloudstreet, and Boy Swallows Universe. I'll look for them! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lions-and-tiger-and-bears-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b39b9136-f22c-4f46-a957-c89799f3d7a7/US-IL_EmilyCarter17.jpg Postcards - lions and tiger and bears (Illinois) - Emily and Carter went to the Lincoln Park Zoo last weekend and enjoyed seeing more animals than ever before. My pro-tip for zoos is to go as early as possible; I think most animals are more active early in the morning and then sleep during the mid-day (when most humans want to be in the zoo). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/our-old-haunt-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2025-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3e7539b6-0c6e-45ed-9bb1-0ec3a4e262f5/US-PA_KayPei04.jpg Postcards - our old haunt (Pennsylvania) - What a great postcard to receive from my old friend and her wife! They were visiting Pittsburgh, our old haunt where we met, and sent this postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/natifs-minnesota monthly 0.5 2025-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aafb8c08-3b06-40e2-b600-71c0f3021e90/US-MN_Mejdulene01.jpg Postcards - NATIFS (Minnesota) - My dear friend Mejdulene was in the Twin Cities to give a talk and was able to have lunch at NATIFS, a “nonprofit founded by Chef Sean Sherman, rekindl[ing] and empower[ing] Indigenous food sovereignty through Owamni and other thriving food enterprises.” Mejdulene writes that the meal was made with all pre-colonial ingredients! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/melba-resolves-silently-california monthly 0.5 2025-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e3288a6a-dc9f-4610-baf0-e4d744f7c4b0/US-CA_KimeeMichael27.jpg Postcards - Melba resolves silently (California) - Hot on the heels of her last grand success in postcards comes this one, which couldn't be more perfect, especially in the wake of our recent trip to Chicago to eat at Sepia and Alinea. Even tonight I ate too much at our favorite neighborhood joint and so all I can say to Kimee's postcard is: Melba - it's me. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tower-of-babel-germany monthly 0.5 2025-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a64f1289-a795-46a1-9961-0c0816287cb2/DE_Dominique30.jpg Postcards - Tower of Babel (Germany) - Je suis vraiment étonné car cette carte postale a été postée le 12 mars, et elle n’est pas arrivée jusqu'au 7 avril! Je vois bien qu’elle a même reçu un timbre officiel à la poste. Néanmoins, j’adore cette carte postale et bien ce qu’elle réprésente (le peinture par Bruegel l’Ancien). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-castro-california monthly 0.5 2025-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/225cb56f-5f87-4de6-ac18-24331d58c286/US-CA_KimeeMichael26.jpg Postcards - the Castro (California) - I have several friends whom I can count on to always find great postcards, and Kimee and Michael are at the top of the list. This one they picked up at Green Apple (on the Park)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/haguenau-france-2 monthly 0.5 2025-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0666e5bd-5ba6-4e25-bfef-5613d3b3e53d/FR_Dominique144.jpg Postcards - Haguenau (France) - En préparant son déménagement du Haguenau, où il habitait pendant plusiers années, Dominique est tombé sur cette carte postale. Il écrit que cette vue lui est particulièrement chère car en allant à la piscine, il passe sous le pont. :-( https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bottoms-up-australia monthly 0.5 2025-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cadc8c49-8a9b-42a6-96ad-14bf9ddc7d1b/AU_Matty17.jpg Postcards - Bottoms up! (Australia) - What a fun image from my penpal in Australia, Matty! He's preparing yet another multi-country trip, so I'm excited to receive any postcards he can send while he's away. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-port-de-marseille-france monthly 0.5 2025-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/daf27e45-6328-4e41-80f7-16b58bb1a571/FR_Dominique143.jpg Postcards - le port de Marseille (France) - Très peu de villes américaines présent cet aspect visuel spécifique quant aux vues aérielles: des nombreux bâtiments tous proches les uns des autres. Je l’adore tellement. Merci à Dominique de m’avoir envoyé cette carte postale si belle. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/make-australia-great-again monthly 0.5 2025-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/84b5a7e7-08b3-4c12-ab85-cf29c1045454/AU_Matty16.jpg Postcards - Make Australia Great Again - Normally I would have no place for this phrase, but that it's been reappropriated by indigenous Australians makes me smile a lot. Nothing could be further from the US version of this saying, and I love everything about it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chicago-flag-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1bb5500f-d94b-491f-9a34-cb491b4f51e0/US-IL_EmilyCarter16.jpg Postcards - Chicago flag (Illinois) - This postcard comes from our niece and her husband who were hosting our other niece (her sister) for a week. I like this postcard because it explains the Chicago flag, one of my favorite flags! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chteau-dif-france-1 monthly 0.5 2025-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4a86fd81-9a46-4a6a-a24f-18d17e541390/FR_Dominique142.jpg Postcards - Château d’If (France) - Dominique m’a envoyé deux cartes postales le même jour, une depuis la France et l’autre depuis l’Allemagne. Entre les deux cartes postales, on voit que la française est arrivée le plus vite. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nizhny-novgorod-russia monthly 0.5 2025-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/350a3e14-c54b-44ab-8d80-1043a95f2045/RU_10432901.jpg Postcards - Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) - What a beautifully-illustrated postcard of Nizhny Novgorod in Russia! The sender also affixed a lovely stamp from 1963! I'm not a philatelist but I can appreciate a really cool stamp when I see one! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/crb1ypjynolbu7oygfqt9nv5np1mdm monthly 0.5 2025-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/613c4f09-b5dc-4ed7-aa17-9ba0dbdd6408/CA_Walter02.jpg Postcards - Silvers (Ontario) - Walter sent us this postcard after his first buffet. “It wass good. You get as much as you want.” Sounds like a great buffet to me! This horse is entitled “Silvers” (1999) and was crafted by Joe Fafard in bronze with grey patina. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/green-apple-books-california monthly 0.5 2025-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf69e469-5186-41f6-b97a-d9b21f970cbf/US-CA_KimeeMichael25.jpg Postcards - Green Apple Books (California) - Kimee recounts a teaching by Neko Case in which she says that it's okay to stay angry, and that forgiveness is the most beautiful thing in the world when it comes from you, not when it's demanded or expected or forced. I think that's really beautiful, too. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/canberra-australia monthly 0.5 2025-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8d6bcda7-2f8b-472a-8cf7-276942d6714e/AU_Matty15.jpg Postcards - Canberra (Australia) - I can't believe my penpal Matty has been to 84 countries! I thought that I'd visited a lot, but my number (21) seems paltry compared to his! Goals, though. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/x3845gh99bndonz56qjbsgpxc9lhce monthly 0.5 2025-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7d09e62a-c0f8-4098-a45e-a51a33e1fe96/US-CA_KimeeMichael24.jpg Postcards - Browser Books (California) - Kimee went on a bookstore crawl and sent me some postcards from her event. The first bookstore didn't have any postcards, but it did have a drag queen named Jubilee who was “born on the ferris wheel at Dollywood, which was a miracle because [she] was a caesarean.” Typical! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mrfp9iugamt36aocyopsqjyvcfcprq monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a15ca953-c2e2-4063-8b92-6d8c3a1fd9f3/FR_Dominique.jpg Postcards - stilvoll geniessen (Germany) - Dominique took a quick trip to Germany where he was able to visit Alde Gott, a wine-making cooperative with delicious, artfully crafted wines. They also make whiskey, as seen in this ad card, although he's not tried it yet. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/charming-europe-map-netherlands monthly 0.5 2025-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf656c41-74cd-4301-9939-834512c062b9/NL_5934768.jpg Postcards - charming Europe map (Netherlands) - This inspiring polyglot sent me a terrific and charming map postcard. What detail and fun discoveries around every illustration! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kxre2qa00pxvvmmileio563753v6jm monthly 0.5 2025-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d17526fd-2d02-4903-93de-3373fac199d4/DE_15219017.jpg Postcards - mulled wine (Germany) - There's something about these mulled wine glasses which is so iconic! I remember we had them in the restaurant I worked in as a young adult and I was so taken with them, especially when our bartender mixed drinks in them. Thanks to this PostCrosser for the great trip down memory lane! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/koitsu-tsuchiya-japan monthly 0.5 2025-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a3f5bde3-a015-4427-87d7-251dac7782f0/JP_2212882.jpg Postcards - Koitsu Tsuchiya (Japan) - What a beautiful postcard and a great way for me ot learn more about ukiyo-e (wood block printing)! This print was made by famous Koitsu Tsuchiya! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/do-i-dare-disturb-the-universe-nevada monthly 0.5 2025-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/793ad859-f6fa-4120-8778-8fc8323dcc89/US-NV_Tristan09.jpg Postcards - do I dare disturb the universe (Nevada) - This postcard comes from my brother-in-law, who writes that this is one of his favorite poems. I haven't read any T.S. Eliot since I was in middle school and I wrote a long analysis of “the Hollow Men” with my friend Erin. Perhaps it's time to revisit his work? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-rainbow-over-berlin-germany monthly 0.5 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3c74354e-7b51-4b90-b478-c0334571996c/DE_15202568.jpg Postcards - a rainbow over Berlin (Germany) - This postcard comes from Germany with peace and hope. Berlin, the sender writes, “is very diverse and open, even in these difficult times.” We could all use more diversity and openness! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/theyre-always-spotted-michigan monthly 0.5 2025-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bedbd2ee-cad7-4cae-881e-351e3deb8029/US-MI_Brandon02.jpg Postcards - they're always spotted! (Michigan) - On the same day I got a postcard from our other nephew Brandon, who also listed some of his favorite things. This is a great postcard collection. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/with-ten-tickles-michigan monthly 0.5 2025-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/75db8204-812b-4274-bcfa-3c00a0ac2cf0/US-MI_Jasper03.jpg Postcards - with ten tickles! (Michigan) - Our nephew Jasper sent this postcard along with some news about his favorite media. I love the cute illustrations and jokes. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/keep-calm-and-to-love-freely-germany monthly 0.5 2025-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d119fec7-ca56-4651-90d4-f1bc2b346e0e/DE_15218988.jpg Postcards - keep calm and to love freely (Germany) - Who couldn't agree with this sentiment (don't answer that question)? What a beautiful card! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cpages-dalsace-france monthly 0.5 2025-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/688402d7-7c1a-41e3-b885-fd399cdb26ca/FR_Dominique141.jpg Postcards - cépages d’Alsace (France) - Heureusement, Dominque m’écrit et m’enseigne beaucoup sur les vins de France. Il habite en Alsace, donc il est tout près des grands vignobles de la région, où se trouve un de mes vins préférés: le Riesling. Nous adorons, surtout, un Riesling un peux agé. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/civil-disobedience-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e392eca9-4c83-4064-956e-d9599b1c5c59/US-OR_Linda67.jpg Postcards - civil disobedience (Oregon) - You'd think that by now I'd be used to Linda's excellent eye for the most appropriate, timely postcards - but she keeps upping the ante! Absolutely terrific. Lucky of us, we'll see each other in person next month! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/my-gay-agenda-connecticut monthly 0.5 2025-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/91de5935-820b-4517-b94f-c180cdc76e66/US_11178327.jpg Postcards - my gay agenda (Connecticut) - If you're worried about the gay agenda, you should be! And if you don't know what the gay agenda is, you should know! :-) Jamil gets it. Thanks, friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/more-gratitude-california monthly 0.5 2025-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5b25b994-60f6-4d3d-8cbe-66500f0b46d4/US-CA_Cynthia01.jpg Postcards - more gratitude (California) - I love this series of women artists so much! Cynthia sent this expressing gratitude and appreciation; what a thoughtful person! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vienna-austria-1 monthly 0.5 2025-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e2f9c233-b65d-4baf-9fef-5bdf1f250be6/AT_784132.jpg Postcards - Vienna (Austria) - I think that Austria is often an overlooked place in Europe, at least from the US point of view. I truly enjoyed my quick day trip to Salzburg way back in 2013 and I'm looking forward to visiting Austria again soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/thank-you-bouquet-california monthly 0.5 2025-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b1fe6f6e-08a8-42e0-82b5-80ba342b9788/US-CA_JulianSalvo20.jpg Postcards - thank you bouquet (California) - We were very glad last weekend to host an Oscar's viewing part for our friends, Salvo and Julian sent this beautiful card after the party! Chosen family, indeed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-south-carolina monthly 0.5 2025-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e132fc1e-24da-466e-abb9-f5a0a2813310/US_11178559.jpg Postcards - greetings from South Carolina - I do so love this old style of postcard art! Thinking about your own hometown, what would you choose to fill the letters? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ce-nest-pas-france monthly 0.5 2025-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/82d05457-4163-425c-8dcb-53cac785f2e1/FR_Dominique140.jpg Postcards - ce n’est pas… (France) - Il n'y a pas beaucoup de temps, Dominique a visité la plus grande centrale nucléaire de France à Cattenom, qui a été construite près de la frontière avec Luxembourg. Fascinante! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dark-angel-australia monthly 0.5 2025-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ed7fd1fe-0696-4dea-8889-d72dcc143330/AU_Matty.jpg Postcards - Dark Angel (Australia) - For some reason, Matty chose this postcard to respond to my questions I'd posed about Halloween in Australia. Curious! :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/riverwalk-at-night-texas monthly 0.5 2025-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7ff2389e-f467-470e-a2ce-6ec939df5e9f/US_11178300.jpg Postcards - Riverwalk at night (Texas) - I love a good coincidence! This postcard arrived just one day after our nephew arrived at Lackland Air Force Base for basic training. I'm sure we'll be taking a trip to San Antonio in the near future to see him, once he has some free time! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sky-and-sea-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ac4534ea-8aa4-4256-a4d1-def42f60d985/US-IL_Emily16.jpg Postcards - “Sky and Sea” (Illinois) - Our niece and her husband sent this postcard from a recent trip to Disney; it's a beautiful piece of original art by Josey Tsao, and Emily's favorite. In addition to this great postcard, Emily also writes about some great possibilities brewing in the future! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nevada-fall-yosemite-north-caroline monthly 0.5 2025-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/22ffc4f2-0375-4547-8611-0a24130ea0f2/US_11163711.jpg Postcards - Nevada Fall, Yosemite (North Caroline) - Of course Yosemite isn't in North Carolina, but this postcard must have traveled there from Yosemite, only to make a return trip to California! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-retraite-strasbourg-france monthly 0.5 2025-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cea5fc3f-4ded-4ab4-abd4-1f2c13733d5b/FR_Dominique138.jpg Postcards - la retraite à Strasbourg (France) - Pour fêter sa première journée de retraite, Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte de sa ville de naissance. Bien sûr, elle offre plusiers occasions de profiter de la ville, la région, et leur histoire. Un jour, j’y irai et je pourrais, j’éspère, connaître Dominique en personne pour lui remercier toutes les jolies cartes postales pendant les années, et bien sûr son amitié. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lets-have-a-kiki-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2025-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fcaedc87-60e9-49f1-894d-0634e2350dd0/US-PA_Mejdulene01.jpg Postcards - let's have a kiki (Pennsylvania) - Mejdulene was giving a presentation at my alma mater and stopped by a favorite old haunt of mine, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. She writes, aptly: “the girls are having a kiki!” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/quribus-france monthly 0.5 2025-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c0ef28c7-b876-4e60-a664-58ab38533966/FR_Dominique139.jpg Postcards - Quéribus (France) - Mon ami Dominique écrit ici sur les vins corbières, dont je n’avais jamais avant entendu parlé, ni moins goûté. Biensûr, j’ai gouté des vins qu’y sont élevés (Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Marsanne, Picpoul, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Syrah, et Vermentino) mais je ne pense pas en avoir bu de l’AOC soi-même. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/parisian-love-washington monthly 0.5 2025-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/95cea8d4-f45b-4f3a-a5f4-86f817c406eb/US_11163708.jpg Postcards - Parisian love (Washington) - Since I started saying that I would welcome LGBTQ postcards, including nudes, I’ve received lots of men! This is one of the few women-centered cards I’ve received, and it’s a welcome addition to my collection. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/handyman-minnesota monthly 0.5 2025-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/37b23c13-4f24-43a9-9576-2a71682b40c0/US_11163722.jpg Postcards - handyman (Minnesota) - The sender of this postcard writes about queer families moving out of Florida when things started to go really sideways. I certainly can’t blame them - when your government turns openly, nakedly, unabashedly hostile against your existence, why pay them taxes? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pinkwashing-california monthly 0.5 2025-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/59b0b311-d158-43f6-b091-9b548ccc11c6/US-CA_KimeeMichael23.jpg Postcards - Pinkwashing (California) - Kimee picked this postcard up for me at Sour Cherry Comics. The enticing front leads to the back where we (re)learn an important lesson about Pinkwashing which is how liberals are sold the genocide of the Palestinians to liberals. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/postcrossers-winter-day-finland monthly 0.5 2025-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1fef326a-1847-4624-86f3-abf936530000/FI_Jussi23.jpg Postcards - Postcrossers’ Winter Day (Finland) - I am still in awe of Jussi’s ability to attend all of these great PostCrossing meetups! This one from early February. He was quite thrilled that his favorite team won the Super Bowl! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/weird-old-things-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2025-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f82525d0-a5e6-478e-b9ac-10d9d97b0ce0/US-MA_Mejdulene01.jpg Postcards - weird old things (Massachusetts) - Mejdulene sent this truly charming postcard from her new campus, which she writes “is full of weird old things like this gargoyle.” The feeling of haste to share all of it with me is entirely mutual! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/italian-trio monthly 0.5 2025-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1739822985057-VHSCTRKBBSLA0FEUM4FG/IT_Lino18.jpg Postcards - Italian trio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1739822985271-G0SGZLS8IKH7XXG8QIJ7/IT_Lino19.jpg Postcards - Italian trio https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1739822986407-4O5074WZ2WP48F90KU90/IT_Lino20.jpg Postcards - Italian trio https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/orlando-florida monthly 0.5 2025-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3dfc57dc-fa77-4aa1-ad8d-c441dd911f38/US-IL_Emily03.jpg Postcards - Orlando (Florida) - Emily managed to get two great postcards from her trip to Orlando! This one has that great art style of letters depicting scenes of the city. I love this kind of postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alcatraz-broadway-california monthly 0.5 2025-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/384e9d85-fbaa-47e3-936d-fc440aa35018/US-CA_VictorC01.jpg Postcards - Alcatraz: Broadway (California) - Lenticular cards never scan that well, but I hope it won’t distract from the great views of this postcard: two for one! You can see both Alcatraz Island and Broadway! If you haven’t visited the park, I highly recommend it! This postcard was given to me by a former student Victor as a gift of thanks for borrowing some books. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/finding-comfort-in-pleasure-australia monthly 0.5 2025-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/78d7b494-cf18-4330-8c71-86b43c568907/AU_Matty14.jpg Postcards - “finding comfort in pleasure” (Australia) - Matty sent this beautiful postcard from Australia, along with “lots of happy thoughts to [me] for the next 4 years.” We’re going to need these! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dangerous-selfie-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/304bc939-e42d-456b-ba3d-d583b8750288/US-OR_Linda66.jpg Postcards - dangerous selfie (Oregon) - Linda really has a gift for finding the best postcards, this one being another nice example of such. Apparently, it’s a German company so I don’t know how she got it in Portland but I’m very lucky to have received it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/adventure-awaits-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/91ee6f6a-7092-4424-a78b-9a80a60d5a23/US-IL_Emily02.jpg Postcards - Adventure Awaits (Illinois) - Our niece Emily traveled to Florida to crash her aunt’s presentation in Orlando with her mom! They got a chance to visit Disney and she picked up this postcard from the park and mailed it! I do love the art and music of Moana. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tamara-de-lempicka-california monthly 0.5 2025-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e14f29e4-6527-43cd-9c28-3a2163c43661/US-CA_TracyCynthia18.jpg Postcards - Tamara de Lempicka (California) - Two weeks ago, Tracy and I visited the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco to see the excellent Tamara de Lempicka exhibit before it closed. Just a few days later, Tracy sent this excellent postcard from a set of Women in Art she had! What serendipity! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ankara-and-istanbul-trkiye monthly 0.5 2025-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1739421585091-4K6VXXP74BYQTQXG50JU/TR_Ebru01.jpg Postcards - Ankara and Istanbul (Türkiye) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1739421584888-PY8KZUFRGAGJSQ6LGZT3/TR_Ebru02.jpg Postcards - Ankara and Istanbul (Türkiye) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/thank-you-illustration-ontario monthly 0.5 2025-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1738951811070-8N9B1N2WE0H4SNJT9WE3/CA_Walter01a.jpg Postcards - thank you illustration (Ontario) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1738951811073-PPBWN0RZ69N4FF0FGAPU/CA_Walter01b.jpg Postcards - thank you illustration (Ontario) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/womb-house-books-california monthly 0.5 2025-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c77a2752-eb88-41e5-ba8f-56b176146c4a/US-CA_KimeeMichael22.jpg Postcards - Womb House Books (California) - How could you not love a bookstore named Womb House Books?! Luckily, Kimee and Michael report that the bookstore lives up to its name! Aggressively feminist, which is just the way I like my feminism! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/more-than-pen-friends-ontario monthly 0.5 2025-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/daf7b359-af7c-439d-87f9-a6a7ff67357a/CA_Andy03.jpg Postcards - more than pen friends (Ontario) - Another great postcard from Toronto! Andy visited some stationers while he was there and got me a great card (which I didn’t scan because it’s not a postcard) with a pop-up corgi! Here’s a beautiful postcard from Wonder Pens that he sent. He also gave me several blank postcards; maybe you dear reader will receive one? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mysterious-humpback-ontario monthly 0.5 2025-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cd404026-d3dc-45c5-afb4-736b1a13f80b/CA_Andy02.jpg Postcards - mysterious humpback (Ontario) - Andy was in Canada again for work, this time in Toronto. Knowing how much I love sea mammals, especially cetacea, he chose this great postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/reese-california monthly 0.5 2025-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/db763c52-86f5-4a6e-8c1a-8e46bbb083ef/US-CA_JulianSalvo19.jpg Postcards - Reese (California) - Our friends Julian and Salvo sent this beautiful image as thanks. They’d been taken ill recently so I dropped off some soup and bread; what else does one do when their best friends are lain low by that awful flu that’s going around? I’m glad to hear they’re on the mend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/black-mountain-australia monthly 0.5 2025-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4b3b8370-4d9c-40cd-b44a-f6f078c2b724/AU_Matty13.jpg Postcards - Black Mountain (Australia) - There’s something about this art style that makes it look like a science fiction novel. I’ve never been to Australia, but I am always hearing about the many beautiful parks. Surely, Black Mountain is among them! Thanks to Matty for sending this great card. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/corner-stories-california monthly 0.5 2025-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d0ac15f4-fc73-4073-9bd2-4b6541dbfde9/US-CA_KimeeMichael21.jpg Postcards - corner stories (California) - There was a store in our old neighborhood of the Lower Haight that had a shop dog — a German shepherd. And sometimes walking by the store, you wouldn’t see anyone there but the dog behind the counter, minding the shop. This is a delightful postcard and I’m so glad Kimee and Michael sent it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/panama-pacific-international-exposition-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2924200-b429-41bc-bff4-f637f372b0be/US-IL_EmilyCarter15.jpg Postcards - Panama-Pacific International Exposition (Illinois) - Yet another delicious vintage postcard from our niece and her husband in Chicago. This one depicts the Panama-Pacific International Expo (1915) and some of the incredible buildings constructed for it. When you visit SF, do please visit the Palace of Fine Arts, the only remaining edifice from that time. It’s truly a beautiful place to spend an hour or two wandering around! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/furry-chested-cowboy-australia monthly 0.5 2025-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/31583fab-0da6-4ff0-a779-f916b239c5f8/AU_Matty12.jpg Postcards - furry chested cowboy (Australia) - What a beautiful mosaic treatment of this photo, sent by my penpal Matty. He writes about the lovely gifts he received for the holidays! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/munster-france monthly 0.5 2025-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b45c9da4-afe8-48d5-8018-0181cef46831/FR_Dominique137.jpg Postcards - Munster (France) - Mon ami à lettres, Dominique, m’a envoyé cette carte postale de Munster en Alsace. En plus des vins qu’y se fait, il y a aussi le fromage très célèbre qui n'est pas si différent au Maroilles qui vient du Nord où j'habitais pendant une année. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fontana-di-trevi-italy monthly 0.5 2025-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d5aa827b-db3f-42d3-9d77-7c695f5bc700/IT_Lino17.jpg Postcards - Fontana di Trevi (Italy) - My penpal Lini took a trip to Rome with his husband and they really enjoyed it! I’ve never seen this particular angle of the Trevi Fountain, only having seen it from eye-level. It’s even more stunning from above! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/johnsons-corner-gas-station-colorado monthly 0.5 2025-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/edba68e6-e0ff-4d63-b05b-bd3e32820bbb/US-CO_Tristan04.jpg Postcards - Johnson’s Corner Gas Station (Colorado) - Besides its iconic appearance, I wonder why this gas station merits a postcard? Doing a little light websearching, I see that it’s more than just a gas station. Apparently, Jack Kerouac wrote about having stopped there, in addition to other features of it that make it famous. Great! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-little-golden-book-of-alternative-facts-oregon monthly 0.5 2025-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/21dbbb74-c1df-4883-8b01-932aa117348c/US-OR_Linda65.jpg Postcards - the Little Golden Book of Alternative Facts (Oregon) - This book must be what Republicans use to “educate” their children. How else can you explain their voting and antisocial behavior? Thanks to Linda for finding this delightful and horrifying look into the Conservative side of the US political spectrum. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/blue-singlet-australia monthly 0.5 2025-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f550416b-6c88-4724-b59f-a7d8de07627f/AU_Matty11.jpg Postcards - blue singlet (Australia) - This is a congratulatory and new year’s greeting card from my prolific penpal Matty! He’s excited for us to have moved to our new home in Duboce Triangle very near the Castro. So are we! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/for-love-and-for-country-california monthly 0.5 2025-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e0a6d75a-26cb-4f4f-abc6-3b52a92c3403/US-CA_KimeeMichael20.jpg Postcards - For Love, and for Country (California) - I’ve been meaning to get to this exhibit on Amy Sherald, portraitist of our Former First Lady Michelle Obama at the SF MoMA. Luckily, Kimee sent this from her visit last week where she was captivated by the masterpieces! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bercement-silencieux-ontario monthly 0.5 2025-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0e6abc87-ad52-4cf7-b72b-e8f35155e2d4/CA_Tristan01.jpg Postcards - Bercement silencieux (Ontario) - Voici une carte envoyée par mon beau-frère qui a passé une semaine à Toronto. Il a également visité le Musée des beaux-arts de l’Ontario où il a bien aimé cet oeuvre (1956) par Paul-Émile Borduas. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cat-vibes-illinois monthly 0.5 2025-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2d5d76e7-e44e-45b8-b9cc-6bda9b531af5/US-IL_EmilyCarter14.jpg Postcards - cat vibes (Illinois) - While Emily and Carter’s postcard isn’t doing much to combat stereotypes about cats, I can’t say I disagree with the sentiment, especially in the new year! It reminds me of an observation that our dear friend Salvo made: The single most convincing piece of evidence that our Earth is not flat, as some erroneously believe, is that we’re still here! If it were flat, the cats would have knocked us all off the edge by now. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gratitude-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2025-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b878ef40-8fe7-47b7-9607-1d3b54575a2e/US-PA_T08.jpg Postcards - gratitude (Pennsylvania) - Our dear friend T sends this beautiful postcard expressing gratitude and kindness—two of the many things we feel mutually! What a great way to start the year! Thank you, friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/blooming-of-flowers-taiwan monthly 0.5 2024-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/12c137e9-80ed-46ed-80be-87d77b0fe44e/TW_TobiasPhilipp01.jpg Postcards - blooming of flowers (Taiwan) - Our friends Philipp and Tobias traveled to Taiwan recently, in part, to gather some great teas. They’ve invited us to a tea tasting early next year! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vintage-christmas-wishes-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ecd7426a-03fc-4f5c-bfae-fe2ce6195d0f/US-IL_EmilyCarter13.jpg Postcards - vintage Christmas wishes (Illinois) - We’ve been enjoying receiving all of the holiday cards from our friends and family; many people are surprised to learn that I don’t send a holiday card. I figure that I send enough mail throughout the year, so I’m saving myself the work of sending them myself. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love receiving them!! Thanks, Emily and Carter! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/french-victory-california monthly 0.5 2024-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9aec54cd-bf61-4947-8070-da72d89ee9ee/US_CA_GregJames11.jpg Postcards - French victory (California) - Our dear friends Greg and James congratulate us on our new home as well! The French victoire is a perfect way to celebrate the homecoming. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/geometric-san-francisco-california monthly 0.5 2024-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/eac1d2c6-4386-4307-83d2-ab458efa1ab9/US-CA_JulianSalvo18.jpg Postcards - geometric San Francisco (California) - As part of the congratulatory postcards, our neighbors Julian and Salvo sent this gorgeous postcard to welcome us to the neighborhood! We’re so grateful to be home and feel more so every day that we get to live here. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/washington-blvd-and-park-street-detroit-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/067e3ce1-4839-4ad6-8573-3344fecfbbe9/US-IL_EmilyCarter12.jpg Postcards - Washington Blvd and Park Street, Detroit (Illinois) - Our niece and her husband sent this postcard from Chicago — but which I assume they bought in Detroit before the move — to congratulate us on our new home! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/glise-de-sillegny-france monthly 0.5 2024-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e76311c8-8685-4880-b74b-ed84eb8a893a/FR_Dominique136.jpg Postcards - Église de Sillegny (France) - Cette église me rappelle les églises de Valenciennes, même si elles ne sont pas dans les mêmes régions de la France. Dominique écrit que cette église est aussi connue comme la Petite Sixtine Lorraine. À l’intérieur, on trouve des peintures qui datent depuis 1540! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-truth-about-puppies-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/68780aac-38ac-485c-9ab4-da0efc1537ec/US-IL_EmilyCarter11.jpg Postcards - the truth about puppies (Illinois) - Even though our niece and her husband don’t have a dog currently, they both had dogs in the house when they were growing up. So I guess that’s where this wisdom comes from. Luckily and perhaps inexplicably, Pinot never destroyed our things, but he did completely disrupt our lives! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vhu50rtyya9lphwf8fzzzcv3w0qv94 monthly 0.5 2024-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9d57858a-d6e6-47bf-959e-98bf880c37e3/US-CA_KimeeMichael19.jpg Postcards - neko MUNI (California) - Leave it to MUNI’s stronger supporters, Kimee and Michael, to find and send us this absolutely fantastic postcard, depicting some of SF’s best offerings and an incredible mashup of My Neighbor Totoro and a MUNI bus! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/trippy-reconnect-germany monthly 0.5 2024-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fafd21aa-3f53-42ee-bf4e-29ec8aad20bf/DE_Carolin04.jpg Postcards - trippy reconnect (Germany) - This postcard is two layers; a translucent top layer and a printed bottom layer; they spin on the grommet in the center! It comes from an old penpal I haven’t heard from in a while. It was sent to my old address and I managed to snag it before we lost access to the mailbox for good. Did you know the USPS doesn’t always forward postcards?! Very upsetting. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lust-ne-runde-zu-drehen-germany monthly 0.5 2024-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/02834c51-e76f-481b-a2b1-6a7cafb4458e/DE_Dominique28.jpg Postcards - let’s go! (Germany) - Here’s a postcard from the Frankfort Airport, the busiest airport in Germany and the sixth busiest in Europe. Dominique was visiting Germany to see the interior design showroom of VITRA. I hope he found some good furnishings! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/winter-chalet-california monthly 0.5 2024-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8fa38719-58fd-473a-b4c7-dfe253b14351/US-CA_JulianSalvo17.jpg Postcards - winter chalet (California) - Julian and Salvo spent the Thanksgiving holiday in Sacramento with some friends, sending this postcard from their lodgings. This hotel has a postcard station with pre-stamped postcards?! I’m sold! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/feeling-fowl-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/eb0fecbb-5798-4705-a82f-a7e6d1e50c1a/US-IL_EmilyCarter10.jpg Postcards - feeling fowl (Illinois) - In response to a chicken-themed postcard I’ve sent, here’s a great response from our niece and nephew-in-law Emily and Carter, respectively! This is a terrific postcard from one of their recent trips to Fulton Market. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pike-place-market-washington monthly 0.5 2024-12-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ff76c494-3b0b-4daa-9d0b-048a94701b44/US-WA_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - Pike Place Market (Washington) - Julian and Salvo spent the week in Seattle and were surprised to miss most of the rain we had! They highly recommend Altura, so we’ll definitely have to check it out! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/various-cakes-california monthly 0.5 2024-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/18d72526-b2ad-410c-9f90-240981347389/US-CA_KimeeMichael18.jpg Postcards - various cakes (California) - What better way for Kimee and Michael to inform us that Sweet Glory has just opened near our neighborhood than to choose this postcard!? They write that the sweet corn Basque cheesecake is to die for! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/florida-man-california monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7ea434ba-0bf4-4f6c-acc4-60ce104e55fa/US-CA_JulianSalvo16.jpg Postcards - Florida man (California) - Now here’s a Florida man you might actually like to meet! Thanks to Julian and Salvo who always know what kinds of cards to send. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/here-they-come-california monthly 0.5 2024-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/60baa07f-632f-417d-bba4-afabf812177b/US-CA_KimeeMichael17.jpg Postcards - here they come (California) - This postcards is from Kimee and Michael for Andy’s birthday and it’s just a delight! It’s the card that keeps on giving. The more you read and notice, the better it gets. The cherry on top is that the knight’s name, according to the legend on the back, is “Kris.” Fantastic. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/untitled-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c0283e87-22dc-4f6f-afc5-d53bbaa276b5/US-OR_Linda64.jpg Postcards - untitled (Oregon) - This photograph is by Teun Hocks. Of course Linda is the one responsible for this as she always chooses such intriguing postcards! All good news in this postcard which is exactly what we love to see, and of course what we wish in abundance for Linda and all our friends! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ceci-est-marseille-france monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/19856949-f6d4-4418-9203-ac7dc4ece353/FR_Dominique135.jpg Postcards - ceci est Marseille (France) - Dominique m’envoie cette carte de ses vacances de l’année dernière. Je ne suis jamais allé à Marseille, même si elle compte comme la plus vielle ville de la France et aussi la deuxième plus grande. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tucson-arizona monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d379e2d3-d395-4c01-a148-1ac985d0df85/US-AZ_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - Tucson (Arizona) - Our friends Kimee and Michael were called to Tucson for a family emergency but still found the time to send this great postcard! It even has a fill-in-the-blank thermometer on the back for you to indicate the temperature upon sending (76F it appears!). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/museu-do-ipiranga-brazil monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d8ebaf4b-289f-41a9-a458-3ebeb273de75/BR_Rodrigo01.jpg Postcards - Museu do Ipiranga (Brazil) - I was approached by a fellow PostCrosser requesting a private swap, which I obliged! This is the famous Museu do Ipiranga in São Paolo. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ssj2mee92t9d85wbk7474nsgs79agc monthly 0.5 2024-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8a29ba3d-8c7a-439a-a3e3-59df4add3b8b/US-OR_Linda63.jpeg Postcards - Bertold Brecht (Oregon) - Linda sends this in the wake of a disastrous election, reframing the question as “What happens to democracy when all the freedoms disappear?” Unluckily, we will be finding out in the years to come. And American voters will have gotten just what they asked for (or didn’t but deserve anyway, by sitting this one out). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kkc0yjo7gmivl550w246p6ciihkbxg monthly 0.5 2024-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b9121e12-783c-48f3-95b1-29c4fbfccccd/FI_Jussi22.jpeg Postcards - Trick or Treat (Finland) - I’m so impressed by how many PostCrossing MeetUps that my friend Jussi attends! This one is no exception! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/suzhou-treasures-china monthly 0.5 2024-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4fefb3af-acac-42af-ac8e-9ceab1011d66/CN_3861037.jpg Postcards - Suzhou treasures (China) - This postcard arrived from China after only one month; not bad for approaching the holidays! The postcard depicts some treasures from Suzhou in Jiangsu province. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pristina-kosovo monthly 0.5 2024-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/faf5aa3d-758f-41a9-80d7-c3ab6603a7d2/XK_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Pristina (Kosovo) - Just when I think we’ve exhausted the innumerable postcards that have come in from Matty’s huge trip, another one makes its way to me! This one from Kosovo, a place I’ve never been (or even gotten close to, really). I’d really love to visit it. Matty writes that it’s beautiful, friendly, and cheap! What more is there to ask for?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cassis-france monthly 0.5 2024-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a08a7546-c7ff-430f-92c1-5b266bf6fa1f/FR_Dominique133.jpg Postcards - Cassis (France) - Moi, je connais le Cassis mieux pour sa crème de cassis, mais Dominique m’écrit que les calanques sont renomées pour leur vin et les plages nudistes! Il m’écrit aussi que même si c’est rare de rencontre des vins Californiens en France, il a bu une bouteille dans un restaurant connu à Baden Baden: Robert Mondavi Private Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019. Il lui a beaucoup plu! J’en suis heureux car que je sais que les styles sont différents entre la France et la Californie. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/claudette-colberts-home-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-11-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1c1c05fb-ccb2-45aa-859c-9bff1029d751/US-IL_EmilyCarter09.jpg Postcards - Claudette Colbert’s home (Illinois) - More excellent vintage postcards from our niece and her boyfriend in Illinois this week! This one features the home of Claudette Colbert in Holmby Hills, California. Who the heck is Claudette Colbert and why do we care about her home in Holmby Hills (honestly, never heard of it)?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/t1m0lambdcoixpdkavy7vthbyl3z4a monthly 0.5 2024-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d225f3a6-e559-489b-aace-33a6cf8aca81/US-IL_EmilyCarter08.jpg Postcards - Mariposa Grove (Illinois) - Mariposa Grove is of course in California, but the card comes from our niece and her boyfriend in Illinois. Where they routinely find such great California cards in Chicago is beyond me! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/piwpndoybfbf6dy0ix24epwuiteksx monthly 0.5 2024-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3c9414d5-150f-4de9-9c1e-56a66a55d5a0/FR_Dominique133.jpg Postcards - Zellenberg (France) - D’un côté, cette carte postale pourrait réprésenter la Californie, sauf que les maisons ne sont pas aussi belles ici qu’en Alsace. Évidemment, on voit ici une vue de Zellenberg, sur la Route des Vins d’Alsace. Dominique me récommend deus grands crus: Froehn et Schoenenbourg. <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-beautiful-friends-kiss-portugal monthly 0.5 2024-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d6e4e302-a2fa-46b2-bea3-beea3bf086d8/PT_829444-censored.jpg Postcards - a beautiful friend’s kiss (Portugal) - This is one of the few postcards to come in an envelope from PostCrossing; I’m only posting the top half of it here. You can see the whole thing —and how!— by following the link to its entry on PostCrossing. As it turns out, the sender didn’t recognize the men in this photo. I was happy to be able to oblige with their stage names. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7otrpu3myxamq5uy2zynpj1eykh6bx monthly 0.5 2024-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/72899215-a697-4f2d-af8f-84bf9c25ec0b/MV_Matty01.jpg Postcards - sunset sail (Maldives) - This is the last postcard Matty sent me from his final stop on the trip. He stopped in the Maldives and stayed on the island of Maafushi. Apparently, you can walk the perimeter of the island in just 15 minutes. It must be so tiny! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/4y18prf7bof8a6f3ecy3egk7fl656h monthly 0.5 2024-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/282ded37-1cb2-43ee-bda4-233f37404b20/PL_2025717.jpg Postcards - tea time (Poland) - PostCrossing is even more international than it appears at first! This postcard comes from Ann, originally from Belarus and now practicing dentistry in Poland. Fantastic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/g7q0ihlok3oh19hr487wov75i8y84r monthly 0.5 2024-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dc250689-bf49-495b-9097-f4942711fdf5/FR_Dominique132.jpg Postcards - la rivière de Strasbourg (France) - Dominique m’envoit cette carte postale de sa ville natale. Il m’éxplique bien sur la rivière et ses formes passées et actuelles. Il faut vraiment la visiter! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peterborough-canoes-ontario monthly 0.5 2024-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9cad6929-26a1-4ef0-a8fa-41e7c4d92788/CA_QuinnLorris06.jpg Postcards - Peterborough Canoes (Ontario) - One of the problems with these scans is that there’s nothing for scale, so you can’t know from looking at this entry that this postcard is massive! It’s almost half the size of a standard sheet of paper! Quinn and Lorris visited the Jiimaan Kinomaagewin | Musée Canadien du Canot | Canadian Canoe Museum, which was recently renovated during Canadian Thanksgiving. Peterborough is also home to the world’s largest hydraulic lift lock between Lake Ontario and the Georgian Bay. Super cool! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stanley-park-vancouver-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c105baf2-dd79-4ee5-9b06-cdd6f1ada478/CA_HeidiEd02.jpg Postcards - Stanley Park, Vancouver (British Columbia) - Huzzah! Another postcard from my in-laws’ trip to Vancouver! They walked quite a bit around Stanley Park from their hotel. They’re considering a move to Vancouver and this was an exploratory trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/panama-multiview monthly 0.5 2024-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ca7df79e-5d89-495f-98b1-2c52b8645b52/PA_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Panama multiview - Lucky for me, the USPS is still forwarding mail - even postcards - that were sent to our old address. This one was dated 11 August 2024 and arrived at my new address on 25 October (there’s a backlog of postcards I’m posting here, so it’ll be a while before it actually makes it live on the blog). Matty sent this on his cross-globe tour from North America to Europe to Central America and South Asia. Beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vancouver-multiview-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7846907c-f4ed-430b-94ed-422f506e53f6/CA_HeidiEd01.jpg Postcards - Vancouver multiview (British Columbia) - Hot on the heels of Andy’s trips to Vancouver, BC, his mom and stepdad made their first trip just a few weeks ago. Decades ago, my mother-in-law had heard about the incredible Vancouver public library, and as they’re consummate library nerds, it was one of the first stops on their tour. They were not disappointed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tirana-albania-1 monthly 0.5 2024-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/56b4fd60-66dd-4018-ae89-ea1ed01ecbc5/AL_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Tirana (Albania) - Some countries have a very different indigenous name for themselves and Albania is a great example of this! The Albanian for Albania is Shqipëria! So cool! Thanks Matty for sending this to me! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jama-masjid-india monthly 0.5 2024-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2af9f2f4-3c50-4a47-9543-2ef63581bd91/IN_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Jama Masjid (India) - I keep writing about Matty’s “European tour” but given that it had a stop in Massachusetts and one in India — evidently — it’s not the right term! I can’t wait to learn more about this trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/second-city-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/045936b9-7542-427a-86e5-5b100daca358/US-IL_KimeeMichael03.jpg Postcards - Second City (Illinois) - One of my goals is to see a Second City show in real life, but I’ll have to settle for SNL skits as many of the stars have come through Second City first! Thanks to Kimee and Michael for this missive from their attendance at a show! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/millennium-force-ohio monthly 0.5 2024-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4218f7d1-c0f9-459c-9bcb-ee863f9803b1/US-OH_HunterGabby01.jpg Postcards - Millennium Force (Ohio) - The last postcard, I think, from the Geda Trip to Cedar Point finally depicts a roller coaster I know! I remember reading about the Millennium Force, which I believe was the tallest, fastest, steepest roller coaster at the time of its opening. Our nephew Hunter proposed to his girlfriend on the trip and they’ll be married soon! Congratulations! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/who-cares-germany monthly 0.5 2024-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/65064bc1-203f-418a-a16d-0d4188006e4a/DE_Dominique27.jpg Postcards - Who cares? (Germany) - Dominique always finds the most exciting postcards to send! According to automatic translation, the front reads “Neurodermatitis? Who cares?” The back provides a little bit more context; this is an advertisement for a websites about how to treat the condition! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jfk-presidential-library-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/34e037ed-27d5-4665-81af-302c43487c6d/US-OR_Linda62.jpg Postcards - JFK Presidential Library (Oregon) - Our dear friend Linda took a trip to the East Coast to visit some friends. She writes about the JFK Library and Museum and her trip overall. Maybe a trip to Italy is in the works?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/valravn-ohio monthly 0.5 2024-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/39f166a7-cbc6-4027-b990-9d652e2c3553/US-OH_AlyssaPhoenix01.jpg Postcards - Valravn (Ohio) - Another missive from the Geda trip to Cedar Point! This one is from our two nieces Alyssa and Phoenix who won a prize at a guess-my-weight event and slept on the most uncomfortable fold-out couch ever, respectively. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/redlin-art-center-south-dakota monthly 0.5 2024-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4cc72204-3ad7-4488-984b-fc2cfa860aca/US_10811396.jpg Postcards - Redlin Art Center (South Dakota) - This sender chose a beautiful, oversized postcard to send. She works part-time talking to farmers about their farms, which sounds like a truly fascinating job! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/maverick-ohio monthly 0.5 2024-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c35253da-50f6-44e9-bef5-185ad2fc2bab/US-OH_Jasper01.jpg Postcards - Maverick (Ohio) - Our nephews and nieces went to Cedar Point on a family trip and they sent postcards from their amazing trip! This one comes from our young nephew Jasper who visited Ohio for the first time! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sun-and-moon-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/18ec09cf-5421-4249-afbc-4d8d2ad6e886/US_10811731.jpg Postcards - sun and moon (Illinois) - While the postcard is really beautiful, the sender (whom I won’t link to) didn’t send such a nice message. I’m a bit put out by it and I’m not sure what they want to communicate other than their spite for the city. They write “I see you’re from Michigan! Beautiful state! And San Fransisco [sic] used to be Beautiful [sic], heard that not anymore (sadly). Best wishes!“ What’s the point of writing this? To insult my city? To say how great it is to live in a small, Illinois town where people drive business owners out of business because they want to host a drag show? Well done, I guess? What a nasty, unhappy life they must live. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/heidelberg-germany-1 monthly 0.5 2024-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1a2a36d3-9919-4111-b542-0304fab131a8/DE_14706753.jpg Postcards - Heidelberg (Germany) - The only drawback to this beautiful lenticular postcard is that it doesn’t scan or photograph well! I’m grateful to the sender for choosing this stunning one to send to me. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ostseeinsel-usedom-germany monthly 0.5 2024-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/eaad2103-03ef-42c3-b798-0f534d63ca0b/DE_14706669.jpg Postcards - Ostseeinsel Usedom (Germany) - This beautiful postcard comes from a small town south of Berlin in Germany. I’m interested in Usedom, which is an island divided between Germany and Poland! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/im-from-the-midwest-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/92d834c5-c3f8-42d7-94cb-11f55f4be465/US-IL_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - I’m from the Midwest… (Illinois) - Kimee and MIchael picked this terrific postcard up for me on their trip to Chicago! Now, I won’t quibble here about whether Michigan or Chicago are part of the Midwest (I argue we’re Great Lakes, not Midwest), but I do have strong morals/els! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/zagreb-croatia monthly 0.5 2024-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/930954a4-6e06-4b2f-8c2b-9617bc5cfb81/HR_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Zagreb (Croatia) - This postcard didn’t get forwarded to my current address, so I only picked it up a few days ago! But Matty passed through Croatia on his grand European tour, sending me this beautiful postcard, which is not rectilinear in outline! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-peculiar-bird-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/344b261d-e7b7-4084-bb68-33273c4e58a5/US-IL_EmilyCarter07.jpg Postcards - a peculiar bird (Illinois) - The USPS gets a great many things right so much of the time, so it is quite surprising when something unexpected happens. In this case, the postcard that our niece and her boyfriend sent was a bit mangled in the mail, arriving in a plastic apology envelope. It must have taken quite a bit to rescue it, since it was sent almost a whole month ago. Still, the USPS came through and delivered it nonetheless, so good on them! Do you know the famous limerick about pelicans? A wonderful bird is the pelican. His bill can hold more than his belican. He can hold in his beak Enough food for a week, But I’m damned if I see how the helican. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chicago-dog-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/be290b4e-c7fe-4fbc-a617-3344b29f17b0/US-IL_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - Chicago dog (Illinois) - AS part of a support trip for the Chicago Marathon, our dear friends Kimee and Michael visited the US’ third-largest city. I’m glad they notice the small details, especially the lovely painted nails on this hotdog-friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wrlitz-germany monthly 0.5 2024-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b16fa35d-adbf-4b8d-a5e2-2da617da8eba/DE_14706729.jpg Postcards - Wörlitz (Germany) - I recently sent a bunch of postcards out on PostCrossing for World Postcard Day. Those postcards arrived and now I’m receiving their “replies,” this one coming from Germany. The sender has a particularly dark outlook, despite the sunny aspect of the postcard. He writes ”We have a rainy autumn now, but not with hurricanes like USA. Florida is really dangerous this time. And San Francisco is waiting for the next earthquake.” Well, happy postcrossing to you too, friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/runners-from-day-of-the-dead-texas monthly 0.5 2024-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/34a7ee29-7e0f-4f7c-bead-18d047e6d4cc/US-TX_Andy01.jpg Postcards - Runners from Day of the Dead (Texas) - Andy went to Austin, TX recently and visited the Mexic-Arte Museum. He saw this postcard and thought of us, writing “Here’s a depiction of you and me running into our mid-late 100s.” From his pen to the goddesses’ ears! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-tour-magdala-france monthly 0.5 2024-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ffaf4956-522a-49f0-a0c4-f7f2d511c933/FR_Dominique131.jpg Postcards - la Tour Magdala (France) - J’ai reçu cette carte postale de mon ami Dominique en France. Il me récommend de visiter cet endroit, surtour pour l’histoire et l’art de la tour. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/an-impossible-puzzle-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/759df410-f4ce-4ce4-8533-4edc46cf629a/US-OR_Linda61.jpg Postcards - an impossible puzzle (Oregon) - Who could solve this puzzle?! It’s impossible to try. Thanks to Linda who sent this after her recent visit to the Oregon Coast, which was her first visit outside Portland in quite some time! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bled-julian-alps-slovenia monthly 0.5 2024-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2f2a4b73-9f04-4880-8439-5eae8c4fa1c2/SI_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Bled, Julian Alps (Slovenia) - Matty’s tour continued across Europe and into Slovenia, where he stopped in Slovenia to visit Predjama Castle and Postojna Caves. What a terrific vacation! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ratatouille-et-la-tour-eiffel-france monthly 0.5 2024-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1578a39b-4c36-4d1e-bcc2-e9c8e55d61c7/FR_JulianSalvo02.jpg Postcards - Ratatouille et la Tour Eiffel (France) - I wonder if they remembered that this is one of Andy’s favorite movies of all time when they picked this card to send to us? They spent some time in Le Marais right before fashion week so there was lots to see! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/quechee-gorge-california monthly 0.5 2024-10-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2fbea854-415a-4880-a951-795e401d0367/US-CA_TracyCynthia17.jpg Postcards - Quechee Gorge (California) - Tracy send this postcard on World Postcard Day, which was a touching treat to receive! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chteau-dangludet-france monthly 0.5 2024-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b6f5c7d4-ed11-4fd5-8ba4-e40dccb945ef/FR_JulianSalvo03.jpg Postcards - Château d’Angludet (France) - Our friends Julian and Salvo were on a grand European tour and stopped in France, specifically Bordeaux for some terrific wine tasting. What a beautiful place to make, drink, and enjoy wine! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mo7mi1ua8nqjs4x4w6qd0huijstjrl monthly 0.5 2024-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9c941805-ce14-4f5b-bd5f-3992391536d5/DE_TobiasPhilipp2.jpg Postcards - Drachenburg Castle (Germany) - Tobias and Philipp took a trip back to Germany to celebrate two weddings, and of course visit family and friends! This is the Drachenburg Castle, not a real one but instead a villa built recently in the 19th Century. Super cool! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/artprize-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/eeba7652-d320-43f1-8044-90756254ab16/US-MI_Nikki03.jpg Postcards - ArtPrize (Michigan) - My sister-in-law Nikki took a trip to Grand Rapids and visited ArtPrize, described on the back as “…an international art competition and festival open to all and determined by public vote and expert jury. ArtPrize encourages critical discourse, celebrates artists, transforms urban space, and promotes cultural understanding.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/repubblica-di-san-marino monthly 0.5 2024-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c1cef58f-d85f-44ab-8d63-6b939f36c074/SM_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Repubblica di San Marino - Matty sent me this postcard from San Marino; it’s my first from this country! As I’ve written here before, I am fascinated by micro-nations, so I’m particularly excited to receive this postcard! In fact, I’m currently living just a few blocks from the Honorary San Marino Consulate here in San Francisco! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/paysages-dalsace-france monthly 0.5 2024-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f8cbd9f2-76b6-4734-8e11-f886fc0c4327/FR_Dominique130.jpg Postcards - paysages d’Alsace (France) - Dominque, mon ami à lettres, sait très bien que nous adorons le vin. En fait, nous avons même appellé notre chien “Pinot.” Dominique m’explique que le début septembre se commence la récolte. Il me récommend de trouver un grand cru Rosacker. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/shakespeare-and-co-france monthly 0.5 2024-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c576178d-25db-45de-bdfa-30c20a09e617/FR_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - Shakespeare and Co (France) - On their European trip, Salvo and Julian stopped by Paris to spend a few days in le Marais. They enjoyed the lead up to Fashion Week and lived their best Devil Wears Prada lives, as no one else but they could do! The cherry on the sundae is the incredible stamp, which celebrates France’s very famous baguette. It’s scratch-and-sniff! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/geneva-switzerland monthly 0.5 2024-10-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9abea60c-adc0-4b46-821f-fa5a788a0ffc/CH_Matty03.jpg Postcards - Geneva (Switzerland) - Another great postcard from Switzerland, or as it’s written on the stamps “Helvetia.” Matty writes how different Geneva is from Zurich, surprisingly so. I think the cantons have remarkably different identities and practices, especially given their long history. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/craco-italy monthly 0.5 2024-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/34d44b61-66c0-4eca-837d-7d553eabfcad/IT_Lino16.jpg Postcards - Craco (Italy) - My penpal Lino and his husband Lino (“i Lini!”) are on a trip and visited this ghost town in Matera. Who doesn’t love a good ghost town!? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/broken-chair-switzerland monthly 0.5 2024-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dada0da3-8171-4f57-ac7a-e5e7cc711d1a/CH_Matty02.jpg Postcards - Broken Chair (Switzerland) - Daniel Berset’s “Broken Chair” sits outside the United Nations office in the Place des Nations. So many possible interpretations come to mind - what do you think of this piece? Matty writes about his grand tour of Europe and North America, which sadly lacked a UN tour due to construction. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wonderful-malaysia-germany monthly 0.5 2024-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2f9b3598-69a8-4f9b-92c0-019a75c98a17/DE_Andreas01.jpg Postcards - wonderful Malaysia (Germany) - This postcard comes from my penpal Andreas who was visiting Berlin for the weekend. From there, he sent me this postcard he picked up in Malaysia earlier this summer on a big trip through South East Asia. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/life-is-just-spain monthly 0.5 2024-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1dafee0c-5cae-4698-9f4c-91d6179bb28b/ES_JulianSalvo14.jpg Postcards - life is just… (Spain) - Oh if art doesn’t imitate life, I don’t know what art is! This is so so, true. But I just can’t imagine why Julian and Salvo thought of me when they saw this postcard?! ;-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/zurich-swizterland monthly 0.5 2024-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7d75968f-64b4-4ba7-b3ea-e9089b097e8d/CH_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Zurich (Swizterland) - Another great view from Matty’s North American-European tour! This time he’s in Zurich. The only problem, Matty writes, is that he “forgot how expensive Switzerland is!” Oh yeah. That economy is going to get you! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3zcwjehh8lvqzjb75nwwmq5jvp8lhl monthly 0.5 2024-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2c44d8a9-fe37-4d08-a69e-0aba50b82dfb/ES_JulianSalvo13.jpg Postcards - tapes, menú, paella (Spain) - Our friends Julian and Salvo are galivanting in Spain for a few weeks and found time to send this infinitely charming postcard from one of my favorite cities of all! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/riviera-ligure-cinque-terre-italy-1 monthly 0.5 2024-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c2ecef36-9416-4bac-8ec0-40df31409144/IT_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Riviera Ligure, Cinque Terre (Italy) - Another great postcard from my penpal Matty! He managed to visit all five villages and the panoramic sites between them. So incredible! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mission-san-juan-capistrano-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/70b39647-5408-4738-aae2-e33bb94205a3/US-IL_Emily01.jpg Postcards - Mission San Juan Capistrano (Illinois) - At first, I couldn’t read the caption of this postcard but as I was examining it, I thought to myself, “It looks like an old mission…” Well, I was right! This one is the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. This amazing postcard is from our niece Emily, whom we’re looking forward to seeing soon at a family wedding! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/frstentum-liechtenstein monthly 0.5 2024-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e55f4816-35b4-43d6-b182-eb987612ab23/LI_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Fürstentum (Liechtenstein) - I will admit to being a bit envious of Matty’s travels, especially that he got to visit Vaduz I have always been fascinated by microstates, and Liechtenstein absolutely qualifies. I’ve never been though! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/riviera-ligure-cinque-terre-italy monthly 0.5 2024-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4ff501f6-25eb-4156-867d-ac8d0541ca39/IT_Lino15.jpg Postcards - Peschici (Italy) - My penpal Lino sent this postcard from Peschici, which is one of the “cities of love.” He traveled here to celebrate his first wedding anniversary! Beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/garden-court-palace-hotel-sf-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2240e2e-c76d-4d83-9f80-363d515ddf72/US-IL_Carter01.jpg Postcards - Garden Court, Palace Hotel, SF (Illinois) - This postcard comes courtesy of our niece’s boyfriend Carter, who writes that this postcard reminds him of the ideal French restaurants that inspired him to begin cooking! This hotel is still open, as is their Garden Court where you can have brunch still! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-love-luxembourg monthly 0.5 2024-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ec2dafef-3393-4e3f-93e7-f7a0a90db35d/LU_Matty01.jpg Postcards - I love Luxembourg - Next stop, the micronation of Luxembourg! I’ve never been but I really hope I can visit it (and the other micronations) some time soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/amsterdam-canal-pride-netherlands monthly 0.5 2024-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e941ee59-2c54-4e74-b3ab-b5a1ed2d0e49/NL_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Amsterdam Canal Pride (Netherlands) - Matty is in the European part of his tour and visited the Netherlands for a few days. His second visit there has brought some shopping and less marijuana smell than before, so it’s all good! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/s7a2nwinic4l5t3jzlpsiu3y0n0xze monthly 0.5 2024-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/36d58a03-e3c5-4bc1-9ff5-a32d518ec6e1/DE_Dominique26.jpg Postcards - now matter how you clean up (Germany) - Comme partie de sa vacance, Dominique m’envoie cette carte postale de l’Allemagne. J’aime bien le message de cette carte! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/making-tyranny-great-again-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7551138b-912b-4254-98c6-82064dde00b2/US-OR_Linda60.jpg Postcards - making tyranny great again (Oregon) - Linda sent this terrific postcard, which can only be described as “timely.” In more positive news, she is seeing the swift migration! Trump Putin 2024 | Donald Trump’s recent statements that he would “only” be a dictator “on day one,” are merely more lies. His admiration for strongmen across the globe is clear - Vladimir Putin chief among them. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/aloha-from-lnai-hawaii monthly 0.5 2024-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bc48f2eb-6a86-44b6-a7ff-06252a364e6c/US-HI_Tristan07.jpg Postcards - aloha from Lāna’i (Hawai’i) - Usually he visits Maui, but this time, my brother Tristan has chosen to visit Lāna’i! I’ve not been to either place, so I hope to add it to my list of Hawaiian islands, soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/b1ntn3z2z8qnw5riajgrzr8j6ruag4 monthly 0.5 2024-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/85acf9a0-e5a0-411b-a622-4ac620420b21/US-IL_EmilyCarter06.jpg Postcards - Chicago, rat city (Illinois) - What a perfectly incomprehensible postcard! While the language is clear, I can’t tell if it’s ironic or if it’s really admiring of the rats! San Francisco has an awful rat problem, so I just can’t imagine anyone celebrating them. Emily has a great sense of humor! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pride-flag-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d5a939cf-9e5f-46b9-aff8-45466215718e/US-MA_Matty01.jpg Postcards - pride flag (Massachusetts) - Matty traveled to the East Coast of the US and visited glorious Provincetown during his 10 days in the Boston area. After that, he was off to Amsterdam on the European leg of his trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/besseggen-sweden monthly 0.5 2024-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/49d0b769-3781-411f-96c1-183798a1dbe9/SE_Johanna01.jpg Postcards - Besseggen (Sweden) - A former student of mine moved back to Sweden, but while settling in, took a trip to nearby Norway to hike in Jotunheimen. Johanna picked up this postcard there and sent it to me with a truly beautiful Swedish stamp! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vancouver-panorama-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/260cd20c-c862-436a-a55b-f18393259aa1/CA_Andy01.jpg Postcards - Vancouver panorama (British Columbia) - Andy went to Vancouver for a work trip recently and I told him not to worry about sending a postcard, knowing that he wouldn’t have time to find one and mail it. I’d put it out of my mind until visiting our good friends Julian and Salvo who had a Vancouver postcard on their dining room table. Two days later, Kimee and Michael sent us a photo of theirs, thanking Andy. I privately was a little hurt that he’d send our friends postcards but not one to me! When this massive, panoramic postcard showed up a few days later, I realized why it’d taken so long. No worries at all! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-watchdog-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6efa74f3-59bd-4ed7-9e54-03625ec1116a/US-MI_KimBrandonJasper01.jpg Postcards - “a watchdog!” (Michigan) - Kim has had the same trouble I do — finding postcards! Those of us exchanging them are getting fewer with each year, so fewer places are selling postcards. Lucky for me, I live in a very touristic city, so finding San Francisco-related postcards is easy. But that’s more difficult elsewhere. Hence, the lovely joke postcards that Kim’s bought so our nephew Jasper and his brother Brandon can send some! Honestly, while some postcards are more interesting than others (their fronts, anyway), what really counts is the message and the time it took the person to send it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pineapple-birthday-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/368b7120-12be-4879-a244-628c7cb32ca7/US-IL_Erin02.jpg Postcards - pineapple birthday (Illinois) - One of my oldest friends never ceases to make me smile, this time with a beautiful postcard of the peace-bringing pineapple. Paw Paw for Jesus, Erin! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/e7bvvrayspvb8f73gb4akkhg69dtw4 monthly 0.5 2024-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/55d15bc6-d076-4ca5-8cb9-9c79a25007c0/US-AK_Yutian01.jpg Postcards - brown bear and cub (Alaska) - Normally, I only post postcards that have been mailed to me, but I’ll make an exception here for this fantastic lenticular postcard, especially one so beautiful as this! Furthermore, Yutian got it while she was in remote Alaska so it was particularly challenging to find stamps and a postbox. Massive omnivores weighing between 600 and 900 pounds, brown bears eat everything from large mammals to fish, birds, nuts, tubers and rodents. Litters of one to four pups are born in their mother’s winter den while she hibernates. A pronounced hump, enormous claws and brown color distinguish brown bears, also called Grizzlies, from black bears. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/zllrxo9jdh5jymx6jfg5ll9bbywz89 monthly 0.5 2024-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/36b6291b-7cfb-4734-9710-1ea761f02edb/RU_10128907B.jpg Postcards - chocolate pancakes (Russia) - This postcard arrives from Kate, who sent a beautiful postcard not too long ago via PostCrossing. I had chocolate chip pancakes this morning, in fact, although I cooked mine in the rice cooker! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cottonwood-bloom-california monthly 0.5 2024-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c915f4d0-41f9-4742-84f6-599634207de9/US-CA_Kimee06.jpg Postcards - Cottonwood Bloom (California) - This beautiful watercolor is appropriately called “Cottonwood Bloom” by Serena Supplee. Trust Kimee to pick a gorgeous postcard to send me in celebration of my birthday. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pacific-grove-poppy-california monthly 0.5 2024-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd3e2e12-71a2-43f2-a1d3-da6ba8967d22/US-CA_TracyCynthia16.jpg Postcards - Pacific Grove poppy (California) - After a glorious month in Pacific Grove, Cynthia and Tracy are on their way back to the East Bay. I am so grateful for a great many things that they bring to my life, but here I am happy to highlight the great postcards that Tracy finds and sends. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sq6ksmdzhzh40e5h24e0z55a02v81x monthly 0.5 2024-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/865062a3-8efd-4853-9359-8e2ba00f17fa/US-AZ_Kimee01.jpg Postcards - Flagstaff Train Station (Arizona) - Our dear friend Kimee was visiting Flagstaff and writes: “It’s really a toss up whether I am more excited about the this postcard or the underwater treadmill.” Amazing as this postcard is — and it is amazing — an underwater treadmill sounds super exciting! Why not both?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kxwjupugyhau0v1738l2ug28vhph31 monthly 0.5 2024-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/84c06db5-9084-42f2-bc5f-47c1dea463c4/FR_Dominique129.jpg Postcards - Berwartstein (Germany) - Quand les américains pensent à l’Europe, on pense toujours aux châteaux et les forteresses. Dominique écrit qu’il y a plusiers que sont maintenant des sites à visiter. J’imagine que celle ci mérite bien le visite. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/garmisch-partenkirchen-germany monthly 0.5 2024-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9cefb887-e493-4d4b-8d47-4be3542c53dc/DE_Dominique25.jpg Postcards - Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany) - Dominique is starting his annual summer vacation (3 weeks in a row) and send this great card from southern Germany. He’ll travel around and end up in Salzbourg. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ruff-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e432a4c3-8c21-4b95-9e10-4055446bfd60/US-MI_Jasper02.jpg Postcards - “Ruff!” (Michigan) - It’s great to receive postcards from children so you can track their literacy through time! I hope to share these with Jasper some day as he grows older and comes to appreciate it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/books-for-cooks-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/010d26eb-2eb7-467f-9419-c4331fb6e28e/US-OR_Linda59.jpg Postcards - Books for Cooks (Oregon) - This is the combination of two of my greatest loves: eating and reading! We have one of these in San Francisco, too, and it’s one of my favorite shops ever: Omnivore Books. Thanks to Linda for sending this to me! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/janet-echelman-18-washington-dc monthly 0.5 2024-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/791fca2f-1688-416d-969a-65bcf4a7dd94/US-DC_Quinn01.jpg Postcards - Janet Echelman, 1.8 (Washington, DC) - This postcard was one of few casualties of the US Postal Service, who otherwise does a very fine job delivering the large amount of mail that I receive. Quinn is in Washington DC on a writing retreat and took a break to visit the Renwick Gallery, which is my favorite art museum in our nation’s capital! This work, 1.8 (2015) by Janet Echelman is particularly arresting! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chris-and-troy-california monthly 0.5 2024-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7bae631e-83e4-4ff8-b863-983d76a62c27/US-CA_JulianSalvo15.jpg Postcards - Chris and Troy (California) - How sweet of Julian and Salvo to arrange a visit for my birthday from these lovely gentlemen! ;-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tmyduw892ogpdl4frg3c12wg7ych14 monthly 0.5 2024-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1a38c9f6-5ca0-4e73-a396-a4e19184eb27/FR_Dominique128.jpg Postcards - Quéribus (France) - J’admets que le nom de cette forteresse me fait penser à la série de fantasie Harry Potter. Mais évidemment, ce n’est pas de tout un livre mal-écrit, sinon “le Château de Quéribus (Aude) - la forteresse élevée sur un piton rocheux des Corbières (du XIème au XVème siècle) [qui] fu l’un des derniers bastions de la résistance Cathare contre l’Inquisition." Beaucoup plus intéressant, ça! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/giant-pacific-octopus-california monthly 0.5 2024-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/05f646f2-797b-4c9f-979a-80fcbffd3388/US-CA_TracyCynthia14.jpg Postcards - giant Pacific octopus (California) - Do Tracy and Cynthia know that octopus is Andy’s favorite seafood? They’re enjoying their vacation in PG, one of the many places you can find this terrific creature. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wisconsin-state-capitol monthly 0.5 2024-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/23d366b1-219c-46a5-b8aa-a50c338f0e60/US-WI_Nozomi02.jpg Postcards - Wisconsin State Capitol - How do you remember the difference between capital and capitol? For me, I remember that most capitol buildings look like bells, and bells toll. So that’s how I remember which word goes with which phenomenon. Anyway, Nozomi was in Madison attending a conference on her way out to her new gig in Iowa and found the time to send this great postcard. I also have admired the terrific cupola in the Wisconsin State Capitol. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nothing-to-eat-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/88d3a21c-ac16-47fa-86b4-f4f7164f5924/US-IL_EmilyCarter05.jpg Postcards - nothing to eat (Illinois) - Here’s a great postcard from our niece and her boyfriend! They sent it to welcome us to our new apartment; what better welcome than a full fridge (especially with a delicious yellow cake with chocolate frosting)!? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-booksmith-california monthly 0.5 2024-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/deff16f8-9113-473f-936d-533d10ec7b92/US-CA_KimeeMichael16.jpg Postcards - the Booksmith (California) - Kimee and Michael have welcomed us to the neighborhood in our new apartment by sending this hello from their favorite bookstore! It’s just a short walk away! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/history-museum-at-the-castle-wisconsin monthly 0.5 2024-08-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4cc4f9f4-58f0-4cf1-84b4-57f869b67bf1/US-WI_Nozomi01.jpg Postcards - History Museum at the Castle (Wisconsin) - Nozomi is making her way east to her new home and job in Iowa City, and took a detour into Wisconsin for a conference and some sightseeing, this time in Appleton, Wisconsin. Apparently, the locals call this museum the Houdini Museum! I can’t imagine why? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/air-view-of-sausalito-california monthly 0.5 2024-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/04ebbe9d-5cc0-460a-a2fa-d670ac8608d5/US-IL_EmilyCarter04.jpg Postcards - air view of Sausalito, California (Illinois) - More postcards from our niece and her boyfriend in Chicago. In fact, the postcard was purchased in Detroit before their recent move to Chicago, and now mailed to us in San Francisco. I love these vintage postcards, especially when they’ve made roundtrips! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lxaovpqpvs86hsfviepnuctovnlp48 monthly 0.5 2024-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dc7ff26d-5386-4878-a282-4b6781fc8d8a/AU_Matty10.jpg Postcards - Mark (Australia) - Matty sent this postcard before stepping out on his next trip! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/obpojxj3k4hxwfbir035fqjwz01io1 monthly 0.5 2024-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f22edfb3-4504-4684-b693-cd8be6036108/US-UT_ColinSeema01.jpg Postcards - Elk in Lakes Estes (Utah) - Colin, Mayuri, and Remy are on a cross-country trip from California to Pennsylvania, stopping in numerous beautiful places along the way. They write that this is among the most beautiful places in the USA! I hope to visit it someday. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/48nxbf4k74oe6q3gjox9ocu3iga33u monthly 0.5 2024-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/068282c5-d254-421b-a145-7c23a5f35541/US-PA_T08.jpg Postcards - les pommes d’Adam, 2017 (Pennsylvania) - T saw “these giant dog dingdongs & thought of [us].” How thoughtful! :-) This is an epoxy, metal, paint, and concrete sculpture, approximately 25 feet tall (!!!) called les Pommes d’Adam. T rightfully is skeptical. “The Apples of Adam?” they ask, scornfully. “Sure, if Adam is a dog.” I couldn’t agree more. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6sfypb9b09buoa5qbre8ka1ek6qxay monthly 0.5 2024-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4927e836-a04c-40dc-9716-8ecb454d8628/US-OR_Matt-Katelyn02.jpg Postcards - the “latest style” (Oregon) - I have to admit, I’m not sure why “latest style” is in quotes. What does it mean? Isn’t it the latest? Isn’t it a style? And what exactly does it look like to serve bananas like this?! Here’s hoping Matt and Katelyn can help provide some context when we see them next! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/iagl9unl7g5nkpz7yxedxb0te4117t monthly 0.5 2024-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/75a72177-7b92-4f1c-b888-744bc96cae69/US-MI_Phoenix12.jpg Postcards - Grand Rapids multiview (Michigan) - Our niece Phoenix was visiting family in Grand Rapids where she also went glow golfing (which she highly recommends). Grand Rapids is a great city, I agree! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mosaic-monarch-butterfly-california monthly 0.5 2024-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ea1ba98a-0349-4c4e-b60b-3aac62f52a35/US-CA_TracyCynthia14.jpg Postcards - mosaic monarch butterfly (California) - This is the first postcard that we received at our new address, and of course it comes from the ever thoughtful Cynthia and Tracy! Of course it’s a monarch butterfly, which always makes me think of our dear, late friend who raised milkweed on her balcony in Montréal so she could also raise monarch caterpillars to release. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/budapest-hungary monthly 0.5 2024-08-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ddabdf3e-2cb1-4e80-8ce7-2099c4beb058/HU_Hongjian.jpg Postcards - Budapest (Hungary) - My former student sent me this fantastic postcard from the capital of Hungary on a trip there! Thanks, Hongjian! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pacific-grove-otter-california monthly 0.5 2024-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fc709c7e-a383-4685-92a8-33aabac5afa2/US-CA_TracyCynthia13.jpg Postcards - Pacific Grove otter (California) - Tracy and Cynthia are spending their annual month in cooler climes and sent this beautiful hello from the rich, abundant sea life in the Monterrey Bay! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/m6bpngryu5b1cxxfr84yyu6xr4h7oi monthly 0.5 2024-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ac09eec3-8f8e-476d-80aa-e09cb3b3b481/US-FL_Phoenix.jpg Postcards - alligator (Florida) - Our niece Phoenix traveled to Florida this past month and sent us a great postcard from her trip there! When you think about alligators, it’s strange to imagine that these giant, human-eating reptiles just wander wild in the state! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mint-ice-cream-russia monthly 0.5 2024-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bc49d077-8298-4df0-978f-94a4fb531964/RU_10128907.jpg Postcards - mint ice cream (Russia) - I find mint ice cream to be polarizing; some people really like it (I do!) and some people really hate it (Andy). What about you? This postcard comes from Russia but sadly the sender didn’t write anything about whether they like mint ice cream. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/au-volant-cest-le-clignotant-france monthly 0.5 2024-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d38fbcae-ea2d-4f4b-89e3-af1e25079242/FR_Dominique127.jpg Postcards - au volant c’est le clignotant (France) - Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte postale, partie de la serié sur les routes et conduire en France. Même si cette carte postale est venue de la France, je dis qu’elle est également parfaite pour San Francisco, ou il me semble que les clignotants sont interdits! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mackinac-bridge-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/16e78632-15fb-440e-8c76-70697dc75da4/US-MI_Nozomi07.jpg Postcards - Mackinac Bridge (Michigan) - Nozomi writes, correctly, that “this postcard doesn’t do justice” to the beautiful Mighty Mac. I will admit that I feel like a bad Michigander because I often can’t remember how to spell “Mackinac” (at least I know it’s not pronounced mack-in-ack). There’s Mackinac Island but also Mackinaw City, so that’s where my confusion comes from, I think. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cup-noodles-japan monthly 0.5 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e5aecb6f-c5fc-48a2-b8ce-de138aa1b307/JP_LaurenJon02.jpg Postcards - cup noodles (Japan) - This lenticular postcard comes from Lauren and Jon on their trip to Japan. They visited the Cup Noodles Museum where they were even able to create their own custom flavor! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/573snr1pe5dz2coypbzd6x42qyinqq monthly 0.5 2024-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e5777a05-4507-4c92-996c-0b8c980363f8/US-MI_Nozomi06.jpg Postcards - northern peninsula (Michigan) - My friend Nozomi is taking a trip through Michigan and picked up this postcard is Marquette, the largest city in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I’m surprised to see it written “northern peninsula” as I’ve never heard that term before! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/taipei-101-malaysia monthly 0.5 2024-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/306f7a39-a4c5-4c66-8d38-5cb06b29f02d/MY_Andreas01.jpg Postcards - Taipei 101 (Malaysia) - My penpal from Lithuania, Andreas, took a big trip to East and Southeast Asia last month. While he was in Malaysia, he sent me this postcard from Taiwan, one of my favorite places on the planet! Taipei really is this stunning folks; run, don’t walk, to visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kyoto-arashiyama-bamboo-postcard-japan monthly 0.5 2024-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/660a6809-673f-4111-a560-12869696afde/JP_LaurenC01.jpg Postcards - Kyoto Arashiyama Bamboo Postcard (Japan) - Lauren and Jon are traveling in Japan and enjoyed the soundscape of the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in particular. This postcard is also made of bamboo and it’s delightful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/modern-cleaners-indiana monthly 0.5 2024-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cbaf448c-4590-43e2-b8fd-1585a732d0f2/US-IN_Nozomi49.jpg Postcards - modern cleaners (Indiana) - As she prepares to move out of state, Nozomi took the time to send me one last card from Indiana, which she’s called home for the past eight years. I agree; there’s something undefinably Midwestern about this scene. What could it be? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ancient-technology-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/de42de3f-a95c-4129-bf9f-afee3d7a95c0/US-OR_Linda58.jpg Postcards - ancient technology (Oregon) - Linda writes: “Isn’t this a weird card? I suppose many people haven ever seen a phone booth!” It’s so true. I’m not ready for this to be a marker of my age. We were visiting Muir Woods some years ago and they have a phone booth in the parking lot (there’s very little cell reception up there!) and a group of teenagers were having a grand time posing with the phone booth and taking photos for their social media accounts. I felt very old. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/daniel-radcliffe-bis-indiana monthly 0.5 2024-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fd6b6384-090b-4e06-a288-d3ff34f1317d/US-IN_Nozomi48.jpg Postcards - Daniel Radcliffe (bis) (Indiana) - Nozomi picked this card also in honor of Radcliffe’s winning a Tony award! They didn’t see this particular show, but they did enjoy his performance in Miracle Workers. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dont-worry-be-hoppy-michigan-1 monthly 0.5 2024-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/120c402a-a8d0-4e45-88b3-f3c3ece61181/US-MI_Jasper01.jpg Postcards - don’t worry, be hoppy! (Michigan) - This postcard comes from my nephew Jasper who wrote that he misses and loves us! Such a sweet sentiment! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/daniel-radcliffe-indiana monthly 0.5 2024-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c82c70ef-8412-40d5-9dfa-fcb69c4cf7d8/US-IN_Nozomi47.jpg Postcards - Daniel Radcliffe (Indiana) - My friend Nozomi has been a fan of Radcliffe since she saw him perform on Broadway. She’s of course been aware of him since his debut in the Harry Potter series, which holds a special place in her heart despite it all. This postcard was purchased twenty years ago when she was living in Japan! What an honor to receive it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stand-and-deliver-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/42a2b3a7-ade0-4dbe-a6e1-de6a2bd1f4da/US-MA_JulianSalvo08.jpg Postcards - stand and deliver (Massachusetts) - How they found time to send a postcard on their last day on the island is beyond me! But J&S don’t know the meaning of “impossible” especially when it comes to their friends. This seven-card series has been such a joy—and the first of its kind on my blog! Thank you both, friends! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-wolf-pack-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3e96df5c-4c87-4e8a-8b7e-456e142a1d77/US-MA_JulianSalvo07.jpg Postcards - the wolf pack (Massachusetts) - Sent on the last full day of their vacation, J&S continued the trend of meeting their friends, old and new. As exciting as it is, poor Julian writes “Always fun, but of my poor introvert battery!” They’ll certainly need a vacation from their vacation upon their return! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-bearenstein-bears-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bce00c01-d0fd-4076-a149-fbefff00ab15/US-MA_JulianSalvo06.jpg Postcards - the Berenstain Bears (Massachusetts) - Or is it “Berenstein”? Well, this bear is a mite more interesting than the aforementioned pablum! J&S write about some of the important sights in Provincetown, given that we’ve never been there. They saw Mike Flanagan perform! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/winnie-the-who-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/635fe8b3-ed58-4d2f-918e-1ad12cc7fe2a/US-MA_JulianSalvo05.jpg Postcards - Winnie the Who? (Massachusetts) - On the fourth day, J&S saw a show by Nina West in which a photo of them appeared in a background collage! Talk about regulars! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fine-art-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3c0fe5b9-c1c6-4f41-8d78-8e5006cd7586/US-MA_JulianSalvo04.jpg Postcards - fine art (Massachusetts) - More of the lovely Naro Pinosa’s art is making its way to my mailbox by the day! On Day 3 of their adventures in Provincetown, Julian and Salvo enjoyed some terrific art, the high heat, and a marvelous Brunello. What could be better?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lighthouse-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/337f5a15-e868-4c1c-ac3e-d461d344539a/US-MA_JulianSalvo03.jpg Postcards - lighthouse (Massachusetts) - Another great Naro Pinosa collage coming from J&S in Provincetown. They write about the fantastic lighthouses they saw at Boys’ Beach. What great sight-seeing these two are up to! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/w5ikppo81ogp34ybghe5fmpl8ey0ka monthly 0.5 2024-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c28a16ef-3716-4ab0-a482-a0ffee64d7c4/US-MA_JulianSalvo02.jpg Postcards - virile wildlife (Massachusetts) - Our friend Julian and Salvo jetted off to Ptown this past weekend and sent this hello from Naro Pinosa, writing how hot and humid it is, and how virile and lively the wildlife is! :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ov6wfzrro29jgbq1ovd9w6avso8e20 monthly 0.5 2024-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/72e990d0-4382-44a9-b5f2-f4ab014d4717/US-CA_PaulRob01.jpg Postcards - Southern Exposure (California) - What a delightful surprise! Our friends picked up this postcard at Southern Exposure where we hosted our anniversary party and wrote us a lovely message about the event and our friendship. I’m looking forward to seeing Paul and Rob soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/l6kxex8vcli5ioq9r1y5mt7wy53p0f monthly 0.5 2024-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5d33d4f9-3324-45e9-9270-d214e3f0a800/IT_Lino14.jpg Postcards - Ostuni (Italy) - My Italian penpal Lino has traveled to the famous city of Ostuni, which is often called “the White City.” I can see why! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/love-never-ends monthly 0.5 2024-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ad4bb490-6218-490c-a549-f2326bd371f0/US-NV_Tristan08.jpg Postcards - LOVE never ends (Nevada) - Earlier this month, we traveled to Las Vegas to attend the very last performance ever of the incredible Cirque du Soleil show The Beatles LOVE. My brother-in-law had been performing as an acrobat “sailor” (and occasional Mr. Piggy) for eight years and we were fortunate enough to get tickets to the final, friend-and-family show. It was so thrilling to see my brother up there performing with all the energy and passion we’ve seen this many years. He sent this postcard to us as thanks for our presence in the audience: as if we’d have missed it for the world! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/so-many-poodles-germany monthly 0.5 2024-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7d6650ee-9f81-4432-8fe1-af2302e3c04b/DE_14225539.jpg Postcards - so many poodles (Germany) - This may be my favorite postcard I’ve received on PostCrossing this year! It’s such a terrific study of poodle beauty! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peenemnde-germany monthly 0.5 2024-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/45ddc937-4b2f-4150-803e-fdace3ac1812/DE_Dominique24.jpg Postcards - Peenemünde (Germany) - Dominique est allé pendant une semaine sans travaille en Pomeranie-Occidentale. Il a visité le site et le musée de Peenemünde d’où les Nazis lançaient leurs missiles sur Londres, Mbruxelles, les Pays-Bas, et Paris. Éffrayant! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/death-valley-california-2 monthly 0.5 2024-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ca61d2ce-c73c-4268-8b18-226889ffa441/US-CA_GregJames10.jpg Postcards - Death Valley (California) - There’s a reason this National Park is called “Death Valley” - it’s literally deadly. It holds the record for the hottest air temperature ever recorded: 134F (56.7C) on 13 July 1913. Besides the temperature extreme, Death Valley is also the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level, and it’s just 85 miles (136 km) away from Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous US with a peak at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters)! This postcard comes from our friends Greg and James who spent one of their birthdays there while the weather was a mild 118F (48C). Oof! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/en-vacances-avec-toi-france monthly 0.5 2024-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/21f2e342-d33d-436e-9323-4d39f6879cea/FR_Dominique126.jpg Postcards - en vacances avec toi (France) - Sur mon site d’échange de cartes postales — PostCrossing — il y a des gens qui ne veulent pas ce qu’on appelle “ad cards,” peut-être car elles sont gratuites et ne démandent pas beaucoup d’effort de l’éxpidateur? Néanmoins, je les aime beaucoup. En fait, les cartes postales traditionelles sont un peu le même partout. Mais les publicités sont vraiment locales et particulières. Celle-ci arrive de mon ami Dominique qui m’invite à m’inscrire pour gagner un bon d’achat de 100 euro! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/art-deco-chicago-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e2d0c067-e4f6-44b5-aff9-3d58a3ecae56/US-IL_EmilyCarter03.jpg Postcards - art deco Chicago (Illinois) - What a beautiful postcard to arrive from Illinois where our niece is living with her boyfriend! I love the de-saturated colors and art deco style. Chicago is everlastingly iconic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/knolu2b8yqqaqjk3ncw4pjkbtkg8p1 monthly 0.5 2024-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/374d2378-4253-4882-98da-4f9bc3c849da/US-IL_EmilyCarter02.jpg Postcards - Mr. McElwyn (Illinois) - Our niece sent this beautiful vintage postcard, which she bought in Detroit but then sent from her new home in Chicago. I don’t know much about horse racing, but this website indicates that Mr. McElwyn was a very successful and well-respected horse. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/surface-mining-of-hard-coal-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2024-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a2f3bac6-e429-4957-ae66-bbe68c205f3f/US-PA_T.jpg Postcards - surface mining of hard coal (Pennsylvania) - Our very droll friend T found this postcard in a vintage shop and immediately thought of us, sending it along posthaste! They’re so funny that I just have to quote directly: “Nothing says ‘Wish you were here’ quite like an open pit mine & slag heap. Found this card in a junk shop, no idea when it’s from but I would guess 70s-80s? These were the fertile playgrounds of my youth and hope you can visit them someday. America runs on coal!” I couldn’t have said it better myself! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/glacier-bay-national-park-alaska monthly 0.5 2024-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f4772e29-aad0-4b00-b7ce-8a6c6651ac82/US-AK_RichMary01.jpg Postcards - Glacier Bay National Park (Alaska) - Our friends Rich and Mary are in Alaska with their son Eddie, exploring the natural beauty! They’ve seen such great wildlife! I’m very envious! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-love-tomsk-russia monthly 0.5 2024-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/40333f85-394e-4a7b-b806-3dae439b09fb/RU_10128911.jpg Postcards - I love Tomsk (Russia) - What a charming postcard! I really love hand-drawn maps! The city depicted here is Tomsk in Russia. I wonder what this hand is in the center? It looks vaguely familiar, like some archaeological find I should remember? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/shihfen-taiwan monthly 0.5 2024-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e1cf51fb-d0e2-4b38-a064-d94562bc6b2f/TW_KayPei01.jpg Postcards - Shihfen (Taiwan) - My dear friends Kay and Pei sent this postcard from Shihfen; they were back in Taiwan visiting family over the summer. I love Taiwan so much! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vegemite-australia monthly 0.5 2024-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/186fb245-1dc1-4fcd-94bc-b74fb5ceb8ec/AU_944310.jpg Postcards - Vegemite (Australia) - Did I really need to write “Australia”? Don’t we always know that Vegemite is from Australia?! This postcard’s writer asks whether I’ve tried Vegemite before, and I have to admit that I haven’t. But I have had Marmite; isn’t it the same thing? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vfthpuv1yk1uoh777xbc70z5tyrhu2 monthly 0.5 2024-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6f4573fa-e372-45f7-988f-24d76faa9cdf/US-WA_Kristopher07.jpg Postcards - eight-armed love (Washington) - I sent this postcard to thank Andy for planning another great vacation. Octopodes are Andy’s favorite animal, at least his favorite animal to eat! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-tlphone-au-boulot monthly 0.5 2024-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6d24a68f-da3f-4ce3-adc2-20f26245fe23/FR_Dominique124.jpg Postcards - le téléphone au boulot? - Partout où je vais, je vois plein de gens avec leurs téléphones au volant. C’est completement fou, et je crois que c’est pire que l’alcohol. Il y a beaucoup de stigma contre conduire pendant ivre, mais conduire au téléphone, c’est accepté. Merci, Dominique, pour nous rappeler ces dangeurs. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ix2pu8tmtkm9w3ojoli527j95odl7i monthly 0.5 2024-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1e645294-20d2-4b76-aa76-717af0acef50/PL_2002353.jpg Postcards - coffee (Poland) - This postcard comes from Poland, with its strong coffee culture! I love this vintage image so much! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lpk69mxgkkx5vibpde5kg2qyne57z8 monthly 0.5 2024-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c9494bd3-e585-49da-b49d-f30ffaafd834/AU_Matty09.jpg Postcards - San Diego (Australia) - Wait, what?! San Diego isn’t in Australia - at least not this one! Matty is in Australia enjoying a “nice cold winters night” and writing some letters! This is a postcard he picked up on his trip to the US last year. I love later-cards! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stamp-birds-around-the-world-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/82f0fd64-3cab-422f-86fb-fff856a07572/US-OR_Linda57.jpg Postcards - stamp birds around the world (Oregon) - I love this collage made by Kay Burrell in 2022 using used stamps! Linda sent this postcard after our visit to her house; she was so generous in letting us - including Pinot - hang out all morning! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-strange-scene-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/29871ded-604f-4804-a553-16c6f7716345/CA_Ray22.jpg Postcards - a strange scene (British Columbia) - Ray writes about this “…interesting card. Looks like a fun photo shoot. Would love to know the circumstances and history of the picture, the time and place it was taken.” Truer words! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vous-pouvez-une-voiture-ne-le-peut-france monthly 0.5 2024-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/80d27629-cf9e-4069-8204-7f14fa796d88/FR_Dominique123.jpg Postcards - vous pouvez - une voiture ne le peut (France) - Même si les voitures nous paraissent indispensibles, elles ne le sont pas vraiment! J’ai éviter le mot “accident” en parlant des collisions véhiculaires, parce que les collisions ne sont pas toujours des accidents, et le mot (en anglais, au moins) peut causer le pensée qu’il n’y ait pas de faute! Merci à Dominique pour me passer cette carte postale. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-before-e-texas monthly 0.5 2024-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6f030afe-2bbe-41ad-8dd4-01040b534803/US_10450025.jpg Postcards - I before E (Texas) - Honestly, this postcard depicts a situation that isn’t even that contrived, which goes to show just how difficult the English spelling system can be! I will say, however, that simplifying the spelling system isn’t as easy as people make it out to be. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pantone-flag-switzerland monthly 0.5 2024-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7748639b-3ee7-4f31-80e6-9ac66b6de74e/CH_RobPaul01.jpg Postcards - pantone flag (Switzerland) - Ha! What a truly clever way to represent the famous Swiss flag! Rob and Paul traveled there recently and send this terrific postcard! Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/postcrossing-meetup-2024-ireland monthly 0.5 2024-07-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b1801c60-42d3-4dd4-87d2-8140a991826d/IE_258023.jpg Postcards - PostCrossing MeetUp 2024 (Ireland) - What a cute Irish wolfhound! This postcard comes from a very prolific PostCrosser who’s sent over 26,000 postcards! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/taichung-delicacies-taiwan monthly 0.5 2024-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3dcbac76-29e9-4265-862a-bd81078b2fc4/TW_3685026.jpg Postcards - Taichung delicacies (Taiwan) - Taiwan is full of delicious, cheap food. This postcard shows some of the delicacies available in Taichung! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/great-southern-land-australia monthly 0.5 2024-07-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d102681c-aab5-44e5-8d60-ee5bc740afec/AU_944306.jpg Postcards - Great Southern Land (Australia) - This postcard comes from Australia, Tasmania actually! I always forget that Australia is in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are reversed. At the time of writing, it was between 8 - 16C (46-60F)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jinlun-bridge-taiwan monthly 0.5 2024-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e6b3fc1b-a448-4c24-aa9c-b0e0614b47e5/TW_3681071.jpg Postcards - Jinlun Bridge (Taiwan) - This postcard depicts the Jinlun Bridge in Taiwan. I don’t believe I drove on this bridge when I was last there, but there’s always a future trip to Taiwan in the mix! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5zve2yivhbh4mypvkd8xmw3frjtoaa monthly 0.5 2024-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/73a6364c-5be9-4aa2-b42d-4fd498630660/US-IN_Nozomi45.jpg Postcards - hedgehog (Indiana) - Nozomi is right, this is a very cute hedgehog! She also writes that the Japanese word for this species is “needle-mouse,” but it’s neither a hog nor a mouse! It reminds me that the word for panda in Chinese translates as big-cat-bear; again, it is neither a cat nor a bear! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/love-is-in-the-air-washington monthly 0.5 2024-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/936eebf9-1690-4424-a349-78547ded3eac/US_10471618.jpg Postcards - love is in the air (Washington) - What a bizarre, yet beautiful postcard! The caption reads: Billions of cicadas will emerge in 2024 for a once-in-a-lifetime event when Broods XIX and XIII co-emerge to sing, whoo [sic], molt, and mate. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-paysan-du-tendre-romania monthly 0.5 2024-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fe0c427b-33d9-4422-a82d-78488c27aa80/RO_216607.jpg Postcards - le Paysan du tendre (Romania) - This postcard comes from Romania and the sender writes that French verbs are a real headache. I couldn’t agree more! This poem is “le Paysan du tendre” (1974) by Marcel Mariën, a surrealist from Belgium. I was going to try to translate it but I gave up. Suffice it to say that the poem consists of the frame “Je te conX” where X is either a verb or maybe verbed-noun. The first line is made-up verb “conpisser” which I think we can interpret as “piss-with” or “co-piss.” So maybe: I piss with you? It gets weirder from there! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ono-no-michikaze monthly 0.5 2024-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/544c460f-decc-4ee8-a01f-a8c370bba965/JP_2086333.jpg Postcards - Ono no Michikaze - The sender of this postcard writes that the person depicted is Ono no Michikaze (or Ono no Tofu) who was a nobleman and calligrapher during the Heian Period. Beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/downtown-atlanta-georgia monthly 0.5 2024-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/97770320-cf84-4d41-ac96-f537d9a3ea58/US-GA_Eleanor03.jpg Postcards - downtown Atlanta (Georgia) - This postcard comes from a longtime penpal name Eleanor who lives in Virginia. However, we met quite by happenstance! I was visiting Atlanta for the 2019 TESOL Convention, and I went to a BBQ joint on my last day there to eat lunch and write several postcards. I was sitting at the counter waiting for my food to arrive and I was writing so many postcards, that I’d attracted the attention of the people sitting on either side of me. We made conversation and exchanged addresses; I sent them each a postcard, and one of them responded. In time, our friendship grew and now we exchange regular letters! Eleanor was back in Atlanta for a conference she presented at and sent this hello! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-metropolitan-opra-de-new-york-france monthly 0.5 2024-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a2c0947f-cc07-45de-b103-911b6657d7e9/FR_Dominique124.jpg Postcards - le Metropolitan Opéra de New York (France) - Cette carte postale est arrivé de Dominique; je trouve très intéréssante l’idée que l’opéra américain serait diffusé aux cinémas français. J’imagine bien qu’un opéra français serait traité comme ça, mais un opéra américain?! Fascinant! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gandalf-indiana monthly 0.5 2024-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/493e8f0d-0c5c-454b-ab5d-e937efeb081d/US-IN_Nozomi46.jpg Postcards - Gandalf (Indiana) - Nozomi sends this postcard from her collection; she bought it some 20 years ago when she was still in senior high back in Japan. They sell merchandise like this at movie theaters. What a great piece of memorabilia to receive! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/okanagan-valley-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d3a303cb-ee93-4866-b0c3-bfd58baaa20a/CA_1476184.jpg Postcards - Okanagan Valley (British Columbia) - What a beautiful map postcard this is! I’ve never been to British Columbia, but I hope to visit some time in the near future! I hadn’t considered the possibility of visiting wine country up there, but why not?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dungeness-crab-washington monthly 0.5 2024-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2aae77c4-67df-4793-b680-dba2a12d8360/US-WA_Kristopher06.jpg Postcards - dungeness crab (Washington) - Andy and I visited Ft. Vancouver National Historic Site to get a stamp in our passport and I found these terrific lenticular postcards! They scanned really neatly, I can see. I sent this postcard to Andy since he’s a big seafood lover. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vintage-love-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d458b450-5998-4a83-ab2b-a322e96d9657/CA_Ray21.jpg Postcards - vintage love (British Columbia) - This beautiful postcard came inside an equally beautiful card wishing us a happy anniversary! Thanks, Ray! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/shear-a-sheep-germany monthly 0.5 2024-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cb2b3445-e99b-485f-a1d7-7a2d781c740e/DE_14219597.jpg Postcards - shear a sheep (Germany) - Lucky for me, our other niece speaks German and was able to translate this postcard for me: If you have a short hairdo again, then we’ve got pure spring. I think we’re missing a joke here because she says it’s not really funny in either German or English; it’s just that it rhymes in German! Still, it’s pretty cute! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/levain-bakery-chicago monthly 0.5 2024-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/10662975-11fc-4794-95ff-71c0d98f303c/US-IL_EmilyCarter01.jpg Postcards - Levain Bakery (Chicago) - Our niece moved to Chicago with her boyfriend to pursue careers in restaurants, and on an exploratory visit last month, she visited this bakery and sent me their charismatic postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pumpkin-poodle-germany monthly 0.5 2024-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4a5b0778-7c73-4fe6-b76e-7de0cbdb21a3/DE_14247148.jpg Postcards - pumpkin poodle (Germany) - I’m not 100% certain that this card depicts a poodle, but it could be! That’s the beauty of this breed; with their ever-growing coat, you can choose so many styles for how they look! From witchy to bewitching. :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/watercolor-poodles-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2024-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fc8c2614-7a72-48c1-8d18-33a7b74abdac/US_10410415.jpg Postcards - watercolor poodles (Pennsylvania) - Lucky for me, poodles are such a popular dog that there are thousands of depictions of them! I love receiving new ones, like this one! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wading-firefighter-finland monthly 0.5 2024-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/63eecc3f-748e-4b26-ad85-f8e0694cc336/FI_4620846.jpg Postcards - wading firefighter (Finland) - I can’t decide if this man is carrying a motorcycle helmet or a firefighting helmet - but does it really matter? his hair is so perfectly coiffed that it’s clear the helmet is an accessory and not a functional piece! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hatshepsut-france monthly 0.5 2024-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/466fecb7-f6e5-4818-b976-1bc44e39d16d/FR_1711857.jpg Postcards - Hatshepsut (France) - This postcard comes from Aurélie in France who says there was something about this card that made me think of her. Maybe the hieroglyphics (which I don’t read)? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/australian-pride monthly 0.5 2024-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b9f70222-e0b0-4c15-9f91-03b7001863a5/AU_941667.jpg Postcards - Australian Pride - You’ll see that this postcard arrived on June 1, the first day of Pride Month. What perfect timing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/soupe-oignons-carottes-france monthly 0.5 2024-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d812db7d-e80d-4e15-97ae-8de868e23b0f/FR_1712027.jpg Postcards - soupe oignons carottes (France) - I love receiving recipe cards, but how often do they come bilingually, like this one?! Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lons-le-saunier-france monthly 0.5 2024-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bc469abe-ffeb-456f-9ed5-b0919f31a8ff/FR_Dominique122.jpg Postcards - Lons-le-Saunier (France) - Même si Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle ait écrit la Marseillaise (le chant national de la France) — il est évidemment né à Lons-le-Saunier - mon ami Dominique écrit que le chant soi-même a eté écrit à Strasbourg. Il écrit également que le chant a eté critiqué recemment d’être raciste et homophobe. Je ne m’en doute! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/your-shoe-is-untied-california monthly 0.5 2024-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0dac4703-3d02-471f-8e00-7d4b373a87db/US-CA_JulianSalvo14.jpg Postcards - your shoe is untied (California) - The four of us—Julian and Salvo, Andy and I—have taken to exchanging eyebrow-raising postcards. This is no exception! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/frankenalb-germany monthly 0.5 2024-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6c32d565-d3fd-4b8a-9922-72bfc94709d4/DE_14219596.jpg Postcards - Frankenalb (Germany) - When I first saw this postcard, I thought it was from Frankenmuth, a tourist trap from near my hometown in southeast Michigan! It’s dressed up to be Bavarian in style, although the authenticity is quite questionable, I’m sure! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lounging-man-germany monthly 0.5 2024-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/89a12a00-2ff0-4efb-99a4-ad607d7aab2b/DE_14228202.jpg Postcards - lounging man (Germany) - What a very nice postcard to receive! The sender hopes “this greeting brings a little smile on [my] face.” Indeed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/th-noir-de-ceylan-germany monthly 0.5 2024-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f4d73f5c-5b48-48c6-9c92-eed19037ed03/DE_14228203.jpg Postcards - thé noir de Ceylan (Germany) - This beautiful postcard comes from Bavaria! What a delightful illustration! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oologah-oklahoma monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cec2c718-914a-4309-92e2-21e5f9e4af2e/US_10410340.jpg Postcards - Oologah (Oklahoma) - Whenever I see a town with a name like this, I always wonder if its origins are indigenous? The card confirms that the origin as are Cherokee meaning “dark cloud” and was chosen in honor of “a Cherokee Chief.”The sender included so much information https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/indian-symbols-ontario monthly 0.5 2024-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9ba04977-3654-4f6b-9b9a-428f6e9cab48/CA_1471841.jpg Postcards - Indian Symbols? (Ontario) - While I do not for a moment believe in the accuracy of this postcard, I do love the historicity of it! It captures perfectly a certain time of orientalism and romanticism toward indigenous populations. If this is a Canadian postcard (and not an import from the US), it means we North Americans have shared some similar scripts about indigenous populations! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/orange-butterfly-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2550a50b-810c-47e6-998e-4aafeeb93159/US-OR_Linda56.jpg Postcards - orange butterfly (Oregon) - Or is it a moth? Nonetheless, it’s beautiful and it comes from my friend Linda whose recovery is progressing, slowly and frustratingly, but steadily! I can’t wait to see her in July. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/charlotte-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2024-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c0098648-0a47-48fa-8658-153f8152349a/US-NC_DerHan01.jpg Postcards - Charlotte (North Carolina) - One of my students this quarter traveled to Charlotte, NC for a conference. While they were there, they managed to find the time to pick up a postcard, write it, and send it! The USPS is a beautiful system but I don’t think it’s very transparent to people who didn’t grow up here. I’m very grateful for my student’s dedication! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/krlova-lhota-czechia monthly 0.5 2024-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/780a0a66-db02-4094-89a5-c820093993ce/CZ_Milan01.jpg Postcards - Králova Lhota (Czechia) - My new penpal Milan sends this postcard from his hometown. This is the 14th century church of St. Sigismund! The back of the postcard reads “Králova Lhota, Královéhradecký Kraj; Kostel sv. Zikmunda (kulturní památka) postaven v roce 1344 v gotickém slohu.“ Google Translate helps me out with the following: Králova Lhota, Hradec Králové Region; Church of St. Sigismund (cultural monument) built in 1344 in the Gothic style. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/iolani-palace-hawaii monthly 0.5 2024-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/07fd8f66-27cd-476f-9681-b192510de783/US-HI_Nozomi.jpg Postcards - ‘Iolani Palace (Hawai’i) - Nozomi was in Hawai’i celebrating her honeymoon at long last (CoVID, etc.). She sent me this beautiful, haunting postcard from the gorgeous ‘Iolani Palace. She recommends getting a docent-led tour, which we neglected to do when we visited right before CoVID in 2020! The audio tour was fascinating and heart-rending, but I’ll certainly do the docent-led tour next time! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/white-poodle-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/92678443-d7bc-4119-84fa-24b3da5a14c5/US_10410416.jpg Postcards - white poodle (Massachusetts) - This sender picked a gorgeous white poodle to send me and also included some great facts about their hometown of Worcester: the original smiley face is from there, the first commercial Valentines, and candlepin bowling! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/other-half-ipa-washington-dc monthly 0.5 2024-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2a151c55-8aac-4697-9380-dfcdbc98e3d6/US_10410439.jpg Postcards - Other Half IPA (Washington DC) - Margie writes that this postcard was made from the label of a bottle of beer! The label says Other Half IPA. I’m not a huge fan of IPAs but this postcard is so skillfully created! Amazing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/secretary-of-transportation-and-spouse-indiana monthly 0.5 2024-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/72208c9f-aa88-4ba3-a1dd-ae9830c5c1a4/US-IN_Diane01.jpg Postcards - Secretary of Transportation and Spouse (Indiana) - This postcard was sent as thanks for one I sent last month. The sender writes that she shook Buttigieg’s hand back when hew as first campaigning to be mayor. She also predicts that he’ll be president one day! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2024-solar-eclipse-ohio monthly 0.5 2024-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cad69fac-9637-4617-a78c-42429164e443/US_10414414.jpg Postcards - 2024 Solar Eclipse (Ohio) - Carol writes here about her language studies back in school: French first, then Spanish, then French again in college and finally German. Unfortunately, now she remembers little of it, which I think is an all too common experience! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/killarney-park-ontario monthly 0.5 2024-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aa8c29aa-90bd-4e7c-9043-6675b40fa0f2/CA_QuinnLorris05.jpg Postcards - Killarney Park (Ontario) - Our friends went on vacation last month to Killarney Park, just across the way from my home state of Michigan! I have yet to explore that part of Ontario, but this postcard is giving me strong desire to do so! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chteau-chalon-france monthly 0.5 2024-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/82d00133-d522-4955-b380-17b3c20858d7/FR_Dominique121.jpg Postcards - Château Chalon (France) - Dominique m’écrit du vin jaune de cette région: Jura. Il me décrit comment il est fait: “un vin sec, de longue garde, issu du cépage savagnin et embouteillé dans une bouteille à forme unique appelée clavelin.” En fait, Andy et moi nous venons de découvrir le vin Jura depuis un an, au peu près. Nous l’adorons! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mori-man-wielding-a-mere-new-zealand monthly 0.5 2024-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/56d33c8b-5745-4967-9ba0-05854490f257/NZ_Matty03.jpg Postcards - Māori man wielding a Mere (New Zealand) - This postcard comes courtesy of Matty, who visited Auckland and Wellington for the first time in quite some time. He says it hasn’t changed much, which is good to hear. Andy and I were really charmed by Wellington when we were there back in 2008 for IGALA 5. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/unusual-libraries-california monthly 0.5 2024-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e62e35bd-3432-434a-abe2-961881f8a568/US_10410239.jpg Postcards - unusual libraries (California) - This postcard comes from Ojai, just outside Santa Barbara. I haven’t visited there, but my friend’s mom lives there and speaks very highly of it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sid-golds-request-room-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cfee1e1b-111e-46fa-ad1e-3facb1b00d3b/US-MI_EmilyCarter09.jpg Postcards - Sid Gold’s Request Room (Michigan) - Emily and Carter sent this postcard from Detroit; it’s their favorite bar for a variety of reasons, among them: it’s open late, there’s karaoke, and they get the industry discount! I want to know how much it is and whether they ask for proof. This postcard is even better because it features not one, but two poodles! Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/moosewood-new-york monthly 0.5 2024-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e9f71a60-1601-4d39-956a-c259c90726ae/US-NY_Mejdulene04.jpg Postcards - Moosewood (New York) - Mejdulene sent this during her last few days in New York, writing that the Moosewood became super popular way back when I was still a vegetarian! I knew it was northern Great Lakes, but I had the wrong side in mind, thinking it was in Minnesota! I see now that the restaurant is in Ithaca. I’m definitely familiar with their cookbooks, which are delicious for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/marseille-france-2 monthly 0.5 2024-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/98c2d0ff-c1b0-4c6e-900c-4c82cf0220d2/FR_Dominique120.jpg Postcards - Marseille (France) - Dominique m’envoie cette carte pour me réconforter après le décés soudain de mon frère. Je n’y suis jamais allé, mais j’en y ai beaucoup lu! Son amitié m’a beaucoup rendu de confort pendant ces derniers années d’échange postaire. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/houstie-humminbirds-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1355a92f-1ae8-4a14-9f23-b26f69c103c3/CA-BC_Kayle01.jpg Postcards - Houstie hummingbirds (British Columbia) - This beautiful work comes from our friend Kaylé who was running a race in Vancouver earlier this month. The work is called Bella Bella by Ben Houstie (2004). The artist writes: This piece was inspired by the humming bird dance performed by my people to bring peace." https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/powells-city-of-books-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-05-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b4d7083e-4a16-4529-bf3b-2747256ef7cf/US-OR_Tristan01.jpg Postcards - Powell’s City of Books (Oregon) - One of the most famous landmarks in Portland is Powell’s Books. I love to visit every time we’re in the PDX area. As you can see here, so does my brother-in-law Tristan! While in town, he also ate at the new 鼎泰豐 restaurant! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chefs-special-cocktail-bar-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a9da885e-cf20-4e30-8e91-fc7b2dfa1f0e/US-MI_EmilyCarter08.jpg Postcards - Chef’s Special Cocktail Bar (Michigan) - Another great postcard from our niece Emily and her boyfriend Carter. They were staging in Chicago and visited several great restaurants. Among the restaurants they visited is this one. After the move to Chicago for work, I’m sure they’ll have many more opportunities to explore terrific establishments! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/zeta-ophiuchi-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2024-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c490d5bf-8aac-4a8e-8138-f1aea5aeafde/US-PA_LaurenC10.jpg Postcards - Zeta Ophiuchi (Pennsylvania) - Lauren writes that after her father’s death, she found solace in old episodes of Cosmos with Carl Sagan, which they used to watch together. She very sweetly writes that the universe celebrates my late brother’s life through me. “We are made of star stuff,” indeed! Thank you, Lauren. The postcard legend says: “The giant star Zeta Ophiuchi is 370 light-years from Earth. It is twenty times more massive than the Sun and eighty thousand times brighter.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/falls-of-columbia-gorge-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7ac6fcce-8c3d-4472-88f8-2cc9aad7e4b3/US-OR_HeidiEd01.jpg Postcards - falls of Columbia Gorge (Oregon) - My in-laws hosted an old friend from the East Coast this past week and they took a trip to see Multnomah Falls (top right). It was a rainy day in a rainy season, so the falls were particularly full! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bainbridge-island-map-washington monthly 0.5 2024-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/728094b7-478c-4cea-ac5d-90ab10e9f865/US-WA_Mejdulene02.jpg Postcards - Bainbridge Island map (Washington) - Mejdulene continues her book tour, this time all the way out to the west coast. She took the ferry to Bainbridge Island and sadly saw no whales on the way out. Maybe on the way back? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/paradigm-winery-california monthly 0.5 2024-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a55a32e7-2518-4afd-99ec-7d4ccdce7d32/US-CA_JulianSalvo13.jpg Postcards - Paradigm Winery (California) - Our friend Julian and Salvo visited Paradigm Winery late last month and sent us this aerial view of the winery. We visited there almost a year ago and the wines are delicious! The tasting experience was very personal and informative, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chicago-the-city-beautiful-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/73c466b5-0ac8-49cc-a146-f8fc01bb1ab9/US-IL_Mejdulene01.jpg Postcards - Chicago the City Beautiful (Illinois) - My dear friend sent me this postcard while in Chicago for a book-reading event (for her book! Yes, I am friends with published authors!). We took a vacation together to Chicago some time ago and it looms large in my memory as a truly beautiful weekend. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/baume-les-messieurs-france monthly 0.5 2024-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0b255859-39ff-492f-b352-15982a14a780/FR_Dominique119.jpg Postcards - Baume les Messieurs (France) - Dominique m’envoie cette carte postale avec la commune nommé Baume, qui vient d’un mot gaulois ‘balma’ qui designe une grotte. Évidemment! :-) Elle se trouve das Jura, une région dont le vin est superb. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/david-california monthly 0.5 2024-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/40036fbc-5c46-49de-a87f-acd22fb832cf/US-CA_TracyCynthia12.jpg Postcards - David (California) - This postcard comes from our dear friends Tracy and Cynthia, who picked it up on their trip to Florence a while ago. The postcard is actually addressed to our dear “International Champion Pinot,” and on the back is a drawing of our poodle with a bandaid over his rear. “Get well soon!” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/poodle-in-cone-california monthly 0.5 2024-05-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/28f11f9c-a8a0-4eb5-96cf-ba0f27429a03/US-CA_KimeeMichael15.jpg Postcards - poodle in cone (California) - You may recall this postcard from a while ago when Kimee helped us celebrate Pinot’s arrival in our home with these handmade poodle postcards. She made another one for us, this time featuring a glittery cone to mark Pinot’s big surgery. Lucky for him, he hasn’t really needed the cone outside of bedtime! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-mongie-france monthly 0.5 2024-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3c5d283c-cec2-4d28-97bb-1e5521037914/FR_Jo06.jpg Postcards - La Mongie (France) - My dear friend and former colleague Jo sent this hello from her winter holiday where her children earned their “2ème étoile” and “ourson” ranks in winter skiing! Lucky them, her in-laws have a home pictured here on the card! What a great opportunity! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/thinking-of-me-california monthly 0.5 2024-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0d70a4b1-aa1a-454f-80f2-fb14d247b6ce/US-CA_Kimee05.jpg Postcards - thinking of [me] (California) - Ever the thoughtful one, Kimee sends this card with her sympathies and condolences. I am very grateful to her, and all of my other friends who are looking out for me and my family. Is there any power greater than the love and care of one’s chosen family? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/estonia-california monthly 0.5 2024-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4916c492-e66a-4b34-bfdc-a1febf217623/US-CA_JulianSalvo12.jpg Postcards - Estonia (California) - Our friends Julian and Salvo appear to be in the throes of Spring cleaning because this postcard they decided to send me from their collection. In addition, Julian decided to let go of his dear Boss sweater! I’m so glad to receive it, especially since I’m definitely obsessed with Estonian! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chteau-dif-france monthly 0.5 2024-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ac0cdde1-5da7-443c-b274-26e9ca8b18ba/FR_Dominique118.jpg Postcards - Château d’If (France) - Voici encore une carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui m’envoie un conseil de lire le Comte de Monte Christo par Alexandre Dumas, un roman qui parle de ce château. Il a servi comme prison pendant 400 ans! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/detroit-lenticular-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/170e88c1-75ac-4dae-b083-b4087df24d60/US-MI_Kristopher.jpg Postcards - Detroit lenticular (Michigan) - As usual, lenticular postcards don’t scan well. This is one I sent to Andy while I was in Michigan for a family funeral. The Detroit airport even has a postbox in the McNamara Terminal! I like to think the deceased would have appreciated my dedication to postcards even on such a sad trip. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/guts-tour-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/051137e2-1b39-44ec-90f6-af85d281189c/US-MI_EmilyCarter07.jpg Postcards - Guts Tour (Michigan) - This postcard arrives from our niece and her boyfriend; they attended Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS world tour a while back. It turns out, some of their cousins were also in attendance, although not sat nearby! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-mansion-of-the-plates-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2024-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4e9ad0ee-0c71-4343-a5d5-4f01a1ceedd9/US-PA_T06.jpg Postcards - “the Mansion of the Plates” (Pennsylvania) - Our good friend T sent this postcard saying it reminded them of that horrific movie we watched in Celluloid Club called “House.” It reminds me of that, too! :-( The back of the postcard indicates that the work is called “the Mansion of the Plates” and is part of the series “One Hundred Ghost Stories” (Hyaku monogatari) from approximately 1831-32 by Katsushika Hokusai. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/postal-flag-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1c7e5365-5e2f-4611-930b-4168a7cb29e6/US-OR_Linda55.jpg Postcards - postal flag (Oregon) - What a great postcard Linda sent! It’s of course the US flag but made out of domestic and foreign stamps, all cancelled! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/twins-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6c6876b5-dd4a-48c9-ba32-9184c358c736/US-OR_Linda54.jpg Postcards - twins! (Oregon) - I can’t decide why the dalmatian looks so miserable! Maybe it’s because someone wore the same “outfit” as he did?! I wonder how Linda interprets it? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/animated-russia monthly 0.5 2024-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ad347cb3-679e-4c91-a04d-9171598a2eab/RU_10020417.jpg Postcards - animated Russia - I love this illustration style of maps with important people, foods, places, and phenomena superimposed on top! This postcard is a supreme example of the genre! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/spill-it-bro-australia monthly 0.5 2024-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0090b728-98de-4188-b75c-db69dabca319/AU_Matty08.jpg Postcards - “Spill it bro” (Australia) - My penpal in Australia, Matty, found sent this postcard, congratulating me on finding the treasures available on RedBubble. And how! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/golden-gate-bridge-at-sunset-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/52615928-756b-404d-8b01-4f50abd5bed9/US-MI_EmilyCarter06.jpg Postcards - Golden Gate Bridge at sunset (Michigan) - I so love it when a postcard starts in one place, goes to another, and ends up back where it started. In this case, that happened with a postcard for San Francisco printed in SF, which was found in a Michigan store, and then sent back! I can’t find a date for the original printing, but it looks old. Thanks to our niece Emily and her boyfriend Carter for finding this beautiful print! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/domestic-bliss-russia monthly 0.5 2024-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f26934f3-5da7-46a5-9f1a-1e7bb3e94fef/RU_10021646.jpg Postcards - domestic bliss (Russia) - This drawing really captures domestic, weekend bliss to me. A clean kitchen, but lived in (the wash cloth hanging on the wall), good music playing (her head tilted with a soft smile), and a hot cup of coffee while in comfortable pajamas. Who wouldn’t love that!? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/swimming-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d90cc5fe-8340-4741-b346-3363cdc60b0e/CA_Ray20.jpg Postcards - swimming (British Columbia) - Ray, in Victoria, sends this portend of the summer to come! May we enjoy our spring and the warmer months to follow! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vienna-austria monthly 0.5 2024-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/11b15893-cb2a-479a-b73e-73df2b8c6976/AT_709097.jpg Postcards - Vienna (Austria) - The sender of this postcard is in fact German, although they were vacationing in Austria. They share a love for Alpine wines, especially Riesling! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/malaysian-cartoon monthly 0.5 2024-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6027fc35-4e8f-4f18-bf6e-b918593a12ff/MY_633659.jpg Postcards - Malaysian cartoon - This postcard comes from Malaysia with news of very hot weather in recent days and hopes for cooler days with the oncoming rain. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-vache-qui-rit-france monthly 0.5 2024-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a2ab47c3-f018-43c2-ab7e-48241fb8e528/FR_Dominique117.jpg Postcards - la vache qui rit (France) - Dominique écrit que tous les français connaissent cette marque de fromage: la vache qui rit. Moi aussi je la connais, mais d’où? Peut-être mon année en france il y a plus de 20 ans maintenant. J’imagine que je le trouvais pendant le déjeuner à la cantine dans le lycée où je travaillais. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/international-polar-bear-day-taiwan monthly 0.5 2024-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/45e1a5ad-d00e-48f7-8db7-417d310c9c9f/TW_3642388.jpg Postcards - International Polar Bear Day (Taiwan) - I somehow find it a bit funny that I would receive a postcard from semi-tropical Taiwan celebrating polar bears, but why shouldn’t people living in the tropics love arctic animals, too!? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/panda-hammock-malaysia monthly 0.5 2024-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ef525a9e-ef42-425c-a664-306eef88928a/MY_633541.jpg Postcards - panda hammock (Malaysia) - The person who wrote this postcard sends greetings for the Dragon Year! What a cute photo of a panda in a hammock! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6ve7aaedcg7kx0n74qr2frhk4sndyo monthly 0.5 2024-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fd8f2455-aeaf-4319-9a3d-825f2569a0dc/US-HI_TracyCynthia02.jpg Postcards - hand drawn palm tree (Hawai’i) - Tracy drew us this palm tree from her vacation with Cynthia to Hawai’i. We received some photos from the place she was staying and it was replete with palms! Hawai’i is truly a paradise. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vintage-poodle-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/28a53bdc-8966-4bfa-bdb0-4381e939ba0b/US-MI_EmilyCarter05.jpg Postcards - vintage poodle (Michigan) - Our niece and her boyfriend know us so well! They found this vintage poodle and of course they sent it our way! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/california-pacific-international-exposition monthly 0.5 2024-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ab2dae20-198e-4043-a70f-c2c1a787be33/US-CA_Kristopher09.jpg Postcards - California Pacific International Exposition - Here’s another postcard I sent Andy from my trip to San Diego. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/you-are-like-the-night-taiwan monthly 0.5 2024-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/17fc1095-cf56-4eec-a926-8a76d27e5d8a/TW_3642381.jpg Postcards - “you are like the night…” (Taiwan) - This beautiful postcard comes courtesy of a PostCrosser in Taiwan. I wonder if my translation of 你就像黑夜，拥有寂静和群星 is correct: You are like the night — quiet and starry. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mikulov-czechia monthly 0.5 2024-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dcdfded1-9de0-4eb1-ad43-1ec554245b0d/CZ_2102833.jpg Postcards - Mikulov (Czechia) - This truly beautiful panoramic postcard depicts Holy Hill in Mikulov. I’ve never been to Czechia but it is very high on my list of places to visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pride-san-diego-california monthly 0.5 2024-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd6e71fb-e668-4688-9075-a797cad04940/US-CA_Kristopher08.jpg Postcards - pride San Diego (California) - I took a weekend away last month to San Diego with my friend Stephanie, and Andy stayed home with Pinot. Of course I had to send him a “Hello” from my mini-vacation! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/thredbo-australia monthly 0.5 2024-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3917307d-9217-4c0a-9e44-507c239b9c49/AU_Matty07.jpg Postcards - Thredbo (Australia) - This postcard comes from Matty from his recent getaway to Jindabyne and Thredbo. I have to admit that so many of Australia’s place names seem so bizarre to me! A strange mix of indigenous words and European names. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/g3335jez3l9ap6c5zvu3vgu25n2f2l monthly 0.5 2024-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4f0f88b5-25a1-42a1-858f-fd9fdb0e08a9/US-IN_Nozomi43.jpg Postcards - the language of the heart (Indiana) - This is another of the terrific postcards that Nozomi has collected for me. It’s beautiful! I’m not sure how useful these can be or how to use them perhaps as a semaphore? It’s beautiful nonetheless! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/marseille-france-1 monthly 0.5 2024-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1493c450-6cc6-47b1-ab54-161199745d57/FR_Dominique116.jpg Postcards - Marseille (France) - Marseille est une ville très connue, écrit Dominique, et pas pour toutes des raisons si belles. En fait, il régarde Pax Massilia, qui s’agit des crimes à Marseilles. Néanmoins, elle reste une ville très celebre qui mérite bien la visite. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/brown-county-state-park-indiana monthly 0.5 2024-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/81e8db14-d8ab-464f-bd6f-52418ed728b5/US-IN_Nozomi43.jpg Postcards - Brown County State Park (Indiana) - Nozomi writes that she visited the park for a friend’s birthday party. The park is very popular during the Fall, but she recommends a winter visit, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/surf-rider-hawaii monthly 0.5 2024-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/51071c58-09cc-4622-9b58-a7071828b056/US-HI_TracyCynthia01.jpg Postcards - Surf Rider (Hawai’i) - Tracy and Cynthia send this delightful “aloha” from their trip to O’ahu, Hawai’i! Surf culture is certainly quite strong! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bills-of-mortality-scotland monthly 0.5 2024-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/775f8171-cac5-4a0b-b96c-b8d4cc6c43a0/GB_LaurenC03.jpg Postcards - Bills of Mortality (Scotland) - Lauren was in England at a conference at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, which she writes has an incredible museum with so many neat exhibits. We actually did visit last August when we were in Scotland, and I second the recommendation. It’s totally worth a visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/earth-by-joby-harris-indiana monthly 0.5 2024-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7deea0c9-8ae4-4f4e-aaf1-0dbe4c6651bb/US-IN_Nozomi42.jpg Postcards - “Earth” by Joby Harris (Indiana) - Nozomi sends this very thought-provoking illustration by Joby Harris. The caption on the back says “The Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Earth science missions monitor our home planet and how it’s changing so it can continue to provide a safe haven as we reach deeper into the cosmos.” How quickly can this research go? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/poodle-iowa monthly 0.5 2024-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8895c9ba-4e7c-4814-8c09-d70cfd1f4877/US_10203975.jpg Postcards - “Poodle” (Iowa) - This drawing, “Poodle, 2020” by Dylan Goldberger, comes from a PostCrosser in Iowa, who after sending this took her own dog for a walk! Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2b55xesbvtfo59sf9thket3g1xb9sl monthly 0.5 2024-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf80e1cc-3666-44b7-8e48-f0d635c0fe27/US-PA_EdmundoT01.jpg Postcards - la Chinesca (Pennsylvania) - Our friends T and Edmundo met up in Philadelphia recently to watch “She is Conann,” a film I personally have no interest in viewing. They wrote the postcard before seeing it, so I’m not sure what the verdict is! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/london-underground-belgium monthly 0.5 2024-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a85af96f-21ec-47f0-8f07-8901cbc0c29f/BE_902768.jpg Postcards - London underground (Belgium) - The sender of this postcard wrote about her prejudices that she had about poodles earlier, that they were really just lapdogs or ornamental animals. She realizes that it was just a product of the way their owners treated them. I had to admit that I once put our dog into a show cut but it didn’t last too long. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/summer-komorebi-japan monthly 0.5 2024-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a41812d5-8d47-4d43-9108-5cfe8bda88e1/JP_2046602.jpg Postcards - summer komorebi (Japan) - What a beautiful photo! I don’t know if this counts as komorebi, but it’s really beautiful. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/soni-plateau-japan monthly 0.5 2024-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0fb1460f-3364-4d6d-a187-da00d9c970b4/JP_2046575.jpg Postcards - Soni Plateau (Japan) - The sender of this postcard writes that as a child, she liked to listen to the Carpenters! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/summer-tea-germany monthly 0.5 2024-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5ce51e86-0926-4534-bc78-9e7427fe8917/DE_13976074.jpg Postcards - Summer Tea (Germany) - Martina sends this postcard from Juist at the far north of Germany. She writes that goods are delivered via horse-drawn carriage and cars are prohibited! It sounds a bit like Mackinac Island to me! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/coffee-and-a-pastry-washington monthly 0.5 2024-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b5d30138-6a68-4ee2-bddf-ba8929ae43b1/US_10203968.jpg Postcards - coffee and a pastry (Washington) - I do so love a pastry and a coffee, and this postcard is just perfect! I can just read the legend on the back of the card and I believe this is “Holly Golightly’s Breakfast” by Joël Penkman. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cuxhaven-germany monthly 0.5 2024-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ece136e1-9266-4c0b-9dc8-1981a3163900/DE_13976065.jpg Postcards - Cuxhaven (Germany) - I received this terrific coastal postcard from Sinn, Germany! The senders visited SF back in 1993 and 1994, and hope to visit again, pending the outcome of our 2024 elections. I don’t blame them. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/are-you-ohio monthly 0.5 2024-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9ebbb222-595a-4f8c-89ad-0cff4ec0c1e3/US_10201507.jpg Postcards - Are you…? (Ohio) - Helen sent this excellent postcard and included a delightful story. I hope she doesn’t mind if I reproduce the highlights here. Her sister was charged with walking Cyril Ritchard’s poodle, named Trim during rehearsals at the Shakespeare Festival in NYC. One day, they stopped by the Helen’s office to say hi and she got to know Trim. Later, Helen was out running some errands and saw Ritchard walking Trim; she ran over to greet Trim and then looked up to say “Oh, and you must be Trim’s owner!” She writes that she was mortified, but I think that Ritchard was probably used to his poodle being the star of the show, and maybe relieved to not be immediately recognized. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sydney-opera-house-at-dawn-washington monthly 0.5 2024-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d71e2c2b-6108-4082-b7f8-8a26bd5bde90/US-WA_Alyson01.jpg Postcards - Sydney Opera House at dawn (Washington) - Alyson visited Australia back in 2018 and visited the Sydney Opera House nearly every day, she was that smitten with it. Recently, she was cleaning up around the house and found this postcard and decided to drop it in the mail to me. I do love a later postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/shadows-on-the-wall-etc-germany monthly 0.5 2024-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1710625599869-3INUF8UX1S8HS2FHOGO8/DE_13979981a.jpg Postcards - “Shadows on the Wall” etc. (Germany) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1710625599988-D32GHHSKWGZUYCGTJ9N6/DE_13979981b.jpg Postcards - “Shadows on the Wall” etc. (Germany) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/keep-calm-and-drink-tea-the-netherlands monthly 0.5 2024-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/651cf5c2-6360-4869-94fd-d4b4e36ccf8a/NL_5690260.jpg Postcards - keep calm and drink tea (the Netherlands) - I’ve requested postcards of food and drink, and these two lovely senders filled the brief perfectly! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/beautiful-spring-day-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ce622a11-97b2-4604-829a-d54e5952b60e/CA_Ray19.jpg Postcards - beautiful spring day (British Columbia) - This terrific burst of spring color comes from my penpal Ray in Victoria, BC! He sends news of the spring flowers that have begun to color his landscapes. And how! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hand-drawn-golden-gate-bridge-california monthly 0.5 2024-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/33da64f0-48bb-49f6-8bd2-e8c229155b39/US-CA_TracyCynthia11.jpg Postcards - hand-drawn Golden Gate Bridge (California) - How quickly the student surpasses the teacher! I introduced Tracy to PostCrossing just this past December and now, not only is she exchanging cards with a fervor, but she’s begun drawing her own cards as well! Combine that with her thriving penpal hobby and I’m starting to feel a bit left in the dust — proud, but behind. Ha! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/steamtown-national-historic-site-new-york monthly 0.5 2024-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8aecab69-1c05-44a5-940d-f98fe61c49df/US-NY_Mejdulene03.jpg Postcards - Steamtown National Historic Site (New York) - Mejdulene and KB have been exploring the national and state parks in New England for years now. This postcard, sent with yesterday’s, is even older she writes! Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mcgraw-hall-and-libe-slope-new-york monthly 0.5 2024-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/561aea81-8635-4f09-b500-10df4041112f/US-NY_Mejdulene02.jpg Postcards - McGraw Hall and Libe Slope (New York) - I’ve written before how much I love later-cards — postcards that were purchased with an intention to send them but which were lost of forgotten for some time. I believe it was a postcard from this sender, the inimitable Mejdulene, that first sparked my love of later-cards. Here is another one, found early during her stay at Cornell but now that the end of the visiting gig is in sight, dropped in the mail. It’s like a fine wine or cheese - aged to perfection and the perfect expression of its time. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rothenburg-germany monthly 0.5 2024-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/815fd793-78d4-4944-a307-bccb79d62f3b/DE_Dominique23.jpg Postcards - Rothenburg (Germany) - Voici la première carte postale allemaine que je reçois de mon ami Dominique depuis assez longtemps. Il écrit que Rothenburg et une des plus belles villes d’Allemagne. Un jour, j’espère, je pourrais la visiter! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/opra-cake-california monthly 0.5 2024-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/52928656-91c1-441f-8b42-b7606b642b8a/US-CA_TracyCynthia10.jpg Postcards - Opéra cake (California) - This past weekend, I made an opéra cake and I shared it with Tracy and Cynthia. In return, Tracy hand-delivered a hand-drawn image of the cake I made! It’s great to trade creative pursuits with such great friends! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tirana-albania monthly 0.5 2024-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/53e3fdf2-3592-4999-8f49-9d35e077b9a6/AL_Lino01.jpg Postcards - Tirana (Albania) - Lino is on a trip with his husband and he sent me this postcard from his first trip to Albania. I’ve never been either but I’d love to go! Albanian is such a fascinating language! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mushroom-taxonomy-arizona monthly 0.5 2024-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/31e43d54-3774-4b96-bad7-00c53f6cc733/US_10203977.jpg Postcards - mushroom taxonomy (Arizona) - I love that this sender hasn’t updated his profile since he was a kid! Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/flamingos-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4f1df2b5-16ac-43dd-a006-a04e50e50801/US-OR_Linda53.jpg Postcards - flamingos (Oregon) - Who doesn’t love a lawn flamingo?! I admit I thought these were those plastic jobbies, but it turns out, it’s a real flamingo! Thanks, Linda! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/paso-robles-california monthly 0.5 2024-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fe66d5f9-1516-40ff-8959-f5ae8fbdc182/US_10203995.jpg Postcards - Paso Robles (California) - This postcard comes from Paso Robles, which is one of our favorite places to go wine tasting! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sunflower-greyhound-california monthly 0.5 2024-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1190f2b1-88ed-4893-9ed2-028733401580/US-CA_Manuscript.jpg Postcards - sunflower greyhound (California) - This darling postcard arrived in the mail written simply “Thank you for the help with the manuscript.” The sender has a beautiful signature which may be a T or an L, or a quite stylized M. I’ll have to do some digging to see who sent it! I do love it, though! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/all-dressed-up-france monthly 0.5 2024-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/583f3048-de14-4b00-9852-7bdd1c875606/FR_Dominique115.jpg Postcards - All Dressed Up (France) - Cette carte postale vient grâce à Dominique en France. La pièce s’appelle “All Dressed Up” (2022) par Elmgreen & Dragset. Je l’adore! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/year-of-the-ox-china monthly 0.5 2024-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9925beb1-02d0-4589-a6de-6dadb3b8270b/CN_3667582.jpg Postcards - year of the Ox (China) - This is a really beautiful style. Happy Lunar New Year, folks! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/petra-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-02-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5614db3a-4a8e-45c4-9cc4-53afcd653a7d/US-OR_Linda52.jpg Postcards - Petra (Oregon) - This postcard comes from Linda’s series of “places [she’s] never been” which I love. I also have a collection of postcards from places I’ve never visited, although none I don’t think as spectacular as Petra! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alabama monthly 0.5 2024-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e4d55e05-7ea9-4e21-a1e1-030cf36c60c5/US_10169586.jpg Postcards - Alabama - I love this style of postcard! It’s such a delightful throwback to the 1930s and 1940s! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hand-drawn-poodle-california monthly 0.5 2024-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d378949e-cd1b-4a45-8778-7b89ff1b1f78/US-CA_TracyCynthia09.jpg Postcards - hand drawn poodle (California) - A dear friend of mine, Ron, has an impressive penguin collection: penguin everything! He said it started from a joke gift decades ago that has since grown into a monster that’s taking over his home. I think I’m looking down the tunnel at my future as someone who collects all things standard poodle. This card, however, is special because it’s hand-drawn by my other dear friend Tracy! She hosted Pinot for a few days this month so my father and I could have a bit more quality time. Dear friend, indeed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/natural-night-lights-australia monthly 0.5 2024-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/33a6d74f-8648-4747-aadc-7238c1f7527a/AU_Matty06.jpg Postcards - natural night lights (Australia) - This comes from my penpal Matty in Australia who writes that he’s never really been to the interior of the country where the deserts are. There are many things that attract me to Australia, but the deserts are not one of them I have to say. I’m just not particularly partial to them either! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lglise-saint-paul-france monthly 0.5 2024-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5b34556d-8af0-4d6c-ae06-411d1f34b968/FR_Dominique114.jpg Postcards - l’Église Saint-Paul (France) - Dominique m’envoie cetter carte postale avec l’Église Saint-Paul, une église protéstante construite par les allemands au fin du 19ème siècle. Je vous jure qu’il n’y a peu d’églises comme ça aux États-Unis, protéstantes ou catholiques. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/silver-blue-drawing monthly 0.5 2024-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4f3d46fb-87bd-4957-b293-b3a0fa7922c0/MY_628730.jpg Postcards - silver blue drawing - This postcard was a big surprise when it arrived from Malaysia. I bought a whole pack of these postcards at La Postté in Las Vegas! Such a coincidence! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vancouver-skyline-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2024-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f35d1e6f-bd23-47c8-a4bf-8cae64771c11/CA_Ray18.jpg Postcards - Vancouver skyline (British Columbia) - This beautiful Vancouver skyline arrive courtesy of Ray, who was celebrating his husband’s birthday in Vancouver recently. I haven’t been to British Columbia, and I would really love to travel there very soon. I’m sure Ray would have lots of great recommendations for us. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/malaysian-delicacies monthly 0.5 2024-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e2ee6efb-3ef9-4c1a-bc06-a32b5247cf71/MY_628735.jpg Postcards - Malaysian delicacies - This postcard comes from Nurul in Malaysia and depicts two specialties: “Cendul is a sweet dessert while rojak is a bit spicy.” What little I’ve had of Malaysian cuisine is delicious; I hope to try much more! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-maison-des-tanneurs-france monthly 0.5 2024-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/12d9704e-26c9-4d19-8ec7-f66571a13f7b/FR_Dominique113.jpg Postcards - la Maison des Tanneurs (France) - Dominique m’envoie cette vue de la Maison des Tanneurs, un des bâtiments les plus emblématiques de l’Alsace. Il écrit que plusiers chefs d’État ont y allé, mais lui - il n’y est jamais été! Peut-être quand Andy et moi y allions, nous les quatre pourrons y se rencontrer! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kiwi-haka-new-zealand monthly 0.5 2024-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e371d18b-8c95-45c5-bbbd-4bab7cd33478/NZ_RobynnOliver01.jpg Postcards - Kiwi Haka (New Zealand) - Our neighbors traveled to New Zealand recently and sent this postcard of the Kiwi Haka, “Queenstown’s leading Kapa Haka group.” We were in New Zealand ourselves way back in 2008; I’m trying to remember if we saw a live Haka while we were there? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hand-drawn-tulips-california monthly 0.5 2024-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/334e5e47-2c44-467f-b084-990629477337/US-CA_TracyCynthia08.jpg Postcards - hand drawn tulips (California) - We were lucky to host Cynthia and Tracy at our place two weeks ago for brunch, to which they brought a beautiful bouquet of tulips. A week later, this thank-you postcard arrived, complete with a hand drawn bunch of tulips! When I say these two are among the most thoughtful people I know, I mean it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/midnight-in-the-garden-of-good-and-evil-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0f0b335a-305f-4a0b-9b39-13256c7031f1/US-OR_Linda51.jpg Postcards - midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Oregon) - Even after suffering a health issue, Linda managed to send this beautiful postcard from Portland! The image reminds me of the book cover for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. This is the Bird Girl sculpture by Sylvia Shaw Jackson. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bill-postcard-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6b59503f-8ae6-4c9e-b125-728a6e0b06c5/US-MI_EmilyCarter04.jpg Postcards - bill postcard (Michigan) - Our niece works at a restaurant in Detroit that hands out this postcard with the bill (something I truly love in a restaurant!). This time, she took one with her and sent it to me. It’s very appropriate that a Detroit restaurant should hand out postcards of the Supremes! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/quilted-greetings-california monthly 0.5 2024-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f17cf9d7-f5a9-44b9-8eba-9479493aae68/US-CA_TracyCynthia07.jpg Postcards - quilted greetings (California) - I’m not sure the scan of this will do it any justice, but Cynthia and Tracy sent this beautifully hand-quilted postcard (note that she even sewed the two stamps on!). What a great keepsake to receive from two dear friends!! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/donner-party-memorial-california monthly 0.5 2024-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a746246c-73be-44b0-a80e-4ece708cd52c/US-CA_Michael02.jpg Postcards - Donner Party memorial (California - Our friend Michael traveled to Tahoe recently with some friends to celebrate his birthday. Apparently, this memorial marks the depth of the snow when the Donner Party was stuck in Truckee! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/casa-battl-spain monthly 0.5 2024-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9fc9d465-bd99-40a4-ad49-811c5eeb97ac/ES_KayPei01.jpg Postcards - Casa Battló (Spain) - Our friends Kay and Pei traveled to Barcelona on vacation recently; we were thrilled to give a few recommendations of places to visit. In exchange, they sent this beautiful postcard of Barcelona featuring super cute dogs! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/watercolor-pool-canada monthly 0.5 2024-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c7de2342-5e67-43e3-a8a0-64878dd56b3b/CA_Ray17.jpg Postcards - watercolor pool (Canada) - Ray always sends the best postcards and this one is no exception! There are some terrific stickers on the back, too! Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jiufen-taiwan monthly 0.5 2024-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/59786e61-7d57-4046-86d4-fef71063ab09/TW_TingYu01.jpg Postcards - Jiufen (Taiwan) - A former student of mine went back to Taiwan this winter break to vote in the national elections that we read so much about. While there, she took the time and effort to send me this beautiful postcard of Jiufen, a very famous tourist spot in Taiwan. I haven’t been, but I’ve always wanted to go. We’ll go on our next trip back to Taiwan, I’m sure! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/blick-auf-das-terrassenufer-germany monthly 0.5 2024-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2b517474-c83d-459b-ba15-6ab2da796127/DE_TobiasPhilipp01.jpg Postcards - Blick auf das Terrassenufer (Germany) - Our friends Tobias and Philipp were back in Germany for the holidays and took the time to send this great postcard from their stay in Dresden. I appreciate the winter-theme of the postcard sent during winter, more so because Winter in California is a bit drab and rainy without any pretty snow (I don’t miss living in the snow, but I do miss seeing it from time to time). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/die-schlucht-germany monthly 0.5 2024-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fa9cdf4b-e282-4c18-9cf9-935f7c0d175f/DE_13814113.jpg Postcards - “Die Schlucht” (Germany) - Here’s a postcard coming from a sender in Germany. The colors are really something! It’s a painting called “Die Schlucht” by Rik Wouters (1882 - 1916). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oregon monthly 0.5 2024-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4e188086-bf41-438c-9938-80abf6f057de/US_10065104.jpg Postcards - seaside painting (Oregon) - Cindy sent this beautiful postcard from her place in western Oregon, not far from the seaside. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/california monthly 0.5 2024-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/58eb0cdb-2404-480c-833c-28061bae127c/US_10065430.jpg Postcards - virgin piña colada (California) - Dima sends this recipe for an alcohol-free (or “virgin”) piña colada. What perfect timing for Dry January! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/illinois monthly 0.5 2024-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f03a7d46-8773-4b37-8621-8a12163f3113/US_10064913.jpg Postcards - mountain man (California) - Hillary writes that this postcards depicts a family member, who “was a great mountain man of [her] town.” What a great feature to have a family member on a postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/russia monthly 0.5 2024-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/18beb48d-48ac-4c1a-aeba-b2d81ef09b4a/RU_9933794.jpg Postcards - New Year Celebration (Russia) - Alexander sent this postcard from Russia with a beautiful explanation of how Christmas and New Year are celebrated on different dates than in the West! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wood-ibis-and-whooping-crane-michigan monthly 0.5 2024-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cac21166-1ce6-44bb-af3e-2c18d4607d9e/US-MI_EmilyCarter03.jpg Postcards - wood ibis and whooping crane (Michigan) - Unfortunately, these birds are not native to Michigan as the title of this post may imply. Rather, they live in Florida, but the postcard was sent by my niece and her boyfriend who live in Detroit! She sends memories of our fantastic New Year's celebration last year! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/watercolor-sea-lion-california monthly 0.5 2024-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/294c811c-d272-4445-9e63-b1f15f4c3c09/US-CA_Kimee04.jpg Postcards - watercolor sea lion (California) - People often confuse sea lions and seals. San Francisco is lucky to boast both kinds of sea mammals in its water, but the ones that most people think of with SF are sealions, which have colonized part of Fisherman’s Wharf for a few decades now. Small wonder that a local stationer should stock watercolor postcards of such an emblematic animal! Thanks to Kimee for sending this great reminder. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/aquarium-of-the-pacific-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2024-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f158c643-22f7-4b88-9c63-9bf08a69008c/US-PA_LaurenC09.jpg Postcards - Aquarium of the Pacific (Pennsylvania) - My good friend and former colleague Lauren took a quick trip to Anaheim to see her favorite college band’s reunion tour (Something Corporate). A former boyfriend of mine was a big fan of them, too! While there, she visited the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and highly recommends it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-francisco-meetup monthly 0.5 2024-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7b49fbb1-4278-46d8-bcc8-91e32bda2bc8/US-CA_Sylvia02.jpg Postcards - San Francisco MeetUp - I didn’t make it to this past San Francisco PostCrossing MeetUp but judging from the great stamps on the back, it was a great gathering! Thanks, Sylvia! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/surprise-germany monthly 0.5 2024-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/272909b6-0bb0-4ff4-b93e-40116e92a866/DE_13734856.jpg Postcards - Surprise! (Germany) - The sender of this postcard opens simply with “Surprise :-)” And how! The Germans have come through today and yesterday with the great postcards. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nudes-germany monthly 0.5 2024-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9834361e-9cab-4cc2-81a3-51adf8ba35c8/DE_13734894.jpg Postcards - Nudes (Germany) - On my PostCrossing profile, I’ve requested - among other things - postcards featuring beautiful men. You’ll see today and tomorrow that the Germans have come through with flying colors on this request! This one is from a person who has visited SF several times, but not since seven years ago. They left me with a great quote: “Die with memories, not with dreams!” This postcard comes from the LWL - Museum für Kunst und Kultur, in Münster. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/extreme-later-card-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/405f073a-d6c0-49ef-9bae-fb14c2c45175/US-OR_Linda50.jpg Postcards - extreme later-card (Oregon) - I know I’ve written here about how much I enjoy later-cards (postcards bought with the intent to send them but then which don’t get sent for some reason until much later). I love them because they’re a kind of time capsule from previously. This postcard comes from the inimitable Linda in Portland, however the key part is that she bought it when she was in Japan thirty years ago! I love it so much, and I’m so honored to receive it. What a one-of-a-kind postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/singapore-canal monthly 0.5 2024-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/31f13053-4eb9-4787-ad01-044d0a06dcd7/SG_419430.jpg Postcards - Singapore canal - I don’t get many postcards from Singapore, so it’s always a delight to receive one from so far away. This one comes from a sender who chose this postcard and the lovely stamp to accompany it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/diocletians-palace-new-jersey monthly 0.5 2024-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f1e5befd-80c7-496c-8ee5-208cc08d81b3/US_10003780.jpg Postcards - Diocletian’s Palace (New Jersey) - Sadly, Diocletian’s Palace is not in New Jersey, but the sender of this postcard is! He works in conservation for the National Parks Service, which is just terrific given how excellent our NPS is! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/willy-brandt-places-germany monthly 0.5 2024-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8236befb-70d4-4fca-8549-830cab6c98cf/DE_Dominique22.jpg Postcards - Willy Brandt Places (Germany) - Encore une très jolie carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui me l’a envoyé de l’Allemagne. Les élèves de l’École Willy Brandt ont dessiné des places où l’ancien chancellor de l’Allemagne avait vécu. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wigwam-motel-california monthly 0.5 2024-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/96e83c6c-6503-4634-9b63-e8bb99f2a299/US-CA_Michael01.jpg Postcards - Wigwam Motel (California) - While I can’t say I love the idea of fetishizing indigenous architecture, I do love the kitsch of this and how unabashedly these folks appropriated the cultural heritage of others. It’s really quite something! On a theme, Michael writes that perhaps he shouldn’t have been surprised that Malibu wasn’t for him but he enjoyed the pier’s selection of postcards (and of course the Rose Bowl he attended in Pasadena). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/so-many-beans-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2024-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2d4aaa6e-e9f9-470f-9b4c-85b3d96d5b16/US_10003819.jpg Postcards - so many beans (Massachusetts) - What a delightful card! I could see it also including coffee beans, which are incredibly important to me, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hello-from-grand-rapids-illinois monthly 0.5 2024-01-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bdf10523-ed0e-4ba8-a755-0ccb19a28359/US-IN_Nozomi41.jpg Postcards - Hello from Grand Rapids (Illinois) - No, Michigan hasn’t lost yet more territory to a neighboring state; it’s just that this postcard, purchased in Michigan at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, was mailed from Illinois! I haven’t been to this museum, but I think I’ve purchased postcards from its gift shop (most museum gift shops are open without buying admission). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/port-of-le-havre-new-jersey monthly 0.5 2024-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4c421af2-63e5-4ebd-909d-ee99b4bec5b3/US_10003687.jpg Postcards - Port of Le Havre (New Jersey) - Okay, the sender of this postcard has read me for filth! She writes, in part, “I am a vet tech, so I have my fair share of poodle experience and opinions! They are smart and aloof…, and tend to have very involved and attentive owners. :)” Well, damn! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ive-lived-long-enough-oregon monthly 0.5 2024-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/23ee67a2-6a6f-4a84-a6ae-968e4b8445b7/US-OR_Linda49.jpg Postcards - I’ve lived long enough… (Oregon) - Linda knows how to pick ‘em! She writes “American politics and the state of the world in general is making me believe we are in a simulation with the makers just playing around as much as they can.” Co-signed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/marca-brewing-japan monthly 0.5 2024-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1112be90-0c92-4410-aeea-ef103c2d8997/JP_2005753.jpg Postcards - Marca Brewing (Japan) - This postcard comes from a sender whose household includes a spouse, an English setter (rescue), and three little birds. What a lovely picture of domesticity! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/you-are-loved-nevada monthly 0.5 2024-01-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c60a5674-a8c7-480e-814d-24eadeef4b2f/US-NV_Tristan07.jpg Postcards - You Are Loved (Nevada) - We recently ordered a batch of my brother’s new AR holiday cards and received this beautiful postcard in addition! If you’re not already familiar with BL_NK C_RDS, check out the site and get your hands on some delightful and surprising cards! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/starfish-arizona monthly 0.5 2023-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/117e7852-226e-468f-91cd-f3ec98b7ce28/US_10003739.jpg Postcards - starfish (Arizona) - Jim sent this postcard from Arizona, where he spends the winter! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/toscano-hotel-bar-california monthly 0.5 2023-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/095c5d8e-d25d-4c06-9dc0-007d70fe2400/US-CA_TracyCynthia06.jpg Postcards - Toscano Hotel Bar (California) - Our good friends Tracy and Cynthia joined us on our trip to the Mendocino Coast earlier this month and sent this postcard from one of their day trips, on which they took Pinot so we could go to lunch at a nice restaurant! Toscano Hotel Bar, circa 1913. Established in the late 1890’s [sic] and was purchased… in 1911. Alfred Falleri is behind the bar, William Hale is the tall man, William Isaacson is in front. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wooden-mendocino-octopus-california monthly 0.5 2023-12-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3679dbaf-994e-4243-b7bf-05382bdd678e/US-CA_Kristopher07.jpg Postcards - wooden Mendocino octopus (California) - Andy gave me permission to scan this postcard, which he received (from me) in thanks for planning a terrific trip to Mendocino coast with four friends. He’s so good about sending me postcards when he’s away that I thought I’d send one while I was away (even if he was with me at the same time)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/beautiful-oregon-state monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/884f8abd-e46a-4aca-9c7b-037ecf135e0e/US_10003734.jpg Postcards - beautiful Oregon state - This multi-view comes from a former resident of San Francisco who says she paid just $400/month for a 4-bedroom apartment on Arguello back in the 1970s! What an incredible dream! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/if-santa-gets-stuck-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6bfb156b-8b86-4f73-ac81-656947fd28d0/US-MI_EmilyCarter02.jpg Postcards - if Santa gets stuck… (Michigan) - I do love a holiday postcard (as in a holiday card)! This vintage one comes with a signature at the bottom - perhaps “Mr. and Mrs. Chase B. Bryer”? Luckily, the back was blank so Emily and Carter could send their holiday wishes to me and Andy and Pinot! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pre-christmas-virtual-postcrossing-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8b75ee3c-c215-4de4-9e82-fa9cf9ba427a/FI_Jussi20.jpg Postcards - pre-Christmas virtual PostCrossing MeetUp (Finland) - I’m so puzzled at how the Finnish PostCrossing group can produce postcards for the virtual meetup that have signatures, stamps, and icons on the back?! Usually at a meetup — at least those I’ve attended in the US - we have a pre-printed postcard with a blank back. We then spend lots of time (it’s quite tedious, which is why I don’t go anymore) signing or stamping the dozens (hundreds?) of postcards that the members have bought. Some people will buy 100 postcards and want each one to be stamped/signed by each of the attendees. I know these are hot collector’s items for the senders and receivers, but my hand cramps and I get tired doing the same thing over and over. Maybe if I could figure out how the Finnish PostCrossers do it, I would be more inclined to go! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-smallest-biggest-city-in-the-world-indiana monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/be2b2cae-db5c-442a-a343-f07684ff85ba/US-IN_Nozomi40.jpg Postcards - the smallest biggest city in the world (Indiana) - Don’t let me weird title conventions mislead you; this postcard’s tagline refers to San Francisco. Nozomi picked this card up somewhere she can’t remember but of course thought of me. She asks my opinion - is it true? It’s a good question! Many people are surprised at how small SF’s population is (just over 800,000 last I checked, which makes it only the 17th largest city in the US). It has a very outsized footprint for its small population! It certainly has world-renown. I think if you asked the average non-US person to name a US city, it would be in the top five. I think it would be named before Chicago even which is the third largest city in the US. What do you think? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dogs-playing-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ae087156-f423-4387-a8d1-2b7210f57b41/US-MI_EmilyCarter01.jpg Postcards - dogs playing (Michigan) - This terrific vintage postcard comes from our niece Emily and her boyfriend Carter, who said it made them think of Pinot. I do believe these are poodles! I’m very grateful for the postcard and their thoughtfulness! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/december-2023-finnish-postcrossers-meetup monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c2edd1c4-6178-4b01-a983-65d682db1a0c/FI_Jussi21.jpg Postcards - December 2023 Finnish PostCrossers MeetUp - It must have been in sitting down to send a few postcards, that Jussi sent the previous one. This one was sadly damaged in transit and came in a plastic envelope with a note from the Finnish postal service apologizing for the damage. It’s hard to be upset given how much mail arrives in pristine condition! Accidents happen. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/october-2023-finnish-postcrossers-meetup monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/438b26aa-a0cc-4332-9b97-6189221961dc/FI_Jussi19.jpg Postcards - October 2023 Finnish PostCrossers MeetUp - I’ve been to two or three meetups with other PostCrossers, but my penpal Jussi goes to several! This one is from the October 24, 2023 meetup. He apologized for delaying in sending it, but I’m always happy to receive postcards, especially delayed and forgotten ones! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/handmade-studio-ghibli-california monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ded8177e-a2d1-40db-9c3b-e6ab57f71268/US-CA_SkyShi01.jpg Postcards - handmade Studio Ghibli (California) - Every quarter, I offer to send postcards to my students to bring them a little brightness. Most people nowadays receive only bills and advertisements in the mail, so getting some real mail can be a delight. Sometimes, my students reciprocate, and few so excellently as Sky, who hand-drew this Totoro postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/watercolor-cherries-russia monthly 0.5 2023-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/07fa3d25-5ddc-4ed4-b99e-b536c17d2110/RU_9837521.jpg Postcards - watercolor cherries (Russia) - Natasha, also a teacher, sent me this delicious postcard featuring my second-favorite fruit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-palais-du-pharo-marseille-france monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/538f8689-9c6e-4202-a8ae-1dd455d073dc/FR_Dominique112.jpg Postcards - le Palais du Pharo, Marseille (France) - Au sud de France, je n’ai visite nulpart que Marseille. Je suis completement d’accord avec Dominique qui écrit que “c’est une ville… très cosmopolite” Je l’ai adoré quand je l’ai visité en 2005. Voici le Palais du Pharo, cadeau de Napoléon III. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dining-room-frank-lloyd-wright-home-and-studio-minnesota monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b56896cb-e23f-456e-9f61-1bc5614ca142/US-MN_LaurenH08.jpg Postcards - dining room, Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (Minnesota) - You don’t need to turn this postcard over to see that it’s Frank Lloyd Wright. The ceiling detail, the vase, and the straight-backed chairs say loud and proud who the architect is. Our friend Lauren sent this from her first trip to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio; I haven’t visited this one, but I have visited Fallingwater. It’s gorgeous! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/death-valley-california-1 monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1899df68-9764-4bf3-a8ad-185d3bb68689/US-CA_Matt01.jpg Postcards - Death Valley (California) - Matt spent a week in Death Valley for a photography workshop. I’ve been lucky to receive so many postcards sent by Matt. He writes here “I almost can’t believe I’ve been in the Bay Area so long w/o making the trip here.” I haven’t been to Death Valley, either, and I’ve been here almost as long as he has! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-monastery-at-petra-jordan monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dc8908e8-34d7-4497-ab82-0f47faa9044a/JO_Lino01.jpg Postcards - The Monastery at Petra (Jordan) - My penpal Lino went to Jordan recently on his honeymoon and sent this postcard. I have never visited Jordan, but of course I’ve seen images of Petra so many times. Some day I hope to be able to visit it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/forbidden-city-watercolor-california monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dfc25f4e-3762-4d49-a739-9dcf2ad66304/US-CA_Yuze01.jpg Postcards - Forbidden City watercolor (California) - One of my students this quarter sent me this terrific watercolor of the Forbidden City in China. What a great postcard to receive! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/marseille-france monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c3720502-4740-413c-814b-fb860034afbc/FR_Dominique111.jpg Postcards - Marseille (France) - Malheureusement, mon ami Dominique est rentré de ses voyages à Marseille et Madéire malade du COVID. Comme moi, il a eté 4 fois vacciné et aussi a déjà eu la CoVID. Il écrit que cette fois est l’épisode la plus fort. :-( Moi aussi j’ai eu le CoVID cet an, en septembre. Ce n’était pas si grave pour moi, donc je suis désolé entendre que Dominique ait gravement suffert. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/reed-reading-upside-down-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bcaf7941-1aec-44d4-869a-0beb77039c4d/US-OR_Linda48.jpg Postcards - “Reed Reading Upside Down” (Oregon) - Long time readers of my blog should experience no surprise to learn that this postcard was sent by our dear friend Linda, who always picks the best postcards. This one is absolutely no exception to that rule. “Reed Reading Upside Down, Amenia, NY, 2013” photograph by Rodney Smith https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/salvation-mountain-california monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/04c26fea-0a52-47ab-a7c7-0f886b141417/US-CA_GregJames09.jpg Postcards - Salvation Mountain (California) - What a bonkers place this looks like! Our friends Greg and James visited Palm Springs and made a visit to Salvation Mountain, which they described as “peak tweaker culture.” I can' only imagine! LOL https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monterey-and-carmel-california monthly 0.5 2023-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/af1a7a78-d312-4f3c-8f5d-24c703c408bf/US-CA_Kimee03.jpg Postcards - Monterey and Carmel (California) - I received this postcard weeks ago but I’m only just now getting around to posting it. Kimee was running a race in Monterey and found this delightful, illustrated postcard of one of the most beautiful spots along the California coast. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bryce-canyon-national-park-california monthly 0.5 2023-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/84ccd4ee-5e24-4548-9d72-7137e963431d/US-CA_TracyCynthia05.jpg Postcards - Bryce Canyon National Park (California) - You’re right - Bryce Canyon isn’t in California; it’s in Utah! But the postcard was sent from California by our dear friends Cynthia and Tracy. We were lucky to host them this past weekend for a friends’ gathering. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/state-capitol-in-boston-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2023-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/048536f5-114a-42a3-9ff3-5c1f4fcc6136/US-MA_Nozomi06.jpg Postcards - “State Capitol in Boston (Massachusetts) - I was tickled by the phrase in the center of the postcard “State Capitol in Boston” as it’s written without the article. Then I saw “State Flower the Mayflower or Arbutus” which also lacks the expected definite article. Nozomi was in Boston for a conference and sent this delightful postcard my way. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/el-oso-y-el-madroo-spain monthly 0.5 2023-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ffb41811-52c3-4aca-9243-b853413c18a8/ES_JulianSalvo12.jpg Postcards - el oso y el madroño (Spain) - Every time we get another postcard from Spain, I wonder if it’s the last one - but Julian and Salvo continue to come through with these terrific postcards, this one announcing their moving to Spain. Having visited myself, I can’t blame them! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-mosque-of-the-janissaries-greece monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1f77c01f-26f4-41ed-9bd4-0a45f4786903/GR_100576.jpg Postcards - the Mosque of the Janissaries (Greece) - Rena, in Greece, writes that this Mosque of the Janissaries is the most recognizable buildings on the entire island of Crete! I can’t wait to go and see it (the mosque and the island) for myself! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bunny-bakery-russia monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3040eae4-3d25-4da4-a82c-706e82e16899/RU_9837519.jpg Postcards - bunny bakery (Russia) - What a charming little drawing this postcard is! Alexey in Russia sent this in early October just as the winter weather was coming in. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/guggenheim-bilbao-spain monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b79331e2-de88-4350-8818-2836f38516aa/ES_JulianSalvo11.jpg Postcards - Guggenheim, Bilbao (Spain) - Eleven cards and counting! Julian and Salvo’s gifts from Spain continue to roll in, and this one is no small addition to the group! Look at that terrific dog! Good boy! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/life-is-the-best-teacher-poland monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/94517df2-5cd1-4c33-8f75-06adb37528a2/PL_1956773.jpg Postcards - Life is the best teacher (Poland) - Maybe it’s because I invite people to tell me about their favorite teacher, but Kasie from Poland sent this beautiful, calligraphic postcard to me. I agree! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/firewalkers-fiji monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8c5d62c0-f7ce-4938-81b1-e165eea70622/FJ_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Firewalkers (Fiji) - I’m not sure where I thought firewalking came from if not Fiji, but this postcard confirms its origins in Polynesia. The back of this postcard says “The art of firewalking or walking on red-hot embers or stones emanates from the tiny island of Beqa, off the southern coast of Viti Levu. Many young men from this island participate in firewalking shows at the tourist resorts.” Thanks to Matty for sending me this highly culturally relevant postcard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ukrainian-alphabet monthly 0.5 2023-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/993987fc-d986-4101-87d6-f9953ad48b1f/UA_1930635.jpg Postcards - Ukrainian alphabet - I must admit that I was surprised to find that a Ukrainian postcard had actually made it! The news out of Ukraine has been so dire, I wasn’t sure if the post were even running. I’m very glad then to receive this postcard from someone named Victoria; it’s printed on delightfully heavy cardstock! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/caserta-italy monthly 0.5 2023-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e34fd70b-033b-4a21-843a-231101c688f5/IT_Lino13.jpg Postcards - Caserta (Italy) - Here is another delightful hello from Italy sent by my penpal Lino who traveled to Caserta while in Naples. So much to see, so little time (and money!)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hello-sailor-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2023-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/200f0811-3f21-4ae2-891b-0c2eaa4f9e37/CA_Ray16.jpg Postcards - hello, sailor (British Columbia) - In fact there’s nothing about sailing in this image, but it reminds me of a funny quote that would sometimes show up in old cartoons when someone sees an attractive man “Well, hello there, sailor!” I’m not sure what the origin is, but it seems applicable here. This postcard comes with Fall wishes from my penpal Ray. Thanks, friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/des-trangers-grand-hotel-italy monthly 0.5 2023-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bf7447eb-77bf-45a7-8ae7-e983ea9dc59d/IT_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - Des Étrangers Grand Hotel (Italy) - Hot on the theme of fine hotels arrives this beautiful postcard sent by Julian and Salvo at the very beginning of their grand European tour starting in the end of August! They sent it with a non-postal service which allows tracking the postcard, but I think the system didn’t work as intended as it still shows the postcard undelivered. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-seward-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/daecdd05-7ce0-4c0d-b839-632a9fb2602c/US-MI_Emily05.jpg Postcards - the Seward (Michigan) - I wonder whether I’ve been to the bookshop where she’s getting all these terrific vintage postcards of Detroit, but I’m certainly not mad about receiving them! Our niece Emily sent this postcard, saying it reminds her of the Shinola Hotel where she used to work. I wonder what ever became of the Seward, Detroit’s Leading Uptown Hotel? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ice-kachang-singapore monthly 0.5 2023-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/875ad3ca-1d54-40ad-b527-3d69ccae9e25/SG_414977.jpg Postcards - ice kachang (Singapore) - This dessert from Singapore reminds me a lot of 礤冰, a dessert that my husband talks a lot about from his childhood visits to Taiwan. The basic shape of the dessert is the same but the toppings vary quite a bit from place to place in Taiwan, so certainly they would from country to country! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kieler-frde-germany monthly 0.5 2023-11-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0e87eaba-6a5a-4896-b152-702717a33570/DE_13476267.jpg Postcards - Kieler Förde (Germany) - One of the best parts about PostCrossing is that you sit down to write some postcards and send them off, and then days or weeks later, you get a surprise postcard in the mail. It’s all about the delayed gratification; this postcard is no different! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/donostiako-badia-spain monthly 0.5 2023-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2528a220-ed2b-4788-a952-beaecdbf0e2d/ES_JulianSalvo09.jpg Postcards - Donostiako Badia (Spain) - Tempted though I was to write this postcard is from Euskadi, I decided not to inflame any political tensions. Instead, I’ll just admire the beauty of the San Sebastián Bay. Julian and Salvo enjoyed the food and sights and people, including the “xonfuzing language”! Ha! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/watercolor-portland-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/67be53cc-12a6-43e6-9aa4-52dd215cf5db/US-OR_Linda47.jpg Postcards - watercolor Portland (Oregon) - Whenever I’m in Portland looking for postcards, I always see this one and love it. What a treat to receive it from my dear friend Linda! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/it-stinks-united-kingdom monthly 0.5 2023-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/81408c3b-bc9e-432a-a89b-5bad92aef871/ES_JulianSalvo10.jpg Postcards - it stinks! (United Kingdom) - Among the very many weird remnants of colonialism is Gibraltar, the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula where the United Kingdom has a strange holdout. At this point, it’s little more than a military airport and a rookery for monkeys. Julian and Salvo visited it and wrote simply on the back: “It Stinks!” I can only imagine! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/milan-rainbow-italy monthly 0.5 2023-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a920bdbf-3590-4e2b-80ad-99723409e0f7/IT_Lino12.jpg Postcards - Milan rainbow (Italy) - My penpal Lino was visiting Milan because his daughter graduated from university; I have been to Milan once and unfortunately the Duomo was in scaffolding at the time so the photos weren’t nearly as nice as this! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alhambra-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0d62e8fb-8795-452b-ad0b-3545dde9f277/ES_JulianSalvo08.jpg Postcards - Alhambra (Spain) - Typically, I don’t prefer multiview postcards, but this one is a beautiful exemplar of what the genre should be: bite-sized views of the same locale that don’t crop out too much and feature the main sight prominently, with a unifying theme and center. To make this even better, it’s not even a rectangular (or square) postcard! It’s cut out along the scalloped edges as you see. Thanks, Julian and Salvo, for sending such a great postcard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-sainte-chapelle-de-dijon-france monthly 0.5 2023-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/631a9f27-20da-4461-925a-700a604f568e/FR_Dominique110.jpg Postcards - La Sainte-Chapelle de Dijon (France) - Celle-ci est une carte envoyée par mon ami Dominique qui écrit que Dijon est visité facilement par TGV (un rêve ça, d’avoir une système de chemin de fer si utile et facile!). Comme le capital de Bourgogne, on y goût des vins délicieux, et on voit aussi de l’architecture aussi belle qu’en Paris. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/granada-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2071954-3cc9-4ad9-8925-fcbef96e7b43/ES_JulianSalvo07.jpg Postcards - Granada (Spain) - I remember learning about azulejos in Spanish class way back in middle school, and ever since I’ve found the symmetrical geometry of them just gorgeous. Here’s a watercolor that captures that style perfectly, sent by our inimitable friends Julian and Salvo from their grand tour of Spain. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hawaiian-islands monthly 0.5 2023-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c486e73b-a861-4ebd-b71f-0665c5a22421/US-HI_RobynnOliver03.jpg Postcards - Hawai’ian Islands - Robynn and Oliver were in Hawai’i visiting family and writing, and they took the time to send this beautiful postcard! It’s printed on two pieces of koa wood veneer, each just .005 cm thick! What a beautiful piece of Hawai’i to receive in the mail! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/franklin-cider-mill-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6d43a267-29e5-456f-a094-0514e6d42bd5/US-MI_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - Franklin Cider Mill (Michigan) - Our friends Kimee and Michael were visiting family in Michigan earlier this month, where Michael introduced Kimee to the tradition of visiting cider mills in the Fall. How I miss this tradition! The hot, fresh cider from the apples and holding your cup under the spout to get it as fresh as humanly possible… the hot, cinnamon-sugar doughnuts… the caramel apples… the hay rides and pumpkin patches. I don’t regret living in San Francisco, but the Bay Area cannot compete with Michigan when it comes to Fall activities! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/royal-mile-whiskies-connecticut monthly 0.5 2023-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8ba7c9be-e64e-432f-b0ab-126b39ad1fda/US_9801787.jpg Postcards - Royal Mile Whiskies (Connecticut) - This is the first PostCrossing card I’ve received since May, as I took a little break over the summer. The sender lives in Connecticut but had visited Edinburgh in 2019. What a coincidence, as I’d just visited the shop in August! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monika-sed-studio-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/50c2c742-f8de-4a4a-887e-8af604af8c8f/ES_JulianSalvo06.jpg Postcards - Monika Sed Studio (Spain) - What a great photograph of this terrific cathedral. Julian and Salvo sent this from Barcelona writing, “Sell all our things, sell all of your things then meet us here!” Hang tight, I’m on my way! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gran-torneo-internacional-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b2165696-c232-4103-a53b-40300d07b299/ES_JulianSalvo05.jpg Postcards - gran torneo internacional (Spain) - The postcards are arriving a little out of synch, which I adore! Julian and Salvo sent this from Barcelona, writing about all of the beauty in the city, from the architecture to the food, to the art. I couldn’t agree more. My translation of the card: Promotor Joaquin Gasa | Bullfighting Ring of Pamplona | Sunday, July 12 || Four Huge Matches | at 9:45 in the morning || Grand International Tournament of Catch as Catch Can https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ibiza-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b0a5f99e-9e86-4794-97f3-99ccd0909f6c/ES_Maribel04.jpg Postcards - Ibiza (Spain) - Crystal clear water and white sand beaches - who could ask for more than a vacation to such a beautiful Mediterranean island as Ibiza!? Thanks to Maribel and José for this recuerdo desde sus vidas fascinantes! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/azulejos-del-patio-de-las-doncellas-palacio-medjar-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a20f8b2e-3916-4ff7-9245-cdd7f5c6d224/ES_JulianSalvo04.jpg Postcards - azulejos del Patio de las Doncellas, Palacio Medéjar (Spain) - You’re in the south of Spain - Seville, precisely - and you know you’re going to get some great Arab art! This is a detail from the azulejos tiles in the Patio de las Doncellas in the Mudejar Palace. Carved into the fountain is the great poem from Ibn Zamrak: For are there not in this garden wonders that God has made incomparable in their beauty, and a sculpture of pearls, which it resembles in its pure dawn, with a transparent light, the borders of which are trimmed with seed pearls.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-cathdrale-saint-just-france monthly 0.5 2023-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/78980730-81df-419a-8a26-70fe81561a82/FR_Dominique109.jpg Postcards - la Cathédrale Saint Just (France) - Voici la Cathédrale Saint Just à Narbonne, une ville dans l’Aude. Je ne comprends exactement pas pourquoi sur la carte postale c’est écrite “Corbières.” Wikipedia me dit que Corbières est une commune avec une 40-aine de personnes dans l’Aude! Ceci ne pourrait pas être correct, n’est-pas? Une cathédrale si grande dans une commune si petite?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mlaga-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0aafacd4-4b38-460b-9b9f-d325606b84c0/ES_JulianSalvo03.jpg Postcards - Málaga (Spain) - The Spanish postcards keep coming! This one from Málaga along the Costa del Sol (the Sun Coast). We’ve since met Julian and Salvo and they had such great stories to tell, especially of the delicious meals. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/happiness-is-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-10-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/59fbc2e0-62d7-42cd-ad89-371b3b1f07d5/US-OR_Linda46.jpg Postcards - happiness is… (Oregon) - Somehow Linda has run into some trouble finding postcards, so she decided to make her own! This one is a true delight, even if it doesn’t feature her own Gus. Pinot hasn’t had ice cream (yet?), but he did get some whipped cream on his birthday earlier this year. He was ecstatic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/moco-museum-x-guillermo-lorca-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/320cb9ad-14a1-4a23-86b9-a66c21e24277/ES_JulianSalvo02.jpg Postcards - Moco Museum x Guillermo Lorca (Spain) - Our dear friends traveled throughout four countries in Europe last month and sent a bevy of postcards! This one is from the Moco Museum in Barcelona and features a painting by Guillermo Lorca, a Chilean artist. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sitges-spain monthly 0.5 2023-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/28fb8b7b-f61b-4a78-ad45-f0ddff1599d3/ES_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - Sitges (Spain) - Sitges is a beautiful beach town to the west of Barcelona, which I visited way back in 2001 during my first trip to Catalunya. I think I knew at the time, but wasn’t brave enough to explore it thoroughly, that Sitges is a huge European capital of gay culture, especially Bears. Our friends Julian and Salvo made a pilgrimage to this Mecca and truly enjoyed themselves! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/crme-catalane-france monthly 0.5 2023-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1c4c20e6-6c3d-4f13-91bb-5f41dd49b181/FR_Dominique108.jpg Postcards - crème catalane (France) - Cette recette est arrivée de mon ami Dominique qui écrit simplement: “Voilà, tout c’est dit.” Évidemment! Ingrédients pour 4 personnes: 1/2 litre de lair, 75 g de sucre semoule, 2 jaunes d’oeuf, 1 ouef entier, 1 cuillerée à soupe de maïzena et de farine, 1 écorce de cannelle, 1 bâton de vanille, 1/4 de zeste d’orange et de citron. Préparation: porter le lait à ébullition. Retirer du feu et ajouter la cannelle, la vanille et les zetes et laisser infuser jusqu’à complet refroidissement du lait. Travailler l’oeuf, les 2 jaunes, le sucre, la farine, et la maïzena puis verser dessus le lait après en avoir retiré les éléments aromatiques. Faire cuire sur feu très doux en remuant jusqu’à épaissement (10 mn environ). Répartir la crème dans des ramequins et mettre au frais. Au moment de servir, saupoudrer chaque ramequin de sucre semoule, puis porter sur le sucre un fer préalablement chauffé au rouge pour le caraméliser. Le contraste entre la crème froide et le caramel chaud et croustillant rend ce dessert délicieux. Recette de M. et Mme. Cases Henri - Ferme Auberge de Graffouil km 4, route de la Preste - Prats-de-Mollo. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/carcassonne-france monthly 0.5 2023-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ab6d94be-42fe-4b09-8374-5bf740bbfe06/FR_Dominique107.jpg Postcards - Carcassonne (France) - Dominique m’a écrit sur une vidéo sur YouTube (et un article du Monde) sur la chef française Dominique Crenn qui a ouvert un restaurant à Paris qui s’appelle Golden Poppy. Je connais l’oeuvre de Dominique Crenn, la première femme aux États-Unis pour gagner trois étoiles Michelin. On y a mangé il y a plusiers années avec mon frère et sa femme. Le dîner a eté magnifique. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-cit-de-lor-qubec monthly 0.5 2023-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/42ecc830-07d2-4139-84bf-b412d2a99312/CA_Corinne04.jpg Postcards - la Cité de l’Or (Québec) - Mon amie à letters m’a envoyé cette carte postale en célébrant la nouvelle habitation avec son partenair et ses enfants. J’en suis très heureux pour elle, et eux tous en fait! “Scène relatives aux mesures de santé et sécurité au travail peintes en fresques au mur, mine Sigma 1949. Auteur? “ de la Collection Corporation du Village minier. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jefferson-avenue-detroit-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-10-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f5392c38-d14e-47cf-b80b-246ddf020ecc/US-MI_Emily04.jpg Postcards - Jefferson Avenue, Detroit (Michigan) - Our niece Emily sent another great vintage postcard from Detroit where she’s living now. I suppose at the time of this printing (I think the date was torn off in transit, but maybe the 50s?), a huge, wide boulevard like this would have been attractive and indicative of a beautiful, robust city. Now, of course, we recognize that wide streets aren’t beautiful and don’t make a city desirable. The most desirable cities have narrow streets (and very few cars!). Detroit is undergoing a renaissance at the moment; I hope it thinks carefully about cars and their enormous appetite for ugly infrastructure. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tillamook-cheese-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1696092823428-E0FH9K5VCGP8L4R5LI3P/US-OR_Kimee01.jpg Postcards - Tillamook Cheese (Oregon) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1696092823360-8BVVB340CPVAUT6PKABV/US-OR_Kimee02.jpg Postcards - Tillamook Cheese (Oregon) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cucugnan-france monthly 0.5 2023-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/54826cba-bee1-4a91-b987-624ec9aceae8/FR_Dominique106.jpg Postcards - Cucugnan (France) - Although Cucugnan is a picturesque, small town in the south-east of France, it’s most well-known, according to Dominique, for the Priest of Cucugnan, a story written by Alphonse Daudet and studied by all French schoolchildren. In the story, the Priest is upset that his parishioners aren’t attending mass often enough, so he recounts a dream in which he travels to Heaven and Purgatory, but doesn’t find any of his parishioners there. This is because they’re all in Hell, he recounts, hoping to scare them back into faithful attendance. Shocking! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pago-pago-seeds-and-fruits-american-samoa monthly 0.5 2023-10-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5e78854f-5deb-4697-ab5a-c0e22bd3f0e3/AS_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Pago Pago seeds and fruits (American Samoa) - Matty continues his island hopping, moving over in to the United States to visit American Samoa (he used a US postcard stamp!), which is surprisingly different from Apia, Samoa he writes. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/echo-lakes-california monthly 0.5 2023-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6367de03-7cea-4f0e-a206-32e11454f034/US-CA_Kimee02.jpg Postcards - Echo Lakes (California) - Our friend Kimee was enjoying an annual retreat with her friend in the Sierras, including a 14 mile trail run from Echo Lake to Aloha Lake! It’s easy to forget living in San Francisco just how wild California is! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ketchikan-alaska-canada monthly 0.5 2023-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b54f82e4-61f6-421a-9bd1-9d160f27ff22/CA_Ray15.jpg Postcards - Ketchikan, Alaska (Canada) - “But Alaska’s not in Canada!” you exclaim. You’re right. So why did I label this terrific postcard under Canada? That’s because although it was picked up in Alaska, it was mailed from Canada, where Ray lives (this is how I label cards). He was on a cruise up the western coast of North America and stopped in Ketchikan. What a charming image! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/handmade-wooden-bus-samoa monthly 0.5 2023-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/410f8612-b1e1-43f3-845f-921e6964bd78/WS_Matty01.jpg Postcards - handmade wooden bus (Samoa) - This is my first postcard from Samoa! I’m thrilled to receive it from Matty, who’s on vacation on “an island adventure.” What a thrill! He writes that “[t]he people here are so friendly & polite - so refreshing to see.” Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lenticular-oh-those-nevada monthly 0.5 2023-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1e7a8ada-01b4-440b-bd24-edc436c1c1d4/US-NV_Andy04.jpg Postcards - lenticular Oh, Those (Nevada) - I love lenticular postcards, even though they don’t scan very well! That must be why Andy picked up this really stunning one from Meow Wolf with quite a lot of movement! I was delighted to receive it in the mail. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lima-the-llama-hawaii monthly 0.5 2023-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/15f47b4b-3980-4f3a-98e3-73f78c026f17/US-HI_Tristan06.jpg Postcards - Lima the Llama (Hawai’i) - My brother-in-law Tristan was in Maui visiting friends and family and volunteering with the clean up and humanitarian situation. He sent this very cute postcard, which I hope is a representation of the resilience of indigenous and local communities in the face of disasters, natural and human-made. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mnchen-germany monthly 0.5 2023-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fe0d6fce-e1b0-4736-9fb7-18bef3208a14/DE_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - München (Germany) - Wow, I haven’t been to Munich since 2013! Our dear friends Julian and Salvo are traveling in Italy and Spain this month, but somehow found time to send this postcard upon arriving initially in Europe! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tk1cso0luz8scxvbhlrfz8lhkaefr7 monthly 0.5 2023-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/980cbb0f-eb53-4dcb-be1d-f507f9fd5340/US-NV_Andy03.jpg Postcards - artistic cheese (Nevada) - Andy traveled to Las Vegas last weekend with some friends from grad school. While there, they visited Meow Wolf, which he had visited together in Santa Fe way back in 2016. What a trippy experience! At first, this just looks like cheese, but if you look a bit closer, you can see that there’s more than initially meets the eye! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/downtown-detroit-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c4510c36-a692-41e0-989c-663e2e15c239/US-MI_Emily03.jpg Postcards - downtown Detroit (Michigan) - Our niece Emily moved to Detroit earlier this year to be closer to her work as a pastry chef. She found this delightful historic postcard of Detroit, and even included some historic stamps on the back! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-quiche-lorraine-france monthly 0.5 2023-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/55d11e4b-28ee-464c-9693-904c1a9cc726/FR_Dominique105.jpg Postcards - la quiche Lorraine (France) - Voici une recette que je connais bien. J’ai bien préparé cette quiche plusiers fois. Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais beaucoup d’américains pensent que les quiches sont difficiles à préparer. Je peux vous assurer que cela n’est pas le cas. Merci, Dominique! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8w2leie4jpq1whbj3gv8b9hit6a0di monthly 0.5 2023-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/57cbdfe6-bc17-4efb-b6bd-d8faa91f630a/HK_Ning01.jpg Postcards - Chinese University of Hong Kong - This postcard from the Chinese University of Hong Kong comes from a former student I worked with who’s now working at the CUHK. I’ve only received a small number of postcards from HK, so this is a special treat! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tourte-lorraine monthly 0.5 2023-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3ffdffdb-6213-42d1-a8f1-1808dbb35ed9/FR_Dominique104.jpg Postcards - tourte lorraine - Mon ami Dominique m'a envoyé cette recette pour la tourte lorraine, un repas que je ne connaissais pas. Elle a l’air très bon, donc il faudra que je l’éssaie bientôt. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/o-diable-se-trouvent-mes-pantalons-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a427e7fb-ca02-4f09-80df-ee2c7056cd3f/US-OR_Linda45.jpg Postcards - “où diable se trouvent mes pantalons?” (Oregon) - Ha ha ha. How funny is this re-casting (ha! See what I did there?) of the classic Rodin sculpture?! Thanks, Linda, for sending it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lego-birthday-balloons-indiana monthly 0.5 2023-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a723d0a9-fe15-4a57-9298-ca78212932d2/US-IN_Nozomi39.jpg Postcards - Lego birthday balloons (Indiana) - Nozomi got these great Lego postcards a while ago and has been generously choosing a few here and there to send to me. This one is a great one, of course, in honor of my birthday which passed recently. Thanks, Nozomi! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cartes-danniversaire-france monthly 0.5 2023-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/00b2f895-58c2-4ae5-92af-a198d0712868/FR_Jennifer03.jpg Postcards - cartes d’anniversaire (France) - Car mon amie ait passé son août en France, elle m’a envoyé cette carte postale glorieuse pour fêter mon anniversaire. Je l’adore tellement, ce qui n’est pas surprennant car elle me connaît très bien. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rose-city-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d51ba1a8-cac0-4d0b-9b08-d4a3353d55df/US-OR_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - Rose City (Oregon) - Who doesn’t love a good wooden postcard? Kimee and Michael sent this one from their recent trip to Oregon. It’s quite appropriate that it be made of wood, given the heavily wooded nature of the Pacific Northwest. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/how-to-succeed-indiana monthly 0.5 2023-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a7d094b8-e24e-41f2-8f23-0f0a3ead7ee3/US-IN_Nozomi38.jpg Postcards - “How to succeed…” (Indiana) - My friend Nozomi sent this postcard from a performance she saw a while ago. I haven’t seen it yet, but after my incredible experience at Cabaret in London, I’ve got the bug for live shows! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/crabby-post-office-england monthly 0.5 2023-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7fd02ad5-025b-47fe-ab91-45098d7bc10f/GB_Kristopher02.jpg Postcards - crabby post office (England) - This postcard I sent to my husband to thank him for arranging our trip abroad. He noticed this image when we were in the Postal Museum in London and was taken by the anthropomorphized crab. He loves seafood to eat, but also to admire! Notice, though, that the postage for a postcard is lower for “postcards containing name of sender, date and a conventional phrase of not more than five words.” What constitutes a “conventional phrase”?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-midwest-its-like-this-iowa monthly 0.5 2023-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/188574b8-08f6-41cc-93a9-68cf1e95e661/US-IA_ReneeEdmundo05.jpg Postcards - the Midwest: it’s like this (Iowa) - I’m not sure how ironic the makers of this postcard intended it to be, or whether this is a genuine depiction of the openness and beauty (and whiteness) of the Midwest. In either case, I think both interpretations hold, which is probably why our wry friends Edmundo and Renée chose to send this from a recent family trip to Iowa. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/koblenz-germany monthly 0.5 2023-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7d47478b-3f60-4171-ba87-dadf13ea1609/DE_Dominique21.jpg Postcards - Koblenz (Germany) - This is the summer of cruise ships it seems! Dominique sends this one from Germany, writing about how many Alsatians choose to take cruises down the Rhine. Dominique and his partner, however, prefer a car trip down the romantic valley. After our other friends’ experience on a river cruise down the Rhine, I might be convinced to give it a try, however! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/elk-rapids-michigan-1 monthly 0.5 2023-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/297910b3-b943-4a63-83e4-eb4c9e37a0c4/US-MI_Walter02.jpg Postcards - Elk Rapids (Michigan) - The same day as Arthur’s card arrived, so did his brother’s - Walter, my youngest nibling. He, too, was visiting the family vacation home and sent this delightful postcard. Kudos to the USPS for delivering the postcard, even though the address was written on the wrong side of the card and semi-legibly, and was only addressed to me as “Tío Geda.” Kids bring such joy to every task! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/elk-lake-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e2cfe0cc-b808-40b5-aa4b-4f56f150d991/US-MI_Arthur01.jpg Postcards - Elk Lake (Michigan) - I am, sadly, not in the habit of posting the obverse of postcards, but it’s a shame in this case because this card comes from my third-youngest nibling Arthur from a trip his family took to the vacation home in Elk Rapids. He send important news of his new stuffy, a rainbow chameleon. I hope to see the new friend some time soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/knoedel-stein-austria monthly 0.5 2023-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9b43c3e0-05a9-4c81-9a55-5e9b9cabbc68/AT_Dominique22.jpg Postcards - knoedel stein (Austria) - By now, I can recognize these lovely Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum postcards from a meter away. The design is absolutely iconic. Thanks to Dominique for sending this postcard from a quick pop over to Austria while on a trip to Austria. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monticello-virginia monthly 0.5 2023-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8f6acb3f-be4a-4f06-8c7d-d60bccc7826d/US-VA_Heather01.jpg Postcards - Monticello (Virginia) - My former colleague and now friend Heather visited Virginia with her husband, including a stop at the infamous Monticello. She aptly writes “History is quite captivating and thought-provoking.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/birthday-wishes-canada monthly 0.5 2023-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1693320626755-AUVLPAKU9GUS6BD7JAYI/CA_Ray13.jpg Postcards - birthday wishes (Canada) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1693320626800-XXWJPZPXJ6R5QM565LY0/CA_Ray14.jpg Postcards - birthday wishes (Canada) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/summers-end-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e5c75e46-7254-4d5c-a20d-754d430fadfe/US-OR_Linda44.jpg Postcards - summer’s end (Oregon) - Unfortunately, I don’t know who wrote these beautiful lines, but with an attention to nature’s beauty and a keen eye for great wordsmithing, it’s no surprise that this postcard comes from Linda in Portland. She describes some great hikes and funky coffee shops in Portland, including one: “…tricked out like a library with floor to ceiling books.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/spirit-of-sydney-australia monthly 0.5 2023-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/174c37bc-2e1b-4e46-a008-7da6d47b7fed/AU_Matty05.jpg Postcards - Spirit of Sydney (Australia) - Matty was in Sydney on a work trip, helping to train up a new colleague, and managed to find the time to send a postcard of one of Australia’s most iconic sights! I wonder if the denizens of Sydney even stop to see the opera house anymore, or if it’s just so much background noise? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/napa-valley-california monthly 0.5 2023-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8a80b36f-9769-4850-bba8-848300fcaf5e/US-CA_JulianSalvo11.jpg Postcards - Napa Valley (California) - Our friends Julian and Salvo have been on a postcard tear, sending this beautiful one (a postcard I’ve sent many times but never received - thank you!) from the harvest festival at Quintessa, a tour of Memento Mori, and some delicious food. Is there a better way to spend a weekend in Napa? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nancy-france-1 monthly 0.5 2023-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ebd466e0-8f31-4e6e-af6e-17074ff61c0a/FR_Dominique103.jpg Postcards - Nancy (France) - Voici une carte de mon ami Dominique. En fait, la ville de Nancy possède une grande image dans mon mémoire car, à l’époque de mon étance en France, j’avais un colleague qui habitait à Nancy et qui m’y avait invité a visiter plusiers fois. Malheureusement, je n’y suis jamais allé, malgré la distance courte entre nous. Dominique écrit que cette place forme partie de “l’une des plus belles places du monde. Nancy est connue comme ‘la ville aux portes d’or.’” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kilted-ryan-scotland monthly 0.5 2023-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bb607984-a791-4a53-a8a7-862400acff81/GB_Kristopher01.jpg Postcards - Kilted Ryan (Scotland) - Continuing the thread of yesterday’s dude, here is a postcard I sent myself from Scotland. A few other friends received related postcards - you can probably guess who! I think I wrote to them something like, “We’ve seen plenty of men in kilts but so far they have all been wearing shirts…” Alas. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-merdude-california monthly 0.5 2023-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/66896dc3-e4a8-4b8e-b3a7-da023147ff83/US-CA_JulianSalvo10.jpg Postcards - the Merdude (California) - Salvo and Julian sent this delightful illustration of a Merdude (by Devin Mireles) to help me celebrate my birthday. I can’t think of a more perfect birthday wish from these two! Thanks, friends! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/seville-poland monthly 0.5 2023-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ea6e0cbf-ebc3-441f-99ef-e180ed8b3583/ES_Andreas01.jpg Postcards - Seville (Poland) - My penpal Andreas took a trip to Poland and sent this postcard from there. I’m not sure if he also visited Spain (and perhaps didn’t have time to send the postcard from Spain before moving on to Poland) or if he picked up this beautiful postcard (easy to see why) in Poland. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bixby-creek-bridge-california monthly 0.5 2023-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/13e14473-dedb-46ca-9561-e4f2a0775f56/US-CA_JulianSalvo09.jpg Postcards - Bixby Creek Bridge (California) - Our dear friends Julian and Salvo took a trip to Big Sur and Carmel by the Sea while we were away in the United Kingdom, sending this iconic view. What a treat! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cunard-queen-elizabeth-canada-and-us monthly 0.5 2023-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/33fba26f-cf40-4773-a828-3d70836ba540/CA_Ray12.jpg Postcards - Cunard Queen Elizabeth (Canada and US) - My pen pal Ray and his partner took a cruise on this cruise ship - of course, Cunard is famous for its luxury and elegance. Ray writes that on your cruise to Alaska, he “only took 4200 pictures.” I can imagine! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/urquhart-castle-and-loch-ness-scotland monthly 0.5 2023-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/12387744-7425-469c-9274-2ec1b259ab41/GB_Dominique01.jpg Postcards - Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness (Scotland) - Par très grande coincidence, Dominique est aussi allé en Écosse pour des vacances pendant août! Nous ne sommes arrivés jusqu’à après sa visite et il était au dehors d’Edinburgh, mais j’ai tellement aimé recevoir une carte postale surprise comme celle-ci. En fair, il a passé des jours à Speyside, la région dont vient le whisky préferé de mon beau-père. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/my-hero-australia monthly 0.5 2023-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fa3721ba-853c-47bd-8d6c-b0ce681bd0ed/AU_Matty04.jpg Postcards - my hero (Australia) - This delicious card arrived from my penpal in Australia. When one thinks about Australia, naturally lifeguards (and life-threatening wildlife) come to mind first! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monterey-coast-california-1 monthly 0.5 2023-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5beb7a91-96b1-4186-84aa-aa31d212402b/US-CA_TracyCynthia04.jpg Postcards - Monterey Coast (California) - Our dear friends Cynthia and Tracy are spending some time near Monterey and sent us this postcard exemplifying the cool, ocean breezes that characterize a summer along the Central Coast. We’ll have the rare delight of visiting them at their summer getaway too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/water-gun-cowboy-california monthly 0.5 2023-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/18e1a553-5ff2-4e8e-bb3d-53011b1ea900/US-CA_JulianSalvo07.jpg Postcards - water gun cowboy (California) - What a delight this is! Our friends Julian and Salvo sent us this and it was just perfect to receive. The artist is Devin Mireles. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-ville-de-qubec-canada monthly 0.5 2023-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c54fdbe3-aeb7-4c64-9638-2b37893ff471/CA_LaurenC01.jpg Postcards - la ville de Québec (Canada) - Our friends Lauren and Jon visited Quebec City recently and even stayed at the Château Frontenac! I’ve never been to Quebec City, although I’ve visited Montreal twice. Someday! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-tarte-aux-mirabelles-france monthly 0.5 2023-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0ab80fd5-0432-43ac-a764-fe15ec12cec4/FR_Dominic103.jpg Postcards - la tarte aux mirabelles (France) - Même si j’aimerais bien essayer de récréer cette recette, je crains qu’il ne soit pas possible car les mirabelles ne sont pas disponibles ici aux États-Unis (ben, que je sache moi). Quandmême, quand je serais en France le temps correct, je la mangerais sûrement. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/melbourne-street-art-australia monthly 0.5 2023-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cd8438ab-8999-49de-8aaa-ccfdb0242567/AU_Matty03.jpg Postcards - Melbourne Street Art (Australia) - My penpal Matty was in Melbourne for a work trip training a new coworker and didn’t have much time to do sightseeing, but somehow found the time to send me this great, panoramic postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jetpunk-finland monthly 0.5 2023-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7ff446eb-b441-424e-8bab-6fba4cec118d/FI_Jussi18.jpg Postcards - JetPunk (Finland) - My penpal Jussi sends this postcard from Finland out of love for his favorite quizzing website. I have yet to join it out of fear I’ll lose whole weekends to it. There was a time I was spending some serious time on Sporcle. I certainly credit to learning all 192 countries of the world and all the capitals of Europe and South America. I lost steam trying to learn the African capitals and should try to pick them up again! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/trinkhalle-germany monthly 0.5 2023-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2465aeb4-18e9-4b2f-8b01-f1732f84b23a/DE_Dominique20.jpg Postcards - Trinkhalle (Germany) - Here is a postcard from my penpal Dominique who was visiting Germany and picked up this postcard about “Trinkhalle” which means literally “Drink Hall.” It’s part of a hot springs/spa complex in Baden-Baden (itself literally “Baths-Baths”). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-cabazon-dinosaurs-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/195b0a80-f054-4403-8e80-05f9e76db3c5/US-OR_Linda43.jpg Postcards - the Cabazon Dinosaurs (Oregon) - The Cabazon Dinosaurs are actually in California, but this postcard comes to me from Oregon where Linda continually finds great ones! She writes about her baking adventures, which is another of the reasons we’re such good friends. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/girona-spain monthly 0.5 2023-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d3bd157b-bf18-43e5-ab8b-31142845c39d/ES_Dominique01.jpg Postcards - Girona (Spain) - Aunque mi amigo Dominique me ha enviado más de cien tarjetas postales de francia y docenas de alemania, ésta es la primera de españa. Está pasando sus vacaciones en españa para viajar pero también para practicar su español (no sabía que habla el castellano). ¡Enhorabuena! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/elk-rapids-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/05a42e2d-d9f9-40fc-8f08-62a21cdac4cd/US-MI_GedaNieces01.jpg Postcards - Elk Rapids (Michigan) - Our five nieces all traveled to Elk Rapids for a weekend away with their Nana (my mom) and all of them, including Mom, signed the back of this gorgeous, oversized postcard of a sunset over Lake Michigan. We were just there earlier this month and I already miss a gorgeous Michigan summer. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sky-lantern-festival-taiwan monthly 0.5 2023-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/776879e4-1114-4f5f-a6e9-5a4d82333fbd/TW_Kay03.jpg Postcards - Sky Lantern Festival (Taiwan) - I assume this postcard comes from our friends Kay and Pei who visited family in Taiwan this summer. I’ve never been to the Sky Lantern Festival but I would love to see it! All of those beautiful, candle-powered lanterns floating gently into the sky? What a sight! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tree-witches-oklahoma monthly 0.5 2023-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f8dba542-1e37-43cc-a7ad-abda4c40ecf1/US-OK_LauraP01.jpg Postcards - tree witches (Oklahoma) - Our friend Laura is in Oklahoma for work and sent this delightful postcard! I’m not sure it depicts tree witches, but I like to think it does. Maybe they’re forest nymphs? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bloomington-indiana monthly 0.5 2023-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1babcc78-2cb5-4bed-83db-8117510fdcde/US-IN_Nozomi37.jpg Postcards - Bloomington (Indiana) - Another stand-out postcard from Nozomi in Indiana! This one she almost walked right by until she noticed it was a postcard. I’m so glad she did! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/englert-theater-indiana monthly 0.5 2023-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2804b367-e9bf-4733-b1c1-b4a3fed98873/US-IN_Nozomi36.jpg Postcards - Englert Theater (Indiana) - I think I’ve written before about my love of later-postcards (postcards bought and possibly written or even stamped and then delayed for some reason before finally being sent days, weeks, months, or even years later). This is one such postcard received from Nozomi who sent it from Indiana even though she bought it in Iowa City when she was visiting for a friends’ wedding. I really love the historic aspect of this! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/60-jahre-goethe-institute-in-12-postkarten-france monthly 0.5 2023-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/50f97e36-1867-42d1-b600-92105c676dd9/FR_Dominique102.jpg Postcards - 60 jahre Goethe-Institute in 12 postkarten (France) - Même si cette carte postale s’agit d’Allemagne et l’Institute Goethe, je l’ai reçue de mon ami Dominique en France (ben, en Alsace qui a une rélation spéciale avec l’Allemagne). On voit ici des étudiants de l’Institute Goethe; je ne sais pas beaucoup d’autre sur cette image car je ne parle pas l’allemain. Je réproduis le texte ici en cas où quelqu’un de mes lecteurs sache le traduire: Sichtlich Spass habe die Schülerinnen beim Deutschunterricht in Apia. Von Samoa bis Island, Jakarta bis Rio betreut das Goethe-Institut im Rahmen eines grossangelegten Partnerschulprojekts des Auswärtigen Amtes über 500 speziell aus [illegible à cause de la poste]. Mit Interstutzung bei Aufstatong, Lehrmittein, Stipendien und Austauschprogrammen erfährt der Deutrsch-unterricht eine besondere Aufwertung und sichert Deutschland die Sympathie der Entscheider Innen von morgen. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gttingen-germany monthly 0.5 2023-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f8dcb16c-c722-4033-bc8e-a9e1ae49958d/DE_Jo-Nico02.jpg Postcards - Göttingen (Germany) - My friend and colleague Jo was in Göttingen for a work exchange with her university in Bordeaux and sent me this lovely postcard. Apparently, the “Gänseliesel” (Goose Girl) in the middle is the most kissed girl in Germany and it’s a tradition to give her a kiss if you have earned a doctorate from the University of Göttingen?! So strange! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/taiwan-map-new-hampshire monthly 0.5 2023-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d86c62f7-b00e-43e3-95bb-af7269146082/US-NH_KayPei02.jpg Postcards - Taiwan map (New Hampshire) - Our dear friends Kay and Pei were in Taiwan this summer visiting family and eating delicious food; they picked up this postcard of a historical map of Taiwan showing the old capital, Tainan. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/toni-morrison-on-books-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2fc55167-59ae-4f5f-831a-5295155d8674/US-OR_Linda42.jpg Postcards - Toni Morrison on books (Oregon) - Earlier, I wrote about an uncanny ability to choose terrific postcards - this absolutely applies to Linda! What a great and true quote. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-farmers-market-california monthly 0.5 2023-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/47f18036-eb6e-4652-9309-c0e122546bf5/US-CA_HunterAlyssa02.jpg Postcards - LA Farmers Market (California) - After San Diego, Hunter and Alyssa took a bus tour through LA, stopping at a variety of places including Griffith Observatory. What a great opportunity to si(g)t(e) see! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-diego-zoo-california monthly 0.5 2023-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/29e97bf9-5ba6-4636-bcec-ae751733c1e7/US-CA_HunterAlyssa01.jpg Postcards - San Diego Zoo (California) - Color me envious! Our niblings Hunter and Alyssa traveled to SoCal for a family member’s wedding and had time for a side trip to the SD Zoo. I’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t been, yet. They both wrote about how expansive the zoo was! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/caf-campagne-washington monthly 0.5 2023-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fe8d86a4-e148-477d-a87a-3e9097151a7d/US-WA_Kath01.jpg Postcards - Café Campagne (Washington) - After spending a terrific afternoon tasting wine with our friend’s dear and charming mother, I was delighted to receive this postcard from her later travel to Washington state! Thanks, Kath! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/there-is-always-time-for-tea-canada monthly 0.5 2023-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd5f77d1-2574-47db-b0d4-a47625a5acfb/CA_Ray11.jpg Postcards - There is always time for tea (Canada) - I guess I’m starting a tea postcard collection! How can I not with this great postcard from my penpal Ray in BC, Canada? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-rubiyt-of-omar-khayym-california monthly 0.5 2023-07-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2dc3db59-e2d7-4913-bd62-504513a1ec00/US-CA_KimeeMichael14.jpg Postcards - the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (California) - Some people have the ability to choose stunning postcards seemingly everywhere they go (a bit of survivors’ bias since I suppose I only see the best ones?); Kimee is certainly in this category. What a great missive from the American Bookbinders’ Museum here in SF. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/devils-punchbowl-state-natural-area-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5e3be704-3bab-4198-bd49-84704208be87/US-OR_Alyson01.jpg Postcards - Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area (Oregon) - This postcard arrived recently from our friend Alyson who was traveling to the Oregon Coast and thought of us. I dearly hope it’s because of the natural beauty of the Oregon Coast and not the name of this natural feature that made her think of us! Ha! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kew-royal-botanic-gardens-united-kingdom monthly 0.5 2023-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b4c687bd-1a74-406a-996f-dbeb83f27d47/GB_Kayle01.jpg Postcards - Kew Royal Botanic Gardens (United Kingdom) - Our friend Kaylé is in the United Kingdom on a trip, part of which was to see an Arsenal match. In addition, she visited the Kew to enjoy an exhibit on botanical nature in the Quran. Really cool! This piece is titled “All The Flowers Are For Me” by Anila Quayyum Agha (2023). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monhegan-island-maine monthly 0.5 2023-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5304929b-a5ae-4c86-8b4c-1af09fb8b215/US-ME_Peggy01.jpg Postcards - Monhegan Island (Maine) - Not only is she an active postcards sender/receiver, but she’s also active in traveling and volunteering. Peggy is currently in Maine doing a service project with the Sierra Club. What a great way to see more parts of the country and world! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stamp-collection-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4a67fb03-ad33-4666-ae78-8e0aa77db878/US-OR_Linda41.jpg Postcards - stamp collection (Oregon) - As someone who collects postcards, I see a lot of stamps. They’re not my particular area of interest, although I do look at them and notice them, especially when they’re thematically appropriate for the postcard, the message, or the sender. But a collage of stamps is always a beauty! This one comes from Linda and is a great addition to my collection. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/road-to-hana-hawaii monthly 0.5 2023-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/afd598a4-c165-47f7-a2c7-f53c8fd61b18/US-HI_Mom03.jpg Postcards - Road to Hana (Hawai’i) - My mom was in Hawai’i recently and sent me this great postcard from her stay in Maui. Hawai’i is a favorite destination for my mom. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/isle-royale-national-park-california monthly 0.5 2023-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5322a0f3-7433-4973-a2f3-512aa9d68879/US-CA_TracyCynthia03.jpg Postcards - Isle Royale National Park (California) - Our dear friends Cynthia and Tracy sent this postcard from California; I have no idea how they found a postcard from Michigan’s most famous national park (and last I checked, the least visited one in the Continental US due to its remoteness). I myself have never been but I hope to visit it some day. I just don’t know when. :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/central-park-new-york monthly 0.5 2023-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ff637b91-bf65-4399-b67a-3893a832250c/US-NY_TracyCynthia02.jpg Postcards - Central Park (New York) - Ending their European tour, Tracy and Cynthia spent time in NYC and surroundings with family. Among their highlights of New York was Central Park, which is an icon of the city. They also visited the MoMA and the High Line. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/haguenau-france-1 monthly 0.5 2023-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/91ad6288-03b3-49f4-86f4-f026f475a6e7/FR_Dominique101.jpg Postcards - Haguenau (France) - Même si cette carte postal soit la 101ère que j’ai reçue de Dominique, envoyée de la France, je crois que c’est la première que j’ai reçue de Haguenau, la ville où habite mon ami. Ce qu’on voit ici est la Tour des Pêcheurs, qui date depuis 1228 et 1235. J’adore! (chaque fois que je vois le mot “pêcheur” en français, je pense au mot “péché”) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/auckland-2023-postcrossing-meetup-new-zealand monthly 0.5 2023-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1e1a011b-55e9-461f-ad31-3c20799cc5b8/NZ_Matty02.jpg Postcards - Auckland 2023 PostCrossing MeetUp (New Zealand) - My Australian friend Matty traveled to New Zealand for work and managed to also attend the 2023 Auckland PostCrossing meetup! I’ve only ever been to two before and they’re great fun to exchange postcards. This one was specifically created for the MeetUp, including a great stamp! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/formosa-taiwan monthly 0.5 2023-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b9699a61-960c-4651-b4e1-20f607ecf75c/TW_Heather02.jpg Postcards - Formosa (Taiwan) - 這張明信片收到了從我的以前的同工現在的朋友。 她現在在台灣遊覽。 她寫的國語很清楚所以我都看得懂。謝謝Heather！ https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/shouldnt-have-insulted-my-dog-california monthly 0.5 2023-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c53642ef-5b01-4213-99f6-4a8cd7c27c74/US-CA_KimeeMichael13.jpg Postcards - shouldn’t have insulted my dog (California) - This postcard arrived last week but is only just now making it to the blog. I can’t tell you how much joy it brought us. Andy and I were reading it in the elevator and laughed so hard both dogs jumped up on us to make sure we were okay (the same way they do if we sneeze). Kimee and Michael chose the perfect card to send our way. A thousand thanks, friends! The back reads: “This idiot dog should be tied up! shouted Mr. Primple as he confronted the Thomas brothers and their friendly mutt Baxter out for a walk. The children tried to warn him, but the old man went on and one with his unnecessary insults until Baxter began to stand on his hind legs.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/breisach-am-rhein-germany monthly 0.5 2023-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7cffc01c-f886-4e80-95bd-b9eedf26e2d1/DE_TracyCynthia01.jpg Postcards - Breisach am Rhein (Germany) - This postcard arrived from our friends Cynthia and Tracy on their river cruise in Europe. Soon after sending this card, they were on their way to Switzerland to cap off the European side of their trip. What a beautiful view! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mori-haka-new-zealand monthly 0.5 2023-05-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c41a3433-e11a-4f2a-8b6e-40f943dc3084/NZ_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Māori Haka (New Zealand) - This card has such activity and energy in it, as of course does the depicted dance called “Haka.” I didn’t get to see a haka when I visited in 2005, but I’ll be traveling back to New Zealand for sure, although I’m not sure when. Thanks to Matty for this postcard and the terrific stamps! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-lone-cypress-tree-california monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/09ca42d2-5fce-46bb-b613-f0c849958617/US-CA_JulianSalvo05.jpg Postcards - the Lone Cypress Tree (California) - Anyone who has visited Northern California but hasn’t been to Big Sur is really missing out. This view is from Carmel on the Monterey Peninsula south of San Francisco. The coastline is super rugged and wild, so it’s absolutely worth a visit. Julian and Salvo sent us this postcard from a recent trip down south to get away from the city. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bloomington-squirrels-indiana monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/55a380e1-56b3-4d17-b98b-62c772918b12/US-IN_Nozomi35.jpg Postcards - Bloomington squirrels (Indiana) - My good friend and a very longtime postcard penpal Nozomi sent this whimsical hello from her city in Bloomington, Indiana. Summer term has begun which is always a welcome development in any instructor’s life. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pastry-sunburst-new-york monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a6b4b48f-4768-4cec-9fc3-ea3cccf37679/US-NY_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - pastry sunburst (New York) - Kimee and Michael were in New York recently and instead of sending a typical tourist postcard (which I love, for the record), they sent this pastry-themed postcard (which I also love!). I particularly love the organized arrangement of all of these delicious bakes. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/berlin-germany-1 monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/75c1f047-0a10-44d1-a8b8-8c221a1700aa/DE_QuinnLorris02.jpg Postcards - Berlin (Germany) - What a beautiful surprise postcard from our friends Quinn and Lorris who were in Berlin visiting friends before a wedding in the countryside. They’re pleased with the richness in parks and playgrounds and wurst and pretzels. What’s not to love? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/colmar-france-1 monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b464a98b-6d43-4805-b883-aac36f1fbef0/FR_Dominique100.jpg Postcards - Colmar (France) - Ben, elle est arrivée, mes amis: la centième carte postale de mon ami Dominique. En fait, j’en ai reçu beaucoup plus de lui, mais voici la centième reçue de la France. Je reste étonné qu’il puisse trouver toujours des cartes postales tellement belles partout où il voyage! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dutch-strongman-the-netherlands monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/68b1d7ed-cd25-441e-991f-8d1436487f9f/NL_KatieBrown03.jpg Postcards - Dutch strongman (the Netherlands) - Andy’s former classmate Katie sent this delightfully camp postcard from Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. I’m grateful for this surprising batch of postcards from Katie and I hope to meet her soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/matera-sasso-barisano-italy monthly 0.5 2023-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/620f2c06-9030-43a2-a1f1-9ebb3dcfe401/IT_Lino11.jpg Postcards - Matera, Sasso Barisano (Italy) - My Italian penpal sent me this beautiful postcard from his long trip around Italy. There are so many terrific places I’d love to visit yet. The list keeps growing longer! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/freiburg-im-breisgau-germany-1 monthly 0.5 2023-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b1478da3-900f-49cb-aa76-fc19fad8e5fb/DE_Dominique19.jpg Postcards - Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) - Voici une carte postale de mon ami Dominique qui écrit que le jour 8 mai est jour ferié en France pour célébrer la victoire de la 2ème Guerre Mondiale. Il écrit également qu’en Allemagne, ce jour n’en est pas tellement célébré, bien sûr. Ça m’intéresse beaucoup car le Canada et le Mexique, nos voisins plus proches observe les mêmes jours feriés quant aux guerres. Je n’ai jamais pensé à être à côté d’un ancien pays énémie. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/evening-lighting-in-amsterdam-the-netherlands monthly 0.5 2023-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3ff2b379-a9c6-43e8-9500-eca63faf9972/NL_TracyCynthia01.jpg Postcards - evening lighting in Amsterdam (the Netherlands) - Our dear friends Cynthia and Tracy are on a long-awaited trip to Europe to enjoy a river cruise on the Rhine. Before they departed, they enjoyed Amsterdam and all it had to offer culinarily and historically. I’ve only been to Amsterdam a few small times, but this postcard certainly captures the summer spirit of the city. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sedona-arizona monthly 0.5 2023-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0f87485b-0b8e-4410-824e-1f0d2ca66e08/US-AZ_Tristan01.jpg Postcards - Sedona (Arizona) - The scan didn’t do this postcard justice, of course, but trust me when I say that the colors are beautiful and hyper saturated. It’s printed on real wood and has quite a bit of thickness to it, so I was really delighted to receive it! Thanks, Tristan! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/humboldt-county-california monthly 0.5 2023-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2391202a-e724-4038-8108-ddb4b807f3ce/US-CA_Kimee01.jpg Postcards - Humboldt County (California) - Our friend Kimee was in northern California for a marathon and had a great time! IN between the training, preparation, and recovery, she found the time to visit a stationer, pick this delightful card, write it, and mail it. I’m so thrilled - congratulations Kimee on your race! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nieuwe-kerk-the-netherlands monthly 0.5 2023-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1d4eef9a-2bbb-4366-9a98-824d5ca1c3cd/NL_KatieBrown02.jpg Postcards - Nieuwe Kerk (the Netherlands) - It’s unusual for postcards sent on the same day to arrive on the same day, even more so for those sent from abroad! Katie, Andy’s former classmate, sent this postcard after climbing the tower. She left me with the great advice to “stretch daily.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dutchboyz-amsterdam-the-netherlands monthly 0.5 2023-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/83aa94a0-f4f6-4f27-a1dc-3ea99e107697/NL_KatieBrown01.jpg Postcards - Dutchboyz Amsterdam (the Netherlands) - I’m surprised how clearly this postcard scanned, given that it’s a glorious lenticular postcard! It comes from Andy’s former classmate Katie who was visiting Amsterdam a few weeks ago. How did I get so lucky to receive postcards not just from my friends, but friends of my family members?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/applaus-tausch-france monthly 0.5 2023-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/862757de-416a-42cf-8253-e681fdcc2e50/FR_Dominique99.jpg Postcards - Applaus Tausch (France) - À present, je reconnais l’origine de cettes cartes postales. Le moment que je vois un fond de couleur unie avec du texte en majuscule, je sais qu’elle est arrivée de Dominique en France, et la carte postale vient du Musée Tiroler Landes en Autriche. Celle-ce est la nonante-neufième que j’ai reçue de Dominique envoyée de la France! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/microscopic-troubles-nevada monthly 0.5 2023-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/78485c59-e49b-4ebf-875c-e28d5d5cd878/US-NV_Tristan06.jpg Postcards - microscopic troubles (Nevada) - I sent Andy to Las Vegas with some fresh-baked cookies to give to his brother during the visit. In exchange, Tristan sent this postcard, which is a truly great wish! Here’s to microscopic troubles, indeed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/retro-motel-nevada monthly 0.5 2023-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6c3a3ad5-dfb5-4161-a9de-460aebe54fc1/US-NV_Andy02.jpg Postcards - retro motel (Nevada) - Andy traveled to Las Vegas to visit his brother last week and of course he took the time to write me a postcard from his trip. I think I’ve seen this postcard before in Las Vegas old town, but I’m not certain. Thanks, husband! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/neopolitan-pizza-italy monthly 0.5 2023-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c25e44f1-d595-4baa-83b9-4a2296592087/IT_Lino10.jpg Postcards - Neopolitan pizza (Italy) - This delicious postcard came courtesy of Lino who is traveling a bit around Italy. In Naples, he sent this round, irregularly-shaped postcard asking me the question, “Do you like pizza?” I’m a bit surprising at this question - who doesn’t like pizza? I especially love Neopolitan-style pizza. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hope-and-deep-thoughts-russia monthly 0.5 2023-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0f785fd6-0225-4c36-8fc7-f0b42797c46d/RU_9597594.jpg Postcards - hope and deep thoughts (Russia) - This really stunning postcard arrives from Moscow, Russia along with a great hockey stamp on the back. I wonder what the person in this image is thinking? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/have-a-seat-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2023-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d6abfd24-e86c-4cd8-a138-5cdc76b728a1/CA_Ray10.jpg Postcards - have a seat (British Columbia) - Ray writes how this “is an interesting card from where and when [he doesn’t] know.” He also wonders the same things I do: are these men gay and did they pose this photo deliberately? I guess we’ll never know. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yo-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2023-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/88d37cee-f1e8-42f7-8785-6162f629947c/US-PA_Edmundo01.jpg Postcards - Yo! (Pennsylvania) - This postcard carries some deep inside jokes between the sender, Edmundo, and my husband. I’m lucky to privy to it. Edmundo writes that he signed up for a transit card and rode the bus to get me this lovely postcard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sun-moon-lake-taiwan monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0dcc23cd-b404-4717-aa4d-e2ca2f8274c5/TW_Peiyi01.jpg Postcards - Sun Moon Lake (Taiwan) - What a glorious surprise from our dear friend Pei-Yi who’s home visiting friends and family. She writes that Sun Moon Lake is one of her favorite places in Taiwan and is eager to show us this and many others. I’m certainly going to take her up on that offer! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/roswell-new-mexico-michigan monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/99de98a5-0b3d-4916-949c-55ba59369c07/US-MI_LeahMcLean02.jpg Postcards - Roswell, New Mexico (Michigan) - Leah knows how I am terrified of aliens - but she’s right that this one isn’t bad because a) it’s a cartoon, and b) the alien is dead (or dying!)… so it’s all good fun. Technically, this photo was sent to Andy and me and “PINOT” - he got the star treatment naturally. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bird-of-paradise-hawaii monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/97c2af60-1f7a-47ab-9e62-533212283867/US-HI_RobynnOliver02.jpg Postcards - bird of paradise (Hawai’i) - The scan doesn’t really do this postcard justice, because it’s made of solid wood. It’s quite solid - perhaps 1/4 inch thick! The printing of the colors is so beautiful, too. Thanks to our neighbors Robynn and Oliver for sending this “aloha” from Maui! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/milano-italy-1 monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c639520f-9e5d-4625-8f06-728dea67d73d/IT_Lino09.jpg Postcards - Milano (Italy) - Lino sends this postcard from Milan while on a trip to celebrate his daughter’s wedding. What a coincidence because Milan is one of two Italian cities that I’ve visited (albeit way back in 2005). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/drew-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/adccc56b-764a-4715-96e6-10500ffc5764/US-PA_T05.jpg Postcards - Drew (Pennsylvania) - T sent this postcard from Pennsylvania, not certain that I like Drew Barrymore (a nepo baby, in fact!) or “Scream.” In fact, I like both of them - I remember being really blown away by Scream when I first saw it. This opening scene was particularly memorable. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hello-cowboy-british-columbia monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6d4e9d65-7c3f-4cb9-81cd-78c7e8156c0f/CA_Ray09.jpg Postcards - Hello, cowboy! (British Columbia) - My friend Ray sent this great postcard from his home near Vancouver because he knows how much I love cows. LOL He writes that near me in Ferndale, California there are lots of cowboys; he says some of them are gay, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/walla-walla-washington monthly 0.5 2023-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9663e026-7788-49dc-ad46-a2b8d61f125d/US-WA_Mejdulene01.jpg Postcards - Walla Walla (Washington) - This beautiful postcard, which looks almost like a painting, comes from my friend who was on a trip to Walla Walla promoting her new book. I’m so proud of her for publishing this book, and grateful she found the time to send me a postcard! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/l2ua5va6pjk55nqfhgcqybvj85lm2v monthly 0.5 2023-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2b7b644c-33f6-45f7-9417-57582b977097/FR_Dominique98.jpg Postcards - Schnap Solution (France) - Voici la 98ème carte postale reçue de mon ami Dominique. On sera vite sur la centième! Pour celle-ci, j’ai découvert qu’elle est d’origine autriche venante d’un musée Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum à Tyrol. Je pense en avoir reçue une avant - j’aurai bientôt toute la collection! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7wjeod4zwguugz0i84pg7oektmb0v0 monthly 0.5 2023-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/60a7b2f7-b0be-47b3-86cb-adb7f2b3ded2/CA_Ray08.jpg Postcards - train to SF (Canada) - My penpal Ray in Vancouver, Canada sends this delightful postcard of two “friends” boarding a train from Los Angeles to San Francisco. I wonder why they might have been doing that?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/m9m6aigd3i2qdgm3bj7ri3vrvdqbm7 monthly 0.5 2023-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/933eb771-8697-43ed-9a25-e83c230dbe42/US-OR-Linda41.jpg Postcards - silver mini poodle (Oregon) - This could also be a toy poodle - it’s hard to tell without some context for size. My dear friend and dog-whisperer Linda sent this postcard with news of her enjoying Spring, despite the rain! I love this cut on the poodle - although I think the nails are too long. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rrja9ytva9m1sf29hckewfvn9cywh6 monthly 0.5 2023-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e51869db-9e7f-4578-8408-0b8eedc121da/DE_Summer01.jpg Postcards - Passau (Germany) - My godwife Summer is on her first Viking cruise in Europe and sent this beautiful postcard from Germany. At the time of her writing, she was off to Austria and Hungary next. What a coincidence because our friends Tracy and Cynthia are also doing a Viking river cruise in just a few weeks! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/easter-greetings-finland monthly 0.5 2023-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f72b08e7-47bc-4e4e-bf8c-7c298404ba06/FI_Jussi17.jpg Postcards - Easter Greetings (Finland) - Continuing to show that Finnish PostCrossers are on a whole other level, Jussi sends this great PostCrossing MeetUp card to celebrate Easter. I know that the Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs are part of Anglo tradition - are they also a tradition in Finland, or is it an imported custom? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/melbourne-tram-australia monthly 0.5 2023-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d2fddf52-d58d-4a4f-95d1-c9e3b2d30ea4/AU_Matty02.jpg Postcards - Melbourne tram (Australia) - My penpals Matty in Australia sent this postcard from a business trip to Melbourne. He mentioned Lune, a bakery with the best croissants he’s ever had. Consider it added to my list of places to visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/srssw03jnt75sp8gob5q19ffaupd3r monthly 0.5 2023-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ca0f8f23-eb4f-411d-a692-6f2bc8aa93e5/ID_404106.jpg Postcards - Indonesian fried rice (Indonesia) - This sender took me at my word, asking for recipes, and sent this beautiful illustrated recipe for Indonesian fried rice. I’ll have to try it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/18wjbfzjjld4s74wc0e86a5i3nlbzf monthly 0.5 2023-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d9ab365d-ee07-4d9e-aef0-d01f1c1aac07/DE_IsabelTraciAlexander01.jpg Postcards - Obertauern (Germany) - My former colleague Isabel and her family moved to Germany a few months ago, and she went digging through her mother’s postcard collection to find this excellent vintage card. Although this postcard was sent from Germany, Obertauern is in Austria! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/veendam-the-netherlands monthly 0.5 2023-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c3cb99a7-a7fc-4a45-8c54-60618fa89521/NL_5448660.jpg Postcards - Veendam (the Netherlands) - What a deliciously homoerotic image! I wonder whether the designers knew what they were doing. They must have! Thanks to the sender for choosing this campy image to send me. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/attyvbxj1n6o6lgvv6h0vppqhkgn00 monthly 0.5 2023-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a8452c1d-af90-4c2e-b111-95af820e9988/US-OR_Linda40.jpg Postcards - reboot the country (Oregon) - This seems like an appropriate card for Linda’s 40th sent from Oregon! How many times during the past five or six years have we all asked ourselves this question? With good friends to laugh and commiserate with, it almost seems possible to put the world to rights though. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ac2i3pvfx9fwsizo9od5qy7cgo8915 monthly 0.5 2023-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c78114a2-0adb-40a6-99b5-14655d9c9423/AU_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Sydney Harbour (Australia) - The only other image of Australia that’s as iconic as this one has got to be Uluru. But since Matty was in Sydney for work and not the Southern Territory, this is the great image I received instead. Thanks, friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pe9kzeexm82l7skttjqow9hqh0k1nl monthly 0.5 2023-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd11fa8b-3f6d-4a98-9d09-4fd2197832cd/CA_QuinnLorris04.jpg Postcards - Niagara Falls (Canada) - Our friends traveled to Niagara Falls from their home in Toronto and did lots of great touristy things! If you accept it’s a tourist trap, I think places like Niagara Falls can be a delightful visit. I haven’t been to Niagara in decades. I think it was 2000 since I was last there when we took a drive with my penpal from Catalonia who had been visiting. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/4zaiq0ghf0lwx1yl721gwbc3jgbzde monthly 0.5 2023-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2236b924-c7c0-47e3-8d31-dc450856845e/US_9219039.jpg Postcards - Vernors (Illinois) - This postcard comes from a Michigander now living in Chicago, but she chose it for me because of our shared background in Michigan. Vernors is a pop (or “soft drink” if you will) that’s like a spicier ginger ale, and it’s a common home remedy for nausea. She writes “To this day, if I have an upset stomach, that’s the first thing I reach for.” Same, friend. Same. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oglqj3tri26e3901s0ld2pp8sk8vy3 monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4f58bedb-e73a-42ab-868f-8a05d986ad77/US-OR_Heather01.jpg Postcards - Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program (Oregon) - This postcard was so familiar to me when it came in the mail. Then I saw who sent it - my good friend and former colleague Heather! We were lucky to meet up and spend some time together at this year’s TESOL Convention in Portland, even recreating a photo we’d taken at the last TESOL to take place in Portland nine years ago! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/7mvet3x0593mhjxlbj3ennjc11bz8k monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3ca882ac-5a09-4114-a977-acca3c18565b/AT_664540.jpg Postcards - Salzburg (Austria) - Margit sent this postcard from Salzburg, a city near where she lives. She introduced me to a new phenomenon: Kurrent (similar to Sütterlin". There were two styles of writing, akin to German cursive used until the first part of the 20th century. Margit learned it in school and has practice it since! My name looks so cool (and unrecognizable)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/57r5mi42mcsfb8qzd6yrd9cf6t7mgs monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/df3d417f-18fd-4e16-8071-3256bfc8fa7b/IE_239781.jpg Postcards - Bród (Ireland) - One of the problems with the scans of these postcards is that you don’t get a sense of the size. This postcard is easily half a sheet of paper! It’s really beautiful, and comes from Ireland of course. I love it because it combines two of my favorite things: Pride celebrations and minority languages! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5zfkb04splbna0d87woi2kmea2f327 monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/34ba83b7-33ea-462c-947c-353026120ffd/CA_Nozomi01.jpg Postcards - humpback whale (Canada) - This artwork is absolutely phenomenal. Gordon White of the Haida created this, writing “Humpbacks are respected for their enormous size, agility, and melodic songs.” My good friend Nozomi was in Vancouver, Canada for the Japanese/Korean Linguistics conference and sent me this postcard. I love it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/k60npmqq6ki77ak9pzk3yv8qfol69a monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/91ef7859-e0ea-4043-b188-c9279c072206/FI_4370477.jpg Postcards - oatmeal cookies (Finland) - You know I love baking and so I love recipes. The sender of this postcard sent a recipe for oatmeal cookies from Finland. Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/5mwiet44fgh7anry8808h2mqjr1rfl monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/26693cbd-2e34-49f2-a72d-01e305aa3dc7/DE_12808254.jpg Postcards - Neu-Ulm (Germany) - How I love this image! It contains so many things I love - namely baking and baked goods! The sender of this postcard lives on the Danube in Bavaria, a town called Neu-Ulm. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ttw7cc0xbgrngx73d4g4owi63ou1rz monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a2bcb7ba-6563-4a09-b495-cd11f5b5bee9/FR_Dominique97.jpg Postcards - Cité de Carcassone (France) - Voici autre carte postale reçue de mon ami Dominique. Cette ville est tellement iconique - j’espère un jour la visiter! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/79lilxqc52legouv0i841fen7swnki monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c9fa813b-1363-4a88-8784-ccb2eff9b9d6/FI_4370879.jpg Postcards - Tom of Finland (Finland) - This handsome gent comes from Finland, where else? What art is potentially more iconic of Finland than Tom of Finland? Thanks to the lovely sender who sent this to me with the timely message of “Peace in Ukraine”! I couldn’t agree more. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/island-walcheren-netherlands monthly 0.5 2023-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9847af58-a6d1-4f5d-88f0-65999cc7566b/NL_5448661.jpg Postcards - Island Walcheren (Netherlands) - This postcard arrives from a retired person in the Netherlands and describes the lovely town she lives in with this great bridge. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/carhenge-minnesota monthly 0.5 2023-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0995065a-45b9-476c-bf32-4e8cd88fb366/US_9197165.jpg Postcards - Carhenge (Minnesota) - But the postcard itself says “Alliance, Nebraska” - why did you post it as Minnesota? It’s because that’s where the postcard was mailed from! I love a double-journey postcard, which has made its way from the store where it was purchased (in Nebraska) to the sender’s home or second destination (Minnesota) before being sent to me (California). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bastia-france monthly 0.5 2023-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d0d28dda-8e8b-4d94-a05d-0f0fa80f1357/FR_Faith02.jpg Postcards - Bastia (France) - Voici une carte postale de mon ancienne étudiante Faith qui habite en France maintenant où elle enseigne l’ánglais aux elèves. Celle ci est son année dernière et j’ai hâte d’entendre de ses nouvelles quant à ce qu’elle fera en prochain. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lahaina-shores-hawaii monthly 0.5 2023-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9379697d-b1d3-4d11-9f8e-b9db48c28ff7/US-HI_LaurenJon02.jpg Postcards - Lahaina Shores (Hawai’i) - Lauren and her husband stayed at the Lahaina Shores beach resort, which they describe as “awesome” [original emphasis] because it’s laid back and super convenient for whale watching. I love the whale watching part, especially the idea that they could see them from the balcony! What a terrific resort - it’s definitely going on my list. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/road-to-hna-hawaii monthly 0.5 2023-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6ced484f-8b24-4b2d-98e7-036c7b17d597/US-HI_LaurenJon01.jpg Postcards - Road to Hāna (Hawai’i) - One of Lauren’s first stops was the Road to Hāna on Maui. After staying overnight, they did a beautiful hike in the morning on the Pipiwai Trail in Haleakala National Park. There are so many great national parks in Hawai’i - I hope to visit them, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fishermans-wharf-california monthly 0.5 2023-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/57b7dfc3-2756-409c-8e7c-a6b487406b90/US-CA_LaurenJon01.jpg Postcards - Fisherman’s Wharf (California) - I almost never receive postcards from San Francisco, given that I live here. This postcard comes from my good friend and former program-mate Lauren, who was passing through SF on an extended lay-over on her way to Hawai’i with her husband. We were lucky enough to meet up for dinner, and she sent me this terrific vintage postcard, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/m51v8o499uwcm5iipcy3ss4yc0qrbw monthly 0.5 2023-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f35d1790-532e-4ef6-b37c-17752f786ab1/US-AZ_GregJames.jpg Postcards - Sedona (Arizona) - It’s the end of the term, so I’ve been really busy and haven’t had an opportunity to upload many postcards. This postcard arrived a few weeks ago already from our friends Greg and James who visited Arizona on a quick vacation. I haven’t yet visited Arizona, but I hope to in the near future. Sedona is certainly on the list! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/where-the-golden-gate-is-golden-california monthly 0.5 2023-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6b6fb3d8-f218-4b2b-b93d-c57476793957/US-CA_JulianSalvo04.jpg Postcards - “Where the Golden Gate is Golden” (California) - We spent a terrific weekend with our friends Julian and Salvo last week and in recognition of those great days, they sent this beautiful postcard. Living in San Francisco, and enjoying the friends and amenities that this city has offered, makes me really appreciate the gold that is the Bay Area. What a privilege to live here. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/license-plates-of-the-usa-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4d78be41-8473-47d6-81ef-fb245d446ea6/US-OR_Linda39.jpg Postcards - license plates of the USA (Oregon) - As it turns out, one of my uncles collects license plates. I can’t imagine having such a heavy collection (postcards are weighty enough!), but his garage is nearly full of crates of license plates. I wonder what he’d think of an art piece like this. Linda sent me the postcard of this art piece, which I really appreciate. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/valentines-day-postcrossing-cyber-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2023-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9488a91b-066e-4295-a582-bf83df90eee1/FI_Jussi16.jpg Postcards - Valentine’s Day Postcrossing Cyber Meetup (Finland) - How the PostCrossers of Finland can manage these terrific virtual meetups AND have a postcard printed with so many signers is a mystery to me! What dedication and creativity. Thanks, Jussi! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-lutte-contre-les-infections-nosocomials monthly 0.5 2023-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7b865a31-fc6a-4363-8c1a-3981bb2ee1f6/FR_Dominique96.jpg Postcards - la lutte contre les infections nosocomials (France) - Des temps en temps, en apprendant les langues étrangères, on apprend des nouveaux mots dans la nouvelle langue et également dans l’ancienne. Avec cette carte postale reçue de Dominique (la 96ème!), j’ai appris le mot “nosocomial” qui est le même dans les deux langues le français et l’anglais! Il écrit que cette carte postale a été crée par les laboratoires pharmaceutiques il y a quelqeus années pour favoriser la cause de la lutte contre les infections nosocomials. Fascinant! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/colosseo-vatican-city monthly 0.5 2023-02-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1f686cd3-7f51-4fe8-b4f0-bfe55c9c4e51/VA_Apolline01.jpg Postcards - Colosseo (Vatican City) - My friend Apolline sent this postcard from her recent trip to Rome, Italy, where she must have also visited the sovereign nation of the Vatican City. I’m fascinated by microstates - the Vatican being the micro-est of them all -and especially what the budgets must look like to run a whole postal system for a country with just 453 inhabitants! With so few people, it’s no wonder that the Vatican City boasts over 2 popes per square kilometer! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/valentines-day-lace-california monthly 0.5 2023-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/eb291dc4-81aa-49cc-b21c-7df0045ae397/US-CA_KimeeMichael12.jpg Postcards - Valentine’s Day lace (California) - Kimee made the stamp for this Valentine’s Day lace print by hand! She said that carving Pinot’s poodle poofs was good exercise for this one, which is intricate and beautiful. Happy Valentine’s Day from Kimee and Michael to us, and from me to you! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vancouver-canada monthly 0.5 2023-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c222f840-ad13-4d70-9a9f-b322b792b61c/CA_Ray05.jpg Postcards - Vancouver (Canada) - Thanks for my penpal Ray for sending this beautiful illustration of Vancouver. We had planned to travel to Vancouver this Spring, but unfortunately it won’t work out. Instead, I have this great picture to inspire me and keep me focused on the next opportuntiy. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monterey-coast-california monthly 0.5 2023-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9cd56114-d79c-42f9-95cc-f72c6d131a63/US-CA_Tracy02.jpg Postcards - Monterey Coast (California) - Tracy and Cynthia made a get-away to the Monterey Coast at Pacific Grove and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Among all their terrific activities, they found the time to send me a postcard. I’m very grateful for this super cute otter and her delicious snack! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/amliche-buntmachung-california monthly 0.5 2023-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b56f765c-1fe5-444a-ba8c-b2f832b7d60c/US-CA_Janie03.jpg Postcards - Amliche Buntmachung (California) - What a beautiful postcard from my penpal Janie, who picked this up on her last trip to Austria. Based on internet translation, the front declares: Official Coloring (or maybe: Official Colors?) and has phrases of inclusion and pride for LGBT people in the rainbow. On the back, it declares “Viel für die Vienfalt erreight: 15 Jahre Wiener Antidiskriminierungsstelle für gleichgeschlechtliche und transfender Lebensweisen.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lake-shore-drive-illinois monthly 0.5 2023-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/04f2a35f-6117-482f-a669-e1c2240c54cd/US-IL_Jialu01.jpg Postcards - Lake Shore Drive (Illinois) - My former student and now friend Jialu has started her PhD at Northwestern and sent me this lovely postcard - vintage style - of one of my favorite cities in the US. She also celebrated a very important life milestone and wrote about the meal they shared to mark the occasion. Congratulations, Jialu! <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/freiburg-im-breisgau-germany monthly 0.5 2023-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1d6c313d-63d9-4ebe-a48e-d49a3659ffdd/DE_Dominique18.jpg Postcards - Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany) - Dominique writes that this city is very well known for being the gathering point of many important thinkers, including Weber, Heidegger, and Hayek among others. Now, it’s known for its school of medicine and many beautiful parks. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mail-on-the-moon-california monthly 0.5 2023-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8fe8525d-9877-4aec-8af5-b283a2d8cd7b/US-CA_KimeeMichael10.jpg Postcards - mail on the moon (California) - How my friends find such unique and exciting postcards I guess I’ll never know. Kimee and Michael are absolutely no exception to this observation. Would that I could receive mail postmarked from the Moon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hawaii-volcanoes-national-park monthly 0.5 2023-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cb47cd24-1f5e-4ea9-879d-c0303a2e9e83/US-HI_Xuchao01.jpg Postcards - Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park - A former student of mine sent me this postcard after his recent trip to Hawai’i. The national parks are among the jewels in the US crown, although I’ve never been myself! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nancy-france monthly 0.5 2023-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/770abb76-3d2c-4d4f-a0cc-d5cff0aea2fb/FR_Dominique95.jpg Postcards - Nancy (France) - Voici la place Stanislas, “bâtie entre 1752 et 1756, sur les plans d’Emmanuel Héré, pour le roi Stanislas. Au premier plan, grilles de Jean Lamour, au centre, le musée.” Dans mon expérience, la France est pleine des jolies pièces dans tous les coins. Merci, Dominique! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/happy-year-of-the-rabbit-illinois monthly 0.5 2023-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fa86be14-7792-463c-8198-31b45352e663/US-IL_KAK03.jpg Postcards - Happy Year of the Rabbit (Illinois) - My penpal KAK sent me this great new year’s greeting! It’s really lovely; I’m excited to see what the Year of the Rabbit brings this year. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rainbow-lobster-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2023-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bb4ce1d7-cc06-4fa6-a8a8-0567070824df/US-MA_Nozomi05.jpg Postcards - rainbow lobster (Massachusetts) - This delicious postcard comes from Nozomi who attended a conference in Boston. It’s funny to me that lobster is an ingredient now synonymous with haute cuisine but was once so common that everyone ate it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/abitibi-qubec-canada monthly 0.5 2023-01-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/66f4c4f8-d993-4841-983a-23114609202d/CA_Corinne03.jpg Postcards - Abitibi, Québec (Canada) - Mon amie Corinne m’a envoyée cette carte postale depuis un village près à son coeur à Abitibi. Voici la gare CNR à Senneterre. J’adore les gares par tout et j’admis que je ne connais pas de tout celles du Canada! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hand-drawn-paris-california monthly 0.5 2023-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c042ada8-5cb8-4702-aad2-d2ca5a484bc8/US-CA_ToruWatanabe01.jpg Postcards - hand drawn Paris (California) - A former student of mine traveled to Paris on vacation and thought to bring this postcard back for me and mail it! What a thoughtful gesture - there’s so much to do and see and eat in Paris that I am truly touched he took the time to find a postcard and bring it back. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-power-of-reading-oregon monthly 0.5 2023-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8fc34184-f799-449f-8504-0f3cb896253d/US-OR_Linda38.jpg Postcards - the power of reading (Oregon) - Truer words… as they say! This postcard comes from Linda in Portland with news of Bob, the neighborhood peacock, who irritated her dog Gus on Christmas day with his porch antics! Later, Linda found how irritating birds on the porch can be, too! Happy holidays indeed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/let-it-snow-germany monthly 0.5 2023-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/22087ca7-ab35-489a-bd06-f3102443d748/DE_Carolin03.jpg Postcards - let it snow (Germany) - My penpal Carolin sent this delightful postcard capturing the warmth of a radiator (enjoyed by a wise cat) in front of the snow falling over a beautiful European town. It’s quite idyllic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/objekt-specktrum-france monthly 0.5 2023-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c9d1f7b1-3eea-47c5-8d22-d0a9ed66dffe/FR_Dominique94.jpg Postcards - Objekt Specktrum (France) - J’adore cette carte, qui est venue grâce à Dominique. Même si cette carte postal provient du musée Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum en Autriche, je l’ai reçu depuis la france. Quel couleur si vif! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kacie-lyn-martinez-california monthly 0.5 2023-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c0564ef0-5c38-405c-b674-9bfe217d7874/US-CA_KimeeMichael07.jpg Postcards - Kacie Lyn Martinez (California) - This stunning drawing/painting comes courtesy of Kimee and Michael; last year, Kimee got a calendar featuring art by Kacie Lyn Martinez and decided to — instead of recycling the calendar — repurpose it into postcards. What a terrific idea! (I admit that I don’t know if this is the right way up or not) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/puppy-play-california monthly 0.5 2023-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1674233992326-MR3AS5COMQK5TQM6R0RG/US-CA_JulianSalvo03-edited.jpg Postcards - puppy play (California) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1674234046434-Z5RBO6VI15DSCBHNJAPX/US-CA_JulianSalvo03.jpg Postcards - puppy play (California) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/guangdong-china monthly 0.5 2023-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8d20e47d-a324-49e6-af01-e798a51791a3/CN_Atomu01.jpg Postcards - Guangdong (China) - It’s rare to get more than one postcard from the same sender in PostCrossing, unless you’ve set up a private swap. This sender sent two great postcards - perhaps as insurance in case one didn’t make it? The first arrived last month, and now this one. I do hope to visit Guangdong sometime, including its capital city Guangzhou. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/les-tuileries-en-hiver-france monthly 0.5 2023-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/32c4fcba-4210-4500-acf2-13a050d705b7/FR_Dominique93.jpg Postcards - les Tuileries en Hiver (France) - Je pense que tout le monde doit connaître le nom de Robert Doisneau, même aux États-Unis, notamment pour sa célèbre image : le baiser de l'hôtel de ville. Voici une autre image de 1958. J'aime bien la statue nue recouverte de neige et le violoncelle recouvert de son étuil. Merci, Dominique. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/waseda-university-japan monthly 0.5 2022-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/adae91bb-83c4-49f2-99f4-ff2d1add4a73/JP_Ken01.jpg Postcards - Waseda University (Japan) - I received this postcard from my friend and former colleague Ken who just took a position at Waseda University this past year. Although we miss him terribly at work, I know that Waseda has a terrific instructor and administrator on their hands. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/joffes-house-russia monthly 0.5 2022-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2d498251-e8db-46e7-a37f-984f94be1477/RU_9425013.jpg Postcards - Joffe’s House (Russia) - The sender of this postcard says that her apartment is visible in the drawing right underneath the triangle to the right of the tower. The back of the postcard calls this “Joffe’s House” which is hard to find online. I did find this collection of photos on Wikipedia, so it must be famous somehow! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/famous-shenzhen-food-china monthly 0.5 2022-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ff963ab8-0fd5-40cf-be6e-baddab605777/CN_3433665.jpg Postcards - famous Shenzhen food (China) - This dreamy illustrated postcard depicts famous dishes from Shenzhen, China. The sender says that she hasn’t eaten any of these dishes, though! It’s delightful. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/iao-needle-hawaii monthly 0.5 2022-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0f8463b5-0328-4876-a7aa-3c1be5ee12ce/US-HI_RobynnOliver01.jpg Postcards - Iao Needle (Hawai’i) - Our neighbors Robynn and Oliver traveled to Maui earlier this month and sent this beautiful postcard. At first, I thought it was from Taiwan! This isn’t too surprising given the similarities between the islands (and their indigenous languages). I’ve never been to Maui but I really hope I get to experience its beauty in person soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/milano-italy monthly 0.5 2022-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/26830e4b-7ccf-42e9-aa4a-7c1bfe884ccb/IT_Lino08.jpg Postcards - Milano (Italy) - The last time I was in Milan (or Italy, for that matter) was 2005 after my TAPIF contract had expired. Unfortunately, the Duomo di Milano—pictured here—was completely covered in scaffolding for a renovation. Nonetheless, we found the city beautiful, even if we were only there for one night before driving to Lausanne and Geneva, Switzerland. This postcard comes from my penpal Lino and I am very attracted to the font design at the bottom, which reflects the Italian flag. It’s very clean and clever! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/frosty-the-finnish-snowman monthly 0.5 2022-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/71e9f495-9fb6-46de-b479-54ab94b675ce/FI_Jussi15.jpg Postcards - Frosty the Finnish Snowman - This is a beautiful illustration sent from my penpal Jussi, who writes that on the day he sent it (December 12), it was -9C (15.8F) and they had gotten about 5 inches of snow. I’m tickled that he used the US customary system of measurement for my benefit ,even though I think I’m pretty good at understanding metric lengths! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/absolut-ly-taiwan monthly 0.5 2022-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2b157d9b-83f8-4213-b407-8b927acb2dc4/TW_3416354.jpg Postcards - Absolut-ly Taiwan - This postcard comes from Postcrossing - I have asked people to send postcards about alcohol, and the sender looked for some beer and wine cards, but couldn’t find any. This is terrific to me because it’s a) from Taiwan, and b) the first brand of vodka I ever drank. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/whos-the-best-california monthly 0.5 2022-12-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7cae7f0e-d9c7-4c22-99f9-e1c23596a182/US-CA_JulianSalvo02.jpg Postcards - Who’s the best? (California) - Julian surprised us with this great card provided by his employer! The feeling is absolutely mutual - we’re so grateful for Julian and Salvo, and love spending time with them. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/baobab-tree-senegal monthly 0.5 2022-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5a947a4a-977d-4106-bbb1-7fa749d5af41/SN_521.jpg Postcards - Baobab tree (Senegal) - This is my second card from Senegal, and one of a very small number of postcards I’ve received from the continent of Africa at all. I’m very excited about it. Furthermore, this postcard was mailed from Banjul, the capital of the Gambia and has a Gambian stamp on it! But what a puzzle - the sender is German!? Maybe she was on vacation in West Africa when she requested this postcard? So cool. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-before-e-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b997f50a-1fd8-408d-beee-8e00a9ac569c/US-OR_Linda37.jpg Postcards - i before e (Oregon) - It’s some kind of superpower, I think, that Linda can pick these absolutely terrific postcards time and again. I wish I had the ability to do this - but at least I get to enjoy the benefits of Linda’s keen eye (and grand sense of humor). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/delicious-bread-colorado monthly 0.5 2022-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ba3840ce-04fa-458e-9332-5ea5c0edc121/US-8896213.jpg Postcards - delicious bread (Colorado) - This postcard was sent by another PostCrosser in Colorado. It’s good to know we’re both fans of LouPaper! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/unimog-museum-germany monthly 0.5 2022-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0b504802-0b1b-45ab-90ad-406fea1d259f/DE_Dominique17.jpg Postcards - Unimog Museum (Germany) - Dominique traveled to the Black Forest and visited the Unimog Museum and was quite impressed by the museum and the history of these trucks. I read that they’re sold in the US but I don’t think I’ve seen them (or I haven’t noticed them. I’m adding it to the list of places to visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/halloween-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2022-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bde85534-3bcf-42ee-be21-94fac8fb331e/FI_Jussi14.jpg Postcards - Halloween Meetup (Finland) - This is another great meetup postcard from my penpal Jussi. This one is from the Halloween Meetup in Finland from 5 November 2022. Terrific, and it’s signed/stamped by downs of Postcrossers! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/venice-italy monthly 0.5 2022-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/41893d06-22b3-419b-ba28-1367137a38fc/IT_ChristianMeghan01.jpg Postcards - Venice (Italy) - This postcard come sfrom our neighbors who were traveling through southern Europe, including “a very wet bike ride through Slovenia, things improv[ing] in Croatia, and then [eating their] weight in pasta, cheese, and ham in Bologna.” Terrific, just fantastic. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wissembourg-france-1 monthly 0.5 2022-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c9e0508c-20ca-47b7-ba80-b8565e9bd45a/FR_Dominique92.jpg Postcards - Wissembourg (France) - Wissembourg est une très belle ville, quant à cette carte postale et aussi son expidateur, Dominique. Il travaille dans la ville donc il la connait bien. Il me récommand les restaurants et pâtisseries. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lobster-canada monthly 0.5 2022-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a685a0c9-bc70-40e4-a576-2022dd1ccaeb/CA_1277601.jpg Postcards - lobster (Canada) - The sender of this postcard is from Nanaimo and writes about the Nanaimo Bar, which is a famous Canadian dish. I’ve never tried it, but she says she usually makes it for Christmas, which sounds like the right time to try it. Maybe lobster for dinner and then a Nanaimo bar after? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-couldnt-agree-more-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-11-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9531f83d-9b61-40c1-b6fe-19c8c61cc02a/US-OR_Linda36.jpg Postcards - I couldn’t agree more (Oregon) - Per usual, Linda hits it out of the park with this great postcard that I think sums up very well how many of us are feeling. There’s peace in knowing our weaknesses (or is madness a strength?)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/beautiful-kana-japan monthly 0.5 2022-11-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0379e3f0-6edc-4b39-91e9-f36270d71e01/JP_1797965.jpg Postcards - beautiful kana (Japan) - It seems like a chicken-or-egg question: did the Japanese develop their beautiful aesthetics first and then develop their writing systems, or did their beautiful writing systems influence their love of beautiful aesthetics? Maybe we’ll never know, but this postcard reminds me of textiles and art and writing. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vierkirchenblick-bamberg-st-michael monthly 0.5 2022-11-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4b6a37eb-0711-43d0-91f0-d8a445d6e7aa/DE_Dominique16.jpg Postcards - Vierkirchenblick Bamberg: St. Michael - Voici la seisième carte postale que Dominique m’a envoyée de l’Allemagne. Il a voyagé deux jours dans les Vosges en France et puis 2 jours en Allemagne, dans les deux parts différents du Rhin. “Différents” est bien le mot qu’il utilise pour décrire les deux régions. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-oblong-room-illinois monthly 0.5 2022-11-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6705dde0-bd1a-4149-812a-3b699476c94f/US_8900944.jpg Postcards - the Oblong room (Illinois) - I don’t think I’ve ever seen an episode of Dr. Who but who could miss the iconic telephone booth? The quote on the back of the postcard says “Oh look, this is the Oval Office. I was looking for the Oblong Room.” Spicy! The sender of this postcard responded to my prompt, asking about a favorite or memorable teacher. They write about a woodshop teacher who was caring and easy to talk to and occasionally came with donuts! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/postcrossing-friends-california monthly 0.5 2022-11-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1ec4e384-162f-449e-8aec-8bdf9704700d/US-CA_KimeeMichael09.jpg Postcards - PostCrossing Friends (California) - Our dear friends Kimee and Michael sent this from a recent trip to San José. Kimee received it from a penpal she made on PostCrossing. Peggy took this photo and then edited using some software and had cards printed. It’s really stunning! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/two-kinds-of-michiganders monthly 0.5 2022-11-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4227110d-6a6a-42bf-bdda-5591e56777b2/US_8896510.jpg Postcards - two kinds of Michiganders - Oh how true it is! This is one of the few postcards I’ve received through PostCrossing that came from a Michigander actually living in Michigan. This is from a Troll, like me, though - even if she lived for a bit in the UP. I think temporary residence there does not a Yooper make. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/heringsmwe-auf-fhr-germany monthly 0.5 2022-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ad4d51fc-73ff-49d8-b98a-9be936c17607/DE_12366446.jpg Postcards - Heringsmöwe auf Föhr (Germany) - Somehow, I find it quite comforting that seagulls the world over have that same look that says so many things, none of which I want to write on this blog. Maybe the most anodyne of them is “Leave me alone.” This postcard is two of three that arrived this week as I’m getting back into the swing of PostCrossing again! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/schwbisch-gmnd-germany monthly 0.5 2022-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3e176215-8b16-4d34-bc92-0c654b119275/DE_12366513.jpg Postcards - Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany) - I can’t begin to imagine how one pronounces the name of this city, but it looks very nice on the postcard indeed. This is one of three PostCrossing cards that arrived this week - I’m so glad to be back in the habit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fermo-italy monthly 0.5 2022-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/60c45cbe-a287-439f-bc39-7e88cf53cd17/IT_Lino07.jpg Postcards - Fermo (Italy) - As Lino and Lino are shopping for their wedding, they made a stop here in Fermo in the region of Marche. So many places to visit and see, and I love that postcards afford me the opportunity to do so rather easily! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/speyside-cooperage-scotland monthly 0.5 2022-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/61420bc8-b670-4146-af50-b66a13c1619e/GB_PattyBill01.jpg Postcards - Speyside Cooperage (Scotland) - You can’t have scotch without barrels, so it makes perfect sense that there would be a cooperage in Speyside! My Aunt Patty and Uncle Bill traveled to Scotland recently, visiting several sites and enjoying the trip from many aspects. I’m thrilled to receive this postcard and their greetings! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/boston-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2022-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c7fb0a09-b15e-41ae-b7d7-1a0940358c86/US-MA_Nozomi01.jpg Postcards - Boston (Massachusetts) - Nozomi sends this postcard from her first in-person conference since the pandemic! I personally am loving the return to “normalcy” at least in as much as it means traveling and seeing my friends, family, and colleagues again. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cit-de-carcassonne-france monthly 0.5 2022-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b7edd6ef-c253-4f41-920a-54b452b4ba46/FR_Dominique91.jpg Postcards - Cité de Carcassonne (France) - Même si je ne suis jamais allé à Carcassonne, j’ai reconnu la cité à la première vue quand la carte postale est arrivée. Quelle belle vue aeriale! C’est comme la ville européenne medievale stéreotypique. COmme dans les contes de fée. Merci, Dominique! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/virtual-birthday-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2022-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/87301f75-a9d6-4682-b81d-65e8e6ebdcec/FI_Jussi13.jpg Postcards - Virtual Birthday Meetup (Finland) - My penpal Jussi sent me this great meetup postcard. It’s well known that Finland is (among) the most active countries on PostCrossing, but all of these lovely postcards just serves to further prove this fact. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/arlington-national-cemetery-virginia monthly 0.5 2022-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/96349cd6-e5e7-4d4a-af70-1e1378331293/US-VA_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia) - My friend Kimee was on a vacation that must have included a trip to this cemetery. She writes so eloquently: as an anti-war daughter of two veterans… this was such a complicated, feelings-full stop on our… trip.” I can completely identify with this phrase, although only one of my parents is a veteran (two of my brothers are, as well as a handful of uncles and both grandfathers). I despise the glorification of war and death, and I find that sometimes monuments such as this paint with very broad strokes. I haven’t been to Arlington, so I can’t speak specifically to this site, however. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wish-you-were-here-florida monthly 0.5 2022-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/713122d3-24a1-490f-af8f-5e27277d4e50/US-FL_Mom05.jpg Postcards - wish you were here (Florida) - My family has vacationed in Florida for as long as I can remember, especially in Panama City Beach. My mother continues to return there yearly, sometimes alone, and sometimes with one of her girl friends. This year, she wrote about the crystal clear water and the great weather. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mykonos-greece monthly 0.5 2022-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fa573fbc-a3c5-48be-8e1b-7ed3189d1ca6/GR_JulianSalvo03.jpg Postcards - Mykonos (Greece) - This is the third card I’ve received from our friends Julian and Salvo, who traveled to Greece and Italy this past summer. That’s the thing about island time - things happen when they happen, including the delivery of mail! Sadly, there’s no postmark so I can’t see exactly how long it took, but I do love the great memories of Mykonos that this postcard brings. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-trickster-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/14017a41-e5da-4949-91c9-d4d9ced019f0/US-OR_Linda35.jpg Postcards - the Trickster (Oregon) - Linda knocks it out of the park again with this terrific postcard from Portland. It depicts a piece of art by Lea Moore (1998) called Trickster, and it says “The trickster is a mythological figure found in early native cultures worldwide. It corresponds more closely to the fool in tarot. The wink - just when you think you know something, you don’t.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/clean-pittsburgh-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2022-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/954f4d5b-b395-4f4b-9e4a-3be9258548d2/US-PA_LaurenH01.jpg Postcards - clean Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) - This postcard was a delight to receive from my friend Lauren who passed through Pittsburgh on a road trip out east. I was happy to make a few recommendations, two of which she took me up on and enjoyed: The Warhol Museum and the Bagel Factory. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-amsterdam-netherlands monthly 0.5 2022-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8763acae-17e4-4489-8cf9-6124f3e172f0/NL_Lino01.jpg Postcards - Greetings from Amsterdam (Netherlands) - I love that this card is not 100% rectilinear since the top of it is decorated and cut out in honor of the lovely façades we see on Dutch buildings. My penpal Lino sent it to me while visiting his daughter in Amsterdam. What a beautiful city to visit and to live in! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/suomenlinna-finland monthly 0.5 2022-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/48c3d8be-b93a-4c6f-9e8f-8824f84b4247/FI_Jussi12.jpg Postcards - Suomenlinna (Finland) - In honor of this year’s World Postcard Day, Jussi sent me this postcard from a Finnish meetup, presumably in Suomenlinna. I’m not one for military history, but the site just looks so beautiful that I think I’ll visit it after all! :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/colmar-france monthly 0.5 2022-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/06872c75-3a43-42be-9e31-343d32261b7b/FR_Dominique90.jpg Postcards - Colmar (France) - La ville de Colmar - et peut-être des autres villes/villages en France - doit engager mon ami Dominique pour attirer des touristes. Il écrit de Colmar que c’est une ville à visiter n’importe le temps: en été, on marche partout en profitant des restaurants et les vins de la région. En hiver, on marche partout en profitant du “plus beau marché de Noël en Alsace.” Wow. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/acadia-national-park-pt-2-maine monthly 0.5 2022-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0647aa36-fc65-4858-bbd3-20183c5bca3a/US-ME_MejduleneKatie02.jpg Postcards - Acadia National Park pt. 2 (Maine) - Wow, not just one postcard but two from their birthday trip to Maine! I know what you’re thinking, because M & K thought it too, and so did I! As they so aptly put it: “These two mountains are called the Bubbles but I think we all know they are the Boobles.” He he he. Boobles, indeed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/acadia-national-park-maine-1 monthly 0.5 2022-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/349ecc9f-c216-495b-85d1-5eb7c1aaf763/US-ME_MejduleneKatie01.jpg Postcards - Acadia National Park (Maine) - This is one of those terrific linen postcards that feel so beautiful in your hands, and the scalloped edge is the kind of thing I repeatedly run (gently!) under my fingernail. It’s such a tactile delight. Beyond that, of course, is the delight of receiving such a postcard from our dearest friends M & K on their trip to Maine to celebrate M’s 40th birthday. I’m certainly sold on the closing line of their postcard: “I think you would like Maine - lots to do and very good food.” That’s it for me, folks! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/central-michigan-university-michigan monthly 0.5 2022-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c1026d6e-c5fc-4b96-b0db-7057e5350ec3/US-MI_Alyssa02.jpg Postcards - Central Michigan University (Michigan) - This postcard comes from our niece Alyssa who’s just started her first year at CMU studying education. Confession time: Michigan is blessed with so many great universities that it never occurred to me that I might study outside the state. When I moved to Pittsburgh for grad school at the University of Pittsburgh, I was shocked during my first weeks how many people had said they’d attending “CMU.” Some even said they were currently attending CMU! I couldn’t believe the commute from Pittsburgh to Mt. Pleasant… it was an embarrassingly long time before I figured out that CMU also meant “Carnegie Mellon University.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/humpback-whale-mexico monthly 0.5 2022-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5a194787-66d0-4f1e-8781-2b3f36682433/MX_Andy01.jpg Postcards - humpback whale (Mexico) - I’ve been giving Andy a hard time, both in second and third person, for his work trip to Puerto Vallarta last week. He managed to pick up and write this postcard for me, despite being completely busy from morning to night with work meetings and socials (which although exciting and fun, don’t constitute a vacation). He takes such good care of me. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sare-france monthly 0.5 2022-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4af52438-7f19-4dc6-8b94-02d0a0c40776/FR_Dominique89.jpg Postcards - Sare (France) - This time, I’ll write in English for my non-Francophone friends. Dominique writes that he believes that the Basque Country (le Pays Basque, in French) is perhaps next to Corsica and Brittany in its similarities with Alsace (his native region). Why? Well, with its own language, a rich history, its identifiable architecture, and the traditions in festivals and food, it stands apart from the rest of France. I haven’t visited any of these regions, so I’m dying to see for myself! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-moon-luna-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/865603a4-4511-4c69-8e52-cf43e1399cf5/US-OR_Linda34.jpg Postcards - “The Moon (Luna)” (Oregon) - Where does she find these terrific postcards?! Linda had a great Fall weekend in Hood River with her friends. This past week, we’ve also had some Fall-like weather, early for the Bay Area, and I am definitely here for it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-dallas-arboretum-texas monthly 0.5 2022-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/132aed5e-1c3f-424a-8982-dade7703e367/US-TX_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - the Dallas Arboretum (Texas) - Recently, Kimee and Michael ran the quarter marathon at this arboretum! Despite living in North Texas for almost two years, I’m sad to say I never visited it. I’m sure it’s really lovely in the Spring and Fall! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tijuana-mexico monthly 0.5 2022-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0a10d02b-b701-435e-aa30-c1fca0cb78c6/MX_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Tijuana (Mexico) - Matty added Tijuana, Mexico to his North American trip and sent me this great postcard. I’ve never been to Tijuana nor have I seen the Reloj Monumental, but maybe someday soon I’ll get to! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/santorini-greece monthly 0.5 2022-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1f309bd9-aa8f-418d-b95f-bcacbf4054f3/GR_JulianSalvo02.jpg Postcards - Santorini (Greece) - How many times have you seen these images and dreamed of going to Santorini? Well Julian and Salvo went, and sent us this postcard from their terrific vacation. In speaking later, they say that the photos just don’t do it justice. How is that even possible?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/berceau-lgendaire-dhenri-iv-france monthly 0.5 2022-09-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3342471d-de0b-4ad3-8b64-1cc1694934a7/FR_Dominique88.jpg Postcards - berceau légendaire d’Henri IV (France) - Voici une carte de Dominique qui écrit de la fin de ses vacances. Néanmoins, il m’a envoyé cette jolie carte postale du berceau légendaire d’Henri IV. Si vous régardez avec attention, vous verez que son berceau est une carapace de tortue marine! Je suis étonné. “Berceau légendaire d’Henri IV, décor de 1822 | Carapace de tortue marine et orenementation de lances, couronne et casque debois doré, plumes d’autruche; tapis et drapeau de taffetas, velours de soie brodé d’or reposant sur une table de sapin.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pacific-grove-california monthly 0.5 2022-09-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/55e80986-8697-4067-98be-29a495b818a9/US-CA_Tracy01.jpg Postcards - Pacific Grove (California) - This cute postcard comes from Pacific Grove where Tracy and Cynthia were vacationing this past week. We were very lucky to host them a few days prior for dinner and enjoyed our evening together. I’m thrilled they took the time and effort to find and send a postcard. This one is especially cute! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/friendly-hellos-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-09-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ccfa1729-5e19-4bf2-93ce-d3e19750a11c/US-OR_TristanWhitney01.jpg Postcards - friendly hellos (Oregon) - Mon beau-frère et sa copine sont allé au Pacific Northwest pour rendre visite ma belle-mère. Pendant son voyage, ils ont visité Portland d’où vient cette carte postale si mignone. Je l’adore! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-acropolis-greece monthly 0.5 2022-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8328c2f6-de4e-4e0a-9941-8e0c4c2511c8/GR_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - the Acropolis (Greece) - Our dear friends vacationed in Greece and Italy recently, sending us this postcard from their stop in Athens. Although I’ve been to Greece before, I haven’t yet visited Athens, so this is high on the list! They wrote about great sights, biological and not! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/taranto-italy monthly 0.5 2022-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3a0b65be-c41f-48ff-88d6-89501420ae6e/IT_Lino06.jpg Postcards - Taranto (Italy) - I will admit that at first I thought Lino had visited Toronto (Canada) and then when I flipped it over and looked at the front, I thought ‘Well, that’s not like any part of Toronto I’ve seen before! Granted, I’ve only ever visited twice, but…” Instead, it’s a beautiful city in Italy! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/do-you-believe-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5d445832-0bbc-44e5-bb9b-8a5e4b9f4cb7/US-OR_Linda33.jpg Postcards - Do you believe? (Oregon) - I’m embarrassed by how long it took my to figure out this postcard - but I get it and I think it’s quite clever! I am particularly struck by how many of these I don’t really think of as aliens. Thanks for Linda for this postcard. She also writes a hilarious story that I can absolutely identify with. “I tried cleaning my oven this week with the ‘It’s sooo easy’ baking soda paste method. Even Martha Stewart raves about it. Clearly she has never cleaned an oven because it was not easy and took forever.” Well, at least the oven is clean now? Ha ha ha. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/1st-gotland-adventure-sweden monthly 0.5 2022-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c60c0906-e701-453d-b140-4b739ca10fda/FI_Jussi11.jpg Postcards - 1st Gotland Adventure (Sweden) - This beautiful postcard was sent by Jussi, who must have attended the 1st Gotland Adventure in Visby, Sweden between 12 - 14 August of this year. I know this because tucked away in among the beautiful signatures on the card I can see his recognizable signature. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bamberg-germany monthly 0.5 2022-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8e58be60-9b93-47b4-b936-cf58cd6a6df2/DE_Dominique15.jpg Postcards - Bamberg (Germany) - Dominique est allé en Allemagne pour visiter Bamberg. La-bàs, il a acheté une nouvelle montre pour sa collection. Je ne sais presque rien sur les montres sauf que les amateurs les adorent beaucoup et sont disposés à voyager assez loin pour la bonne exemplaire. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/orthez-2-france monthly 0.5 2022-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f81370e6-2919-4ecb-9286-8cfdb261df6a/FR_Dominique87.jpg Postcards - Orthez (2) (France) - Dominique est allé sur un voyage au sud de la France, visitant plusiers lieux, cette ville comprise. Malheureusement, il n’a pas pu visiter ce musée (Maison Jeanne d’Albret) car il a eté fermé. Moi aussi j’aimerais bien le visiter dans le futur! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-otherworld-ohio monthly 0.5 2022-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/df6dbdf3-69e2-4c7a-9014-da56446b521b/US-OH_LeahJesse01.jpg Postcards - Greetings from Otherworld (Ohio) - This postcard comes from Leah and Jesse, who made a trip through Ohio and visited this place. The description they give is bonkers, but included “crawl[ing] inside a giant mouth and punch[ing] its uvula” and it goes on from there. Based also on the image, this sounds a bit like Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, which I visited in 2016. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bahamas monthly 0.5 2022-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f49be984-3c75-4c45-8589-356fa55e027e/BS_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Bahamas - This beautiful postcard comes from Matty, who stopped in Freeport, Bahamas while he was in North America! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hello-from-beautiful-washington monthly 0.5 2022-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/96e842b1-7e94-4897-b6b6-95cd09606ead/US-WA_Kristopher04.jpg Postcards - “hello from beautiful” (Washington) - As I wrote earlier, sometimes a postcard strikes my fancy. I either send it to myself or to my husband. This one is a case of the latter; I imagined that the dog and person depicted here were Pinot and me, and we were on our way to the cabin in the background to see Andy. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/poisson-cru-tahiti monthly 0.5 2022-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/96147449-1caa-4530-a3dd-6326d2f236c4/PF_Kayle01.jpg Postcards - poisson cru (Tahiti) - Here’s is a card sent from Moorea, near Tahiti in French Polynesia from our dear friend Kaylé. Poisson cru is French for “raw fish” and is a Tahitian version of ceviche. It sound delightful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/orthez-france monthly 0.5 2022-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/82b41a42-e99d-4ab4-a5d8-d47e23d9546a/FR_Dominique86.jpg Postcards - Orthez (France) - J’ai reçu cette carte de mon ami Dominique qui explique un peu sur l’Orthez et Gaston Phoebus. Il y a tellement d’histoire dans le monde, mais l’histoire française et romaine est tellement bien documentée. On aurait besoin de toute une vie pour en apprende un tout petit morceau! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/beautiful-hawaii monthly 0.5 2022-09-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/165a33ea-6b68-4f79-a8f1-e0d0a608676b/US-HI_Matty01.jpg Postcards - beautiful Hawai’i - Matty ended his US travels in Honolulu - not a bad way to leave the country! I feel so fortunate to have received so many great postcards from his trip in the US; that he took the time to find them, write them, stamp them, and mail them on the whirlwind tour he had is quite generous and thoughtful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/laa-mie-isle-of-man monthly 0.5 2022-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/058e35b8-dd00-40a7-9a1b-0578acd5061d/IM_LaurenC02.jpg Postcards - Laa mie! (Isle of Man) - Lauren, my friend and former colleague, was in the Isle of Man for the International Linguistics Olympiad, accompanying Team USA. It was a great chance to practice her Manx, and of course spend some time with the incredibly smart and talented future linguists of the world! I volunteered for the ILO a long time ago checking problems and it was a LOT of fun. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/disneyland-california monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9148a1ea-4add-468f-8733-f83401c431dc/US-CA_Matty03.jpg Postcards - Disneyland (California) - I always confuse which one is in Florida (Disneyworld) and which one is in California (Disneyland) so I usually just abbreviate it “Disney” no matter what. Well, Matty was visiting Disneyland and sent this postcard from a childhood dream! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chambry-france monthly 0.5 2022-09-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7d9eef36-d6ea-4ae8-bef5-bdc4521261ea/FR_Jennifer02.jpg Postcards - Chambéry (France) - Mon amie Jennifer est allée en France pour des vacances d’été, et elle a même pensé à moi pour mon anniversaire, en écrivant: “Que tu trouves de l’espace de quatre ou cinq ans où tu jouis d’un siecle de vie.” J’adore ça! Chambéry: la Maison des Charmettes. R’sidence de Jean-Jacques Rousseau en compagnie de Madame de Warens de 1736 à 1742. “Une maison isolée au penchant d’un vallon fut notre asile, et c’est là que dans l’espace de quatre ou cinq ans j’ai joui d’un siècle de vie.” Les Rêveries du promenteur solitaire 10ème promenade. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/badlands-national-park-south-dakota monthly 0.5 2022-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4fc3ec6d-fa07-4585-a691-e9f19406e875/US-SD_KayPei01.jpg Postcards - Badlands National Park (South Dakota) - My dear friends Kay and Pei sent this postcard from a recent trip to Badlands National Park, one of my favorite parks, too! I love this art style of the postcard so it was a great birthday card to receive. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/grey-whale-washington monthly 0.5 2022-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2f60b654-e88d-4d43-af56-96bb13cf28a7/US-WA_Kristopher05.jpg Postcards - grey whale (Washington) - Why not send yourself postcards? When I find a postcard I especially like, I will send it to myself to make sure that it goes into my collection. Here’s a great one that the scan doesn’t reflect all the way since it’s cut out to the shape of a grey whale. The next time you’re traveling and see a great postcard, go ahead and send it to yourself! You already know the address! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/theres-nothing-like-budweiser-canada monthly 0.5 2022-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f019f518-9553-4ed6-b899-2af537ee3552/CA_Ray06.jpg Postcards - There’s nothing like [Budweiser] (Canada) - My penpal Ray sent this beautiful vintage Budweiser beer ad to me! On the back are great stamps and lots of fun stickers and decorations. I’m always impressed by the decorations and creativity of my penpals, and I feel bad for not reciprocating. I wouldn’t know where to start! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lego-gifts-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cc22928c-b181-4134-af78-5d7ffda18a7c/US-IN_Nozomi34.jpg Postcards - Lego gifts (Indiana) - My good friend and fellow linguist Nozomi sent me this terrific birthday wish! I love these Lego cards so much and I’m delighted to receive another of them. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i-am-nevada monthly 0.5 2022-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1129698f-2cf9-4e62-9217-4c20ccd585cc/US-NV_TristanWhitney01.jpg Postcards - I am… (Nevada) - Moi aussi je suis excessively diverted (I will not try to translate Austen, when I haven’t even read her!)! Thanks for Tristan and Whitney for this lovely, literary postcard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/devon-england monthly 0.5 2022-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/43b6f87a-90c3-4c04-a72f-8bf8db05cbcf/UK_JoNicoLucasJames01.jpg Postcards - Devon (England) - This postcard comes from Jo and her family, a very dear friend of mine from way back in my days as an assistant de langue anglaise in northern France. She’s visiting family in England, and sends this stunning postcard from Newton Poppleford (is there a more English town name on the planet?!) where cottages with thatched roofs are not uncommon! This house was the first one built in the village and dates back to the 1500s. This postcard was in fact made by the guy who owns the post office! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sur-la-route-des-baleines-du-qubec-canada monthly 0.5 2022-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4a43c807-6ae4-49cf-8dbe-e9a20e653048/CA_Corinne02.jpg Postcards - sur la route des Baleines du Québec (Canada) - Vous savez bien que j’adore tous les mammifères aquatiques, donc je suis un peu jaloux entendre que mon amie Corinne est allée sur croisière aux baleines de Tadoussac. Elle, avec ses enfants, a vu les bélugas, les petits rorquals, les phoques communs, et les marsouins! Par excellence! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gaslamp-district-san-diego-california monthly 0.5 2022-08-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/37c7a437-cc0b-4c1f-919c-64c7ccd6118f/US-CA_Matty02.jpg Postcards - Gaslamp District, San Diego (California) - Matty has made it back to the West coast, starting down south in San Diego. I haven’t visited SD, yet, although it’s high on my list. One interesting thing, besides the message of course, is that the front of this postcard depicts a sign saying “Gaslamp Quarter” but on the reverse, it’s printed “Gaslamp district.” I wonder what the official designation is? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-pain-of-parting-nevada monthly 0.5 2022-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/68f7a545-d445-4c50-8e21-a158011098f1/US-NV_Tristan05.jpg Postcards - the pain of parting (Nevada) - Cette carte postale est venue de mon beau-frère, qui en plus de créer des très jolies cartes postales, les trouve aussi partout. À la fin, je suis toujours heureux les recevoir. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/texan-cakes monthly 0.5 2022-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b7bedfe6-1f03-461d-8a6d-a8a54ef36725/US-CA_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Texan cakes - Matty continues to send the most excellent postcards, this one from a trip! How funny that this image has been recycled across at least two states now! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/other-interpretations-are-possible-france monthly 0.5 2022-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/94fdbd06-1fc5-4327-9670-2fb4b481ad9a/FR_Dominique85.jpg Postcards - other interpretations are possible (France) - This postcard isn’t the lascivious provocation that I initially thought it might be! Dominique, in his eighty-fifth postcard sent from France, explains that this is Gabrielle d’Estrées, the mistress of King Henri IV, in her bath with her sister the Duchess of Villars. He further explains that pinching the nipple might indicate that she was pregnant, especially given the servant in the background sewing a layette. Fascinating! ”Portrait présumé de Gabrielle d’Estrées et de sa soeur la duchesse de Villars (détail)”, around 1594. École de Fontainebleau. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/when-boredom-strikes-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/21983c6f-7fa4-4928-a4c9-e447e3b2f40a/US-OR_Linda32.jpg Postcards - when boredom strikes (Oregon) - Haven’t we all had this urge from time to time, especially during a global pandemic or a heat wave?! I can certainly sympathize with Linda, who sends this terrific postcard from Portland. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/miami-beach-florida monthly 0.5 2022-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/14ddf9eb-8099-492f-ad7e-9c0eb9dc0d31/US-FL_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Miami Beach (Florida) - This is a great postcard from Matty on his trip to the four corners of the continental US! His recommendation for sight-seeing in Miami Beach is well received (I absolutely concur)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/paper-flower-peddlers-vietnam monthly 0.5 2022-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/22a3f396-e25d-4817-aa91-2a91dd777833/VT_Andrew01.jpg Postcards - paper flower peddlers (Vietnam) - I love private swaps and this one is a great example of why they’re so great! Andrew contacted me from Saigon where he lives and we exchanged postcards. This one arrived today, depicting Hue - the imperial capital of Vietnam - and paper flower peddlers on bicycle. Beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/open-happiness-georgia monthly 0.5 2022-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2d334f76-bb30-48bd-b81c-88ce6b9eebb2/US-GA_Matty01.jpg Postcards - “Open Happiness” (Georgia) - Sweeping down south from the Atlantic seaboard, Matty sends this postcard from the Coke Museum in Atlanta. The evolution of the bottles is quite interesting, but I think I prefer the brown glass bottle most! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/spirit-mountain-casinos-entry-into-the-1996-portland-rose-festival-grand-floral-parade-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/241fb303-7370-4388-b894-9628072bb81b/US-OR_Linda31.jpg Postcards - Spirit Mountain Casino’s entry into the 1996 Portland Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade (Oregon) - What better way to celebrate the beginning of August than with a postcard from Linda?! This postcard depicts a float for a parade way back in 1996 (almost 30 years ago, if you’re counting). What craftsmanship! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-white-house-washington-dc monthly 0.5 2022-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0226ceb2-db49-4395-abb9-91e3d2e07bc7/US-DC_Matty01.jpg Postcards - the White House (Washington, DC) - I’m glad to read that Matty visited some of the Smithsonian Museums, which I think are perhaps the number one reason to visit Washington, DC. Not only are the collections very impressive, but they’re 100% free! Your government at work, folks! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lower-manhattan-and-brooklyn-bridge-new-york monthly 0.5 2022-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ff753596-2c23-46fd-b541-7448f721ae10/US-NY_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge (New York) - Here is the skyline of Lower Manhattan with the Brooklyn Bridge in the foreground. Matty sent this from his trip to New York City, the second time he’s visited. He capped off the visit with a trip to Chelsea Market, the High Line, and walking the Brooklyn Bridge. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/what-r-u-doing-4-peace-united-nations monthly 0.5 2022-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/45de8db5-f30c-490f-baff-0c73231b4e46/UN_Matty01.jpg Postcards - What R U Doing 4 Peace? (United Nations) - Continuing his rounds of the US, Matty sends this postcard from UN Plaza in New York City. It poses an important question, which I put to my readers: What are your doing for peace? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gravenstein-apples-california monthly 0.5 2022-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/badfc7d6-9ef5-4be6-b110-48e720718311/US-CA_MattKatelyn11.jpg Postcards - Gravenstein apples (California) - I don’t know if these are actually Gravenstein apples, but given that Katelyn and Matt sent it from Sonoma County, I’m going to pretend! They were there for a long weekend of relaxation and getting-away, and from what they write, it sounds like it was a great success! I can almost smell this postcard, can’t you!? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/millennium-park-illinois monthly 0.5 2022-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a03bd8e0-2ed4-4116-892c-12c04a69f343/US-IL_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Millennium Park (Illinois) - Moving east, Matty stopped in America’s third largest city (sometimes called “the third coast”) and visited Millennium Park. This sculpture is actually called “Cloud Gate” but I prefer the epithet “the Bean,” not just because it’s more fitting, but because the creator — who is an asshole — hates it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/university-of-glasgow-scotland monthly 0.5 2022-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e63ceab0-7995-4966-b4eb-c7d488e188b1/UK_Fawn01.jpg Postcards - University of Glasgow (Scotland) - Fawn, a very good friend of mine and colleague from grad school, took a weekend away from her business trip to England and visited Glasgow, including the Harry Styles concert! In addition to her sightseeing and concert-going, she got caught in some sudden downpours, so it sounds like a very traditional Scottish vacation after all! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/birling-gap-and-seven-sisters-england monthly 0.5 2022-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/063f24af-9610-4dce-af34-fa334eae7f3b/UK_Peggy01.jpg Postcards - Birling Gap and Seven Sisters (England) - My penpal Peggy sent this terrific postcard from her trip to England, which has been sunny (and hot, I’m afraid!)! What a beautiful site this must be! I’ve only ever been to London, and only a few places there, so I have lots to see. Thanks, Peggy! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mt-rushmore-south-dakota monthly 0.5 2022-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b8bf177e-279d-440f-850c-0543b6488742/US-SD_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Mt. Rushmore (South Dakota) - My Australian penpal, Matty, continues his epic journey across the US. This postcard hails from Mt. Rushmore, a site that Andy and I visited ten years ago almost exactly when we drove cross-country as I moved to California. Matty also saw Crazy Horse, which is much more monumental and impressive, in my opinion. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/provincetown-harbor-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2022-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/16c08f3b-cc10-41c5-a1bf-24c572123c47/US-RI_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - Provincetown Harbor (Massachusetts) - Our dear friends Julian and Salvo traveled to P-Town recently and found this delightful postcard of Provincetown Harbor! It’s printed on deliciously heavy stock so it has a tactile beauty in addition to its visual aspect! The artist is Gaston Lacombe. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cleebourg-france monthly 0.5 2022-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/884b7dfa-d6ea-4ff1-8c63-f0a21b310db8/FR_Dominique84.jpg Postcards - Cleebourg (France) - Sachant comment j’adore les vins, mon ami Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte postale de la commune de Cleebourg en Alsace. Il écrit que là-bas se trouve le vignoble le plus septentrional de France, et que les vignerons apportent leurs raisins à la même cave! J’adore les vins alsaciens, donc il faudra absolumment que j’y aille pour les goûter un jour! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/parry-sound-ontario monthly 0.5 2022-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d94c2920-7a97-4569-bd99-142826eb450d/CA_QuinnLorris03.jpg Postcards - Parry Sound (Ontario) - I do love a watercolor and this postcard is no exception! It comes from our dear friends Quinn and Lorris who vacationed in Parry Sound, Ontario during the Canada Day weekend. A canoe trip does sound lovely and reminds me of my many summers canoeing the Au Sable River in Northern (Lower Peninsula) Michigan. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wyoming-sights monthly 0.5 2022-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/31069ec3-ddf4-4d72-8c5e-bf2f705d6d69/US-WY_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Wyoming sights - As my Australian penpal makes his way through the country, he very generously sends me postcards he thinks I may enjoy. What do you think - is this one up my alley or no? Thanks, Matty! You’re very thoughtful indeed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lille-france monthly 0.5 2022-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e8f44ca7-a403-4538-9fc8-db00b1ed411b/FR_Dominique83.jpg Postcards - Lille (France) - J’ai été tellement heureux recevoir cette carte de Dominique, qui est de vacances. Quand j’étais un assistant de langue anglaise, j’habitais à Valenciennes, au sud de Lille. Donc, je connais assez bien cette Place du Général de Gaulle, ce que je connaissais comme la Grande Place. Je passais beaucoup de fins de semaine là avec mes amis et même avec mes parents une fois. Malheureusement, je n’ai jamais eu l’ocasion de participer à la Braderie de Lille. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/problematic-salt-lake-city-utah monthly 0.5 2022-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/218a08c9-097a-4823-833e-a358d6d8c74a/US-UT_Matty01.jpg Postcards - problematic Salt Lake City (Utah) - My Australian penpal continues to make the rounds on his grand American tour; this postcard comes from the capital of Utah, Salt Lake City. I’ve visited it and the scenery is truly stunning! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/eyem-watching-you-colorado monthly 0.5 2022-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/234f8889-1416-4d65-8613-6a76c65a8890/US-CO_Tristan03.jpg Postcards - eye’m watching you (Colorado) - Traveling for another wedding, my brother-in-law sent this postcard from Colorado. He always knows how to pick the ones that’ll make you think! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/epic-view-malta monthly 0.5 2022-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dd506b62-44ef-47c8-b5b2-ee7071a6f6b8/MT_EvanChristina01.jpg Postcards - epic view (Malta) - Our good friends traveled recently to Malta and sent this postcard from the trip. They write about how “around every corner… there’s another epic view.” Fantastic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ursus-americanus-california monthly 0.5 2022-07-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b72f61cf-ec48-4d55-9301-18d5f7b6043c/US-CA_GregJames08.jpg Postcards - ursus americanus (California) - Greg and James took a trip to Yosemite in preparation for their upcoming trip to Peru! They’re going to do some deep jungle hikes, so I think the mountainous forests of Yosemite in the summer will be good preparation for the rigors of that trip. I’m so envious to do some traveling! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/post-alley-gum-wall-washington monthly 0.5 2022-07-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ce62f1e9-a9b8-4e31-aae5-083fd59a87cb/US-WA_Matty01.jpg Postcards - Post Alley Gum Wall (Washington) - There are some tourist attractions that you can’t miss, no matter how experienced (or jaded!) you are as a traveler: I think Seattle’s Gum Wall is one of them. It’s truly disgusting, but also somehow cute and charming? This postcard comes from my new Australian penpal Matty, who is at the beginning of a 2-month tour of the US. Things look good to meet up when he’s in San Francisco later this month! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/shenandoah-national-park-virginia monthly 0.5 2022-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e34eabfa-006b-4155-a96f-a9b2161095b6/US-VA_MejduKatie02.jpg Postcards - Shenandoah National Park (Virginia) - This postcard comes with memories of the East Coast, in particular Virginia where I spent a lot of time when I was living in Pennsylvania. Our friends Mejdulene and Katie traveled here for a summer getaway, and saw tons of wildlife: wild turkey, deer, ground hogs. At the time of the writing, they were hoping to see some bears - but I have to say as much as I love bears, I’m not brave enough to hope to see them in the wild! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-plage-californienne monthly 0.5 2022-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ca057fe3-9217-43f0-8b80-197bc7fd087b/US-CA_Tristan01.jpg Postcards - la plage californienne - Il y a des gens, par exemple ma mère, qui arrivent à San Francisco et veulent aller à la plage. Ils ont des idées sur la Californie et ses plages. Ils ont hâte de s’allonger sur les sables dorées en prennant du soleil avec les vents légers carressant leurs corps qui se réchauffent. Mais ils sont toujours déçus quand ils voyent la plage à San Francisco et les nuages gris, le brouillard roulant vers la ville, et l’océan foncé et agité. La plage à SF n’est pas de tout la fantasie californienne dont ils rêvent depuis longtemps. Par contre, la plage à Santa Monica, et les autres plages à coté de Los Angeles, là-bas on peut prendre du soleil, nager, et jouer comme dans les films. C’est de là que je recóie cette carte postale envoyé par mon beau-frère, qu’y a visité pour la marriage d’un ami. Caveat viator! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rainy-seattle-washington monthly 0.5 2022-07-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/cf456682-7c6a-43bd-b567-b8115966d9e4/US-WA_RobPaul01.jpg Postcards - rainy Seattle (Washington) - Our friends Rob and Paul went to Seattle for Pride Weekend and thought this postcard delightfully ironic because the weather was in counter-expectation “blissfully sunny and warm”! Good for them! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/craniometry-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/27b63c44-6803-4149-84e6-992cab6079cb/US-IN_Nozomi33.jpg Postcards - craniometry (Indiana) - As Nozomi rightly writes, “Our understanding of the brain has come so far!” But it’s a great illustration nonetheless. A question I have, though is: what is “amativeness”? How is that different from “conjugality”? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-jour-du-seigneur-france monthly 0.5 2022-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d5870664-f079-4557-ab40-0d47eb6d4cf7/FR_Dominique82.jpg Postcards - le Jour du Seigneur (France) - Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte postale, même s’il ne sait pas où ni quand exactement qu’il l’avais achetée. J’en ai aussi des cartes comme ça - de provenance inconnue! J’adore l’ocasion de les envoyer aux ami(e)s quand je peux. Dominique écrit que cette émission de télévision a été une des seules disponibles sur les chaînes publiques depuis longtemps. Il dit aussi qu’il y a maintenant une série de documentaires sur internet. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peace-pride-and-love-california monthly 0.5 2022-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f54ae307-4934-4f89-b0af-f9515163ba0d/US-CA_GregJames07.jpg Postcards - peace, pride, and love (California) - A few weeks ago, we visited Sacramento and bookended our first visit with our new puppy with a great visit with our friends Greg and James! They sent this lovely sentiment of peace, love, and pride after our visit. We’re looking forward to having a whole doggy weekend together with their three girls and our boy. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hard-to-find-disney-postcard-florida monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aec5d171-1bde-4168-8955-b8bb67960290/US-FL_Alyssa01.jpg Postcards - hard-to-find Disney postcard (Florida) - Our niece took a two-week vacation to Disney World in Florida recently. She somehow found the time to find this great postcard and send it to me, which is no small feat as postcards are a disappearing practice. It’s getting harder and harder all the time to find touristic postcards, but I would have thought it would be easy in Disney World. The truth is that I also had a hard time finding Disney postcards when I was visiting Disney Land in Anaheim a few years ago. It’s too bad because Disney properties are so iconic and I’m sure lots of people collect them. This is a very meaningful postcard to me because a) it came from our niece, and b) she worked so hard to save up for this trip, a graduation gift to herself. She worked and saved for years to pay for this trip, which is just an amazing testament to her dedication, perseverance, and hard work. Well done, Alyssa! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hand-stamped-poodle-california monthly 0.5 2022-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/44bb7f46-7a21-4685-a7d2-8284d8ca3d96/US-CA_Kimee-Michael08.jpg Postcards - hand-stamped poodle (California) - Our friends Kimee and Michael, the former of which makes her own hand-stamped postcards, were scheduled to meet our new poodle puppy Pinot this past week, but unfortunately we had to reschedule due to an upset stomach. We can’t wait to have them over to meet - they’re going to love Pinot, who I’m sure will love them even more! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/opossums-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-06-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/caa34cb5-49d7-41e9-a0ef-6fae32137314/US-IN_Nozomi32.jpg Postcards - opossums (Indiana) - Did you know that opossums (or “possums” as I grew up calling them) are the only marsupials native to the US and Canada? This depiction of them is actually quite cute, which doesn’t surprise me since Nozomi has a knack for finding the cutest, best cards. Thanks! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alberobello-italy monthly 0.5 2022-06-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e7cba9d7-5110-49d3-8a05-024e3efbe361/IT_Lino05.jpg Postcards - Alberobello (Italy) - My penpal Lino sent me this terrific postcard from Alberobello in Italy, where he traveled recently and stayed. These houses are called “trulli” and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. As I learned from the UNESCO site, these are built without mortar of limestone boulders from nearby areas! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/off-we-go-germany monthly 0.5 2022-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1da63a36-67de-48a2-adce-f28e94143ccf/DE_Dominique14.jpg Postcards - Off we go! (Germany) - Thanks to Google Translate, I can figure out that this postcard means “Off we go!” and the image certainly captures that. Dominique has been able to travel more frequently to Germany, the country of origin for this card, where he picked up this ad card from Deutsche Telekom. What’s interesting is that the logo is the same as T-Mobile here in the US; it’s owned by Deutsch Telekom! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pinot-the-poodle-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9295d07e-e3b1-499c-ae34-2f9990ee160c/US-OR_Linda30.jpg Postcards - Pinot the Poodle (Oregon) - Some of you already know that Andy and I adopted a standard poodle last weekend and named him Pinot. He’s black and so fluffy it seems criminal. Naturally, we’ve been very busy keeping up with the demands of a nine-week-old puppy, but we’ve certainly fallen in love with his goofy face and sweet disposition! Linda celebrated our new family member with this handmade card, and a very touching and accurate message on the back. She is the best dog-whisperer I know, and the person I turn to first for advice on so many topics (work, co-workers, career, friends, baking, plants) and now of course dog-raising. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hpital-stanislas-france monthly 0.5 2022-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c73d1edd-01d7-4f67-911a-7006a92297e9/FR_Dominique81.jpg Postcards - Hôpital Stanislas (France) - Cette carte postale est venue, vous le savez déjà, de mon ami très fidel Dominique. Il a lu mes commentaires sur la tarte flambée, et il m’a envoyé quelques informations de plus. Il écrit que les tartes flambées dont j’ai ecrites ne sont pas faites à la bonne manière, comme celles en Alsace. Là-bas, elles sont faites à main et cuites au feu de bois. Il faut, alors, vraiment y aller pour les manger et faire la comparaison! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/soviet-pride-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a035e44d-c9ff-4fd8-bc92-bafa2c2a72d0/US-IN_KAK05.jpg Postcards - Soviet (?) Pride (Indiana) - My friend Kimberly sent me this great Pride postcard from Indiana! It looks like it’s an edited version of some Chinese-Soviet propaganda posters. I may have even seen one when I was at the Propaganda Poster Art Museum in Shanghai back in December 2019? The truth is that many of these posters are (unintentionally?) homoerotic on their own and they need little editing to bring them into Pride month, but I’ll take the wins where I can get them! Happy Pride everyone! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/flammekeche-france monthly 0.5 2022-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ae4b2a0b-47e0-40c2-b074-005eaf68d8e8/FR_Dominique80.jpg Postcards - flammeküeche (France) - I first encountered flammeküeche when I moved to France in 2004. There was a restaurant in Lille where you could order it. It struck me as a very Teutonic pizza, and I suppose it’s not that far from what one might expect. I always understood it to be impossible to make in the US because it required that most French of ingredients: crème fraîche (there isn’t even a translation for it in English; it’s known simply as that: crème fraîche). But more and more supermarkets carry crème fraîche now, so it’s easy to make! Now the bottleneck is lardons, which are difficult to get in the US. I substitute bacon when I’m getting impatient for it, but now I’m lucky that there’s a restaurant just a few blocks away that serves it, and well! So thanks to Dominique for sending this, the eightieth postcard from France, and reminding me of a dish I love so much! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bolsena-italy monthly 0.5 2022-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/631bbc89-0c39-4220-b340-6cc8696bc668/IT_Lino04.jpg Postcards - Bolsena (Italy) - My penpal from Bari, Italy sent me this postcard from a recent trip to Tuscia, north of Rome. The city is small but gains its name from the nearby lake, a great attraction! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/el-alamein-fountain-kings-cross-australia monthly 0.5 2022-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ddf1dfde-9b5e-4be3-959c-7a3314acb621/AU_816254.jpg Postcards - El Alamein Fountain, Kings Cross (Australia) - This postcard comes from northern Australia, but the postcard itself depicts the El Alamein Fountain in Kings Cross, Sydney. This area, according to the sender, is also known as Potts Point, and is gay enclave, apparently! Never having been to Australia, I have no first-hand knowledge of it, but of course, Sydney is famous for its gay life. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lego-baking-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2a76f7a4-880d-4190-b11c-8b36535ed213/US-IN_Nozomi31.jpg Postcards - Lego baking (Indiana) - I have always loved Legos - they’re such a creative toy and they featured prominently during my youth, especially at Christmas. We would often get a large Lego set as a group gift to my brothers and me (and somehow my dad always joined in, too!). And then we would spend several happy hours assembling the set together and running the train. One year, we got the lunar monorail set and we. were. smitten. Nozomi sends this baking one from her collection of Lego postcards. I adore it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wissembourg-france monthly 0.5 2022-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/126e5646-bd14-47d6-b832-f05380bb10c1/FR_Dominique78.jpg Postcards - Wissembourg (France) - Comment j’adore l’architecture de l’est de la France (et, je suppose, l’ouest de l’Allemagne) comme c’est peint ici! Elle est tellement typique et me fait penser toujours aux petits villages avec leur ruelles coincées, à chaque passe un autre secret à découvrir. Il y a plein pour être heureux ici, mais j’admets un fort désir de voyager au moment donné. Merci à Dominique pour cette carte postale. J’ai l’impression de tout apprendre sur l’Alsace avec ne plus que ses cartes postales! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oh-happy-day-germany monthly 0.5 2022-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/24694343-50c9-4802-a363-c8c409df44ea/DE_11584594.jpg Postcards - Oh. Happy Day! (Germany) - I’m not sure if the post office has been harder on postcards lately, or if I’ve just had bad luck - but this postcard is a bit worse for wear after its travels from western Germany. Nonetheless, its happy message resounds! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nations-unis-new-york monthly 0.5 2022-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/95bd5d81-0079-4794-ac9c-f36d7361e909/UN_DBB01.jpg Postcards - Nations Unis - New York - Voici une vue des Nations Unis à New York, envoyée par mon amie Sylvia. J’y suis allé il y a presque 30 ans et je pense que j’ai également envoyé des cartes postales avec leur poste. Les Nations Unis ont leur propre poste avec des timbres et tout. Cette carte postale-ci en a deux (il y a l’edifice et la drapeau de Vanuatu). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/eiteljorg-museum-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/34a943b7-7f92-48ba-bd56-71a6db13d4cd/US-IN_Nozomi30.jpg Postcards - Eiteljorg Museum (Indiana) - There are only two disadvantages to lenticular postcards such as this one: a) they’re expensive, and b) they don’t scan well. So all you, dear readers, get is a blurry image of some deer maybe in front of a beige building. I guess you’ll have to visit the Eiteljorg Museum, like my friend Nozomi and her husband. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/slava-ukraini-lithuania monthly 0.5 2022-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1860e22e-8fc0-4e9b-ab17-7fcdcd53542b/LT_Andreas02.jpg Postcards - “Slava Ukraini” (Lithuania) - Unfortunately, this card was damaged in the mail, so it even came in its own envelope (I’ve seen this before from the post office). Luckily, it made it intact enough to be delivered! It’s a great postcard from my penpal in Lithuania - he says this postcard was issued by the Lithuanian post in support of the Ukrainian people. It’s really beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/two-recipes-russia monthly 0.5 2022-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/dcb456ba-35c3-43b2-ae08-883b3a65ab90/RU_9158127.jpg Postcards - two recipes (Russia) - I won’t scan the sender’s message or the letter they wrote, tempted though I am. They translated the recipes for kocovik and skantsy. So lovely! They even drew little figures as schematics for how to shape the dough! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/books-and-cinnamon-rolls-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2022-05-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b6fd522c-2d8e-400e-9641-d008d9ae07ab/US_8438514.jpg Postcards - books and cinnamon rolls (Pennsylvania) - I love watercolors and the soft pastels of this card are really great! It arrived from another houseplant enthusiast; I’m envious of her schefflera! Unfortunately, it’s toxic to pets, so I don’t think I’ll be getting one! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peace-and-pride-finland monthly 0.5 2022-05-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a4cd098c-fb07-4a66-88c3-66828bd2128e/FI_4176793.jpg Postcards - peace and pride (Finland) - I’ve been trying to keep my PostCrossing queue up and running, but I admit that I’ve let it lapse these past few weeks due to some overwhelming work requirements. But this lovely peace symbol over the pride flag is a great reminder of how much I love PostCrossing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/eagle-newel-post-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8a59e667-d7f6-41aa-9319-768c4d8cee45/US-OR_Linda29.jpg Postcards - Eagle Newel Post (Oregon) - We just recently spent a weekend in Vancouver, Washington with my in-laws and took the opportunity to visit my dear friend Linda. In response to that visit, she sent this captivating postcard! The legend says (hyperlinks mine, of course): Eagle Newel Post, Timberline Lodge, Oregon. Designed by Florence Thomas, the Eagle Newel Post is located at the South stairway landing to the Main Lounge on the first floor. The Newel posts were carved from old telephone poles which were recycled by the WPA for this purpose. Twelve plaster castings from Paris were copied by WPA workers between 1935 and 1937, and all of the carvings are featured throughout the lodge. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/board-meeting-hawaii monthly 0.5 2022-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b61c37a3-1c23-4910-bf8c-2a3610d37465/US-HI_Tristan05.jpg Postcards - board meeting (Hawai’i) - My brother-in-law is a frequent visitor to Maui and sent this terrific postcard from a recent visit there. Who doesn’t love a great pun? I’m sure one never attends a bored meeting in Maui. Eh? EH?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-petite-pierre-france monthly 0.5 2022-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/32ca687a-de0f-4304-942c-c424856cc3d9/FR_Dominique78.jpg Postcards - la Petite Pierre (France) - Sometimes it’s the place and sometimes it’s the company - in this case, it’s both! Dominique spent a lovely evening with friends in this town listening to the many stories of a career flight attendant on long-haul Air France flights. Oh, the stories she can tell, I bet! The back says (translation is mine): Built in the 7th century, the Petite Pierre castle was rebuilt in the 16th century. Today it is the administrative seat of the regional Vosges du Nord Natural Park. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/girl-with-a-pearl-earring-netherlands monthly 0.5 2022-05-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/18647e17-af44-40de-82c7-0baf2f818020/NL_Soap01.jpg Postcards - Girl with a pearl earring (Netherlands) - I think everyone in the US, at least, knows this painting! Perhaps they’ve seen the movie about its mysterious subject? But how many have actually been able to see the painting itself in person? I know at least two people who were able to do so - former students of mine - who visited the Mauritshuis in the Hague. They also rented bicycles and visiting tulip fields! What a delight! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/great-lakes-brewing-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2022-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5e9edb06-615d-4842-b2de-4ca2b1889ce3/US_8408581.jpg Postcards - Great Lakes Brewing (Pennsylvania) - One of the fun surprises about PostCrossing is you never know where your postcards will come from! This one came from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - my old stomping grounds! I have a very soft spot in my heart for Pittsburgh, as it’s where I first discovered PostCrossing, and more importantly, where Andy and I first met! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/key-lime-pie-bis-florida monthly 0.5 2022-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6ec48f01-3385-4882-890b-80b4269dd43f/US-FL_Pat01.jpg Postcards - Key Lime Pie (bis) (Florida) - This recipe looks so simple! Can it actually work? And you don’t even need to bake it; you just chill it. Maybe I’ll give it a try! Thanks to Pat for reaching out to me about a private swap. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bundeskanzler-germany monthly 0.5 2022-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f0e94cb8-a158-42b8-84f3-76fbacc3b3e3/DE_Dominique13.jpg Postcards - Bundeskanzler (Germany) - Here is another terrific postcard from Germany. Dominique has been able to travel quite a bit lately, taking advantage of long weekends and of course the proximity of Germany to Alsace. This is another comic from Willy Brandt Stiftung; I’ll ask my niece to translate it for me and post the translation soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tiroler-landes-museen-france monthly 0.5 2022-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e8c13626-ce3e-4939-968e-cbd5c53316fb/FR_Dominique77.jpg Postcards - Tiroler Landes Museen (France) - Cette choque purpre vient - j’imagine que vous sachiez déjà - de mon ami Dominique, envoyée de la France mais en provenance d’Autriche. Elle a été designée par le Musée Tiroler Landes à Innsbruck. Il y a un jeu de paroles mais n’en parlant pas l’allemain, je ne le comprends pas! Peut-être c’est le mot “identität” (qui peu être écrit “identitaet”) avec les lettres colorisées pour écrire un mot qui est homophone avec le français “tête”? Mais je ne vois pas s’il y ai quelque chose de plus là-bas. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/handmade-collage-japan monthly 0.5 2022-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a940d91e-691f-4b8a-9f9b-c2068841166b/JP_1657379.jpg Postcards - handmade collage (Japan) - Sometimes, a PostCrosser will send such a beautiful, handmade postcard that I immediately feel bad about the staid, store-bought postcards that I buy and send. But Andy reminds me that this may just be how people express themselves, and everyone is out there doing their own best thing. Well, this postcard from Japan is certainly one of the best I’ve received! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/baden-baden-germany-1 monthly 0.5 2022-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3f0aff53-d8fe-4d30-a76d-f7db8fa1401a/DE_Dominique12.jpg Postcards - Baden-Baden (Germany) - Dominique sent another great postcard from Germany (this is the twelfth!), this time explaining to me an interesting fact about Alsace. Apparently, Good Friday (Vendredi Saint) is a holiday in region, unlike in the rest of France, due to a commemoration of the Bismarck Regime. Due to this, many Alsatian people take advantage of the long weekend to travel to Germany to do some shopping and sight-seeing, especially in the Catholic areas where shops and restaurants stay open (in contrast to those in Protestant areas)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/running-of-the-bulls-spain monthly 0.5 2022-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0f465dc2-2108-407c-bc2f-2e8781cad341/ES_Juanjo02.jpg Postcards - running of the bulls (Spain) - Certainly among the most iconic of all Spanish practices, the running of the bulls has a long and varied history. I can’t say that I would be brave enough to attempt this, despite my recent successes in running. But I might be convinced to watch from a balcony two or three stories up! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/maison-kammerzell-france-1 monthly 0.5 2022-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d2896fea-4d8e-4d37-98bb-bd3ebbf034f7/FR_Dominique76.jpg Postcards - Maison Kammerzell (France) - Voici une carte postale d’un restaurant très celebre an France, dont les recettes mon ami Dominique m’a beacoup écrit. Comment j’ai hâte de le visiter! Ce qui me plaît tellement de cette carte postale est la manière de coloriser la nourriture et pas la cuisine ni le cuisiniers. Ça fait briller l’étoile d’un tel restaurant: le repas! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/monterey-california monthly 0.5 2022-04-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/79080996-ce22-4da3-8dd8-ba13a7f6de1a/US-CA_KimeeMichael07.jpg Postcards - Monterey (California) - Our friend ran another event! She was just in Canada not too long ago and now she completed the Big Sur International Marathon - finding time somehow to send this terrific postcard! It’s hard to read in this scan, but look at the amazing subtitle: “Monterey, California, in 842 - before the gringo came.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lisbon-portugal-ed64f monthly 0.5 2022-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9439a74a-007b-404b-94c2-13128195fd1d/PT_MaribelJose01.jpg Postcards - Lisbon (Portugal) - Given its proximity to Spain, it’s a shame I haven’t yet been to Portugal. But many of our friends have traveled there, including Maribel and José who sent this hello from their recent trip! The tiles, the food, the landscapes - it all just sounds so enticing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/donostia-spain monthly 0.5 2022-04-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/41957061-ca22-4db6-8233-f3a23e89bd37/ES_Juanjo01.jpg Postcards - Donostia (Spain) - Make it stand out Recibí esta postal de otro miembro de PostCrossing quién me invitó a intercambiar postales. Cómo él vive en el País Vasco, yo querría recibir algo de las ciudades muy famosas de esta región, y me mandó esta postal panorámica de la ciudad de Donostia (conocida en español como San Sebastián). Esta región nunca he visitado, pero siempre he tenido una gran facinacion por ella desde que aprendí sobre los euskaldunak y su cultura (y claro su idioma - ya sabeís bien que me fascinan los idiomas minoritarios). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/samovar-russia monthly 0.5 2022-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/577e059e-e17e-4257-8433-5bd30b521914/RU_9052817.jpg Postcards - samovar (Russia) - There’s something magical about a samovar, isn’t there? The idea of a huge pot of tea just waiting for a group of friends or family to sit down and enjoy the afternoon together with some cakes and sandwiches. This postcard arrives from Russia after 70 days (not unusual for postcards coming from or going to different parts of the world). It was a great surprise in the mailbox this week. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hamburg-germany monthly 0.5 2022-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8d42f1e1-fe49-492a-9730-dacaab7135c1/DE_Dominique11.jpg Postcards - Hamburg (Germany) - Here’s another postcard from Germany, this one I can translate on my own (but I hope our niece will correct me if I’m wrong): Fishmarket! I’m not even going to check it with a robo-translator. This visit to Hamburg was the first in 15 years for Dominique and brought lots of new sites/sights! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/haguenau-france monthly 0.5 2022-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/458fb28f-8040-4469-9c30-147ebb0913d3/FR_Dominique75.jpg Postcards - Haguenau (France) - Cette carte est venue de mon ami Dominique, qui vient de m’envoyer ce poème allemand qui a été traduit par ma nièce. Voici une vue de sa ville et je vois les traces des villes du nord-est de la France. J’éspère ne pas causer de l’offense en notant les similarités entre les deux régions. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-few-figs-from-thistles-nevada monthly 0.5 2022-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7d275ac5-cc3f-44f0-9961-5cb352b22270/US-NV_Tristan04.jpg Postcards - “A Few Figs from Thistles” (Nevada) - I too love this postcard from my brother-in-law who writes that it reminds him of another time. I agree! I love how the ends of her hair are so distinct but her forehead fades into the background. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/willy-brandt-stiftung-germany monthly 0.5 2022-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b7408fd0-28b3-4fd4-b89e-0e7434031f83/DE_Dominique10.jpg Postcards - Willy Brandt Stiftung (Germany) - This terrific postcard comes from Germany, courtesy of my penpal Dominique. I sent the front and back to my niece-extraordinaire who translated it bravely for me: “Nothing comes from self. And only a little comes from waiting. That is why Evan reflects all of your strength and thereupon every age seeks to respond in its own way and one has to be at one’s height if good things are to take effect.“ I think it’s terrific; I hope she adds poetry translator to her resume, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/earth-day-is-every-day-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/21cbecb8-33fc-4d4b-8423-68a72b17e375/US-IN_KAK04.jpg Postcards - Earth Day (is every day) (Indiana) - My penpal Kimberly sent this great postcard as a nice reminder of how important it is to be responsible and generous stewards of the planet. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/highland-park-california monthly 0.5 2022-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1650047003855-YBT2J2A4K2N6DJLP5ME9/US-CA_Andy04.jpg Postcards - Highland Park (California) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1650047004012-OF7H135DM12V2DZ129NJ/US-CA_Andy05.jpg Postcards - Highland Park (California) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1650047004557-HJOA38DKZD22LYGBSLH3/US-CA_Andy06.jpg Postcards - Highland Park (California) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-great-wall-of-china-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/054bafcc-e642-4a2b-94c9-970cb6d9e02c/US-OR_Linda28.jpg Postcards - the Great Wall of China (Oregon) - Linda hits it out of the park again with this postcard from—as it’s written on the back of the postcard—”Seven Wonders Of the World - Great Wall Of China” from her “places I’ve never been” series. Ha ha. I love it so much! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hamilton-ontario-canada monthly 0.5 2022-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c4419d99-daab-41ab-911f-7bfd7547a457/CA_Kimee01.jpg Postcards - Hamilton, Ontario (Canada) - Our friend Kimee traveled to Ontario for a 30k race and managed to find, write, stamp, and send this delightful multi-view card! She writes that the race finished in the First Ontario Centre, pictured in the middle of the bottom row. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Hamilton, despite its proximity to where I grew up. 30 kilometers is probably too much for me, but Andy could certainly manage it, so maybe we will make our way over there some time to participate (oh! it looks like there’s a 5K option, too!). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sights-of-minnesota monthly 0.5 2022-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3d6ecca8-6f23-4b41-9f2a-37859dec8d28/US_8335571.jpg Postcards - sights of Minnesota - This postcard arrives from a truly fascinating person in Minnesota, one of my favorite states. Of course, it’s culturally and geographically similar to Michigan in important ways (Great Lakes for the win!), but it’s distinct in its own important ways. Most importantly, it’s home to two of my dear friends, who live in the Twin Cities region. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bphyheigjx3y9zvsv2jbicq228a62r monthly 0.5 2022-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c306f1d8-4fcd-4e00-9265-a4fbe53e3354/DE_Dominique09.jpg Postcards - Bamberg (Germany) - Undoubtedly my most prolific penpal, Dominique has sent this great postcard from a recent trip to Germany. I’m envious of the all the opportunities to travel to historic places with different culinary, linguistic, and cultural traditions! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-francisco-bay-district-and-adjacent-territory monthly 0.5 2022-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/00eac7e4-08a7-450b-9ecf-a1320d2558a2/US-CA_Andy03.jpg Postcards - San Francisco Bay District and Adjacent Territory - Earlier this month, Andy took an impromptu hike along the ridge down in the Peninsula and sent me this secret postcard! It’s been ages since we’ve been apart long enough for him to find a postcard, write on it, and take it to the post office (I know he did that because it’s got a postcard stamp on it instead of a regular 1st-class stamp - which means he had to wait in line to get it!). <3 <3 <3 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/festheart-estonia monthly 0.5 2022-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4d71efcd-9f7f-43ff-80c6-00f18f4e5605/EE_290307.jpg Postcards - Festheart (Estonia) - Frankly, I’m surprised at how many LGBTQ-themed postcards I’ve been getting via PostCrossing. I put in my profile that people can send such postcards and they’ve really been come through! This one is from a relative of the sender who has been co-organizing the festheart lgbt+ film festival, the first and only such festival in Estonia. What a great postcard to receive! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/childrens-artwork-michigan monthly 0.5 2022-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1649042369954-MA37LEB3QCZP83O86FF5/US-MI_Mom04.jpg Postcards - children’s artwork (Michigan) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1649042369453-IYD6N61RKBTUPJQSZR24/US-MI_Mom05.jpg Postcards - children’s artwork (Michigan) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/eight-armed-hug-california monthly 0.5 2022-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/913ac6a6-cd6b-4e08-ae5e-eac326b174b3/US-CA_Kristopher06.jpg Postcards - eight-armed hug (California) - Continuing with my theme of sending myself postcards (or, again, in this case, sending them to Andy), here’s an image of an octopus from the American artist Tim Hawkinson. I bought it at the Getty Center when we were visiting Los Angeles and sent it to Andy because octopodes are among his favorite animals. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/houston-postcrossing-meetup-texas monthly 0.5 2022-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/571ed001-d3dd-4de0-818a-7df05111e2f9/US_8288613.jpg Postcards - Houston PostCrossing Meetup (Texas) - Among the most coveted of postcards are Meetup postcards, which are postcards designed and printed specifically for PostCrossers in a particular area to meet together and sign them. This one comes from a very recent meetup in Houston! In fact, the SF Bay Area will be hosting our Meetup in two weeks! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/modern-times-germany monthly 0.5 2022-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9a22d227-8e69-4540-b7eb-f4c749c3730b/DE_11433794.jpg Postcards - modern times (Germany) - This great postcard comes from a PostCrosser who also included a great, pride/love stamp from Germany. I’m so grateful to the people who spend time finding the perfect postcard (and stamps!) when they send me a postcard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/useful-exercise-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2022-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bab8df4d-57ad-4d84-8507-7e5dde1c4f34/US-PA_Tim04.jpg Postcards - useful exercise (Pennsylvania) - Tim picked up this postcard in New Orleans last year and mailed it recently from Pennsylvania. It’s like a bonus trip for the postcard! Instead of going direct from LA to CA, it made a detour in PA! The caption of this postcard says “This useful exercise for the housewife can be performed while making the bed, 1935,” which Tim helpfully clarifies: “ …when one makes a single bed together.” Coupled with the great sticker from my favorite movie of the past 10 years “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” this postcard is a great gift! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stamps-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/143b4cb2-db31-469c-8371-c3ef6124b5af/US-OR_Linda27.jpg Postcards - stamps (Oregon) - Ever the dependable, Linda has sent a terrific meta-postcard! She writes about her first overnight visitor from California since before the pre-pandemic. This necessitated a deep clean of the house, especially the guest room. I think we can all identify with the need to get the house ready for visitors again as we begin to exit the core of the pandemic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/broad-billed-hummingbird-california monthly 0.5 2022-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/07d8f560-43d3-418a-90e2-57633cdcd6a3/US-CA_Kristopher05.jpg Postcards - broad-billed hummingbird (California) - Some people ask me how to start a postcard collection. They may not know anyone who wants to send postcards. My first piece of advice would be to join PostCrossing, as it will jump-start your collection rather quickly. The second piece of advice is to start sending postcards; as they arrive, people will send them back (PS - If you send me a postcard, I will always respond with one in return!)! My third piece of advice is to send yourself a postcard from your next foray out of town! That’s what this postcard is — well, technically, I sent it to Andy. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-oasis-of-mara-california monthly 0.5 2022-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/02fec18a-5676-45ad-a3b1-2d0819cc77c4/US-CA_MejduleneKatie01.jpg Postcards - the Oasis of Mara (California) - We just took a terrific spring break trip with our dearest friends Mejdulene and Katie to the Joshua Tree area. I’m so glad that Mejdulene had the idea to visit and invited us along because we had such a great trip hiking and eating and laughing and spending time together. They write that “this trip has been an ‘oasis’ in a hard few years,” which it certainly has. In my opinion, with friends and family, almost anything is endurable. Mejdulene and Katie have been a constant source of joy and support these few years. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/arthur-r-metz-bicentennial-grand-carillon-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-04-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0ca2f4c3-d957-481d-93fa-f98fad259178/US-IN_Nozomi29.jpg Postcards - Arthur R. Metz Bicentennial Grand Carillon (Indiana) - This beautiful sight comes from Nozomi, who writes that this tower was just built for the bicentennial celebration (2020) which meant that the grand plans were of course canceled due to CoVID. I hope they’re able to have the celebration after all! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fantastic-collections-canada monthly 0.5 2022-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1648393836285-RRWB4DQ973LUP5LOS74T/CA_Ray04.jpg Postcards - fantastic collections (Canada) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1648393836234-A82V51NHYGHVSTQGQAA0/CA_Ray05.jpg Postcards - fantastic collections (Canada) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gify7yc6gesab7pwptso3p7i94250v monthly 0.5 2022-04-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/374574d1-d438-4e2f-81c0-adc4dfc7d38b/CN_3315577.jpg Postcards - Hangzhou (China) - What a beautiful reminder of my last international trip when I visited Shanghai and Hangzhou - the origin of this postcard - back in December 2019 and January 2020. I hope to return to international travel soon, including Mainland China! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rlv33c1ph8rn6m1zx5czf1m8atysid monthly 0.5 2022-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b1b9f4b3-8267-4ce4-b6db-aa69900e34f8/US_8285976.jpg Postcards - Savannah Lakes Village (South Carolina) - The sender of this postcard used to live in Michigan for a long time but has recently moved to South Carolina. They wrote about the AIDS Quilt, which started in San Francisco. It’s a moving tribute to those who we’ve lost to AIDS. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-francisco-spirits-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1647319967762-1TYJ1JSIA2FH7JY7B2MS/US-IN_KAK02.jpg Postcards - San Francisco spirits (Indiana) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1647319967759-Z21TNHB9C5XAHVM3TQ5X/US-IN_KAK03.jpg Postcards - San Francisco spirits (Indiana) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/partie-an-der-diemel-germany monthly 0.5 2022-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/99c80890-2f1e-4750-9673-95d62368b05d/DE_11531496.jpg Postcards - Partie an der Diemel (Germany) - I’m just now realizing that this photo was taken by the sender of the postcard, I’m pretty sure! He writes that it’s near Warburg, Germany - and it in fact, it reminds me a bit of Tahquamenon Falls in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-poste-franaise monthly 0.5 2022-03-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e707127a-26e2-41da-95d5-6654313c5fd7/FR_1491639.jpg Postcards - la poste française - This cute postcard came from a PostCrosser in norther-western France. I can imagine this on the side of a rain-beaten building along the coast. There’s something very romantic about northern coasts in Europe, isn’t there? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ylo2podc56i6jn0xcq4gcr4l87uzbt monthly 0.5 2022-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/58c56f68-8918-40d7-91bd-0faa6ba3aacf/DE_Dominique08.jpg Postcards - Schwäbisch Hall (Germany) - Here is a terrific postcard from Schwäbisch Hall in Germany, which is the name of the city (and not the building!). This is the eighth German postcard I’ve received from my great penpal Dominique. I always derive so much inspiration from them. Danke schön! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sparkling-wine-ukraine monthly 0.5 2022-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/adf89401-f606-4d74-9500-d5e2b883eda0/UA_1866612.jpg Postcards - sparkling wine (Ukraine) - I already received this postcard from another private swap in Ukraine - how fun that it came twice, but this time through the official PostCrossing algorithm! Good things come when you list wine and spirits among your interests! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/messestadt-hannover-germany monthly 0.5 2022-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5073f3d8-c68a-4faf-b29d-ca4ffdab2ddc/DE_11531497.jpg Postcards - Messestadt Hannover (Germany) - I used to dislike multiview postcards, but lately they’ve been growing on me. The Germans and Dutch do a really good job with theirs, so I’ll look forward to receiving more both from these places and from the very many others on the planet! This postcard is from Hannover, a city where I have a good friend living with her family. Someday, I hope to visit. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lausanne-ouchy-switzerland monthly 0.5 2022-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/71571f96-ad99-4e88-aac8-65cf40c2f658/CH_598199.jpg Postcards - Lausanne-Ouchy (Switzerland) - I’ve received relatively few postcards from Switzerland, so this one was quite nice to receive. In fact, I’ve been to Lausanne and Genève (Geneva in English). I’ve even stared out across this beautiful Lake Geneva (Lac Leman in French?!) before - but it’s been years since I was there last (2005), so I’m eager as always to return. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-pulpit-rock-norway monthly 0.5 2022-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/018ed594-b5db-40f5-aa30-44275bdff5a5/NO_FanxingXueyi01.jpg Postcards - the Pulpit Rock (Norway) - This beautiful postcard arrived from Norway from two former students: FX and XY. The back includes really stunning calligraphy as well! Not only is it beautiful, but I can read it, too - which is no shade on the artist, but a little boost to me. :-) One of the other reasons this postcard means so much to me is that it’s the same subject as one of the first postcards I received via Postcrossing way back in March 2008! Fantastic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/6lwytnvgm0hmbmb33l1vpl2bvb42ip monthly 0.5 2022-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fc4c2d09-4f6d-4b9c-b45f-74ccb887f062/CA_Ray03.jpg Postcards - garden help (Canada) - This postcard comes from my penpal Ray in British Columbia. As the days get longer and warmer, he writes about his eagerness to get out into the garden and get things ready for spring. Here’s to growth and renewal in spring! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/terminus-absinthe-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3d864bac-79f3-4920-83af-43c3b0312ecc/US-ID_KAK04.jpg Postcards - Terminus absinthe (Indiana) - My penpal Kimberly sent this postcard to me in response to one I sent from Napa Valley where we were wine-tasting. She and I share an interest in wine, although our favorite wines are somewhat different. She wrote that this postcard is how she imagines Andy and me tasting wine. On the one hand, she’s not far off. On the other, I wish I were this dapper! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oscar-wilde-quote-texas monthly 0.5 2022-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3541e7c4-2c65-4612-8cce-23c36ae3add9/US_8251130.jpg Postcards - Oscar Wilde quote (Texas) - This postcard comes from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (a term I’ve always hated), which is actually my old stomping grounds from during my Master’s at the University of North Texas. Of course, Oscar Wilde is always a hit and the gears here are a great representation of his genius. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pr5lvz5p49qxrl7ekfkv67ozy0oco6 monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/efd0bc33-bff6-4540-8666-e32aa1f5a9cd/RU_9052837.jpg Postcards - Perm (Russia) - The sender of this postcard lives in Perm, a city I’d never heard of (not surprising given my very poor knowledge of Russian geography). It turns out, it’s a city of over 1 million and still the 14th largest city in Russia! The sender enjoys cycling and running during the summer, and during the winter raises tropical plants and cacti indoors! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/3wrfj85dznvrvi2zcvt7xft7zir17m monthly 0.5 2022-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f5cd7e66-f16e-4e2f-b210-595313a3770a/DE_11470775.jpg Postcards - green Dorsten (Germany) - The sender of this postcard writes that Dorsten is a city in the west of Germany that used to be a mining town. But since the mines closed, the city has gotten greener and greener with each passing season. I think the same could be said for the city I used to live in in France. Would that all cities followed this model! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/f25tw1sfwtlat306oc7hvy8nhbqrd3 monthly 0.5 2022-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7ae5acac-5461-43aa-b166-d917fc3b177d/TW_3221771.jpg Postcards - rainbow Taiwan - This rainbow image of Taiwan is particularly appropriate, given it’s the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriages. I also love the Chinese and English names of major cities. There are still a ton I want to visit, but I have a good start already. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/maison-kammerzell-france monthly 0.5 2022-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b84fd444-7ef6-44f5-9379-e68fc0603e0e/FR_Dominique74.jpg Postcards - Maison Kammerzell (France) - J’ai tellement aimé cette carte postale, envoyé par Dominique, de la Maison Kammerzell à Strasbourg en Alsace. Il m’a écrit sur les mélanges des influences des regions voisines. L’Alsace devient de plus en plus un lieu que je veux vraiment connaître! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/books-actually-texas monthly 0.5 2022-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5fbb98bc-3b17-4cc7-9a6a-b88024fe8158/US_8205725.jpg Postcards - Books Actually (Texas) - Although this postcardostcrossing.com/postcards/US-8205725 comes from Texas, the bookstore it depicts is called Books Actually and is located in Tiong Bahru, Singapore. I love seeing the overt representation of the pride flag - I wonder how common this kind of thing is in Singapore? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sister-fairy-liquid-gold-california monthly 0.5 2022-03-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7bbaabd9-f84c-4b07-93ec-4811c7d91765/US-CA_Garry01.jpg Postcards - Sister Fairy Liquid Gold (California) - I’m so used to seeing the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in full, vivid, raucous color so this start black-and-white image, seated is a real shock. The back of the postcard declares boldly (and correctly): AIDS: complacency is genocide. I’m curious, dear readers. Will you please comment (or email me) to let me know whether you have heard of PrEP? I’m linking it here, but let me know if you’d heard of this before I linked you to it. When you let me know if you’d heard of PrEP, please tell me your gender(s) and sexuality(ies). I have a hypothesis I’m testing here… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/maze-of-books-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-03-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f2d92b93-8923-43f3-ab8f-05bb17c7807c/US-OR_Linda26.jpg Postcards - maze of books (Oregon) - Who among us avid readers hasn’t dreamt of a cozy book nook packed to the rafters with dog-eared old favorites and shiny tomes as yet unread? Among the many things that my friend Linda and I share in common is our shared love of reading, so this postcard is the perfect missive from her cooking, reading, and emergency preparation adventures in Portland! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/palanga-lithuania monthly 0.5 2022-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1af7555c-4cee-4d97-a014-9f5d0fa24c21/LT_822187.jpg Postcards - Palanga (Lithuania) - I’ve been interested in Lithuania ever since I learned that a famous poet and I share the same last name. Although I know that my last name comes from immigrants to the US from Germany, Germans I’ve spoken to say it’s not a common last name. Perhaps it was re-spelled upon arrival in the US, or maybe that part of my family comes originally not from Germany but from Lithuania. This is not so hard to imagine given the political history of the region! What a beautiful place Lithuania looks like in this postcard. Someday I hope to visit it myself! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/munich-germany monthly 0.5 2022-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5e4d44d4-0c4d-4408-b5b0-81aad0bbec09/DE_Dominique07.jpg Postcards - Munich (Germany) - Dominique m’a envoyé cette carte postale depuis ses vacances en Allemagne. Ils ont choisi de visiter ce pays voisin à cause de la pandémie et les incertitudes liées. Ici, nous nous démandons les mêmes questions: si on va partir à l’étrangère, où aller donc? On ne veut absolument pas être attrappé dans un pays ailleurs sans possibilité de rentrer chez soi. On ne veut nonplus remporter le virus d’ici en là-bas… Nous ésperons pouvoir voyager dan le futur prochain. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oulu-finland monthly 0.5 2022-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4b0a373f-a733-43fe-ba4d-a5c0da20ce17/FI_4120660.jpg Postcards - Oulu (Finland) - The truth is that I know very little about Finnish geography; I can only name two Finnish cities: Helsinki and Turku (and this last one only because a very good friend of mine lived there for many years). This postcard comes from Oulu in Finland, another city to add to my list. Like so many Finnish cities, it looks really beautiful and I hope I can visit it someday! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/virtual-valentines-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2022-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3d204031-833c-4484-89ff-25480af6b632/FI_Jussi10.jpg Postcards - Virtual Valentine’s Meetup (Finland) - My penpal Jussi sent me this postcard from Finland and it features dozens of signatures. For a virtual meetup, I have no idea how they managed to get so many signatures, stamps, and names. It’s really a feat of organization if they managed to send dozens of postcards around the city (or country!) for signatures. So amazing. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/you-cant-erase-lgbtq-belarus monthly 0.5 2022-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b5deaac7-aadd-4a6d-96ef-924ac9ff1778/BY_2862171.jpg Postcards - You Can’t Erase LGBTQ (Belarus) - The sender of this postcard lives in Belarus but purchased this postcard in Dubai while visiting with friends. She wrote it with a German Kaweco pen gifted to her by a Swedish friend. The postcard itself was printed in Los Angeles, so it made this very long trip around half of the world. Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ikpb0q1ckz78q3ooxdlbgmbxnp9619 monthly 0.5 2022-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ca188926-eb5d-4321-8a83-2b6003d43dee/TW_SinJin01.jpg Postcards - Tsou youth (Taiwan) - This terrific postcard comes from a former student who traveled to Taiwan recently and searched high and low for this postcard, which highlights Aboriginal culture in Taiwan. This is a photo taken during the Japanese colonial period of Taiwan and features a young Tsou person. The Tsou presently live primarily in Chiayi and Nantou Counties. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gruss-aus-schwerte-germany monthly 0.5 2022-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4660510f-c774-42d4-9892-cbcf9d871853/DE_114591150.jpg Postcards - Gruss aus Schwerte (Germany) - I’ll admit that I don’t usually love multi-view postcards, but this one is certainly an exception. I love the geometric and irregular shapes of the images, especially the circle in the center. I also love the rainbow pattern of the borders between the images. And I also love the mix of old/traditional architecture with new buildings and art. This postcard is a definite winner! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/buskirk-chumley-theater-indiana monthly 0.5 2022-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5db26743-b0fd-42b0-ba79-3478dc96f293/US-IN_Nozomi28.jpg Postcards - Buskirk-Chumley Theater (Indiana) - Another beautiful postcard from the inimitable Nozomi has arrived ! This one is really great; who doesn’t love an old theater with neon lights and a giant marquee? If you don’t live in a town with such a theater, I think you’re really missing out on a great chunk of the US experience. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/eisenach-germany monthly 0.5 2022-03-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6a48861f-7b48-4536-83cd-592f208344ad/DE_11462196.jpg Postcards - Eisenach (Germany) - What an absolutely stunning card! I love the hand-drawn character of it and of course the brilliant splash of colors is a true beauty! This is a PostCrossing gem and one of the many reminders of how great this community is. The sender writes about how important Eisenach is, culturally and historically. It’s the birthplace of both Martin Luther and J.S. Bach, and also one of the places that Georg Philipp Telemann and Richard Wagner lived. There’s so much more to tell, but maybe I’ll wait until I’ve visited it myself! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/p8l13cymge0jdhx62xlgqjx0j8el6f monthly 0.5 2022-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/810eced3-4216-4426-9520-26dc5f880a1e/UA_MariaVlasova01.jpg Postcards - bubbles and berry (Ukraine) - This delicious postcard comes from a private swap with a Postcrossing person in Ukraine! I love how she wrote “May you always have someone to raise a glass of wine with on a happy occasion.” It’s a great toast! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vilnius-lithuania monthly 0.5 2022-03-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/006f5f84-0327-44f1-8576-4ba7bfacac73/LT_Andreas01.jpg Postcards - Vilnius (Lithuania) - This is a terrific private swap with a PostCrosser in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania! I don’t usually love multiview postcards, but these photos are so soft that they almost look like illustrations. I’ve never been to this part of Europe (I’ve never been further east than Salzburg or Stockholm!) but I’ve long been fascinated with the Baltic countries. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/flower-loving-fox-finland monthly 0.5 2022-03-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/aa500745-341c-4a84-b95f-e0e763ad6b5e/FI_4113759.jpg Postcards - flower loving fox (Finland) - This beautiful postcard arrives via Postcrossing, bringing joy and love and beauty. The soft colors and rounded corners really add to the feelings friendship and love. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rainbow-moon-rise-canada monthly 0.5 2022-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1a74116c-c39c-479e-8911-bc7cf1d34fff/CA_Ray02.jpg Postcards - rainbow moon rise (Canada) - This beautiful postcard comes from my new penpal Ray in BC, Canada. I love the reflection of the rainbow moon in the water over the couple. The bright lights of the sip off-shore are a nice touch, echoing the dim embers of their beach fire. It’s an evocative scene indeed. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/quarantine-land-germany monthly 0.5 2022-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/98110b6a-2d4c-4dba-9425-14c07d34bf8c/DE_11433786.jpg Postcards - Quarantine Land (Germany) - This delightful and incredibly witty postcard is a sendup of a popular postcard theme featuring the national flag and some myths and facts about countries. I love the refuting of myths about CoVID-19 and the facts provided instead. Here’s to saner heads prevailing, more care for one another, and less selfishness overall. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/coors-hospitality-center-arizona monthly 0.5 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4dec1be2-a8c4-4d80-b95a-66e449c38666/US_8205726.jpg Postcards - Coors Hospitality Center (Arizona) - The sender of this terrific postcard laments “what’s happened to [San Fran and Seattle]” and hopes that I “actively [try] to make San Fran a better, safer place.” Unfortunately, it seems that this sender has fallen prey to the greatly exaggerated accounts about West Coast cities’ decay. Remember folks, you can’t believe everything you see on TV or read on the internet. The problem with for-profit news is that it stops being news after a while and starts being click-bait and scare-o’clock fear mongering. Reach out to your friends and family who live in these places to see what the reality is. And I also recommend you get out of your cars once in a while if you don’t live in a densely-populated area. Chances are, the only time you spend on your feet is in private places like homes and business, and not in any truly public spaces like parks, sidewalks, or libraries. The problems that we see every day in SF like homelessness and drug addiction are present across the US, but if you only zip from home to work to big-box store and home in your car, you’re never forced to come face-to-face with the predictable results of failed public policy. And it’s easy to convince yourself that it’s only a problem in dense cities on the coasts, and not a problem in your very own suburbs. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/image-by-chuck-theodore-colorado-hjcnt monthly 0.5 2022-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8164c667-ab8d-4923-849b-f81129bc56f8/US_8203425.jpg Postcards - image by Chuck Theodore (Colorado) (Copy) - This beautiful postcard comes from a fellow PostCrosser who also has lots of indoor plants. She lists the many she has, including those she found on discounted racks at some point in the past! I’m too scared to bring home plants from dubious homes (fungus gnats are real!), but I love the idea of saving forgotten and forlorn plants. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-matre-dcole-par-hansi-france monthly 0.5 2022-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/5ae8668c-9e38-4f70-984a-2be5c4c010ea/FR_Dominique72.jpg Postcards - le maître d’école, par Hansi (France) - I’m writing this one in English, even though I usually write about postcards from Francophone senders in French. This is because I presume most Francophones are familiar with Hansi, a famous writer and illustrator from Alsace. Dominique writes that he was famous for his caricatures of German authorities (including schoolteachers) when Alsace was under the authority of the Second Reich between 1870 and 1918. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/raw-currant-cashew-cake-russia monthly 0.5 2022-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2389d3c1-3ba4-488d-b1cf-58c5a10fd090/RU_8975840.jpg Postcards - raw currant cashew cake (Russia) - This beautiful image comes from Komi, Russia. The sender wrote entirely in Russian on the back; I’m pleased with my ability to decode the handwriting and type it into Google translate to discover that the sender wrote a poem (I think!). It made me think: I can decode at least five writing systems… in descending order of ability, they are: Latin alphabet (e.g. English, Spanish, Tagalog) Hanzi characters (e.g. Chinese, parts of Japanese) Hangul alphabet (e.g. Korean) Cyrillic alphabet (e.g. Russian, Bulgarian) Greek alphabet (e.g. Greek) I should really learn a syllabary (e.g. Cherokee, parts of Japanese), an abugida (e.g. Hindi), and an abjad (e.g. Arabic, Hebrew) to round out my script abilities! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/twosday-netherlands monthly 0.5 2022-02-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2151f6c3-c92c-4128-aa83-6f36c6024915/NL_5162490.jpg Postcards - “twosday” (Netherlands) - What a delight this postcard is! The sender is very excited about this special date, going so far as to order postcards with this great date. She writes that in Europe (And most of the world, for that matter), this date is a palindrome: 22022022! Sadly, the US has some obstinate need to force itself into pseudo-uniqueness, so we can’t really have that claim here. On the other hand, we do have Pi Day on March 14 (3.14 or π) and near as I can tell this is a uniquely US holiday due to our habit of writing the month before the date. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/irkutsk-russia monthly 0.5 2022-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6ff2c551-6fc7-420f-b37b-cef9042a6226/RU_8975874.jpg Postcards - Irkutsk (Russia) - What a beautiful building this is, in the equally beautiful city of Irkutsk! The sender of this postcard, also an English teacher, indicates that it’s near Lake Baikal, which is also one of my dream destinations! I’m particularly excited to visit the lake and perhaps even see some Lake Baikal seals! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mt-st-helens-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/bb594274-2914-42a9-bd1a-aaf6aedaff38/US-OR_Linda25.jpg Postcards - Mt. St. Helens (Oregon) - No, Mt. St. Helens is not in Portland, but it is part of the Cascades Range and the volcanic chain that stretches down from Canada to northern California. Mt. St. Helens famously erupted on May 18, 1980 after 123 years of inactivity. This view does, however, show the view of the eruption from Portland, Oregon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gay-pride-netherlands monthly 0.5 2022-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c39699c2-7c5e-450f-bbac-cac3eacb6c73/NL_5162515.jpg Postcards - gay pride (Netherlands) - In my PostCrossing profile, I invite people to send postcards that have an LGBTQ theme and to tell me about LGBTQ people where they live. I’m always a little embarrassed when people from the Netherlands or Denmark or Canada, for example, write about LGBTQ people because they have a much longer history of progressivism and celebration than we do in the US. This terrific postcard is a great reminder of that history in the Netherlands. For example, t he Netherlands was the first country to legalize same-sex marriage (2001), followed by Belgium (2003), and Spain and Canada (2005). Here in the US, we lagged behind them and South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Brazil, France, Uruguay, New Zealand, England and Wales, Scotland, and Luxembourg before permitting it nationwide in 2015. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2s09hok842ksuftjixwposgzdxyi6j monthly 0.5 2022-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/52596665-659f-4e78-878a-1381227b9611/FR_Dominique73.jpg Postcards - le Pigeonnier, Eguisheim (France) - J’ai déjà réçu une carte postale de ce bâtiment, mais pas de ce point de vue. J’adore voir les ruelles étroites entre les maisons qui pendent sur les chemins! Je vois une mélange de l’architecture française avec celle des allemands dans ce photo-là. Merci à Dominique pour cette très belle carte postale! PS - Avez-vous noté les cigognes en bas et à droit? Je sais que les cigognes sont nombreux en Europe, mais je ne connais pas la raison pour leur apparence ici. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alsace-france monthly 0.5 2022-02-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7fe3c08b-a4ee-474d-b099-971fa617d731/FR_Dominique71.jpg Postcards - Alsace (France) - Voici une carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui continue à trouver des cartes postales si belles et intéréssantes. Celle-ci de la ville d’Alsace, que j’adorai visiter dans le futur proche. Malheureusement, il écrit qu’il s’est tombé malade avec le CoVID, sûrement du vague Omicron, mais heureusement, il n’a pas eu de mauvaise expérience grâce aux vaccins. Nous avons beaucoup de gens à remercier, surtout les medecins, réchercheurs, infermiers, etc. etc. qui nous ont sauvé du pire de la pandémie. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/canadian-icons monthly 0.5 2022-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7719fc6d-d676-44af-ba8d-eaf224184c1c/CA_Ray01.jpg Postcards - Canadian icons - This is the first postcard from my new penpal, Ray, in British Columbia. It features so many of the iconic elements of Canada and is a real delight to behold! Given how close my childhood home is to Canada and how frequently we traveled there, I’m surprised that I don’t know more of these, especially the food items. Maybe it’s because we didn’t have any close Canadian friends or family members? Of course, maple syrup and maple trees are quite popular in Michigan, as are Canada geese and moose. We have no grizzly bears in Michigan, but we do have black bears. We didn’t often have Loonies growing up, but our pockets were always composed of 10% Canadian coins. Outside of the dollar coins, they’re the same size, shape, weight, and denomination (even if the relative values varied). I was always scandalized when a vending machine - or worse, a store! - refused to accept Canadian coins. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/did-you-know-louisiana monthly 0.5 2022-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d30757f6-6c25-480e-b2b6-716659af41f0/US-LA_LauraP01.jpg Postcards - Did you know? (Louisiana) - Our dear friend Laura is just wrapping up a year-long work trip to New Orleans - it’s hard to believe it passed so quickly! She sent this terrific postcard from the city she’s called home for the past several months. I love trivia and quick facts like this so much! I also can’t wait to hear more about what came out of the project! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-antonio-river-walk-texas monthly 0.5 2022-02-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c41f33fa-4ebd-4882-ad06-dee7905f8f07/US-TX_Ken01.jpg Postcards - San Antonio River Walk (Texas) - This postcard comes from my friend and colleague, Ken, who was recently visiting family in Texas in advance of a big move. How did I not know he was from Texas (or at least had family there)?! If you haven’t visited the San Antonio River Walk, I highly recommend it. Especially on a warm evening, it’s a great place to walk around and shop and grab a margarita. I know it’s a tourist-trap, but it’s one of my favorite places in Texas. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tulitikkuenkeli-finland monthly 0.5 2022-02-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/995d82be-b711-464b-910f-2bfba439af46/FI_4097316.jpg Postcards - tulitikkuenkeli (Finland) - This lovely winter postcard comes from Finland, where the sender was quite busy on the day they sent this postcard. I love the warm glow of the candle warming up this little angel! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/femme-de-profil-madame-lucy-united-kingdom monthly 0.5 2022-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/facdd142-0aee-47c7-bd89-ccd7e45a68c0/GB_Xinyue01.jpg Postcards - Femme de profil (Madame Lucy) (United Kingdom) - This postcard features a detail from the painting Femme de profil (Madame Lucy) by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and was sent by my former student XD. She traveled from the United Kingdom, where she lives, to Paris and later to Norway recently, and sent this postcard upon her return! It’s really beautiful. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/great-white-shark-dental-hygiene-california monthly 0.5 2022-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c53ab7ff-ab44-46b5-b0ff-75529097601d/US-CA_YangjieLi02.jpg Postcards - great white shark dental hygiene (California) - This delicious postcard comes from YL, and must be a part of the great set that her boyfriend surprised her with earlier. It features one of my most favorite animals of all time - the great white shark (one of the few animals with a direct translation in Chinese) - with a truly fantastic speech bubble: 每天都會用完一盒牙線呢！If my translation is correct, it’s: I go through a whole box of dental floss every day! If they didn’t lose and replace their teeth so regularly, I’d believe it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lion-bridge-russia monthly 0.5 2022-02-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/97e11032-c6b5-425e-b97e-61aee61b531d/RU_8975875.jpg Postcards - Lion Bridge (Russia) - This postcard comes from and English teacher who also speaks Spanish and French who writes that this was one of her favorite places as a child: the Bridge of Four Lions over the Griboyedov Canel in Saint Petersburg. Stunning! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jazan-folklore-dance-california monthly 0.5 2022-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/361cba22-3115-4288-8c23-736deac5a5ae/US-CA_Kimee-Michael06.jpg Postcards - Jazan Folklore dance (California) - Our friends Kimee and Michael sent us this terrific postcard from when Michael was living in Saudi Arabia. It depicts a Jazan Folklore Dance at Janadria Festival in Riyadh. I think this is the first postcard I’ve ever gotten depicting Saudi Arabia! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/matchbox-art-india monthly 0.5 2022-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/c171a129-771f-40e0-80f4-5415725ccbe3/IN_453276.jpg Postcards - matchbox art (India) - This terrific postcard comes from southern India, where the writer tells me about the complex interplay between Hindi (one of the 22 scheduled languages of India) and Tamil (one of the local languages official to parts of the south of the country). This old matchbox lid features English written in the Tamil script, which I really love! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lagrasse-france monthly 0.5 2022-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/86aa0c79-2b75-421d-b9e0-ec8ee7a6f9e6/FR_Dominique70.jpg Postcards - Lagrasse (France) - Voici la 70eme carte postale envoyée de la France par mon ami de lettres, Dominique. Malheureusement, il a écrit qu’il a aussi eu le CoVID-19 dans cette cinquième vague de la maladie. Il n’est pas seul; mon amie a aussi eu la maladie en Bordeaux, peut-être d’être allée au travail à l’université ou peut-être l’ayant eu par un de ses fils qui vont à la crèche. Je leur envoie pleine de santé, de positivité, et de paix pendant leurs convalescences. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sydney-olympic-games-2000-australia monthly 0.5 2022-02-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3bcf0959-cc71-4c94-a507-73f6134a9108/AU_798103.jpg Postcards - Sydney Olympic Games 2000 (Australia) - This postcard comes from Australia, where the sender writes about how the 2000 Olympics still loom large in the collective memory. This postcard itself comes from when the Olympic flame was passed from Atlanta to Sydney, hence the Bald Eagle and the Kangaroo! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/birds-of-north-america-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7a97489d-1705-4181-be68-944d816f4740/US-OR_Linda24.jpg Postcards - birds of North America (Oregon) - Linda worries that this card might be a repeat, but I don’t think it is. In any case, I wouldn’t mind because I love birds and I love LouPaper’s style! It was in fact Linda who turned me on to this artist, and now I’m working through several dozen that I bought a while ago. Thank you, Linda! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/my-heart-beats-hessian-germany monthly 0.5 2022-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a8c40c7b-2c82-4197-908a-5dd5fceaeece/DE_11305955.jpg Postcards - “My heart beats Hessian” (Germany) - This postcard is a response to my call for local, indigenous, and minority languages, and features a variety of German that translates roughly as above: My heart beats Hessian. Not only do I speak no German, but I know almost nothing about the other varieties of German that are spoken, so this is a real gift to receive! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alfie-and-olive-play-the-crossword-new-york monthly 0.5 2022-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/54b602bf-7506-4d74-bd3f-605fa69cc338/US-NY_RexParker01.jpg Postcards - Alfie and Olive play the crossword (New York) - One of Andy’s and my new traditions since the pandemic is to complete the New York Times crossword puzzle every morning without hints or cheats. We’re well into our mid-500-day streak already! After solve the crossword puzzle, we immediately turn to Rex Parker’s blog to see his thoughts on the puzzle, and it’s become a daily activity that we share over breakfast. We recently sent a small token of our appreciation for his hard work and he thanked up with this postcard, designed by his daughter Ella Egan. I hope it doesn’t sound callous to ask this, but what joy have you found during the pandemic? Among ours has been the crossword puzzle and Rex Parker’s blog. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/atlas-of-china monthly 0.5 2022-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2f375093-d09d-41cf-a917-dcc695ba0ff5/CN_3259735.jpg Postcards - atlas of China - This postcard presents one view of China, and comes from a college student in China. She writes “First of all, I wish you and your husband happiness. You have courage.” Perhaps I’m reading too far between the lines but I’m happy to represent one possibility of happiness for folks all over the world. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-treasure-trove-of-postcards-california monthly 0.5 2022-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1642609492942-REXG66G5J9X9PU63WZE1/US-CA_Marina03.jpg Postcards - a treasure trove of postcards (California) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1642609493113-GI0LKM3U9EOVB0JJ02UO/US-CA_Marina04.jpg Postcards - a treasure trove of postcards (California) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1642609493811-OEROTFRU0SIQES8PDQJ0/US-CA_Marina05.jpg Postcards - a treasure trove of postcards (California) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1642609494082-JKMV5E5OSZJ101A8886A/US-CA_Marina06.jpg Postcards - a treasure trove of postcards (California) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/russian-tea-time monthly 0.5 2022-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/8a112569-ba12-488b-ad7e-0f5038e72292/RU_8949994.jpg Postcards - Russian tea time - This terrific postcard comes from another linguist who lives in Moscow. On the back, she’s written the names of some Russian treats that often go with tea in Cyrillic. I can read Cyrillic if it’s printed, but handwritten Cyrillic causes me some trouble (just like handwritten Korean or Chinese, actually). I just don’t have the practice looking at what the letters can be. It was fun to try to transcribe it, but I know I was very wrong with a great many of them! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-northern-lights-finland monthly 0.5 2022-01-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/30e6528c-3613-42c9-8a06-126ddfff6efe/FI_4090543.jpg Postcards - the northern lights (Finland) - This postcard depicts the Northern Lights on its front, and on its back, the sender sent a recipe for blueberry pie. I always thought of blueberry pie as a distinctly North American recipe but of course blueberries also grow well in the north of Europe (and other places, too, I’m sure!). So it makes sense that Finland would boast delicious blueberry pie, too. Here’s the recipe for those who are interested: Crust 100 g butter 1 dl sugar 1 egg 2.5 dl flour 1 tsp baking powder Filling 4 dl blueberries 1 tsp vanilla 2 dl crème fraîche 0.5 dl sugar 1 egg Whisk butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add egg while stirring constantly. Combine flour and baking powder and add the mixture to the batter. Press the dough into prepared pie dish. Gently add berries, combine the ingredients of the filling and add to the pie. Back at 200C for 30 minutes, and eat! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/facts-and-figures-germany monthly 0.5 2022-01-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/42b0cdf3-2abc-4d1c-b200-e6023776c99b/DE_11303952.jpg Postcards - facts and figures (Germany) - I love this style of postcard because it’s so informative! The font is also quite fun. I don’t know why I was so surprised to find out how many people live in Germany, but the number is really quite large! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/live-oak-avenue-brookgreen-gardens-near-mrytle-beach-ohio monthly 0.5 2022-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0e0ff568-b049-4e55-a5e7-d41f351939d4/US_8130864.jpg Postcards - Live Oak Avenue, Brookgreen Gardens, near Mrytle Beach (Ohio) - This postcard comes from a sender in Ohio, but depicts a place not far from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I wonder if Live Oak Avenue at Brookgreen Gardens still exists? We used to vacation frequently in Myrtle Beach as kids; I remember all six of us piling into the van to drive down from Michigan. In fact, it was in Myrtle Beach that I had one of my earliest awakenings to the mysteries of language. My little brother and I were playing on a playground at the campground where my family was staying, and we were playing with some other kids who were local to South Carolina. At some point, one of the kids remarked to us, “Yall talk funny.” I indignantly responded, “No, you guys talk funny!” Later, I realized that to them, we did indeed sound funny… just like they sounded funny to us. Maybe that was one of my first realizations about how much identity is wrapped up in the way we talk to one another? Now, of course, I know that everyone talks funny, depending on who’s listening. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/more-german-bread monthly 0.5 2022-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2b087d62-7860-454d-8ddd-d245ef24efd5/DE_11305915.jpg Postcards - more German bread - In my profile, I request a few things, among them local cuisine and beverages, as well as favorite recipes. This postcard comes with both of these things! The sender includes a recipe for farmer’s bread (Bauernbrot) which includes some ingredients that might be difficult to get in the US: fresh yeast (I’ll have to find the appropriate substitution of active dry) and beet syrup (I’m thinking either barley malt syrup or pomegranate molasses). I’ll let you know how it works out! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/they-judged-jesus-germany monthly 0.5 2022-01-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/053374ed-527d-49f0-bddd-8c73a245d63c/DE_11303165.jpg Postcards - they judged Jesus (Germany) - The sender of this postcard lives in Germany but picked this postcard up in Graz, Austria. It depicts a window in the Graz Parish Church that is of some controversy, apparently. In the upper right-hand corner you see two faces which are Hitler and Mussolini, joining in on the judgement of Jesus. The sender of this postcard asks whether this scenery is appropriate for a church; I personally think that any condemnation of unrepentant murders and dictators is warranted and welcome, no matter the setting. But what do you think? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/buckler-non-alcoholic-beer-new-hampshire monthly 0.5 2022-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4356d0e3-71af-402a-a43c-40a2d6d40504/US_8130851.jpg Postcards - Buckler non-alcoholic beer (New Hampshire) - Some people really dislike handmade postcards or advertising postcards, but they don’t bother me! In this case, the sender cut this postcard out of the box that the near-beer came in! What a fun way to re-purpose packaging! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cuttlefish-chess-california monthly 0.5 2022-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f48b351a-5da0-42bd-813e-8b3fbe3bd0ae/US-CA_YangjieLi01.jpg Postcards - cuttlefish chess (California) - This postcard comes from my former student YL whose boyfriend brought this postcard to her on a surprise visit from Taiwan. It’s really cute! Of course, sepia plangon is a species of cuttlefish, known in English as “mourning cuttlefish.” If my Chinese translation is correct, there’s a pun happening here. The cuttlefish says to itself “傑出的一手” or “outstanding first hand,” a pun on the many “hands” that the cuttlefish has, and the opening move of chess. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yasaka-no-to-hokanji-kyoto-japan monthly 0.5 2022-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ed14c67e-ba0c-4c16-8fd2-3f22b6ab40ab/JP_1640812.jpg Postcards - Yasaka no to, Hokanji, Kyoto (Japan) - This is a beautiful postcard of Kyoto, Japan, even though the sender lives in Gunma Prefecture. I don’t know a lot about Japanese geography, but I had never heard of Gunma Prefecture before, nor its important cities: Maebashi (capital) and Takasaki (largest city). I love this night scene, and I’m curious about the red trail that was left through. Is it a bicycle light? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/skyline-hong-kong monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ee74f9bd-c188-4804-9f87-590869771679/HK_764444.jpg Postcards - skyline (Hong Kong) - This is a really gorgeous postcard that I received today from Hong Kong. I haven’t visited yet but I hope to soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/key-lime-pie-illinois monthly 0.5 2022-01-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d5fc5e12-4337-459c-bf32-727cfcaf147a/US_8109175.jpg Postcards - Key Lime Pie (Illinois) - This postcard comes from a bilingual (Spanish/English) teacher in Illinois! I’ve never been a big fan of cream pies, but this pie is so famous it might be worth trying. I wonder if I can get Key limes in California? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/el-museum-guggenheim-en-bilbao-spain monthly 0.5 2022-01-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1e62e98c-f4e7-4faa-b6d9-3df8aebc05c3/ES_686011.jpg Postcards - el Museo Guggenheim en Bilbao (Spain) - Aparte de las postales que recibo de mis amigos, no recibo muchos de España en Postcrossing. No sé si es culpa del algoritmo o quizás que no haya muchos españoles que usen el servicio. De todas maneras, el País Vasco es una de las muchas regiones que no he visitado, pero me gustaría muchísimo verla. Desde los primeros días de mi aprendizaje de español, he leído sobre el vasco como idioma y cultura, y me fascina. Es quizás el primer idioma indígeno/minoritario que conocí (aparte de los americanos más locales a mí). Desde entonces, siempre he querido saber más sobre los idiomas no oficiales o demi-oficiales de Europa. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/calligraphy-two-ways-japan monthly 0.5 2022-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ac747eae-f742-4c74-a4b5-39e431c6b318/JP_1639269.jpg Postcards - calligraphy, two ways (Japan) - This postcard features calligraphy in two styles. On the right is a style that I find completely illegible. It’s so artistic and beautiful that I think it must take significant training and concentration to even read it, much less produce it! On the right is a much clearer style of writing, although there are a few words that I’d have a hard time reproducing myself (I have no idea what it says, of course). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-boisserie-france monthly 0.5 2022-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/d6f5fea1-8938-411c-92a9-eb5a62daf861/FR_Dominique69.jpg Postcards - la Boisserie (France) - I’m writing this entry in English because Dominique’s postcard highlighted a strong cultural difference between the US and France that I wanted to share with people who might not know much about France (but might know a lot about my home country). This is former French president Charles de Gaulle’s office from his private residence La Boisserie in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. I think to a US audience, it will not be surprising at all to learn that de Gaulle’s private residence has since been converted into a museum. This is especially the case because if an American can name any French president, present or past, it will likely be Charles de Gaulle (his name on the main airport in Paris doesn’t hurt matters either). But as Dominique writes, “it is relatively rare that a President of the French Republic have his own memorial.” This is absolutely not the case for US presidents, who have been building their monuments to their own grandeur for decades. One of my favorite podcasts has a great episode precisely on these Yankee Pyramids. Imagine, my fellow Americans, a country that isn’t littered with countless and forgettable grandiose, expensive mausoleums to dead presidents’ hubris! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-chat-blanc-france monthly 0.5 2022-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/23a4854f-eda7-4ce9-9024-20e1fddbd13a/FR_Soap01.jpg Postcards - le Chat blanc (France) - A former student and now friend of mine sent me this delightful postcard from the Musée d’Orsay, which he visited over the holiday break from Sweden where he’s studying abroad. This is another case of wishing I could show you the postage, because he writes that the museum didn’t disappoint at all. However, he was disappointed by the postal system because they only gave him this “funny stamp” that didn’t have any adhesive or glue! I kind of like the stamp (some sort of anime, I think, known as “Goldorak” in Francophone places and “Grendizer” in Anglophone places). I like the juxtaposition of the anime with this 1894 painting by Pierre Bonnard. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/haupstadt-berlin-germany monthly 0.5 2022-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2ee164d2-ecf5-44a1-8541-69a4da150b85/DE_11283190.jpg Postcards - Haupstadt Berlin (Germany) - Are there any German speakers out there who can help me with this card? Is this redundant? Haupstadt by itself I guess isn’t necessarily redundant, but when it’s paired with Berlin, I guess it is. Or maybe it’s a fixed expression? I haven’t been to Berlin yet, either, even though so many of my friends have highly recommended it to me. Some day! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vintage-pulp-fiction-cover-illustrations-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2022-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e6ccaaa6-a526-47a1-90dd-e865090f4978/US_8107548.jpg Postcards - vintage pulp fiction cover illustrations (Pennsylvania) - This postcard is really fun since it’s a vintage cover illustration of an old pulp fiction novel! As an avid reader, I can truly appreciate beautiful cover art, although for the past few years, I’ve been reading mostly on e-readers. While I love the e-ink features as it’s easy on the eyes, it does mean I miss out on the beautiful graphics and illustrations that so often come with books. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/museum-of-fine-arts-boston-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2022-01-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/9e69b08d-ebc8-42ce-bb05-2f52bc6dfb41/US_8109912.jpg Postcards - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Massachusetts) - Also on Postcrossing, I suggest people send me touristy postcards. It’s funny because a lot of Postcrossers prefer not to receive touristy postcards; maybe that already have so many, and I guess they can all start to look the same after a while. But I love them! They especially give me an idea of what to do the next time I’m visiting that place. In this case, it’s the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, which this sender says is “one of '[their] go-to recommendations for anyone visiting.” Perfect! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tea-and-macarons-canada monthly 0.5 2022-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/2a79fbd6-9b86-41ec-a528-d6031ead19ba/CA_1173485.jpg Postcards - tea and macarons (Canada) - On my Postcrossing profile, I suggest people send lots of different kinds of cards, and this sender has chosen a delicious treat! I love this style of tea glass, although I don’t own any. What do you call this style of glass? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/postal-items-oregon monthly 0.5 2022-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a6a1b98b-214b-4005-b869-074b5b291d07/US-OR_Linda23.jpg Postcards - postal items (Oregon) - Here is another excellent postcard from my dear friend Linda in Portland. I particularly love this style of postcard by Lou Paper, and I highly recommend others to browse the Etsy shop. A while ago, Linda gifted me a great variety of their postcards and I loved them so much that I went back and bought 100 more! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alice-au-pays-des-merveilles-france monthly 0.5 2022-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7e3645d9-cd0c-4191-b038-62e6abaf8520/FR_Faith01.jpg Postcards - Alice au Pays des Merveilles (France) - Ceci est une carte postale venue de mon ancienne étudiante Faith, qui étudiait à Oxford et passait des temps dans la France, un de ses pays préférés. Elle écrit d’avoir appris sur Lewis Carroll et une vrai fille Alice Liddel, qui doit avoir inspiré le roman si célèbre! J’adore l’art-ci, et aussi le timbre que - malheureusement - vous ne pouvez pas voir. Merci, Faith! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-dark-wisconsin monthly 0.5 2022-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/79f5977f-fddc-4026-a9d1-e71b2011b544/US_8107590.jpg Postcards - the Dark (Wisconsin) - This postcard arrives from the Great Lakes region, from a fan of old sci-fi movies, both the good and the bad! I am also a lover of science fiction. I think part of it was inspired by the space operas and other science fiction (especially, Robert Heinlein) that my father used to read to me, him sitting on one end of the couch reading out loud and me on the other end watching the pipe smoke curl around our heads. I remember his hearty laughter at jokes about military rank that I lacked all context to understand. In my memory, he would plead with me “But a Rear Lieutenant could never be so insubordinate to a Left Reverend Platoon Admiral!” I had no patience for military ranks or the subtleties thereof, but I enjoyed the time together and the stories of fantastic worlds and creatures. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sleeping-beauty-story-sketch-california monthly 0.5 2022-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b97893fc-a580-4bae-a96e-e046528fd01c/US-CA_KimeeMichael05.jpg Postcards - Sleeping Beauty story sketch (California) - Another terrific card from our friends Kimee and Michael, this one a story sketch by a Disney Studio artist originally in ink and crayon. I haven’t seen Sleeping Beauty since I was very young; although I’m not typically a big Disney fan, this one might be worth a re-watch, given it’s from 1959! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-campanile-de-santa-maria-del-fiore-italy monthly 0.5 2022-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/89acbe69-1de0-4f5d-b1d6-134f942ad876/IT_Dominique01.jpg Postcards - le campanile de Santa Maria del Fiore (Italy) - Ça peut semble incroyable mais voici une des peu cartes postales que j’ai reçoies de l’Italie. Celle-ci a été envoyé par mon ami Dominique pendant un voyage à l’étrangère. Je n’ai jamais visité la Florence, mais j’espère pouvoir la voir très tot. Dominique m’envoie des conseilles pour obtenir un très bon Chianti (il semble qu’il faut chercher l’etiquette avec un coq noir). Un jour, je vais gouter du vin et manger un bon repas avec Dominique. Jusqu’à ce jour-là, on a toujours des cartes postales. Grazie! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pecan-pralines-texas monthly 0.5 2022-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1b552958-f1e4-4e12-99da-7f996f97d0b9/US-8099331.jpg Postcards - pecan pralines (Texas) - Sometimes I really wish I could share the backs of postcards publicly, but it’s just not fair to the sender. This person has sent the most delightful story about how she met her husband! Of course, I also love this recipe, which I may try, yet. Postcrossing comes through again with the great connections! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rider-strong-autographed-michigan monthly 0.5 2021-12-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ce2ead99-26b7-4938-906b-5349aa065e66/US-MI_LeahMcLean01.jpg Postcards - Rider Strong, autographed (Michigan) - This is one of my more unusual postcards, having been sent in 1996 from Los Angeles to my friend Leah in Michigan. At that time, she sent a lot of postcards, some to celebrities. A portion of these would respond with their own letters or postcards, band in this case we have Rider Strong’s autograph and a doodle. On the back is written “Thanx for your support Best Wishes, Rider [doodle]”. I’m really flattered that Leah has sent it to me, from her large collection of ephemera. What a terrific holiday gift! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/united-nations-in-the-winter-un-ny monthly 0.5 2021-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/35a571c1-5b75-40f5-b952-e45aaacc2309/UN_WangXuan01.jpg Postcards - United Nations in the Winter (UN, NY) - This postcard comes from a former student who visited the United Nations while on a trip to New York City! She writes about how beautiful and magical NYC is, about encountering places she first learned about in the movies. That’s one of the great things about traveling to world cities like NYC or SF or Paris; you’ve already seen corners of them before you get there! One of the best things about this postcard is that it was sent from the United Nations, which maintains its own postal system. So it doesn’t have US stamp on it, but rather a United Nations stamp (although the cost is listed as 37¢, which leads me to believe they sell their stamps in the currency of the host country. So great! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/later-postcard-china monthly 0.5 2021-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/83699677-0fe3-4c6b-b865-46f72d8ed7da/CN_Dorothea01.jpg Postcards - late(r) postcard (China) - This postcard arrived to my mailbox with quite a bit of surprise. It comes from a person I’ve never met in China and was originally written in March 2021 but perhaps not posted until June. Dorothea writes that she was asked by my friend Mélanie to send me a postcard due to my interest in China. There was a problem with the address, it seems, and the postcard was returned to her. So she put it in an envelope and remailed it with a note in August. It still took a while to arrive, but what a grand memory and lovely message from Mélanie and Dorothea. Even after her death, I am able to cherish not only our fond and beautiful memories, but also her thoughtfulness. I miss you, friend. Tu me manques, mon amie. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/coast-redwoods-california monthly 0.5 2021-12-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1a49bc50-4bc2-4b28-8f09-4deb36909ab3/US-CAYangjieLi01.jpg Postcards - coast redwoods (California) - Sad that lenticular postcards don’t scan well; all well, they just need to be seen in person, I guess! This one comes from a former student of mine who’s traveling around California during the winter break. They’re even practicing with the all-gender social title “Mx.”! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-islands-of-hawaii monthly 0.5 2021-12-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f6e3fd89-a08d-4b96-b179-bb6b6ae21437/US-HI_YihanShi01.jpg Postcards - the Islands of Hawai’i - This terrific map postcard comes from a student of mine from this past Fall who traveled to Hawai’i and writes that she “think[s] it is the best place [she has] ever been to.” I’m glad she and I are of the same mind - Hawai’i is a magical and beautiful place! I’m flattered that she thought of me while in paradise and picked up this postcard to send to me. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/treasure-map-taiwan monthly 0.5 2021-12-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/535fb676-4937-42ba-92c3-301650b56665/TW_Pei02.jpg Postcards - treasure map (Taiwan) - 這張明信片是從很好朋友來的。她是去台灣的還有給我發到一長非常漂亮的明信片。一些年以前，我去了台北，淡水， 高雄，和花蓮遊覽。還可有很多沒去過的地方。希望撿來可以去看看。謝謝你佩儀！ https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hummingbird-husband-california monthly 0.5 2021-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4c3bc4e0-91cb-49f7-815d-c3be4b7a8f6f/US-CA_Kristopher04.jpg Postcards - hummingbird husband (California) - Maybe you can make it out from the ghostly image of the hummingbird, but this is a lenticular postcard (they never scan well) that I sent to Andy from our trip to Sacramento. I wanted to celebrate his great success in shaving almost 15 minutes off of his marathon time in his showing at the California International Marathon. Given our shared fascination of hummingbirds, this jumped out at me when I was visiting Old Sacramento. Andy is speedy like a hummingbird, cute like a hummingbird, and most of all, he loves sweet things like a hummingbird! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/st-clment-des-baleines-france monthly 0.5 2021-12-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7db5e5e9-f569-4df2-bef1-349918e6d617/FR_Dominique68.jpg Postcards - St. Clément des Baleines (France) - Malheureusement, Dominic écrit dans cette carte postale des problèmes de santé et des urgences en France à cause du nouveau vague de CoVID. J’espère que ça soit vite passé et qu’on puisse retourner à une vie semi-normale. Cependant, j’ai reçu un joli souvenir des vacances qu’il a pris pendant l’été en forme d’une phare, que j’adore. Ce qui est de plus, c’est la Phare des Baleines, un de mes animaux préferés! Je me démande si peut-être les baleines sont visibles depuis ce point-là, et c’est pour ça qu’on a mis ce nom? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/canoe-paddlers-hawaii monthly 0.5 2021-12-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/63e97ab2-4bf5-4d83-b753-9f09c3464f44/US-HI_HeidiEd01.jpg Postcards - canoe paddlers (Hawai’i) - My mother-in-law and her husband went on vacation recently to Hawai’i and in addition to sending great photographs via cell phone, they also sent this terrific postcard! This is from one of their first vacations ever that didn’t involve seeing family or friends; I hope it’s the first of many more to come! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ancient-character-writings-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-12-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/6b5b0454-904f-49dc-8c33-615e2a49a1e9/US-OR_Linda22.jpg Postcards - ancient character writings (Oregon) - You already know who sent this terrific postcard; it could be none other than Linda! She writes that her holiday decorations are up and she’s seeing a few friends here and there already. The postcard itself says: “Ancient Character Writings removed from cliffs along the nearby Columbia River and brought to Ginkgo Petrified Forest Museum to make a most unusual display. They are believed to have been made many hundreds of years ago by migrants from Mexico or South America where these characters are common.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/christmas-greetings-california monthly 0.5 2021-12-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b3c42c14-8c62-4371-b971-9fc7ff8f551f/US-CA_KimeeMichael04.jpg Postcards - Christmas greetings (California) - I was so thrilled to receive this beautiful handmade postcard from our friends Kimee and Michael, whom I had the good fortune to see finish a marathon at the California International Marathon two weekends ago! I’m looking forward to sharing some baked goods with them later today when we meet up! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lclade-de-moules-france monthly 0.5 2021-12-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/35ef1aa1-3b82-4bbd-88bb-3e4e5ec5a7e9/FR_Dominique67.jpg Postcards - l’Éclade de Moules (France) - Voici encore une recette française arrivée de mon ami Dominique. Je ne sais pas où je trouverais des épines de pin, sauf aller à la forêt pour les chercher. Est-ce qu’ils sont prêt à manger, s’ils sont sauvages? Dans la forêt profonde, il ne peut pas y avoir des toxines… donc peut-être je pourrais les utiliser pour préparer la nourriture… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/naples-zoo-florida monthly 0.5 2021-12-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/752fdda8-dc5a-48f6-adb6-9dfb9339916b/US-FL_Phoenix12.jpg Postcards - Naples Zoo (Florida) - Perhaps in response to the postcard I sent from a recent trip to the SF Zoo, our niece Phoenix sent us this one from the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens near where she lives in Florida. It looks like a great place! She writes that she fed some giraffes and saw lots of great animals. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/capital-books-california monthly 0.5 2021-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/00b918f1-aa6c-407b-89c0-570d023387e2/US-CA_KimeeMichael03.jpg Postcards - Capital Books (California) - This postcard arrived earlier this week from our friends Kimee and Michael, who also ran the California International Marathon with Andy. We spent the weekend in Sacramento, and all three of them had great runs. We also got to know the city quite a bit better; it’s really charming and there are some great neighborhoods! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bust-of-ellen-with-bows-in-her-hair-colorado monthly 0.5 2021-12-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ab1ade30-ae88-4de7-9484-c929e658bdba/US-CO_Tristan02.jpg Postcards - “Bust of Ellen with Bows in Her Hair” (Colorado) - Ceci est une carte postale envoyée par mon beau-frère depuis son voyage au Colorado pour rendre visite un ami. Il a également visité le Denver Art Museum où il a vu cette peinture par la fameuse Mary Cassatt. Il écrit que les pièces de pastel sont quelques unes de ses préférées. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-mouclade-france monthly 0.5 2021-12-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/59ba274b-9fdc-437c-8003-7bc0eaa5d716/FR_Dominique66.jpg Postcards - la Mouclade (France) - Cette carte postale est arrivée il y a quelques jours mais j’ai été recemment trop occupé pour le poster sur ce site-ci. Quand même, j’ai hâte d’essayer cette recette. Il y a avait un restaurant à Pittsburgh que nous fréquentions beaucoup, surtout les samedis pour le brunch, où nous mangions très souvent des moules. Une des préparations qui m’a beaucoup plu a été les moules à curry, donc j’imagine que cette recette-ci peut être pareil. En fait, les moules sont très faciles à préparer. Je ne sais pas pourquoi nous ne les préparons pas plus souvent! Merci à Dominique pour m’avoir envoyer autre recette qui a l’air si délicieuse! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/acadia-national-park-maine monthly 0.5 2021-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/3266f286-aeb4-4e03-a041-92df5299c821/US-ME_Fawn01.jpg Postcards - Acadia National Park (Maine) - This absolutely beautiful postcard comes from my good friend and former program-mate Fawn, who took a weekend away in Bar Harbor to get some quiet and distance and peace. I can absolutely relate to that desire, and I’ve never been to Maine. From what I gather, it is indeed a place where these things can be found quite easily. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/floral-tributes-elvis-international-day-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/297be049-50ef-401d-8e8c-cef5b4b3f5fb/US-OR_Linda21.jpg Postcards - floral tributes, Elvis International Day (Oregon) - This terrific postcard comes from Linda in Portland, who always sends such great cards. This one in particular makes me think of my mother, who is a long-time Elvis fan (and may or may not maintain that Elvis never died!). The idea of an Elvis International Day may not be that unexpected, but a whole series of floral tributes that people are still making at Graceland Mansion in Memphis is a bit much to me, anyway. But I suppose I’m not much of a fan at all of Elvis, so I wouldn’t get it anyway. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/griffith-planetarium-california monthly 0.5 2021-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a1d9aca1-84f8-4511-b3d7-d93890ce9870/US-CA_DBB01.jpg Postcards - Griffith Planetarium (California) - This surprise postcard comes from DBB, the president of our local PostCrossing MeetUp group! She took a quick trip to SoCal and sent this lovely hello. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/craggy-gardens-south-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1367f477-3517-4cba-a3ef-d170e93ff118/US-SC_Mejdulene-Katie01.jpg Postcards - Craggy Gardens (South Carolina) - Mejdulene and Katie sent two postcards from their trip down south to the mountains; this is the second one. I’ve been to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it’s been decades I think! My family used to vacation either in Tennessee or South Carolina or Florida, and we always traveled by car. So from Michigan, it was natural to pass through this beautiful side of the country. It merits a revisit, for sure, or a first visit for those of you who haven’t been there! Mejdulene and Katie even got us a passport stamp from the office! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/black-mountain-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1bfa1922-2369-41d3-945d-0124948c91c1/US-NC_Mejdulene-Katie03.jpg Postcards - Black Mountain (North Carolina) - This postcard came last week from our bestfriends Mejdulene and Katie on their recent trip to North Carolina. I’ve only ever visited a handful of places, and never Black Mountain, but this looks terrific. Oh, why can’t I be independently wealthy and travel all the time with my friends to amazing places all over the country and world?! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nrac-france monthly 0.5 2021-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/a8d8e4a0-65b2-40b8-9962-43cdcee7f339/FR_Dominique65.jpg Postcards - Nérac (France) - Voici autre carte postale magnifique de mon ami Dominique. Comment cette ville se trouve au sud-ouest de la France, je ne l’ai jamais visité (sauf Blois au centre-ouest et Montpellier au sud, je n’ai visité que le Nord et Paris). Mais j’ai lu sur mon site préferé que cette ville a été l’inspiration principale pour le livre “Chocolat” par Joanne Harris, qui a inspiré soi-même un de mes films préferés. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/buena-vista-california monthly 0.5 2021-11-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/81302b2b-9de4-4b04-abba-1775d1b6a929/US-CA_KimeeMichael02.jpg Postcards - Buena Vista (California) - I seldom post postcards that didn’t actually arrive in the mail (that’s so much of the fun for me), but this one is special for a few reasons. A) It’s a fantastic postcard overall and hyper local to where we used to live. B) It’s in celebration of Andy’s finishing his goal to run every street, alleyway, and cul de sac in San Francisco. And C) it was given to us by our good friends Kimee and Michael. I just love map cards, especially when they’re really local (and with a fun rotation of the cardinal direction, to boot!). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dolphins-hawaii monthly 0.5 2021-11-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f6985bc7-6556-4a1f-b6ca-4d3727b811e2/US-HI_OliverRobyn01.jpg Postcards - dolphins (Hawai’i) - Those of you who know me, know that I adore sea mammals, especially cetaceans. So it is with great delight that I received this postcard from our neighbors Robyn and Oliver, which they sent while vacationing and seeing family in Maui! I love this artwork, which was also done by an artist local to Maui. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-mx-people-illinois monthly 0.5 2021-11-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/f18ccb6b-9481-43f8-885d-e23f8f420586/US-IN_KAK03.jpg Postcards - the Mx People (Illinois) - My new penpal Kimberly sent me this truly charming postcard! I love it so much. I’ve been teaching my students for a while now about the “Mx.” social title which is intended for all human beings regardless of gender. The current binary system in English is overly complicated and exclusionary (“Mr.” vs. “Ms.” or if you’re very old-fashioned “Mrs” or “Miss”), so I have been supporting the movement away from silly gendered social titles and toward all-gender titles if we must have them at all. Sadly, I haven’t yet seen it used in the US yet but I hope it will be soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/virgin-of-the-magnificat-angels-netherlands monthly 0.5 2021-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0791f8f5-205e-4a6b-915d-dd543cb54c7b/NL_5086504.jpg Postcards - Virgin of the Magnificat - Angels (Netherlands) - Here’s a beautiful postcard featuring a detail view of the Angels from Sandro Botticelli’s Madonna of the Magnificat. I received this postcard from the Netherlands! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/river-tyne-england monthly 0.5 2021-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/fcaf0139-bebe-4592-b260-3053e6bb874d/GB_1457737.jpg Postcards - River Tyne (England) - This terrific postcard comes from someone whose last cruise was out of San Francisco (before the pandemic). He writes how memorable was the trip and of course the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf. In fact, he said that he recently pulled a random recipient who lives on the same street as I do in San Francisco! Small world! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lgbt-film-fest-in-st-petersburg-russia monthly 0.5 2021-11-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/4819f5d2-4eea-4786-a133-a1086b90b5fc/RU_8822688.jpg Postcards - LGBT film fest in St. Petersburg (Russia) - I don’t speak any Russian at all so I have to rely on the sender’s word that this is a poster for an LGBT film festival in Saint Petersburg. That much I can read, I think: “15 - 25 November (?) 2017 | Saint-Petersburg” and then at the bottom above the URL “LGBT-Film Festival”. I love receiving such great postcards through PostCrossing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/potted-plant-mexico monthly 0.5 2021-11-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/7a8b9e37-c1e2-41e5-83d5-6f81ec297617/MX_61660.jpg Postcards - potted plant (Mexico) - Somehow this is the first postcard I’ve received from Mexico via PostCrossing! I’ve received others, but all from friends and family on their visits there. I find that really surprising given its proximity, its large population, and of course that I speak Spanish and even have distant family members from Guanajuato (the state where this postcard comes from). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/le-grand-elphant-france monthly 0.5 2021-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/b2d486b7-e401-469e-b6ee-0ee70c502f55/FR_Dominique64.jpg Postcards - le grand eléphant (France) - Je ne savais pas de cet eléphant à Nantes, qui s’est paru il y a une douzaine d’années! Évidemment, il s’est changé en forme plus éco/verte maintenant, mais il continue d’attirer des milliers de touristes partout le monde! Merci à Dominique, mon ami à lettres très prolifique, pour m’avoir envoyée cette carte postale si intéréssante! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/were-all-human-illinois monthly 0.5 2021-11-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/ceb8eed0-0c23-496d-9ed1-1d232946b334/US-IL_KAK02.jpg Postcards - We’re all human (Illinois) - This terrific postcard comes from my new penpal outside Chicago. I love that each of the letters features a different queer pride flag! Can you name all of them? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/chimney-rock-georgia monthly 0.5 2021-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/79f3909d-527a-45cf-828c-6883f88fd790/US_7980895.jpg Postcards - Chimney Rock (Georgia) - Chimney Rock isn’t in Georgia (it’s in Nebraska), but the postcard itself was mailed from Georgia and I’m very happy to receive it. The sender wrote some very beautiful things about themself and their family. I really love PostCrossing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mono-lake-california-1 monthly 0.5 2021-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/e977555a-48c3-41c7-bc21-dd8e13bb1ce0/US-CA_GregJames06.jpg Postcards - Mono Lake (California) - Our friends Greg and James are taking a road trip down US 395 and stopped off at Mono Lake to admire the tufa, seen here. Importantly, these geological formations provide a unique habitat for many different species, including osprey and eagle nests. I haven’t visited Mono Lake, but I hope to soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/posie-montralaise-canada monthly 0.5 2021-11-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/0b25dd7c-055d-4d30-8bcb-e77f4e7d1bf9/CA_Corinne01.jpg Postcards - poésie montréalaise (Canada) - Voici une carte postale de mon amie à lettres Corinne, qui me dit que partout la Ville de Québec on trouve des affiches jaunes comme celle-ci dans les vitrines de boutiques et de restaurants. J’adore l’idée de la poésie publique. J’éssaie de la traduire en bas (mais je ne suis pas de tout un traducteur!): remember the miracle of our dances their deep breath along our extended necks in our open, naked mouths a nectarine-colored sap a coming ringing the noise will be loud https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/palm-springs-is-wild-california monthly 0.5 2021-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/71f612a0-d76b-4d61-8271-63718605791f/US-CA_GregJames05.jpg Postcards - Palm Springs is wild (California) - I love the colors and font of this postcard - it’s such a mood! It arrives from our friends Greg and James who spent the weekend in Palm Springs and took advantage of all it has to offer! It’s been on our list of places to visit for a while, but we haven’t made it happen yet. Maybe in 2022? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-chicago-illinois monthly 0.5 2021-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1635618777220-T3OQUZTVM18Q6JBZTFEP/US-IL_KAK01.jpg Postcards - greetings from Chicago (Illinois) - This stunning drawing comes from a new penpal of mine who lives not too far from Chicago! She reached out to me on Postcrossing to invited me to exchange postcards and I’m very glad she did! Here’s to a beautiful new friendship! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/starferry-terminal-singapore monthly 0.5 2021-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1635429362729-O1FGAXW5Z3KWMQCLIZHV/SG_Kannan01.jpg Postcards - Starferry Terminal (Singapore) - This postcard comes from a new penpal of mine in Singapore! I’m eager to continue exchanging postcards over the next months and year. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/handmade-leaves-california monthly 0.5 2021-10-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1635429246048-O6XPYTV9GX46LNAJCP5E/US-CA_KimeeMichael01.jpg Postcards - handmade leaves (California) - This terrific postcard arrived just this week from two new friends whom I had the pleasure of meeting over the weekend. They crafted this hand-made postcard to send as thanks and I’m really touched! I love the green and blue together, which fit perfectly with our rainy weather. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vintage-circus-circus-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-10-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1635014252124-ACDCQ54K4OAP2H3DOUJY/US-OR_Linda20.jpg Postcards - vintage Circus Circus (Oregon) - You already know how much I love a scallop-edge postcard, and this one is even more special because of its extremely vintage image of Circus Circus. I’ve been lucky to visit Las Vegas with some frequency, and the last time we stayed right next to Circus Circus. It’s definitely got that old-school vibe of Las Vegas, which is sadly being taken over by the somewhat character-less glass towers that permeate the area. I think I even remember hearing that Circus Circus was slated for demolition! So this postcard is very meaningful to me, and it’s no surprise that it was sent by the incomparable Linda! Thank you, friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/colorful-counties-michigan monthly 0.5 2021-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1635005311774-46B3ZB322J010HK8QOP9/US-MI_MattKatelyn01.jpg Postcards - colorful counties (Michigan) - Our dear friends Katelyn and Matt traveled to Matt’s and my homestate of Michigan recently and sent this terrific map of the lower peninsula’s counties! I love the color scheme; it reminds me of a math/geometry puzzle asking what is the fewest number of colors necessary to make sure no shapes sharing the same color touch. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cursive-cyrillic-russia monthly 0.5 2021-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1635005119502-6UUSZ9KTOCX3BL8B840X/RU_8739893.jpg Postcards - cursive Cyrillic (Russia) - This beautiful postcard comes from a new Postcrosser. I have always found Russian cursive to be nearly indecipherable - so this should help me! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/berlin-germany monthly 0.5 2021-10-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634681565567-1137II99Z7SQC98LNW9K/DE_10960845.jpg Postcards - Berlin (Germany) - I do love a good night city view! This one from Berlin is really making me itch to travel, as this is a city I’ve been longing to visit for ages. I hope to be able to travel internationally soon, and Germany is high on my list! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fallingwater-pennsylvania monthly 0.5 2021-10-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634680986335-GRAPTQZF2M9AXXREPLK8/US-PA_Fawn01.jpg Postcards - Fallingwater (Pennsylvania) - This postcard comes from my friend and erstwhile comrade-in-arms Fawn who was visiting our old stomping grounds of Pittsburgh and took a day trip with her mother to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s stunning Fallingwater house. I was lucky enough to visit it myself a few times back when I lived in Pittsburgh and the memories are strong and clear of its beauty and art. If you haven’t visited it in person, I absolutely recommend it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/divine-maryland monthly 0.5 2021-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634680855197-NQGT4SFVSDBYE65DMA5M/US-MD_Mejdulene05.jpg Postcards - Divine (Maryland) - If you don’t know who Divine was, I’m not sure what you’re doing with your life. This postcard comes from my best-friend Mejdulene who writes that she was unable to resist purchasing this card when she saw it in a bookstore; they checks out. Divine is absolutely irresistible. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/american-indian-tribes-arizona monthly 0.5 2021-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634510032154-G9PZDON62R1QDQIYJPJP/US-AZ_RichMary01.jpg Postcards - American Indian Tribes (Arizona) - This delicious postcard, oversized too which you can’t see in the scan, arrives from Arizona via Pennsylvania from our good friends Rich and Mary. They vacationed recently in Scottsdale to celebrate a milestone anniversary and enjoyed all of the art available downtown! I haven’t visited Arizona, but I have another South West state (new Mexico), so if Scottsdale is anything like Santa Fe, it must be truly magical! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/marinseascape-sweden monthly 0.5 2021-10-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634509755706-NNGHLZKKHSRC7X0KLYB8/SE_Soap01.jpg Postcards - Marin/Seascape (Sweden) - This terrific postcard comes from a former client who is now living and studying in Sweden. The image itself is “Marin/Seascape” (1894) by August Strindberg, and I really love the scrubby surf! He writes that the “summer days, which are all I’ve had so far, reminds me of the chill days in California.” I love the play on words between “chill” as relaxed or cool in temperature! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/les-espadrilles-basques-france monthly 0.5 2021-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634509503413-62KCN8JZY8MUG10Q3C0U/FR_1442105.jpg Postcards - les espadrilles basques (France) - Voici une carte postale que j’ai reçue par Postcrossing avec la recommendation de lire “L’invention de Paris” par Eric Hazan. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cassoulet-de-gascogne-france monthly 0.5 2021-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634397326195-S7XNZKR293RTIZ39O5N4/FR_Dominique63.jpeg Postcards - Cassoulet de Gascogne (France) - Cette carte postale est arrivée avec les nouvelles que mon ami Dominique et son BF sont allés manger chez un restaurant, plus ou moins, comment ils avaient fait avant la pandémie. Beaucoups de viticulteurs, petits producteurs, etc. sont venus de toutes les régions françaises. Il semble avoir été un après-midi très agréable. Voici une recette (écrite en anglais et espagnol au dos) pour le cassoulet, un des plats les plus connus de la France. J’en ai fait déjà une version, mais pas l’authentique qu’on voit ici. Il faudra trouver avant des petits magrets confits… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/death-valley-california monthly 0.5 2021-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634317199085-DGB69CHG15J7U5DKMNC9/US-CA_SafronFamily01.jpg Postcards - Death Valley (California) - Do I need to say that Death Valley is in California or is that common knowledge? Nevertheless, I’ve never visited! This comes from a very lovely family of friends who hosted us for a delicious taco dinner last month. I think this was their second-to-last camping trip of the season, so I’m a bit envious of their visit. I was just remarking to Andy last night about how amazing California is - a state of true extremes! Death Valley is the lowest point in North America (282 feet/86 meters below sea level). Just 84 miles/136 km away is Tumanguya (Mt. Whitney), which is the highest point in the continental US at 14,505 ft/4,421 m! Death Valley is also the site of the highest recorded temperature on earth (134°F/56.7°C on July 10, 1913)! Not very far away is the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to Methuselah, the oldest living non-clonal being on the planet (4,853 years old)! Nearby, you can find groves of the giant redwood, the largest living trees on the planet. These are not that far from the coast redwood, a species that includes the tallest known living tree at 380 ft/115 m (which is taller than the Statue of Liberty, including the base)! What an incredible state I am fortunate to live in! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dhosa-making-india monthly 0.5 2021-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1634316833298-Z6FIJ4FDYI0DH6AWD70Y/IN_440959.jpg Postcards - dhosa making (India) - This postcard arrived so quickly from India (sent on 25 September) and is one of the few I’ve received from that large, very populous country! Some day I’ll travel there to eat all of the delicious food. Until then, there are these fantastic postcards. Side note: one a scale of one to ten, how much do you think I should get a chef’s toque like this to complement my chef’s coat? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/schne-grsse-aus-mannheim-germany monthly 0.5 2021-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633814281650-Q9GUKIJL3XNOI5ZGB9Y2/DE_10930375.jpg Postcards - schöne grüsse aus Mannheim (Germany) - I do love a good, long-exposure night shot and this postcard from Postcrossing does not disappoint. Even better are the hand-drawn views of Hamburg Town Hall and Lake Hennessee, which apparently dried up once and allowed the sender to walk on the lakebed! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/city-planning-portugal monthly 0.5 2021-10-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633814140738-ZS97JBHSAOSKAD6W19B5/PT_724228.jpg Postcards - city planning (Portugal) - This postcard from Postcrossing depicts Park Eduard VII and Liberty Avenue in Lisbon, Portugal. I haven’t visited this country, yet, but it’s very high on my list. Seafood, wine, beautiful art and architecture - what’s not to love? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-china monthly 0.5 2021-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633813982291-OVQW2JL1YV1TWFJWP2NQ/CN_3206934.jpg Postcards - greetings from China - This week brought a few more Postcrossing cards, this one among them. It’s from a high school student in Fujian who has really beautiful and neat handwriting in both English and Chinese! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nature-of-russia-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633578072725-3Q17TZ9GMQQURAPQGF89/US-OR_Linda19.jpg Postcards - Nature of Russia (Oregon) - This striking image comes from my dear friend Linda in Portland who writes “At least the places I’m not going look exotic on the cards!” That’s the kind of intelligence and humor that drew me to her in the first place. I’m so grateful for the great cards and of course her strong friendship. I’m so lucky to count her among the many people who have touched my life and helped me generously and patiently along the way. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/balkan-views monthly 0.5 2021-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633577968569-C8XHZHSQX09ZWWBLTNBK/ME_Aleks01.jpg Postcards - Balkan views https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633577968818-MLUGBBIDLT069C58WH7B/RS_Aleks01.jpg Postcards - Balkan views https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/metz-france monthly 0.5 2021-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633577745634-AO16HL4HN4M4UCNTPDPU/FR_Dominique62.jpg Postcards - Metz (France) - Voici une carte postale de mon ami Dominique qui est retourné à Metz pour visiter la ville. J’ai eu un ami à lettres il y a très longtemps qui a été également un assistant de langue anglaise au même temps que moi. Mais il a été placé à Metz, donc j’ai lu assez sur la ville. Néanmoins, Dominique me raconte plein de choses intéréssantes sur la ville et la gare qui est énormement belle. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/unknown-image-from-new-jersey monthly 0.5 2021-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1633577635328-1G56SWKMJEK8FU1PKYML/US7888492.jpg Postcards - unknown image from New Jersey - This postcard arrived via Postcrossing. It’s a pretty view and makes me want to know more about it. Unfortunately, nothing beyond the photographer is written on it. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/west-lake-hangzhou-china monthly 0.5 2021-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632842506169-LOS4EU9895AG388T67CU/CN_3153341.jpg.jpeg Postcards - West Lake, Hangzhou (China) - This terrific postcard comes from the famous West Lake in the city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang, China. In fact, I have visited this very site back in December/January 2019/202 when I traveled to Shanghai and Hangzhou. I gave a lecture at Zhejiang University and I truly enjoyed my trip to China. It was beautiful, the food was excellent, and the people were very friendly! Incredibly, this postcard took 138 days to arrive! I’m not sure where the holdup occurred, but I think part of it may be from our side. The postcard came with a rubber band on it, which is typically how our mail is delivered in bulk when we’ve requested a mail hold from the USPS. It took us some weeks to get all of our mail delivered after our trip in July/August to Seattle, so I wonder if this was found at the bottom of the mail carrier’s bag? Well, that wouldn’t account for the entirety of the hold up, but part of it at least. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/quiche-lorraine-france monthly 0.5 2021-09-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632543631474-R02QZ6N1D55P970YDY5I/FR_Dominique60.jpg Postcards - quiche lorraine (France) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632543631534-XUB6N9B4YLQ4B06GNTI1/FR_Dominique61.jpg Postcards - quiche lorraine (France) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-windy-city-chicago monthly 0.5 2021-09-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632543497465-PMXCWV2OMQ7BW83ISE1E/US-IL_Alyssa01.jpg Postcards - the Windy City (Chicago) - This postcard arrived from my niece Alyssa who celebrated her birthday with my sister-in-law in Chicago, one of my absolute favorite American cities! She even took the train to arrive there, which is a page out of my own book. I love the Chicago skyline, Navy Pier, and Michigan Avenue, all things that they visited. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-cathdrale-saint-tienne-france monthly 0.5 2021-09-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632543328952-2OK2CIXP7DQTIL9IW11D/FR_Dominique59.jpg Postcards - la cathédrale Saint-Étienne (France) - Voici une carte de mon ami à lettres Dominique, qui vient de passer le weekend à Metz, où il a également visité cette cathédrale, qui a la plus grande surface vitrée d’Europe! Je n’ai jamais visité Metz, mais j’éspere pouvoir le visiter dans mon prochaine séjour en France. J’écris ça avec toutes les carte postales que je reçois, mais c’est vrai. Je ne sais pas comment je vais y arriver, mais une fois riche comme un fou, j’y serais! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/falling-in-love-with-home-indiana monthly 0.5 2021-09-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632543096123-4AO2IVZYXHU2NO6D3ADB/US-IN_Nozomi25.jpg Postcards - falling in love with home (Indiana) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632543095826-79ZLVKHBA4D095TZXA6W/US-IN_Nozomi26.jpg Postcards - falling in love with home (Indiana) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632543098535-BCYHDJ4GTD0ASM50TIUG/US-IN_Nozomi27.jpg Postcards - falling in love with home (Indiana) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/love-from-austria monthly 0.5 2021-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632542861869-OK750VL0QFQYOQH5SU1S/AT_Janie01.jpg Postcards - love from Austria https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632542861719-EJEGU75GIWRGD43OPKO1/AT_Janie02.jpg Postcards - love from Austria https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/neuschwanstein-germany monthly 0.5 2021-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632542625222-VGV5T56RMU1FASJIUCI7/DE_ErinPapageorgiou01.jpg Postcards - Neuschwanstein (Germany) - I regularly send birthday postcards to my friends and their children where applicable. But I rarely receive responses from the children. This beautiful postcard is one such exception! Erin is not yet four but she sent this beautiful postcard from a recent trip she took. She writes (in handwriting suspiciously similar to that of her mother! ha ha): Dearest Kristopher and Andy, I really wanted to see a castle to my mum and dad took me here. Summer holidays in Bavaria are not so bad! Lots of love, Erin xxx This postcard absolutely warms my heart, because I too love castles and who doesn’t love this one!? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/in-memory-of-mlanie monthly 0.5 2021-09-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632521987147-0XSBLF30IPYNINUXY466/CA_Melanie01.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522020289-PFR7XAMJZWX4Q0TJGXXA/CA_Melanie02.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522052710-AGUU87XAXY4IMX91MF2Y/CA_Melanie03.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522026891-OD63A7TP6RNMN20QF6MG/CA_Melanie04.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522043706-0Z0M8TV45WRJSEY9JN9F/CA_Melanie05.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522052192-MSPI20T9QSAQQAMZJZWV/CA_Melanie06.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522053953-RWYSMFBXBLRZ6AKND8CD/CA_Melanie07.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522055258-EPO3BT7DXZ9UZRAJZHAF/CA_Melanie08.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522057939-DIKJY3QYHGM83GLS1SML/CA_Melanie09.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522057888-Z0YYIIULCGEEZOAICD1U/CA_Melanie10.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522059749-JV3HBLI1D8FTQARC4H1S/CA_Melanie11.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522059302-AX87VV0P3D0BHNCAKZE4/CA_Melanie12.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522062466-I6PVEK3OFUEMMMIUJLDE/CA_Melanie13.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522063705-WZYWLLM7KYDIVXGVUSB8/CA_Melanie14.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522065922-OKG45N12CL2QCHHGDYEN/CA_Melanie15.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522066360-X9DM9SDEQFO6QYEUZIBP/CA_Melanie16.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522068390-1HLX8DM8NCBF55PKZ1T2/CA_Melanie17.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522068867-N7VS0D8B6D4PTMQKYJML/CA_Melanie18.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522070719-NOICWLOH44RRENN8V2LL/CA_Melanie19.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522071167-8PI3GAP3N3K2605109EX/CA_Melanie20.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522073041-5ODGVY4CU6WLYVVXZZ7K/CA_Melanie21.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522073118-KGRU4L6J5RTYZ1ND5KWU/CA_Melanie22.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522074097-H8PBS4NLLKPM65RYCBHR/CA_Melanie23.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522074427-AYNG0J1QAZX6MQ5OM131/CA_Melanie24.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522074801-99V82FAKO8F69X00OJIW/CA_Melanie25.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522075098-AK5LC56TWZIV8UT4ATRY/CA_Melanie26.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522075406-08EHTRQVNDGQMDKX06U8/CA_Melanie27.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522075779-IX53HSI8YNYNRN1UKNYU/CA_Melanie28.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522076153-SISQLVYLLP6HPDVO0BR0/CA_Melanie29.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522076442-RL7PFPUA8B4YH2QABVDB/CA_Melanie30.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522076899-T5P7ZSHE86FWFP4WA58A/CA_Melanie31.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522077786-EENHNPSMNSK9M6RM662G/CA_Melanie32.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522077784-Z3Q9TXN5YDM8561MPCS7/CA_Melanie33.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522078567-FQQIGW74MVH5VOWD0AV0/CA_Melanie34.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522078569-48VYCLHEMMZDMSWODHAP/CA_Melanie35.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522079167-KTZNRMCCYSZJ9F4DEF8V/CA_Melanie36.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522079403-OHX8JZF59DPT73P2GFDZ/CA_Melanie37.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522079824-CYS4419GJ5CQQ55R6FSP/CA_Melanie38.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522080117-J0PF2OWUI9FCX9RRAPYR/CA_Melanie39.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522080742-44V4VKC1JPECFMB66YDI/CA_Melanie40.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522080978-4G1RKH2R06AVX49938YA/CA_Melanie41.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522081722-IR863AWKBUBSIY3PKS61/CA_Melanie42.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522081895-Y3XOIZGLMWC2D6POOTKH/CA_Melanie43.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522082527-4W4QOSSC6UH83L066KMW/CA_Melanie44.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522082833-I51KC0BD4WC7WQXG58JW/CA_Melanie45.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522083300-E1JVPOVFB31TAS9171L6/CA_Melanie46.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522083633-ODL609XK3NDRMRC8TRB0/CA_Melanie47.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522084563-BGEVWSEK4KKDPUUXLUAX/CA_Melanie48.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522084685-86BI0M6ANOQFG61XG00Y/CA_Melanie49.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522085263-EMVJGF2CPKRD8E9UCHEB/CA_Melanie50.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522085601-NZJFI98D1Q9TKAMVQVJR/CA_Melanie51.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522086140-LFR5AA58AI60RI8MI6I3/CA_Melanie52.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522086483-FC1LLCA76W06E9NKMLVB/CA_Melanie53.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522086777-HTPLP9NNTQBOW1F4PFJM/CA_Melanie54.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522087181-LK32VRJN27HBA7PUXHAA/CA_Melanie55.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522087412-6I06FDOLSHLRT9G2DQPJ/CA_Melanie56.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522088031-XMQ1UZN3DBYAWOEZ2NCF/CA_Melanie57.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522088849-U6MGN5UAA5DQA6QCKP78/CA120223.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522135596-J2BZI779O2VUWOW7EMC7/US-CA_Melanie02.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1632522140083-0YYN3YMQMNSK7PMRC0SG/US-CA_Melanie01.jpg Postcards - in memory of Mélanie https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/stuffed-bhindi-india monthly 0.5 2021-09-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631588654912-38GRUWHNODM8UDK23IVA/IN_.jpg Postcards - stuffed bhindi (India) - This delicious postcard arrived very late due to my recent mail trouble. But what’s more interesting is the state of the back of it! I have no idea who it arrived given how destroyed most of it was in the mail. All I can make out is the following text on the left-hand “message” side: ristopher, many ards in ox :) a nice day regards June 26, 2021 +38°C How did it even arrive? There’s no mailing address! It’s clearly for me, and I’m waiting for Postcrossing to help me identify the ID so I can register it after its nearly three month trip! I The postcard feels as if it’s been water-damaged, and part of it is peeling away. Strangely, the stamp is intact. Update: the postcard ID was found! This postcard took 82 days to travel and be registered. Amazing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/en-prigord-nord-bis-france monthly 0.5 2021-09-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631588300485-PUZKHNZ9J9G6SZDWUNUZ/FR_Dominique58.jpg Postcards - en Périgord Nord (bis) (France) - This is a truly captivating image, the birth home of Etienne de la Boétie in the sixteenth century. It’s hard to imagine a house that someone might have been born almost 500 years ago still standing in a street and you can walk by it and put your hand on it. Much earlier this year, I received a postcard also from Dominique also from the same area, but a different view. I love collecting different views of the same place; when I can finally visit, it will all seem so familiar! Dominique wonders about the aforementioned writer who is best known in Anglophone circles as the penpal of Michel de Montaigne. He writes in the postcard “Penpal or something more? History, always straight-laced, doesn’t give a definitive answer.” But I think we all know that the best people in history are LGBT, yeah? :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/live-free-or-die-new-hampshire monthly 0.5 2021-09-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631587969035-Y7PWTIUEZAC6QDMGWNAS/US-NH_KayPei01.jpg Postcards - Live free or die (New Hampshire) - My dear friends Kay and Pei recently moved to New Hampshire to start a new job, so they sent this terrific postcard of their new home state. It’s one of the few US states that I haven’t yet visited, so I’m thrilled to have an additional reason to do so! I’m tickled to see a Pittsburg in New Hampshire, since there’s one out here in Northern California, too. And of course, I often confuse it in speech with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where we all met. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/man-and-child-germany monthly 0.5 2021-09-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631587811684-7MZD57NAPO5YE3WLRBXN/DE_10795128.jpg Postcards - man and child (Germany) - Here’s a postcard from Postcrossing that’s really beautiful in its simplicity. The sender wasn’t sure whether this qualified as LGBTQ, as I welcome in my profile. I think this absolutely qualifies - even though I myself am not a parent and have no desire to become one, plenty of LGBTQ people are, so this is absolutely such a card. Also, who doesn’t love cute babies? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-tarte-aux-quetsches-france monthly 0.5 2021-09-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631580383515-HAC08N7B1Z41OOJ02LXZ/FR_Dominique57.jpg Postcards - la tarte aux quetsches (France) - This sweet plum tart looks absolutely divine, even more so because I have a bag of plums on the counter waiting for me to do something with them. The plums I have are quite a bit bigger, but I could certainly make it work! You already know that this recipe comes from my penpal Dominique, who tells me he reads both my postcard and my baking blogs. I get a lot of inspiration for my bakes from his suggestions! Merci bien, Dominique! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bixby-bridge-california monthly 0.5 2021-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631580115086-ZOYO5GUF8I9PNZOT882V/US-CA_JialuChunlin01.jpg Postcards - Bixby Bridge (California) - Sometimes, postcards can over-sell the area or object that they’re depicting. People who have never had the pleasure of driving along Highway 1 in California along the Pacific Coast might see this and think it’s another of those over-sells. But having visited Big Sur and the famous Bixby Bridge here on multiple occasions, I can tell you that this view is 100% real. The postcard itself arrives from two of my students from this past summer, Jialu and Chunlin, who were both a delight to have in class as much as they are in person. They seem to be taking ample advantage of living in California and take every opportunity they can to refresh themselves with a road trip or a visit to Monterey. They are absolutely doing it right! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/heidelberg-germany monthly 0.5 2021-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631579930198-9K8WWSFEJ3JQ67GLQ8DG/DE_Dominique06.jpg Postcards - Heidelberg (Germany) - You may have been wondering where all the lovely postcards from my penpal Dominique have been - they’ve been on their way, but were unfortunately held up in the mail due to some errors. However, I’m happy to report a lot of lovely postcards finally were delivered after many days or weeks of delays. This beautiful image is really a great one, and it depicts Heidelberg Castle, which I’ve sadly never visited. But I do love the multiple colors of stone and brick here which I assume depict the various additions that were made as the castle grew and evolved over time. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/multilevel-minsk-belarus monthly 0.5 2021-09-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1631579795211-1M85EFJLFWA03XT776LP/BY_2793905.jpg Postcards - multilevel Minsk (Belarus) - This postcard arrived from Minsk some time ago, but unfortunately I was having trouble with my mail delivery. A hold we’d placed during some travel somehow got extended for two more weeks, so I was without my beloved postcards and letters (and bills!) for ages. I love the artwork here, though! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/baden-baden-germany monthly 0.5 2021-09-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1630862626217-HZ8L9X4G6ZIRO06NWEA9/DE_Dominique05.jpg Postcards - Baden Baden (Germany) - This postcard arrives from Germany courtesy of my French penpal Dominique, who was working at a hospital along the border and so took the opportunity to send this. He writes that this building is a former train station now converted into the second largest concert hall in Europe, after the Bastille Opera in Paris. Sad though I am that a grand old train station might no longer serve such a purpose, I’m happy to hear it’s living on in new and exciting ways to serve the public! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/1dp4rut10sor3h6r1ia2xmcow7y5pa monthly 0.5 2021-09-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629927028373-IR4FOR39OVKK2D6S5SEQ/FR_1425633.jpg Postcards - questionnaire de Marcel Proust (France) - Usually I write in French when I receive a card from France, but this one I think merits an English translation — shaky though mine will be — for those who might not read French. Here goes: my main personality characteristic what I want in a man what I want in a woman what I love most about my friends my biggest flaw my dream job my life’s dream what would be my greatest sadness what I would like to be the country where I would like to live my favorite color my favorite flower my favorite bird my favorite novelists my favorite poets my favorite fiction protagonist men my favorite fiction protagonist women my favorite composers my favorite painters my real life hero men my real life hero women my favorite names what I hate more than anything characteristics that I hate the most the military event that I admire the most the reform that I appreciate the most the gift of nature that I would most like to have how I would like to die the present state of my soul flaws that you’re willing to overlook my motto https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tlwtz0tf0ceuznx9764qq6505jhjo9 monthly 0.5 2021-09-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629921399686-EK661X9QS7LFGY0YBPE7/US-IN_Nozomi24.jpg Postcards - United Nations flag (Indiana) - This card comes from my penpal Nozomi, whom I met when we were both in grad school back in Pittsburgh over a decade ago! It was during that time that she got this postcard on a trip to New York City, and the United Nations. She writes that she’d been saving it for a special occasion and figured my birthday was one such (and it arrived right on time!). I’m flattered that I might receive such a beautiful postcard from so long ago. What a real gift! Thank you, friend! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pnns2xldpyy7nie59b0ba7imuaaicm monthly 0.5 2021-09-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629921298586-SX9MIESETI2B39QXXP99/US-NV_AlexWade01.jpg Postcards - South Shore, Lake Tahoe (California) - I’m not posting this lovely vintage postcard until just now, but I received it in advance of my birthday from my friend Alex! What great timing! I have only been to Lake Tahoe once and it was in winter when it certainly looked much like this. I have always wanted to revisit, especially in the summer. Maybe next year! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cyv1t3o0zo5lec78hmvkninwgyl0u1 monthly 0.5 2021-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629921064628-Y947VV6BNBDQJ0Z1XGT8/US_7772154.jpg Postcards - morning cup of joe (Washington) - Of all the icons of Seattle, coffee must be among the very first or second (behind the Space Needle, I suppose?). It’s perfectly fitting then that I should receive this postcard from someone living not far from Seattle. It’s a great city and I highly recommend a visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/une02g31jh3fy707ahtiyrdotpwth0 monthly 0.5 2021-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629920881044-QODE7JL8MHULQHKZ2EYX/US-IN_Nozomi23.jpg Postcards - Men’s Quadrangle (Indiana) - I’m not sure why it never occurred to me to seek out vintage postcards of Stanford, but this postcard from my penpal Nozomi was a great reminder to do so! This feature of the University of Indiana is currently called “Wright Quadrangle” but in days past it was known as the Men’s Quadrangle. I wonder when it made its gender-inclusive transition and what prompted it? Of course, I also wonder whether there was a Women’s Quadrangle? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/9rg0xvkx8xe6l4dv9ivb2sxi60ilhg monthly 0.5 2021-08-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629920733812-CDZDLBBN02CHTVOLJA0W/AU_778944A.jpg Postcards - marriage equality (Australia) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629920734131-P7SAX64CH2LHGH925UF5/AU_778944B.jpg Postcards - marriage equality (Australia) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629920734256-P08SNJB70P275DMHDVCY/AU_778944C.jpg Postcards - marriage equality (Australia) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/junk-mail-indiana monthly 0.5 2021-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629503299196-Z7W46B8081T00MTHHI5Q/US-IN_Nozomi22.jpg Postcards - junk mail (Indiana) - I wonder if I care less about junk mail because I receive so much genuine mail that’s addressed to me by a real person? I truly think that most Americans receive 95% junk mail and bills, and so the mail is offensive and a hassle, or at best, boring. But for me, I can easily deal with the junk mail because I know it’ll be outweighed by the real stuff. So that my penpal and former classmate Nozomi would send this postcard is a true delight. I laughed out loud when I received it. Maybe this postcard is made specifically for snail-mailers like Nozomi and me? In any case, it’s a real gift. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wagner-falls-michigan monthly 0.5 2021-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629503034141-8PO2YOMM4E3KK3OMQ8FU/US-MI_Hunter-Alyssa03.jpg Postcards - Wagner Falls (Michigan) - Recently, two of our niblings traveled to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to visit some waterfalls and go camping. I haven’t been to the UP since my penpal came to visit way back in 2000, so it’s been absolutely ages! They write that they did some hiking and visited Pictured Rocks (which I’ve never visited). Maybe Andy and I will take a summer drive through the UP some time? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/black-forest-cuckoo-clock-shoppe-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-08-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629502818076-XVQTQP4PNSBP2OVLTOW2/US-OR_Linda18.jpg Postcards - Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Shoppe (Oregon) - Continuing her fine tradition of fantastic cards not from her home area, Linda has sent this beautiful card of the Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Shoppe. I’ve never been, but I’ll bet it’s a fun place to visit! This card reminds me of the Black Forest Cake I earlier this summer, which I might make a return to. It was really delicious, and I’m still putting the left over boozy cherries in my cocktails. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/opavian-silesia-czechia monthly 0.5 2021-08-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629502644080-T0F02J381RKTX9YAORSU/CZ_7823723.jpg Postcards - Opavian Silesia (Czechia) - This extra long postcard arrived via PostCrossing but unfortunately the sender didn’t write much in the message. It seems like a waste of real estate? Sometimes there’s so much to say but a postcard only has so much room (sometimes this is a feature - pro tip: if you host a big event and expect to send thank-you notes, such as a wedding or graduation party, print up postcards with your image! You can save on time in writing the thank-yous by getting right to the heart of your gratitude, and save postage if you’re sending the postcards domestically). https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/groeten-van-texel-netherlands monthly 0.5 2021-08-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629159114377-FIABYJI3DLVNSL7DNG96/NL_Dominique01.jpg Postcards - Groeten van Texel (Netherlands) - Comme Dominique, mon ami à cartes postales, écrit bien: plein de PostCrosseurs collectionnent les cartes de phares. C’est pour ça qu’il m’en a envoyé une et je l’adore! J’ai déjà écrit ici que mon état de jeunesse a le nombre le plus grand de phares de tous les états américains. En plus, il y a quelque chose de très romantique quant aux phares, même si la vie là-bas n’est pas de tout un cadeau. Merci à Dominique pour m’envoyer cette carte qui me plaît beaucoup. Elle est aussi la première carte des Pays-Bas que j’ai reçue de lui. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gymnasts-have-to-eat-california monthly 0.5 2021-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629159019686-860UMRBLEA5QW898ZHWY/US-CA_Janie02.jpg Postcards - gymnasts have to eat (California) - This terrific postcard arrives from my penpal and friend Janie who wondered if I might like this for my collection. I absolutely would!! It’s a bit strange, very funny, and it overall nice to look at! Thank you, thank you! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-sea-ranch-chapel-california monthly 0.5 2021-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629044220633-EDXAJI2YSDJF8G4MAD6T/US-CA_GregJames04.jpg Postcards - the Sea Ranch Chapel (California) - This is an iconic image of one of the most beautiful parts of coastal California: Sea Ranch. We were lucky to spend a few days there with our friends several years ago and it was truly magnificent. The craggy coast and crashing waves with the tall, proud trees and the San Andrea Faultline that runs clearly and evenly through the forest. There’s a great discovery trail you can walk, which I highly recommend! We even saw some elusive river otters on our walk, and of course plenty of banana slugs. What made it so fantastic was the complete and utter lack of cell phone service. Thanks to Greg and James for this memory of a great weekend now so many years past. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/glenn-bishop-california monthly 0.5 2021-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629043820476-YATBVIZ2BKOAZHDLQJP8/US-CA_JulianSalvo01.jpg Postcards - Glenn Bishop (California) - This thank-you postcard comes from our friend Julian and Salvo! It’s really terrific for a number of reasons: the man is truly beautiful - apparently Glenn Bishop was quite the model in the mid-20th century and could be found in many magazines the setting is Grand Haven which is not far from where my little brother lives, and is of course in my home-state of Michigan https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vin-du-collignon-ohio monthly 0.5 2021-08-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629043655646-9ROH1B5Q2JUP8E4VYD35/US_7774067.jpg Postcards - vin du Collignon (Ohio) - This style of advertising posters is so iconic and charming. I wonder what the world looked like when all advertisers were looking for something so unique and vivid to get the word out about their wares? This postcard comes from a person in Ohio who shared a great toast with me, which I’m sharing here: Here’s to your enemy’s enemies; may their triumph be complete. And may their foes - thus your foes too - soon fall beneath their feet! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/galette-charentaise-france monthly 0.5 2021-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628560866103-C211ZJJD7YGKYZ8TQOP9/FR_Dominique56.jpg Postcards - galette charentaise (France) - Voici une carte de mon ami Dominique qui pense aux cartes postales même pendant ses vacances! Ici vous voyez une recette pour la galette charentaise, très fameuse de la région. Il faudra que j’essaie à la préparer! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/wine-country-california monthly 0.5 2021-08-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628560722248-7UEJRHX2A1ORTO2LUNYT/US-CA_MattKatelyn10.jpg Postcards - wine country (California) - This fantastic postcard arrived from our dear friends Matt and Katelyn, who took a recent trip to wine country to celebrate their wedding anniversary. We often enjoy tasting wine with them, both locally in San Francisco and further afield in wine regions nearby. We’re looking forward to a return to such outings very soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/alde-gott-germany monthly 0.5 2021-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628346665505-BCMP4ZCWLYCV3CM2SN0E/DE_Dominique04.jpg Postcards - Alde Gott (Germany) - Moi, j’organize numériquement les cartes postales premièrement par pays et puis par expéditeur. C’est pour ça que cette carte postale ne parait êttre que la quatrième de mon ami Dominique. Par contre, j’en ai reçu plus de 60 cartes postales de lui! Celle-ci vient de son dernier voyage en Allemagne, juste à l’autre côté de la frontière avec Alsace (qui, avant - bien sûr - n’était pas de tout la frontière, mais là c’est un leçon d’histoire pour un autre moment). Il m’écrit qu’Alde Gott et le nom d’une coopérative viticole très connue. Il y a très longtemps qu’Andy et moi pensons voyager en Alsace et Allemagne, Suisse, et l’Autriche pour la dégustation de vins. Donc, j’ai bien aimé recevoir cette jolie carte postale. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/opera-amp-ballet-2007-russia monthly 0.5 2021-08-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628282170060-CP415PB9CJ1D4Y8BA6PW/RU_8601499.jpg Postcards - “Opera &amp; Ballet” 2007 (Russia) - This postcard comes via Postcrossing, but the really great thing is that it is a print of a painting done by the sender himself! This depicts the Opera and Ballet Theater in Novosibirsk, which is the largest theater building in Russia. Fantastic! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lhermione-france monthly 0.5 2021-08-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628281579887-DJL9JAZEMAEMO38AN4FQ/FR_Dominique55.jpg Postcards - l’Hermione (France) - Voici une carte postale du bateau l’Hermione, qui est très célèbre non pas seulement dans sa France native, mais aussi parmis le monde entier. Elle a déjà visité plusiers pays, les États-Unis inclus. Il y a une marina ici à San Francisco mais on ne voit presque jamais des bateaux comme ceci. On peu bien les voir dans la Parque Nationale Maritime à San Francisco où se trouve la Balclutha. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/k4rfs2kg4u7nmop8jsngr95rzh4fwz monthly 0.5 2021-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628281330252-3DB3QY9RIGZWN3BC0L8I/IT_Lino01.jpg Postcards - two views of Giovinazzo (Italy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628281330021-W5X45KN9D40LPOXBNXCB/IT_Lino02.jpg Postcards - two views of Giovinazzo (Italy) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mushballoon-france monthly 0.5 2021-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628180439740-VA31VU9Z302UZ4F4KBE6/FR_Dominique54.jpg Postcards - Mushballoon (France) - Voici une carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui me décrit ses plans de voyage pendant l’été. Séparés en trois, il compte visiter plusiers pays dans la région. Il écrit sur les restrictions de CoVID, et je comprends tout à fait le soucis. Ce n’est pas de tout clair qui peut voyage, où on peut voyager, quand, ni comment. Je lui souhait des très bons voyages! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/port-angeles-octopus-washington monthly 0.5 2021-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628180324292-1I1RXYNGNF9F3P2U08RI/US-WA_Kristopher03.jpg Postcards - Port Angeles octopus (Washington) - This postcard was sent by… me! I sent it to Andy as a thank-you since he always takes the time and effort to send me postcards when he’s away. Even though we took the vacation to Seattle together, I wanted to thank him for always thinking of me and my weird hobby. It was a strange experience to buy this postcard, write it, and send it while maintaining the surprise. Further, I usually collect the mail, so getting the mail and then putting the postcard somewhere that he’d notice it was a bit of a trick. Still, he was very pleased with the octopus, which may be his most favorite animal. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cuckolds-light-california monthly 0.5 2021-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628087495383-GWJKAGB5M4K3IDKGFNED/US-CA_JenniferWolfeld02.jpg Postcards - Cuckolds Light (California) - It was a banner week for late postcards with this arrival from my dear friend Jennifer. She has long spent summers with family in Maine and picked up this postcard for me but I hadn’t given her my new address. Instead, she brought it back with her to California and sent it after I finally got her our new mailing address. She describes this as “Maine Zen” because of the simplicity, peace, and purity it evokes. I can absolutely see that! Maine is one of the few US states I haven’t visited yet but it is certainly on my list. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/towers-everywhere-dc monthly 0.5 2021-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628087109817-IUZVIFBJJ6XCSI5YRRJL/US-DC_Faith01.jpg Postcards - towers everywhere (DC) - Voici une carte postale de mon étudiante antérieure qui actuellement voyage parmis les États Unis. Je lui avais envoyé une carte postale du Tour Salesforce ici à San Francisco, donc elle a répondu avec cet image des Tours Petronas à Kuala Lumpur. Si tu lis mon blog régulièrement, tu sais bien que j’adore les cartes postales en retard… elles qui ont eté achetées il y a très longtemps, oubliées dans un placard ou tiroir, demi-écrites et jamais envoyées, ou même avec les timbres mais perdues avant les avoir mises dans la boîte aux lettres. Faith écrit ici que cette carte postale date depuis l’année 2011 au moins, dans un de ses derniers voyages en Malaysie pour rendre visite la famille. Incroyable! J’adore!!! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pride-month-woes-germany monthly 0.5 2021-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628086953968-YI3CX7IDN4EJ3EIMB4RF/DE_10643259.jpg Postcards - Pride Month woes (Germany) - This postcard comes from a PhD student in Germany who’s studying criminology and saw my request for LGBT-related cards. According to her translation, it says “My marketing department says this is modern…” which I absolutely love. Even Death would attempt to get those pink dollars and capitalize on Pride Month! Come July 1st, however, like all other companies, Pride is over finally and they can go back to ignoring LGBT people again. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-best-letter-maryland monthly 0.5 2021-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1627346103638-79SH4X9GXCD8US89U2L2/US_7714581.jpg Postcards - the best letter (Maryland) - I love the stylized letter “K” here, no doubt chosen as it’s my initial! It’s a shame it was a bit beaten up in the mail, but I guess it just adds character! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/intergram-taiwan monthly 0.5 2021-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1627345975735-WV339Z66Z5MZ77MSXADO/TW_3183193.jpg Postcards - intergram (Taiwan) - This postcard comes from a Korean person living in Taiwan. I really love the funny play on the popular social networking app! The art itself is quite nice, too, especially the detail in the eyes and the great scarf! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/golden-mountains-china-via-california monthly 0.5 2021-08-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1627345822282-33UL1OTH2YGNR3ENFAQ5/CN_Hanyu01.jpg Postcards - golden mountains (China, via California) - This terrific postcard comes from a former student of mine who made time to see me for ice cream before returning home to China for a while! I’m so touched that she took the time on her last full day in San Francisco, including rushing back into town after missing a train. The message on the back is heartwarming and so touching; not only was i impressed with her work and her very strong language skills, but with her heart and motivation, her openness and kindness. I will really miss having her around, and we are the poorer on campus for not having her with us. Still, another university or organization will be very lucky to have her! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/calella-de-palafrugell-spain monthly 0.5 2021-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1627315383967-ZO0PCHB42JZ4NFADQAQW/ES_Maribel03.jpg Postcards - Calella de Palafrugell (Catalonia) - Esta postal fue una verdadera sorpresa, llegando desde nuestra amiga Maribel quien vive en España. Hace muchos años que no nos hemos visto, pero seguimos muy amigos y pensamos mucho en ella y su familia. Nos hizo mucha ilusión recibir saludos suyos - ¡me toca ya responderle y quizás visitarla también! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/korfu-greece monthly 0.5 2021-08-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1627315180066-2T8WSEY3ZOI89Q2SQZP7/GR_Dominique01.jpg Postcards - Korfu (Greece) - Voici une carte postale de mon ami Dominique que est de voyage avec son boyfriend à l’île grècque de Korfu. Il m’a envoyé cette carte postale car il sait que j’aime bien cuisiner au four. Quand j’étais en Grèce aussi dans les îles (mais une autre: Tinos) avec mon mari et quelques amis, nous avons tellement adoré la nourritue, surtout les végétaux et le baklava. Incroyable! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tom-of-finland-bis-finland-1 monthly 0.5 2021-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626918926588-CNMALIZJ0P0GAPGAMRT0/FI_Jussi09.jpg Postcards - Tom of Finland (bis) - Finland - Another terrific card from my penpal Jussi in Finland. This is getting posted quite a bit later than its arrival due to a backlog of postcards. This one arrived after only 19 days of travel (including weekends), which seems pretty good for an international postcard! Tom of Finland images are so closely associated with gay men in the US, but I wonder if they have wider purchase/audience in Finland? They’re certainly a mood! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/green-tea-china monthly 0.5 2021-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626799180812-0MY0NVXSVBD1G2VCQVEI/CN_3102766.jpg Postcards - green tea (China) - This postcard comes from a sender in Qingdao who writes about green tea originating from this area of coastal China. I remember seeing some tea plantations when was visiting Hangzhou and although it was wetter and greener than vineyards here in Northern California, you could definitely see the similarities. My hosts informed me that some of the tea plantations are as valuable as wineries; I don’t doubt it! Tea is very big business! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/volubilis-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-08-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626741942571-WQQBVXA6M13O6ON4UW3F/US-NC_Peggy06.jpg Postcards - Volubilis - North Carolina - This postcard comes from my penpal and benefactor Peggy, announcing an upcoming move. I had never heard of Volubilis before, so I was enchanted to learn it’s a partially excavated Berber city in Morocco, commonly believed to be the ancient capital of Mauretania. Since Peggy typically adheres to the rule of never buying a postcard for a site she hasn’t visited, I have to assume she’s visited this one! Terrific! I don’t think I’ve seen any ancient Roman sites outside of Rome, so I hope one day to see it for myself. Merci, merci! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/one-world-trade-center-new-york monthly 0.5 2021-08-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626741705331-2TD3CAE2B014Z3W9C7S0/US-NY_Pooja01.jpg Postcards - One World Trade Center - New York - I haven’t been to New York City in ages and One World Trade Center had not even been started I don’t think the last time I was there. What a beautiful and imposing building, although I’m not sure I love the antenna on top. This postcard comes from my nephew’s girlfriend Pooja. I really should visit NYC again soon! Thanks Pooja! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mary-ann-macnamara-south-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-07-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626741467270-7FPNOJ38S187FNECF8YT/US-SC_Jackson04.jpg Postcards - “Mary Ann MacNamara”- South Carolina - This painting is entitled “Mary Ann MacNamara” and as painted by Robert Henri around 1925. It’s part of the collection at the Columbia Museum of Art, the postcard of which was sent to me by my new penpal Jackson. Thanks - the colors are really something! I particularly love the green background. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pinocchio-and-pals-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-07-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626654016523-C4HWRYRSXRM9O63JQA12/US-OR_Linda17.jpg Postcards - Pinocchio and Pals - Oregon - Here’s another terrific postcard from my friend Linda, who sends an update on how’s she’s weathering (heh) the heat wave in the Pacific Northwest. I visited Disneyland way back in the 80s or early 90s - I was so young that I don’t know for sure. I definitely remember the characters and finding some of them terrifying. I did, however, really enjoy meeting Minnie Mouse who has always been a favorite! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/v3t3xijyoegsfhg7qr2pr11c8r6gxt monthly 0.5 2021-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626653914370-3VVZFK9OFG9P4NNOZ5Q0/US-NJ_MejduleneKatie01.jpg Postcards - Órale Mexican Kitchen - New Jersey - Is this card not terrific?! It arrived courtesy of the dearest and best Katie and Mejdulene from an impromptu tip to Jersey City. They recommend this fun place - based on the advertising postcard alone, I’d say it was a hoot! Thanks, friends! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pl3k9x9bxbeqagcwlydhlo1ykz9kwi monthly 0.5 2021-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626475453200-NSTTSFWOIUKRL1WYZEGW/CA_Melanie52.jpg Postcards - des cartes canadiennes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626475453724-X6YBL2CX7OCG3SRSRJ4U/CA_Melanie53.jpg Postcards - des cartes canadiennes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626475454921-NR4UTB6NDIFQADQOW347/CA_Melanie54.jpg Postcards - des cartes canadiennes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626475455575-ALI8P9W6BQ67DQ18QQP1/CA_Melanie55.jpg Postcards - des cartes canadiennes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626475457062-Q67SDLXGYJP3QJ3OPDYJ/CA_Melanie56.jpg Postcards - des cartes canadiennes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626475458308-Y5G60JVFTQQL8E6IC131/CA_Melanie57.jpg Postcards - des cartes canadiennes https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mackinac-island-michigan monthly 0.5 2021-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626324439544-244DWEA0JZOSEAU4HTMA/US-MI_CaitlynEmilyLaurenG02.jpg Postcards - Mackinac Island (Michigan) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ile-daix-france monthly 0.5 2021-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626324264243-7RBZCHZ78LCHXFLMNTG6/FR_Dominique53.jpg Postcards - Ile d’Aix (France) - As you can see from the filename, this the 53rd postcard I’ve received from France from my penpal Dominique! I particularly love these lighthouses from the Isle of Aix. I’ve always liked lighthouses given that Michigan has the highest number of lighthouses of any state in the US! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/street-art-united-kingdom monthly 0.5 2021-07-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626324153523-HEA12HVGR9SZFX209FEG/DE_Carolin02.jpg Postcards - street art (United Kingdom) - This postcard is from my new penpal who writes that she doesn’t have much patience for writing long letters at the moment due to the glorious weather. I can’t blame her, and this is a great “consolation prize” while I wait! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/studio-be-louisiana monthly 0.5 2021-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626323989516-523UXEJB9PB4F8SNWFEL/US-LA_Kayle01.jpg Postcards - Studio Be (Louisiana) - This card depicts the work “Ephemeral Eternal” by Brandan “Bmike” Doums" which was on display at Studio Be in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our dear friend Kaylé writes that we should certainly visit on our next trip (which will be my first!) to New Orleans. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/green-island-taiwan monthly 0.5 2021-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626323838594-9NW5FTVH4T6VBG7TMNXK/TW_Kay02.jpg Postcards - Green Island (Taiwan) - It’s hard to see in this scan, but this postcard has a slide or film cell embedded in it, so when you hold it up to the light, the image comes alive! I’ve only ever seen this type of postcard in Taiwan and I’m absolutely living for it. Thanks to Kay, my good friend and colleague, for always thinking of me when she travels! I wonder if she was able to visit Green Island while she was visiting family this past summer? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/maailmanperintkohde-vanha-rauma-finland monthly 0.5 2021-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626323620635-HW6GXXQ5CZJ40ECVBNUM/FI_Jussi08.jpg Postcards - Maailmanperintökohde Vanha Rauma (Finland) - Another great card from my Finnish penpal arrived a few weeks ago while I was away on vacation. This one depicts the World Heritage Town Old Rauma! It looks really beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sjxbsx0ootxk4f0msmoc4ak9qyy12c monthly 0.5 2021-07-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626323420625-EJ0MAZ5PVOHI5UXZTBNZ/ID_360055.jpg Postcards - skydiving (Indonesia) - I have only received a small number of cards from Indonesia, especially given its massive population. This is certainly a welcome addition to my collection! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dxkuv6zifgp8gurke4inrobpjmfv48 monthly 0.5 2021-07-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626323270213-SN871UYVSWMXXWQ21HJH/DE_10634714.jpg Postcards - 2018 PostCrossing Meetup, Dresden (Germany) - PostCrossing meetup cards are definite genre and super fun to receive! This one is even better than usual because it dates from 2018! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/union-postale-universelle-arizona monthly 0.5 2021-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626323159109-X1M8YWLASLMD10Z3Y3PX/US_7671875.jpg Postcards - union postale universelle (Arizona) - This postcard comes from Pam in Arizona who taught me that Arizona is known for the 5 Cs: cotton, climate, citrus, cattle, and copper. I knew of the last four, but not the first! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-winter-palace-russia monthly 0.5 2021-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626322665668-U4LG5MDERUWNWM9UK2QG/RU_8557615.jpg Postcards - the Winter Palace (Russia) - On the list of things that the Russians have in spades is grand palaces! Just take a look at the St. George Hall (or the Great Throne Room) from the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg! Who would not want to visit this stately place, especially all decked out for an audience with a czar? The sender of this postcard writes that she and her family travel frequently, including an annual trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Terrific! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fbbtx84fspd126zyuru4ral8035o1i monthly 0.5 2021-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626322356348-HKLHDTU52K0OISR3F5MS/DE_10620577.jpg Postcards - Hiddensee Island (Germany) - Hiddensee Island is a car-free island in the Baltic Sea north of Germany. The sender writes about its shape and size, and all I could think about was Mackinac Island in Michigan where I grew up. It’s also car-free! The thing that’s surprising is that almost all tourists find it charming to be car-free and that’s a major part of the draw for people to visit Mackinac Island; but why are they so against the idea of reducing their dependence on cars outside of vacation? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ancient-rome-in-a-village-russia monthly 0.5 2021-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626321838422-690LCWFUKM72VYVDV7V5/RU_8565556.jpg Postcards - Ancient Rome. In a village. (Russia) - This beautiful art postcard depicts a piece from approximately 1880 called “Ancient Rome. In a village” by the Polish painter Henryk Siemiradzki. It comes by way of Russia from a seventeen year old whose favorite class is English! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pain-au-chocolat-france monthly 0.5 2021-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626321719584-6NO16R1Z45X7EDCJNMFA/FR_1412642.jpg Postcards - pain au chocolat (France) - Here’s a great postcard from France, on which the sender tells me about her work in a bead store and her difficulty in growing plants. I love the up close image of a croissant along with the accompanying chocolate that is so traditional! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yakov-khalip-russia monthly 0.5 2021-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626321521322-8N6UCHEJBAOLXH8H8VOB/RU_8567877.jpg Postcards - Yakov Khalip (Russia) - This fantastic image comes courtesy of PostCrossing and a great sender in Russia who explains her recent interest in the Malayalam language of Kerala, India. It’s so great to meet people from around the world and to discover what we have in common. It does make the world seem a smaller, friendlier place. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/vrifiez-la-pression monthly 0.5 2021-07-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624999921506-LQIKOA2VHYQU1RU67UHD/FR_Dominique51.jpg Postcards - vérifiez la pression - Quelle beauté de publicité! Il est tellement important de vérifiez la pression des pneus avant de partir en n’importe quel trajet. Les pneus ici sont tellement mignons aussi - je les adore! Vous pouvez sûrement deviner que cette carte postale vient de mon ami Dominique. Ici, il me raconte comment fonctionnent les permis de conduire en France. La-bàs, on quitte des points en cas d’infraction. Au Michigan où j’ai grandi, on les rajoute! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/macarons-and-coffee-germany monthly 0.5 2021-07-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624999803442-9BS9YDZDYPMYIOMN7UWQ/DE_1027940.jpg Postcards - macarons and coffee (Germany) - This beautiful card comes complete with a lovely story of the sender’s visit to San Francisco, which she enjoyed very much! I particularly love these nesting heart mugs because one of them is certainly for a left-handed drinker! Most mugs aren’t made with southpaws in mind, so I love that these certainly are. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/i34xeqjqyd80331radsm82wncyidf0 monthly 0.5 2021-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624924593056-GQJPV4K72P4715A1PTRB/US_7660967.jpg Postcards - eastern and western meadowlark (Florida) - This is a terrific postcard since I love nature illustrations! Why are birds so captivating to watch and read about? Also, can the average bird-watcher really see such subtle differences between the eastern and western meadowlarks (or do their ranges not overlap)?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/meringues-california monthly 0.5 2021-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624906973151-IBXDC1A8VZHZX4W2U4UM/US-CA_Janie02.jpg Postcards - Meringues (California) - Oh, if only I could show the back of this postcard! Janie’s handwriting is a work of art, as are the terrific vintage stamps she finds and uses to send these postcards. The front, as you can see, is no slouch either though! And given my love of baking, it’s the perfect card! Thank you, Janie! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sooner-state-oklahoma monthly 0.5 2021-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624906842055-6U9RL8DHZ08FU4EQP4VS/US-7660927.jpg Postcards - Sooner State (Oklahoma) - Is the title of this postcard redundant? Anyway, it’s a beautiful illustration of a state I know very little about, despite living just 60 minutes away for almost two years. I love the art here as it perfectly captures a warm, summer day. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/georgia-peach-pie monthly 0.5 2021-06-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624906685440-KNK7AWR18DN7SZ70Z4GV/US-7658464.jpg Postcards - Georgia Peach Pie - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sherlock-holmes-russia monthly 0.5 2021-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624906437083-F5GBX54D6E2JN2POAP5F/RU_8485503.jpg Postcards - Sherlock Holmes (Russia) - This postcards makes its way from Russia and is absolutely terrific. I love the Sherlock series with Benedict Cumberbatch, and this drawing is really arresting. The sender of the postcard responded to one of my suggested prompts by writing about something that’s really worrying her, which is environmental degradation and its impacts on humans and our environment. As the Pacific Northwest roasts in record-breaking heat this week and wildfires are already starting in California, this rings very true and urgent to me. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kurjenrahka-national-park-finland monthly 0.5 2021-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624457109137-JLI6CNBTXYIYJ8VIVMH1/FI_Jussi07.jpg Postcards - Kurjenrahka National Park (Finland) - This terrific image comes courtesy of my penpal in Finland! It depicts Kurjenrahka National Park, which features a raised bog. I will admit that from a distance in my mailbox, I first thought it was a Serengeti scene with the low, grasses and the sparse trees. Now I’m even more intrigued to visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tower-bridge-california monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624312401311-EPXONBOJRBLR41SMWMP5/US-CA_GregJames03.jpg Postcards - Tower Bridge (California) - This postcard comes from our friends Greg and James in Sacramento. We haven’t seen them in some months, but we’re looking forward to a trip out their way soon. They write that this bridge used to be the same color as San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, but that it was painted gold in the 90s. During the summer, there is an event where the best restaurants in the city host a meal on the bridge itself. Amazing! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2dpmkzn6cqqybse8z36adpb2eyev4o monthly 0.5 2021-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624293391400-SXB4NPYIJOR05E2TVQ7W/US-OR_Linda16.jpg Postcards - Ferris Wheel Fun Facts (Oregon) - What a great postcard to welcome the start of summer! It arrived care of our dear friend Linda, who hosted us for a terrific back patio lunch just a few weeks ago. This card is also quite welcome because Andy and I had a mystery date to the SkyStar Wheel in Golden Gate Park last week. I was worried it would be kitschy and touristy, but it was a really pleasant experience! We rode our bikes to the park and then had almost no wait to get on the ferris wheel. We were also quite lucky to benefit from a discount for being SF residents and another for being members of the SFFAM! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-citadelle-de-peyrepertuse-france monthly 0.5 2021-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623970858098-H6BCNBMZDW6HD27I57SH/FR_Dominique51.jpg Postcards - La citadelle de Peyrepertuse (France) - Voici une carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui toujours envoie les si belles paysages. Même si je vivais en France pendant presque un an, je ne connais presque rien de tout ce qu’elle peut offrir. Il faudrait toute une vie pour commencer a connaître tous ses cadeaux. Mais avec les cartes postales, je peux apprendre un peu sur quelques uns. Dominique m’a recommandé de préparer la tarte bourdaloue, et il m’a demandé sur la carte où j’avais trouvé des poires en printemps (car elles sont plutôt des fruits d’automne). Il a raison, mais dans les supermarchés amérilocs, il est possible d’en trouver presque tout à n’importe quel temps (for better or for worse). Je vais la répeter en automne quand les poires seront meilleures. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/heard-museum-arizona monthly 0.5 2021-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623970481108-8DGWEKRNZ6SUA63S0KIT/US-AZ_Marina01.jpg Postcards - Heard Museum (Arizona) - This card was sent by my friend Marina who is interning in Arizona at a distribution center. She took some time for herself to visit the Heard Museum, which she writes is “a must visit place.” I think I’ll wait until the weather cools a bit; at the time of its sending, it was 118F/48C! The heat is not for me, that’s for sure! But this card’s beautiful art absolutely is! This piece is called “The White House of Canyon de Chelly,” and acrylic painting done by Sylvester Wilson, a Navajo painter at the age of 17 in 2008! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/transamerica-building-california monthly 0.5 2021-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623970318129-HJGJW6SXLRA9DRNLTBH1/US-CA_MattKatelyn09.jpeg Postcards - Transamerica Building (California) - I absolutely love this art-style, especially when it features such an iconic building as the Transamerica Pyramid! The San Francisco Reddit will feature, every once in a while, a discussion about getting to the top of the pyramid. Sometimes, service workers will post their photos from the last time they serviced the shining light at the top. It’s very alluring! This postcard was sent by our best friends Katelyn and Matt to wish us a happy anniversary! It was very thoughtful of them to send a card, especially such a beautiful one! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/nashville-indiana monthly 0.5 2021-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623790093988-YAPE0O0D97I53QZ6K8RL/US-IN_Nozomi21.jpg Postcards - Nashville, Indiana - This postcard comes from my longtime penpal and former classmate Nozomi in Indiana. I believe this is the twentieth Indianan postcard I’ve received from her. She writes that this Nashville is sometimes called “Little Nashville” so it’s not confused with the capital of Tennessee. I love it! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/assurment-humain-france monthly 0.5 2021-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623776963455-QKMCCCXLW5W40UO4X2OC/FR_Dominique50.jpg Postcards - assurément humain (France) - Voici la cinquantième carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui m’a aidé à comprendre la dernière carte postale qu’il m’a envoyée. Celle-ci je comprend très bien. Il écrit sur la dernière que les soignants se concentrent sur les minutes qui comptent entre la vie et la mort, et pas les heures incéssantes dont ils travaillent pour nous sauver la vie. Maintenant, je comprends! Merci merci! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-francisco-skyline-california monthly 0.5 2021-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623776814438-U82NU25ZGYFRUQWA65PC/US-CA_MeenaPrzemek06.jpg Postcards - San Francisco skyline (California) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/v4vbtevlgls55kgesj11vgqy8ga1w9 monthly 0.5 2021-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623159736040-H8RHS8892VG60RPJ7LSO/US-PA_MejduleneKatie01.jpg Postcards - illustrated Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bsndd2jrzfuedrsqhbrlbuu9q2htox monthly 0.5 2021-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623159587547-78D21CANNMDC6MNXXI7O/US-HI_Tristan04.jpg Postcards - Aloha from Hawai’i - Many times, the scan doesn’t do justice to the physical postcard, and this is certainly one of those times. Tristan has sent us a beautiful, wooden postcard with a gorgeous image printed on it. When I write “wooden,” I mean it though. This isn’t printed on wood veneer, but rather a block of wood at least 1/4 inch thick (maybe 1/2 centimeter) with a beautiful finished edge! What a fun postcard to receive! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/c2tizlz4ugb8c32qani04ir6186thm monthly 0.5 2021-06-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623159308355-X44FZDEQUEV0AALROK84/UK_Amar01.jpg Postcards - Love Lebanon (UK) - This postcard arrived from Amar in the UK, an artist who has created a series of postcards that my friend Mejdulene told me about. The postcard series features Palestinian-inspired designs and 100% of the profits will be donated to the Palestinian Children’s Fund. The shipping was very reasonable and arrived quite quickly! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/yl9rhaoqy23rzqd600wojn4bz82777 monthly 0.5 2021-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623158964541-H3SUE1KOTF78UTEX9QVB/FI_Jussi06.jpg Postcards - Petäjävesi Old Church (Finland) - Another terrific postcard from my Finnish friend who is on vacation “up north” with his family. I wasn’t sure about the history of this place, so I looked it up: imagine a wooden building from 1765 still standing and in such great shape (especially after falling into disuse for about 50 years)! It’s older than my country in fact! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/34lno1h16oyy5o6zggbbzeyuyeodbp monthly 0.5 2021-06-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623158635330-05I2G9X6T05IZQ82T8TU/FR_Dominique49.jpg Postcards - Metz (France) - Voici une carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui m’envoie aussi des recettes françaises et alsaciennes par email. J’en ai essayé une, et j’espère avoir le temps d’en essayer une nouvelle qui me paraît très bonne! Ici la ville de Metz, pas trop loin d’où j’habitais pendant mon séjour en France. En fait, je connais à l’époque-là un colleague de l’université qui a été placé à Metz pendant la même année que j’étais à Valenciennes. Malheureusement, nous n’avons pas eu l’ocasion de nous revoir. Donc il faudra que je visite Metz dans le futur! . https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/german-sweets monthly 0.5 2021-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623158436261-SLHHAMEDW5QRH8MPCJLH/DE_10492292.jpg Postcards - German sweets - This postcard comes from a sender whose hobbies overlap quite nearly with mine: reading, baking, hiking, traveling, Postcrossing, and living near a wine region. I’m not sure if that last one is really a hobby, but at least we have that in common! How many German desserts have you tried? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gouzvzfd7zvs6pjrbszbxjryzvy8ej monthly 0.5 2021-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1622158203259-3E1TOCL21PVC8EYDHHTW/FR_Dominique48.jpg Postcards - Collognes-la-Rouge, Limousin (France) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/9qxw4fo2pczgn3d2trhx65zi9pwogh monthly 0.5 2021-06-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1622299033326-QDTH7090R555XWEIQ58C/US-OR_Linda15.jpg Postcards - Alida Hoeve cheese farm (the Netherlands) - I wonder if this is another thrift store find from my great friend Linda? In any case, it’s a terrific find and I’m very grateful to have received it! It depicts the inside of a cheese farm (and wooden shoe cobbler?!) from the Netherlands! I’ve only been to the Netherlands twice, and then only to Amsterdam (this is in Volendam), so I have quite a bit of travel to do! Plus, who doesn’t love cheese? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/h3fa2qm8q1g7yte8e1yokh8epoulkz monthly 0.5 2021-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1622298797298-WDLBM69NW8DZEXH47GB0/US-CA_Massucco01.jpg Postcards - the Milky Way via Grand Canyon Nat’l Park - Every quarter since the pandemic started, I have offered to mail each of my students a postcard in the hopes of creating some extra bit of a personal connection. Although I am grateful to have a job and to be able to deliver effective courses online, I dearly miss seeing them in person. This is my small way of trying to deliver a small smile during what is certainly an incredibly difficult time to be a student. Here is a postcard that one of my students sent in return with some very thoughtful and touching words. She writes that this card is an inspiration to us both to travel when it’s safe and responsible to do so, which is a thought I can get 100% behind. It’s great to see a smile go round-trip, so mille grazie, Maria! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/si5ys8yfxy5m7yyyopnnjpjgbsj62x monthly 0.5 2021-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1622158052898-Y3XHGVTNW842SALEWJRZ/FI_Jussi05.jpg Postcards - exciting postcards (Finland) - How cute! I love the recursivity of this image (the postcard is depicted inside the postcard) as well as the excited looks on the animals’ faces. This is definitely me every day when I run down to the mailbox to see if any postcards have arrived. Imagine my delight last week when this one arrived from my friend Jussi in Finland, complete with stamps from other Finnish postcrossers! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/farol-de-natal-brazil monthly 0.5 2021-06-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1622157948298-WN9IFFMVMWXVX88WSHT0/BR_554609.jpg Postcards - Farol de Natal (Brazil) - This terrific postcard arrived today from a retired firefighter in Brazil! Strangely, it was in a plastic sleeve despite being in good condition. I wonder who added it? The sender? The Brazilian post? Or the US post? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/williams-brice-stadium-south-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1622001631207-ZIR3A3AH36IK0O7XW8CT/US-SC_Jackson03.jpg Postcards - Williams-Brice Stadium (South Carolina) - This postcard comes from a new penpal of mine in South Carolina. Embarrassingly, I sent him a postcard that he’d already received, so I’ll have to find something particularly good to send him to make up for the accident! He writes about how excited he is that the University of South Carolina has decided that the stadium pictured here will be open at 100% capacity. I’m sure many sports fans will be thrilled to be able to partake live and in person in their favorite events! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/maui-wine-hawaii monthly 0.5 2021-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1622001313720-27FY3XUZ4DI4N3NURVBR/US-HI_Tristan03.jpg Postcards - Maui Wine (Hawai’i) - If it looks like the image is a bit washed out, that’s because it is. But far from a bug, this is a big feature of this beautiful postcard, sent by my brother-in-law during his last few weeks in Hawai’i. The postcard is printed on koa wood, which is a tree endemic to the Hawai’ian islands and it’s beautifully supple! The card itself depicts the vineyards of a winery on Maui: Maui Wine. It’s great timing, as we just got back from a weekend in Paso Robles where we were tasting wines! He’s been staying there for a few months to make a more informed decision about whether Hawai’i is really his future home. I’ll be eager to see him in a few weeks so we can discuss his experience in person! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/el-diablito-washington-dc monthly 0.5 2021-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621919487373-YCIJDHJ9HCHQJXVL3L9V/US-DC_Katie02.jpg Postcards - el Diablito (Washington DC) - My very good friend Katie sends this love from Washington DC, after having seen the collection of postcards in a shop. She knew exactly which one to send and writes observantly: “He has one cloven hoof and one goofy chicken foot - maybe the hooves are like devil puberty, the last thing to show up?” What are the developmental milestone of devils, I wonder? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/grsse-aus-braunschweig-germany monthly 0.5 2021-05-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621919370499-IAMT2RDVXOYS7YMSDPNW/DE_10491279.jpg Postcards - Grüsse aus Braunschweig (Germany) - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-english-country-lane monthly 0.5 2021-05-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621919230909-WP0DEYYPG9EM6823W8LK/GB_1389065.jpg Postcards - the English Country Lane - I go back and forth on art cards, but I LOVE a hand-drawn map, especially when it’s as charming as this. Also, how often do you see maps that depict England only (and not including Wales or Scotland)?! The sender of this card is a polyglot after my own heart; we have so much in common! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/in-our-america-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-05-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621919103859-JE4UB5FRL2H942ECT0U8/US_7563241.jpg Postcards - In our America… (Oregon) - This postcard arrives from Portland, Oregon, one of my favorite destinations. I was thrilled to receive this lovely card, a product of a Facebook group called “Nasty Women Get Shit Done!” On my last trip to PDX, we saw several of these in people’s yards and windows. What a great message of inclusiveness and justice. If you wouldn’t fly one in your yard, I think you have some hard questions to ask yourself. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/un-assureur-pour-les-mourants-france monthly 0.5 2021-05-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621918760580-SIM4HSVAT88UM7YKUU5U/FR_Dominique47.jpg Postcards - un assureur pour les mourants (France) - Encore une carte postale de mon ami fidèle Dominique, qui me passe cette message de son assureur. Franchement, je ne suis pas sûr de la tout comprendre. C’est à dîre que l’assureur appuie les patients au point de mourir (ils comptent les minutes parce qu’ils n’en ont pas des heures pour compter)? Néanmoins, j’adore les cartes postales qui sont aussi des advertissements, surtout s’ils ont des messages qui me font réflechir. Avez-vous noté que le medecin-ci ne porte pas de masque? Même avant la pandémie, les medecins portaient des masques, n’est-ce pas? :-) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/57e19lt7tyl275rbtjla5xspkueunm monthly 0.5 2021-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621918370648-F2X8X82S3T976CDY5H5A/US_IN_Nozomi20.jpg Postcards - Jordan/Biology Hall, Indiana University - This postcard comes courtesy of an old friend and former program-mate of mine, who sends greetings from her campus (even if she, like me, hasn’t visited it in person in some time). I’m interested to see that Jordan Hall at Indiana University is named for the same person that Jordan Hall at my workplace Stanford University is named for: David Starr Jordan. Jordan was a staunch eugenicist, which is a nice word for a racist scumbag. His scientific contributions have been overshadowed and perhaps called into question by his unscientific moral decrepitude. A group of students and others has finally convinced the Stanford administration to rename the hall. It seems the Indiana University did similarly! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-line-dc monthly 0.5 2021-05-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621918209662-G4L1UZFHBKHD62JCP1NR/US-MD_RobPaul01.jpg Postcards - The Line DC - This terrific design comes from the hotel where two friends stayed recently while visiting family on the East Coast. I really love its design; the bold outlines and the color palette are very evocative of another time. I can only imagine how beautiful the hotel itself was! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mono-lake-california monthly 0.5 2021-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621446831979-Q0B5FFMD4A6D99PIHBK1/US_7561164.jpg Postcards - Mono Lake (California) - What a beautiful postcard that just arrived yesterday! I’ve been meaning to visit Mono Lake for some time now and this just reminded me of the beauty and variety of landscapes available in the state where I live. Who has been? What did you think? Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/san-diego-postcrossers-california monthly 0.5 2021-05-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1621280527478-3DGALRG2ICFD4Y6NK2AB/US-CA_Sylvia01.jpg Postcards - San Diego Postcrossers (California - This beautiful postcard comes courtesy of the organizer of our very own San Francisco Postcrossers group! This is the second card of this style I’ve seen, where the users send in their avatars which are then printed on the card! I love it; it’s super cute! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/fort-jackson-south-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-05-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1620838208950-WZSYT8VFRBFYG866FFTE/US-SC_Jackson02.jpg Postcards - Fort Jackson (South Carolina) - This postcard comes from a new penpal of mine who lives in South Carolina. With many of my family members having served in the military, I may have slightly more experience visiting military bases than the average civilian. However, I’ve never visited Fort Jackson. Interestingly, I heard that many of the military bases in the South were deliberately named after Confederate military leaders (how strange that a country’s military bases would be named after traitors!). At least this one is not named for a Confederate traitor, though. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/tom-of-finland-bis-finland monthly 0.5 2021-05-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1620704605514-6Y9Z8XSYKGZM8TDHRXND/FI_Jussi04.jpg Postcards - Tom of Finland (bis) (Finland) - Here’s another terrific image from the Tom of Finland collection that my penpal Jussi has sent. This style of cap is so iconic to me but I don’t even know what they’re called. A quick web search turned up lots of sites selling them—or facsimiles thereof—but I’m not sure what they’re called. I wonder if they’re based on, or inspired by historical uniforms worn by Finnish police officers or soldiers? They’re certainly synonymous now with erotic hypermasculinity. There was a time when any self-respecting white, gay man would have worn at least one or two pieces like this when going out to cruise. I think you still see some of this style at the Folsom Street Fair and other places that gay men in the leather and kink communities congregate. Well, as the hip people say now: it’s a whole mood! Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/beefeater-gin-russia monthly 0.5 2021-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1620572189633-TIJPNQE2CYR7E3YGVMX0/RU_8446382.jpg Postcards - Beefeater Gin (Russia) - I wish I could show you the back of this postcard because the sender has the most beautiful handwriting I’ve seen in a long time! I’m always surprised when people can have beautiful handwriting in one script much less two or more! I think my handwriting is fine in the Latin alphabet, but I know it’s a wreck in Cyrillic and even worse in Chinese. A teacher once told me I’d never be able to write beautiful Chinese since I’m left-handed; I wonder if that’s the reason? (no, that’s not the reason. Handedness doesn’t impact aesthetics and anyone who tells you otherwise is rightist [or a self-hating lefty!]) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lemon-tea-russia monthly 0.5 2021-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1620572150174-NJ7YDO9O2ICEDLH99BM9/RU_8444837.jpg Postcards - lemon tea (Russia) - This postcard arrives from a person with a list of languages learned so long it makes my head spin! Sometimes when I get a big head about being able to operate in three or four languages, depending on the context, I just think of the true polyglots - people who’ve studied and can use five or ten languages! It’s really something. How I’d love to sit down with a cup of tea and learn more about how they do it and more importantly: why? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/webfooters-post-card-club-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1620572008724-BR6PEDJF4XEA4LWSHQ97/US-OR_Linda14.jpg Postcards - Webfooters Post Card Club (Oregon) - This pastiche postcard is so amusing and delightful! My dear friend Linda finds these in local thrift shops and sends them with brief messages to stay in touch. She informs me that they’re still active this club, which is very exciting! I might look them up the next time I’m in Portland, if the stars align. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qrd95e751pa14a9oxrt6b1rbcpzhqz monthly 0.5 2021-05-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1620088932071-J615CG938VZVO12N4M39/DE_10403516.jpg Postcards - Lillipippins (Germany) - What a cute image that arrived on this postcard! According to autotranslation, it means in English “Life is colorful!” Maybe a more colloquial translation might be “Life is bright!” or “Life is a rainbow!” In any case, I love this postcard and the message it brings. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/k4tg82rt1iotmc6uazxg4zvzjertx4 monthly 0.5 2021-05-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619822004778-X5VE72R3WEV4DOFPENUV/TW_3128657.jpg Postcards - face tattooing, Atayal people (Taiwan) - What a truly beautiful postcard that arrived last week from Taiwan! The sender writes about the “aboriginal” peoples of Taiwan, including the Tayal, one of whom is depicted here with face tattoos, “an ultimate glory.” The writer also writes about the Paiwan people, who are the second-most numerous aboriginal group in the country. I’ve been fascinated by the many aboriginal groups of Taiwan, especially because their languages have helped linguists and anthropologists understand the migration of Polynesian people. Before the so-called “Age of Exploration,” Polynesian people were the most widely-distributed ethnic group on the planet, ranging from Taiwan to Rapa Nui (Easter Island), to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Hawai’i! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cwl619wwf2da21com8gbh2sjx88qbn monthly 0.5 2021-05-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619821674703-CS6AWAX633GYMT4Q7YZD/NL_4933174.jpg Postcards - Waddenzee (the Netherlands) - I was really struck by the colors and foregrounding of the fence here, in this postcard depicting the famous Waddenzee (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The sender writes that at low tide, you can walk to the islands, although you need a guide due to the dangers inherent. Of course, ships who wish to pass must wait for high tide. There’s something familiar about this; this could be the north shore of my home state of Michigan. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8x8kw7c4tbvxw04qlg1wvo7t2fqwwo monthly 0.5 2021-05-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619821340215-K5KLEDVAC76VOX9V8E0J/FI_Jussi03.jpg Postcards - Tom of Finland (Finland) - This postcard arrives from my new Finnish penpal Jussi, who writes about his favorite movies—among them, The Usual Suspects and the James Bond franchise. This image, in contrast, is a Tom of Finland drawing, which are very famous among gay men for their hyper-masculine traits and exaggerated sexuality. This drawing certainly exudes masculinity but may lack some of the overt eroticism seen in other pieces. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lighthouses-of-the-outer-banks-north-carolina-part-2 monthly 0.5 2021-05-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619730516518-TXZKAIT7HTCN2UWTWO45/US-NC_Mejdulene-Katie02.jpg Postcards - lighthouses of the Outer Banks (North Carolina), part 2 - Perhaps one of the biggest drawbacks to a digital collection such as this is that you can’t feel the postcards. This has a lovely scalloped edge and it’s a linen postcard, even printed with soy ink. The feel of this postcard is so soft and supple, which makes it a joy not just to read and look at, but also to hold and feel. Leave it to Mejdulene and Katie to not only pick a beautiful image to represent their trip to the Outer Banks, but also to pick a postcard that is such a great tactile addition to my collection! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mtter-museum-pennsylvania-part-2 monthly 0.5 2021-05-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619730311494-NVWPJN64E06UN2R1X2TL/US-PA_Renee02.jpg Postcards - Mütter Museum (Pennsylvania), part 2 - Two great postcards from a fantastic museum! I also love the artifact of its sending, a golden smudge in the middle. Some people would see this as a flaw, but at first I thought it had been deliberately added as a ghostly specter (is that redundant?). One of the things that Renée writes about is how many of the human remains are paired with what is known about the people before death. While I’m sure a collection such as this has a lot of ugly in its past, this seems like one step toward recognition of the people whose remains make up much of the museum’s collection. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/anthropomorphic-ireland monthly 0.5 2021-05-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619730148489-JMEYXZPBX9NC7LYO0J9H/US_7516132.jpg Postcards - anthropomorphic Ireland - This postcard is absolutely phenomenal! I love reimaginations of geographic areas as people or animals, and this one is perhaps the best I’ve seen in a long time! It even hints at the Partition of Ireland into the Republic and Northern Ireland. This is really a great one! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lighthouses-of-the-outer-banks-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619729982005-WDB45AFJSQK6GNFZSM3D/US-NC_Mejdulene-Katie01.jpg Postcards - lighthouses of the Outer Banks (North Carolina) - This terrific postcard comes from our dear friends Mejdulene and Katie, who took a trip to the Outer Banks recently. I’m impressed to read that after a day of bicycle riding, they even conquered over 200 steps to climb to the top! I visited a lighthouse years ago during one of my visits to the Outer Banks and it was spectacular. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mtter-museum-philadelphia monthly 0.5 2021-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619729775018-Q7K3OJJP6Z9MK8N5QI9J/US-PA_Renee01.jpg Postcards - Mütter Museum (Pennsylvania) - Visiting this museum was a childhood dream of our friend Renée, who stopped by earlier this week and picked up a postcard to send to Andy. I remember hearing about it, too, when I was younger and I definitely put it on my list of places to visit. During my one visit to Philadelphia, however, I didn’t take the time to do so, so it’s still there. Maybe Renée can make a re-visit with us when next we see her? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/oklahoma-map monthly 0.5 2021-04-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619729592102-45L6UHOJ10HLJVF07LH6/US_7502145.jpg Postcards - Oklahoma map - I love a good map card, and this one is a perfect example. In fact, the shape of Oklahoma lends itself perfectly to this kind of card, as you can easily fit in a logo or other images under the panhandle. Having lived in north Texas for a few years, I’m well-acquainted with some of the interstates in Oklahoma, which I traveled frequently between Texas and Michigan. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/zhostovo-style-russia monthly 0.5 2021-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619706213297-PKRHTQV5QPCMHH3G7PIO/RU_8374582.jpg Postcards - Zhostovo style (Russia) - One of the things I love so much about exchanging postcards is that I always learn something new. This art style is familiar to me and I certainly associate it with Russia, but I did not know its name (Zhostovo) nor did I know that it originated as a painting style on metal trays! The sender of this postcard included a truly beautiful message as well, which touched me deeply. I’ve offered to start a correspondence which I hope works out! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/charleston-waterfront-park-south-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-04-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619481787712-CKQT8O6F2C0FQ1CBUK5B/US-SC_Jackson01.jpg Postcards - Charleston Waterfront Park (South Carolina) - This postcard comes from a private swap proposed by a Postcrosser who attends The Citadel in South Carolina. I haven’t been to Charleston but this park does look really beautiful. I do like the main fountain on the left which looks like a pineapple! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/girl-sleeping-on-a-yak-los-angeles monthly 0.5 2021-04-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619362326337-K1OJCNI9PDC9MLFOO3GJ/US_7504517.jpg Postcards - girl sleeping on a yak (Los Angeles) - This postcard arrives via Postcrossing from a former SF resident now living in LA. It’s a beautiful illustration! I love the peacefulness of the sleeping girl coupled with the alarm or bewilderment of the yak! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/dutch-royals monthly 0.5 2021-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619214936309-BAUYDSS5YTHMAQWF2ZBH/NL_4915317.jpg Postcards - Dutch royals - This postcard comes from Postcrossing and features the royal family of the Netherlands. From left to right: King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, the Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane. I have always found royal families to be fascinating, maybe because the US doesn’t have a royal family (although, for a fun read, check out Emperor Norton). However, most of the people I know who grew up in and are subjects of (that is: citizens of) kingdoms or empires have quite mixed feelings on their own royal families. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/virtual-postcrossing-east-meetup-finland monthly 0.5 2021-04-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619013729121-0FN5BHC47O0M1A141434/FI_Jussi02.jpg Postcards - Virtual Postcrossing Easter Meetup (Finland) - This is the second postcard from my new Finnish penpal whom I met through Postcrossing. This is a really beautiful postcard from a meetup, which is an opportunity for Postcrossers to meet in person to talk about their hobby and meet other likeminded people. But this one was virtual (of course) so I’m even more impressed that they were able to get so many signatures on the back! How did they do it? It’s really beautiful! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ni-in-hry-ji-temple-nara-japan monthly 0.5 2021-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618870076903-TMM8A11F7GYFAUCX6XX8/US-OR_Linda13.jpg Postcards - Niō in Hōryū-ji Temple, Nara (Japan) - My good friend and mentor Linda has found a solution to our global lack of travel problem: where to get postcards?! She writes that her local vintage shop has a nice collection of postcards so she’s having fun finding them to send to friends. This one is in Japanese, otherwise I’d tell you more about it. Here’s what I do know: it’s a depiction of Niō in the Hōryū-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. I haven’t visited Japan so I also don’t have much to tell you about it, but you can already guess what I’m going to write next: it’s high on my list! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/cit-de-carcassone-part-two monthly 0.5 2021-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618707160635-0VPXLC981945X7IHU64T/FR_Dominique46.jpg Postcards - Cité de Carcassone (part two) - Voici la quarante-sixième carte postale de mon ami Dominique, et la deuxième de la Cité de Carcassone. J’adore cette vue car elle me fait penser sur les passages subterraines et secrètes où peut-être un prince s’echapperait pour aller voir son amoureux sans que la famille en sache rien. Un jour très tôt, j’éspere, je pourrai visiter la cité et reflechir sur ces (im)possibilités. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/love-is-love-the-netherlands monthly 0.5 2021-04-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618706823464-5Q1ZFRMF6ODNWCEHD99T/NL_4914958.jpg Postcards - love is love (the Netherlands) - This beautiful postcard comes via Postcrossing! I really love the bright and joyful atmosphere here. The sender lives in the Netherlands, where they’re celebrating 20 years of same-sex marriage (and their society hasn’t collapsed, yet, as many Christians presaged!). On my own wedding day, my marriage wasn’t recognized just a few hours after we signed the license because we drove into Virginia for dinner. When we drove cross-country later that year, every time we would cross a state border, we’d check to see if we were married or not. Luckily, this was only ever a joke and we never really had to worry whether we’d be able to support each other as any other married couple might. She sender writes that she reads a lot of LGBT romcoms, in part because much of the media about and by LGBTQ people tends to focus on trauma and tragedy. To be sure, these are important and real aspects of many LGBTQ people’s experiences, but sometimes you want some cotton candy, you know? Here’s hoping everyone finds the love they most want, and they can live their lives openly and happily. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/death-valley-national-park-california monthly 0.5 2021-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618500576688-U0OSAXFXE8FSQPTQETHN/US-CA_Kayle02.jpg Postcards - Death Valley National Park (California) - This postcard comes courtesy of our dear friend Kaylé who took a trip to southern California and visiting Death Valley National Park. I’ve never been here, or to any of the national parks in southern California, so I’m very eager to visit. I guess you could say I’m dying to visit? Anyway, she writes that if I like deserts, this is the park for me. I’m not sure if I like deserts as I haven’t really visited any, so I’m happy to give it a shot! Thanks, Kaylé! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/all-my-life-germany monthly 0.5 2021-04-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618262336142-MU31KSSGEPGNA7TIFLWP/DE_10326028.jpg Postcards - “All My Life” (Germany) - I recently updated my Postcrossing profile to invite LGBTQ-themed cards, including love between people of the same gender. This is the first response to that invitation! What a great postcard to receive. The back indicates it’s a still from the film “All My Life” by Maher Sabry. I haven’t seen it; I wonder if it’s available to stream in the US? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/visoko-bosnia-amp-herzegovina monthly 0.5 2021-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618261845750-J31N9E9ODZTJGXCSAD3V/BA_11240.jpg Postcards - Visoko (Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina) - This is my first card from Bosnia and Herzegovina! It’s slightly disappointing that the sender wrote simple “Greetings from Visoko <3” but perhaps their English is a bit limited. Still, I’d love to learn more about this place and whether the sender lives there, has visited there, or if it’s just a beautiful and famous location in the country. I have a new penpal from Serbia whom I’ve really enjoyed corresponding with, so of course I’ve been learning more about the countries that were formerly part of Yugoslavia. What a rich and fascinating history this part of the world boasts, stretched millennia back into prehistory! Look up the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it’s truly fascinating how it was formed! I’m also eager to visit. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/greetings-from-rosolina-mera-italy monthly 0.5 2021-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618261615436-L1OUH4SRGN8IG08JM8HO/IT_586443.jpg Postcards - greetings from Rosolina Mera (Italy) - Two postcards from Italy in one week - what a treat! This postcard took a while to arrive; it’s post-marked February 21 and only arrived earlier this week. The previous Italian postcard (from Giovinazzo) was postmarked over a week earlier. I’m not sure if that’s on Italy or on the US (or both). But in any case, it’s kind of nice to receive postcards that have been long in transit. I find them kind of charming somehow. This one hails from Rosolina Mare, a city just south of Venica. More places to visit! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/thinking-of-you-italy monthly 0.5 2021-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618261419012-CYEJDN41YVWY1QOZCLEI/IT_Lino01.jpg Postcards - thinking of you (Italy) - This postcard arrived from a private swap with a Postcrosser who lives in Italy! I’m so thrilled to make new friends via postcards and penpals. And of course, I get big ideas about traveling to new places—the one here portrays the port of Giovinazzo in Bari on the heel of Italy’s boot. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/2omx8y3xcn1ywuqo4qc7pte0mydexf monthly 0.5 2021-04-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618166484879-7KP19N2W6RRRVDZSUGKP/FR_Dominique45.jpg Postcards - Cité de Carcassonne (France) - Voici une vue de la Cité de Carcassonne, envoyée par mon grand ami Dominique. Il écrit que la pandémie a eu un grand effet sur la cité-là car elle compte sur les touristes pour la grande partie de son économie. J’imagine qu’elle souffre comment beaucoup d’autres lieux mondiales. Elle est bien connu par ses murs anciens et aussi son plat original: le cassoulet (et biensûr le jeu de societé). Je ne l’ai pas visité encore, mais j’éspere pouvoir la voir très tôt. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sequoia-national-park-california monthly 0.5 2021-04-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618166332134-OYXSU5Q40WJCQLMCA256/US-CA_GregJames02.jpg Postcards - Sequoia National Park (California) - Our friends Greg and James sent us this terrific sight from their first visit to Sequoia National Park, which has been on our list for a long time. This particular view is a great one and makes me think of Great Smoky Mountains National Park back closer to where I grew up (and where I vacationed frequently as a child). Our country is so blessed with such an amazing collection of national parks, and I encourage everyone to visit a new one this year! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/boston-alleys-massachusetts monthly 0.5 2021-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618166220289-PIKORABLOVX6UKFL4KXP/US-MA_Lingxiao01.jpg Postcards - Boston alleys (Massachusetts) - Here’s a beautiful postcard sent by my good friend Lingxiao who sends congratulations on our new place as he himself is getting ready to move a new place of his own. Although we live on opposite sides of the continent, we’re both looking forward to the next opportunity to chat and drink some wine again. Thanks! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/taipei-sights-taiwan monthly 0.5 2021-04-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618161876081-KJ4F7G937Q8O2X0B6Q6P/TW_3129209.jpg Postcards - Taipei sights (Taiwan) - This beautiful postcard comes from Postcrossing and its a wonderful memory of my last trip to Taiwan in 2016. I can’t believe it’s already been five years since the last time I visited; the memories of its food, people, sights, and attractions are very strong. If you haven’t visited Taiwan, I 100% encourage you to look it up! As a bonus, there’s practically no CoVID-19 pandemic there now; so after a brief but strict 2-week quarantine in a hotel, you can live life as normal! Ah, the power of a competent government and people with a sense of compassion and community. I miss you, Taiwan! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-new-hannoveraner-germany monthly 0.5 2021-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617916717104-LSY0HIEI90ELBMEJ21Q6/DE_Carolin01.jpg Postcards - the New Hannoveraner (Germany) - What a charming postcard that came from a new penpal whom I met through Postcrossing! I love illustrated maps by themselves, but this map of Hannover, designed to be a spoof of a New Yorker cover, is absolutely terrific! I’m looking forward to exchanging more postcards and music recommendations with Carolin in the future. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/illustrated-pastries-alabama monthly 0.5 2021-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617739270875-SLMF0CMKA8E6OISTZZTQ/US_7453169.jpg Postcards - illustrated pastries (Alabama) - I absolutely love these postcards made by LouPaper; I’ve bought a bunch and sent them, but have received very few so this was a welcome surprise, especially the pastries theme! This postcard itself comes from Alabama via Postcrossing with wishes for travel to begin soon! I’ve bought several of these postcards from LouPaper, and I absolutely adore them! I especially love the pastries, given my baking hobby, too. This postcard comes from Alabama via Postcrossing with wishes for much future travel. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/saguaro-meets-auto-arizona monthly 0.5 2021-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617668235598-K7I8K2QK1O9Y1B5BVYAA/US_7455010.jpg Postcards - saguaro meets auto (Arizona) - This postcard arrives courtesy of Postcrossing. The sender writes simply “There is something magical about it; you leave as one person and return completely different.” - K.D. Wiggen. I can’t say that I recognize the quote, nor the quoted (maybe it’s Kate Douglas Wiggin? - what a delicious connection to San Francisco!), but it’s a great sentiment all the same! I’ve never visited Arizona, but it’s certainly on my list. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/la-premire-carte-postale-canada monthly 0.5 2021-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617667809111-V2W1RXGXVU0BOIZHJ0UH/CA_Melanie51.jpg Postcards - la première carte postale (Canada) - Aujourd’hui est arrivée la cinquante-unième carte postale de ma très bonne amie Mélanie qui habite Montréal. Nous nous sommes connus par Postcrossing il y a un bon moment, mais nous continuons à échanger des carte postales, des lettres, et des visites. Il y a deux semaines, nous avons asisté une lecture sur l’histoire des cartes postales qui nous a beaucoup plu. Nous avons appris que la Tour Eiffel a eté une des premières images à apparaître sur une carte postale. Donc celle-ci est tellement apte pour notre amitié. Merci beaucoup, Mélanie, et à très bientôt! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/deception-pass-whidbey-island-washington monthly 0.5 2021-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617496986720-XUT56V13VP6HMSRVXS6Y/US_7452531.jpg Postcards - Deception Pass, Whidbey Island (Washington) - This postcard came from the Pacific Northwest and pictures a famous bridge crossing a famous waterway. Of course, the PNW has so many famous waterways, but I appreciate that Amelia thought to send it in connection with the famous bridge in the city I live in. I haven’t been up this far along the Pacific Coast, but someday soon I hope to visit it, maybe to see orca or gray whales! This is one of the reasons I love Postcrossing so much; I get to hear from people around the world and I get to add new places to my wanderlust list! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lake-tahoe-is-beautiful monthly 0.5 2021-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617496818709-NM3KWK9X3ED8N1FVEJRK/US-CA_Laura02.jpg Postcards - Lake Tahoe is beautiful - This postcard comes from my cousins who visited Lake Tahoe for a weekend. She writes that “Tahoe is beautiful” and I can’t disagree, although I’m sad to only have visited it in winter and never in summer. There’s something about alpine lakes that is so alluring - maybe I’ll be able to visit Lake Tahoe during the summer soon! Thanks, Laura! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/potatoes-so-many-potatoes-germany monthly 0.5 2021-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617496634192-MZQP2B77U03OKEGIHB5Q/DE_10254209.jpg Postcards - potatoes, so many potatoes (Germany) - In my Postcrossing profile, I say that I am interested in food and cooking, so I am absolutely in love with this postcard of potatoes that came from Schermbeck in Germany! Ralf writes that “in Germany, the people love potatoes. Potatoes cooking, potatoes baking, potatoes fried, potato dumplings. Everything is possible.” This is my new philosophy on life and I have Ralf to thank for it: Potatoes - everything is possible. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/postal-iconography-canada monthly 0.5 2021-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617118807954-8G4QBO0HKZY4FB4RSJUD/CA_1086679.jpg Postcards - postal iconography (Canada) - This postcard comes from Québec, Canada via Postcrossing and features many logos of national postal systems from around the world. Can you find yours? I love the color-theming, too. Which places use blue, red, or yellow? There are a few using green, too! But why not black or purple, I wonder? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peggys-postcards-walt-disney-world monthly 0.5 2021-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616278004508-I6GKOWVQN3OOR39PIUWO/PeggyPostcard21A.jpg Postcards - Peggy’s Postcards: Walt Disney World https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616278004401-F3ZR0CYB60NLPT0H6M6N/PeggyPostcard21B.jpg Postcards - Peggy’s Postcards: Walt Disney World https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/star-field-new-jersey monthly 0.5 2021-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617029267646-VSEA4KY15RVOU4DUQJRO/US_7407179.jpg Postcards - star field - New Jersey - This beautiful image comes from a Postcrosser in New Jersey. There’s something so beautiful about deep space images; I’m sure there’s a lot of artistry in deciding how to colorize the images, but the shapes and intensity variation are really stunning. It reminds me of two of my favorite scarves which I bought years ago from Slow Factory. I don’t think they make them anymore, but I really love them and when I wear them, I get a lot of compliments. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/italy-via-portland-oregon monthly 0.5 2021-03-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616774245400-8OZ44KFFJYU8RHT1O9YQ/US-OR_Linda12.jpg Postcards - Italy via Portland, Oregon - Yet another beautiful postcard from my dear friend Linda arrived today. She writes that she’s running out of postcards from her previous travels, which is a situation I’ve found myself in lately, too! Because I’m not traveling nearly as much as I used to, even to take day trips here and there, I find that I have so few postcards to send to friends and family. I have been going through some old postcards however and deciding which ones to send off. I haven’t been to Florence, but I hope to visit it someday soon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peggys-postcards-chersonissos-crete-greece monthly 0.5 2021-03-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616277645145-BSPV97SC25HGP42NT1Y6/PeggyPostcard20A.jpg Postcards - Peggy’s Postcards: Chersonissos, Crete (Greece) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616277645378-CSIWLWAR15ZOJYUP1SNR/PeggyPostcard20B.jpg Postcards - Peggy’s Postcards: Chersonissos, Crete (Greece) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/peggys-postcards-plaza-y-pirmide-de-la-luna-mexico monthly 0.5 2021-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616277187004-48GFIYHKZ7S5LKKGD58F/PeggyPostcard19A.jpg Postcards - Peggy’s Postcards: Plaza y Pirámide de la Luna (Mexico) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616277187299-77Y9XO0LKJYH75YNSPE3/PeggyPostcard19B.jpg Postcards - Peggy’s Postcards: Plaza y Pirámide de la Luna (Mexico) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-return-of-peggys-postcards monthly 0.5 2021-03-24 https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/german-drinks monthly 0.5 2021-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616542811272-4KQDRM3YQJIOPXCCVGQ4/DE_10250827.jpg Postcards - German drinks - This is one of my favorite postcards in recent memory, and it comes via Postcrossing! How many of these terrific German drinks have you tried?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/collonges-la-rouge-corrze-france monthly 0.5 2021-03-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616276192442-V0GICPU6096SYF20VTZ5/FR_Dominique44.jpg Postcards - Collonges la rouge - Corrèze (France) - Encore une jolie carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui sait toujours quelles types de cartes vont me plaire. J’adore les vues des petits passages dans les villes européennes. En fait, l’architecture n’est pas de tout la même, mais cette image me rappelle les petits ruelles dans la ville où j’habitais il y a trop d’ans: Valenciennes. Celle-ci, par contre, se situe dans le sud-ouest de la France. Je me demande: qui habite ici dans ce bâtiment? Qu’est-ce qu’il/elle en pense des photos qui adornent les cartes postales envoyées de l’est de la France jusqu’à l’oueust des États-Unis? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/shenandoah-natl-park-virginia monthly 0.5 2021-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616276063883-S0YI7M99ZD8F9XDC6BAF/US-MD_MejduleneKatie02.jpg Postcards - Shenandoah Nat’l Park - Virginia - What a beautiful view! I really miss the spring colors that come with living in a place that actually has weather to speak of (not that I’d trade the lack of snow to shovel…). This terrific view comes from my best friends Mejdulene and KB who send memories of travel and wishes to meet “someplace warm and beautiful to eat snacks and explore.” If that isn’t a Spring 2021 mood, I don’t know what is! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gay-street-new-york monthly 0.5 2021-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616197533637-JJ65D1ZN3XOLHZCHCZGS/US_7406336.jpg Postcards - Gay Street - New York - It’s too bad we just bought a place (I’m just joking) because otherwise I’d be looking for property on Gay Street in the West Village in New York City! I’ve always loved remarkable street names and I often take photos of them for my own and my friends’ amusement. This postcard comes via Postcrossing and I am so grateful to the sender’s sense of humor! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/abstract-skyline-washington monthly 0.5 2021-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616197214291-LTEDVHWC1RCIXSYUF4UN/US-WA_GregJames01.jpg Postcards - abstract skyline - Washington - This postcard comes from our friends Greg and James who live in Sacramento but took a “vaccine vacation” to Seattle. Both educators, they were able to get vaccinated and took a road trip to get out of town. We’re envious of their travels and looking forward to joining them as soon as we’re all vaccinated, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pilot-mountain-state-park-north-carolina monthly 0.5 2021-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616197062763-S9WY756O65808H7TNNB2/US-NC_Lisa01.jpg Postcards - Pilot Mountain State Park - North Carolina - A distant relative of mine reached out to me on a DNA testing site to make contact and find out how we’re related; it turns out, we’re fourth cousins on my maternal grandmother’s side! Lisa is an avid amateur genealogist and has connected a great many people to lost and previously unknown family members. It was a real treat to find that despite our distant kinship, we have quite a lot in common! She sent me this beautiful postcard from a park near her house where she often hikes and spots birds. Thank you, Lisa! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-vintage-rockstar-kitchen-in-liverpool-uk monthly 0.5 2021-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1615499022780-0CQKK3FYPY106KYZQL39/US-NC_Peggy05.jpg Postcards - a vintage, rockstar kitchen in Liverpool (UK) - One of the things I was so thrilled about in our new place is the spacious kitchen with ample workspace and the full-sized refrigerator and stove/oven. Our old place had 3/4-sized appliances, which our neighbor semi-affectionately dubbed “dollhouse fixtures.” Still, there was a certain charm about the postage stamp-sized counter and the bakes I was able to produce in the old place. Here, I feel a certain pressure to produce even more elaborate baked goods since I have the space and modern amenities (including a microwave and dishwasher for the first time in almost a decade!). Still, I think I’ll just make a batch of chocolate chip cookies to be safe. Thanks to Peggy for this beautiful view of a vintage kitchen in Mendips, Liverpool. Thanks to Wikipedia for teaching me that this is the childhood home of John Lennon! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sparse-coastal-landscape monthly 0.5 2021-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1615498883342-6DMS1EJLL26HQL5P2V14/US-VA_Kevin02.jpg Postcards - sparse coastal landscape - This terrific image comes courtesy of our dear friend Kevin who sent a lovely congratulations on our move. Indeed this view is quite different from the one in our new place, but the rockiness and grey clouds certainly call to mind portions of the Pacific Coast that are not too far from where we live. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/brno-czechia monthly 0.5 2021-03-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1615238277067-MEGNBJ6KZVZF5QG6VYXI/CZ_Zdenka01.jpg Postcards - Brno (Czechia) - Today a private-swap from a Postcrossing user arrived from Czechia’s second largest city, Brno. I haven’t been to Czechia yet but I hope to visit it soon. I’m so curious to know the story behind the alligator depicted on the postcard! I didn’t think Europe had any large reptiles like that. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/national-monument-bangladesh monthly 0.5 2021-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1615219837790-RFGLF0WE6GDBJQVIG294/BD_4264.jpg Postcards - national monument (Bangladesh) - This is my first postcard from Bangladesh! It arrived courtesy of Postcrossing and I am so thrilled to add another country to my collection. I don’t know much about Bangladesh to be fair - just that it sits to the east of India and has an enormous population, especially in relation to its geographic size. The stamps tell a dramatic story of “War Crimes in Bangladesh, 1971” with some very disturbing photographs. I’ll need to do some more research. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/die-mhle-am-wall-bremen-germany monthly 0.5 2021-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1614991811536-JXP08EN44ZYW4MBNYLN9/DE_10186898.jpg Postcards - “Die Mühle Am Wall” - Bremen (Germany) - What luck! This postcard comes via Postcrossing from Bremen in northern Germany. I was struggling to read it until my very talented niece helped me translate it. The sender asks me about the Town Musicians of Bremen, a famous fairy tale — I haven’t heard of it so I think I’ll do some research. The windmill reminds me of the windmills in Golden Gate Park, too! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/lichtenberg-bas-rhin-france monthly 0.5 2021-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1614990555327-RQTM56U8O7QH8QVRYXW2/FR_Dominique43.jpg Postcards - Lichtenberg - Bas-Rhin (France) - Mon ami très fidel m’a encore envoyé une très belle carte postale, cette fois une illustration parfaite du Château de Lichtenberg dans le village de Lichtenberg. Très tôt, j’éspere, nous pourrons voyager en résponsabilité et santé, et je pourrai voir ce château et le reste d’Alsace moi-même. Jusqu’à ce point-là, je compte sur les cartes postales que Dominique m’envoye. Merci, mon ami! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/saukko-a-finnish-otter monthly 0.5 2021-03-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1614990217866-9QQH35Q2Z20OUG0EM0EY/FI_Jussi01.jpg Postcards - ‘Saukko’ (a Finnish otter) - This is a private swap from a Finnish Postcrossing user and I am so thrilled to receive it! There’s something very captivating about otters, be they Eurasian otters (as in this case) or sea otters (as we have here on the Pacific coast) or North American river otters (as we were lucky to spot in the wild a few years ago while hiking along the San Andreas Fault). This one of course is no exception! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/a-japanese-pangram monthly 0.5 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1614903915003-GIV579VP1Q68N67IEU44/JP_1494811.jpg Postcards - a Japanese pangram - This card comes from a user in Japan via Postcrossing; they sent me this beautiful depiction of an old style of writing Japanese called “iroha.” Further, this card depicts a pangram - using all of the letters in Japanese! The famous pangram in English is “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” Do you know a shorter one? That is in fact the plot of one of my favorite books, called “Ella Minnow Pea” by Mark Dunn. Check it out! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sanibel-island-seashells monthly 0.5 2021-02-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1614531272387-4PRIGX60V86OZWVCDPMG/US-FL_Nikki08.jpg Postcards - Sanibel Island Seashells - This postcard comes from my sister-in-law who lives in Florida with my niece. One of their favorite places to visit is Sanibel Island; on their most recent trip, my niece braved the water (even though it was only 65F!) and then they collected shells, including some crab claws. I remember combing the beach for shells and being so envious when little brother found a shark tooth! I wanted one so badly that I eventually convinced my parents to buy me one (at an exorbitant price, I’m sure) at a local souvenir shop. If only I’d known then about the power of postcards instead of natural ephemera… https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/map-card-of-georgia monthly 0.5 2021-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1614454621314-64MVLGOTDU36GNSN3D7Z/US-7365147.jpg Postcards - Map card of Georgia - This is the first Postcrossing card I’ve received at the new address — while moving, I paused the receipt of cards even if I was still sending some. I’m so happy to be getting mail here; it really helps the new condo to feel like a home. This of course reminds me of my last trip to Georgia when I visited Atlanta for the 2019 TESOL Convention. I have great memories of the Georgia Aquarium with its Taiwanese whale sharks, and of course the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which was moving and difficult and such an incredible experience. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sacramento-california monthly 0.5 2021-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1614056155662-8UZ9AS7VY33VHTJBGH1S/US-CA_Greg-Tucker01.jpg Postcards - Sacramento, California - James and Greg have the honor of sending the first postcard to be received in our new home! This one is a beautiful view of the Sacramento River passing through our state’s lovely capital. Although we haven’t seen Greg and James in some months, we think of them fondly and are grateful they thought of us at our new home! We’re looking forward to visiting soon. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/haere-mai monthly 0.5 2021-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1613598829602-QRARZAIUW6YQE1TILYVD/US-HI_Tristan03.jpg Postcards - Haere Mai! - This beautiful vintage-style postcard came from my brother-in-law Tristan in Hawai’i. Not only are the colors and illustration terrific, but I always love any use of indigenous and minority languages. This is of course Māori, the indigenous language of Aotearoa (New Zealand), a Polynesian language. Why might this be sent from Hawai’i, you might ask, which are 4600 miles/7400km apart (or roughly the distance from Moscow to Hong Kong)? Māori and Hawai’ian are both Polynesian languages, which means that the indigenous inhabitants of these islands share a common ancestral homeland of Formosa, better known today as Taiwan. All of the indigenous languages, and many more in the Pacific, are closely related. If you want to read more about Polynesians’ amazing spread across the planet (before the “Age of Exploration” they were the most widely spread ethnicity in human history), check out Christina Thompson’s eminently readable “Sea People: the Puzzle of Polynesia.” https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gteau-breton monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1613598441452-FL6BU01AF19AWC1N16Y0/FR_Dominique42.jpg Postcards - Gâteau breton - Dominique strikes again, sending a fantastic recipe postcard! This is the 42nd postcard he’s sent and I’m so grateful, especially for the opportunity to try a new recipe. For the non-French-speakers here, my translation of the recipe is: Breton Cake (Great Recipes from Brittany) Put the flour and the sugar in a large bowl; make a well and mix in five egg yolks. Work the mixture with a wooden spoon and then rub it between your palms to make a sandy texture. Add the butter, cut into small pieces, and knead. Butter a baking dish; tip in the dough and make a crisscross pattern with a fork. Brush with the last egg yolk. Bake in the oven at 190C (375F) and let it bake for about an hour. Serve with apple cider. Ingredients: 350g flour, 175g sugar, 6 egg yolks, 190g butter Equipment: a bowl, a baking dish https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kgolfshtrnbcppwy8sv1cne93is3kt monthly 0.5 2021-02-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1613148690380-KXL8VRMV16W59V4LPIN3/US-NY_KayPei03.jpg Postcards - Happy Chinese New Year! - This terrific postcard comes courtesy of my long-time friends Kay and Pei who challenged me to determine which character was depicted here. I was lucky — although my knowledge of 漢字 (hànzì) or “Chinese characters” is quite limited — because this one was easy for me to identify: 春 (chūn) or “spring”! Indeed, this card comes with wishes for a prosperous and happy Year of the Ox, which I also wish to you all! 新年快樂! (Happy New Year!) https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/e8qrf9454i9he2fis4rthxmiyq1mgf monthly 0.5 2021-02-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612885536676-BK41F76D490MB2G7IBW9/US-FL_Dean03.jpg Postcards - Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park - This postcard comes from a new penpal in Florida, Dean. Not only does he include terrific, vintage stamps, but he sends postcards from the many travels he’s taken in the past. Clearly, he’s a big fan of national parks, as am I! I have indeed visited Tuolumne Meadows on one of my visits to Yosemite. I think I’ve been three times. It is a truly magnificent park and it’s no surprise that many consider it to be the crown jewel of America’s National Park System. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ix2xloaxzd911h5caqhb6s00ri5xei monthly 0.5 2021-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612744882891-D6S9FUTZ9QUZ6TIH3FTZ/BR_546173.jpg Postcards - Burle Marx Gardens in Brasilia, Brazil - Here is another Postcrossing arrival, this time from Brasília, Brazil. This is the first postcard I’ve received from Brazil (through Postcrossing) in eleven years! Many people falsely think that either Rio de Janeiro or São Paolo is the capital of Brazil, but in fact the country created almost a whole city out of wilderness not that long ago to serve as the national capital. This verdant garden was designed by famed Brazilian landscape architect Robert Burle Marx. I love the wedding of green plants, concrete and glass architecture, and flowing sculpture. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/kggggn54bq972chh2tao456h1ch2sq monthly 0.5 2021-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612489977680-X3VH0178D0VKPRTZNO72/US-OR_Linda11.jpg Postcards - Greetings from Portland, Oregon - This postcard comes from my dear friend and former co-worker Linda in Portland, Oregon. She always sends such thoughtful postcards, and this one is no exception. I love the artist, LouPaper, and in fact discovered her through Linda, who surprised me for my birthday with a bundle of her greatest hits. I went on to order several dozen more and they’ve been among my most popular postcards sent. It’s easy to see why, with this gorgeous art. Thanks, as always, to Linda for her constant friendship, her correspondence, and for introducing me to one of my favorite postcard artists. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/the-constellations-from-russia monthly 0.5 2021-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612489784857-2ICPCLEI35IZY60MD6DH/RU_8102547.jpg Postcards - The Constellations (from Russia) - This postcard comes from Postcrossing after 121 days of travel! Mail between the US and Russia is notoriously slow, but four months seems extreme even given the long transit times. In fact, I was the first recipient of this sender’s Postcrossing experience, which is a great honor for me. I hope she has many years of happiness and delight with Postcrossing, as I have. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/sundial-at-mont-sainte-odile-alsace monthly 0.5 2021-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612063693599-PC1ZLKCRJMPTUZBLE6AT/FR_Dominique41.jpg Postcards - sundial at Mont Sainte-Odile, Alsace - This postcard comes from the ever constant Dominique, who writes in English this time! I always thought he didn’t speak much English, but I must have misinterpreted that from our early correspondence. It’s a beautiful sundial here—and a new vocabulary word for me in French! I can’t say that I ever had the need to learn how to say “sundial” before, but know you know: un cadran solaire. This postcard depicts the famous Mont Sainte-Odile, a peak in Alsace, France with an abbey there (also known as the Hohenburg Abbey) founded in 690! What a beautiful place; I hope to visit it on my next trip to France! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mgfmacujfadoy0klrti74ef90hxqgi monthly 0.5 2021-01-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612063384207-1IPXJ99JCKRZNRY7JSL5/US-PA_LaurenC08.jpg Postcards - Shee (“Peace” in Manx) - More fantastic news from the language revitalization corner of my social networks! This postcard was sent by my friend and former cohort-mate Lauren who’s learning Manx as a heritage learner. She even wrote some beautiful Manx for me to read, which I’m copying here for you, too: Laa mie, Kristopher! Kys t’ou? Ta mee goll as gaccan, agh mie dy liooar. Gow kiarail, as hee’n oo dy gerrid!" I hope I didn’t misspell anything in the original Manx, which translates to '“Good day! How are you doing? I’m ‘going and grumbling’ but well enough. Take care and see you soon!” I hope I can see Lauren soon, either here in SF, there in Pittsburgh, or somewhere else! Thanks again! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/pride-from-land monthly 0.5 2021-01-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611937212730-F3JLMNF6PFJP8QI0IGFA/AX_9353.jpg Postcards - Pride from Åland - This is the first postcard I’ve received from Åland, which as its own country-code on Postcrossing! If you’re not familiar with the island territory, it’s an autonomous area of Finland situated between Turku, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden and Finland’s only monolingual Swedish-speaking area. Finland itself is officially bilingual (Finnish and Swedish), and also recognizes other regional languages. I love that Åland has its own postage stamps as well! On my Postcrossing profile, I invite senders to tell me about LGBTQ life where they live, which I think explains why this person sent me the Pride flag! What a great gift in my mailbox! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/natural-postcard-from-lijiang-yunnan-china monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611786501326-KS4LRAYARQR1EMCRB5H5/CN_FanxingXueyi01.jpg Postcards - Natural postcard from Lijiang, Yunnan, China - I’m not sure the scan here will do it any justice, but this postcard is actually a real leaf (I wonder what kind?). It was sent to me by two of my most memorable private students from their recent visit to 中国 云南省 丽江. I was so thrilled to receive this card, and I think back fondly on the time I spent with them in Hangzhou just over a year ago when they spent the day giving me a tour of their college town, introducing me to delicious restaurants, and dedicating their hard-earned time off to welcoming me with open arms. I hope I can return to China again some time soon, and that they can travel to the US again. Until then, I’ll be sending them a thank-you postcard. But where to find a postcard of comparable beauty and uniqueness?! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/taganskaya-metro-station monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611786556480-2F2I8HSNCHKS0BRQCGQ7/RU_8218301.jpg Postcards - Taganskaya Metro Station - Here’s another fantastic Postcrossing postcard, this one from a Russian postcrosser. Russia is not just a very populous country, but it also has a high proportion of participants in Postcrossing, so it’s very common to both send and receive postcards to and from Russia. This one is particularly lovely since it highlights one of the aspects of architecture that I associate closely with Russia: ornate, high-contrast designs. This subways station is in Moscow. I hope I can visit it someday! From the back (English only): Taganskaya Metro Station (Circle Line) Opened on January 1, 1950. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/rv31yzfzrwpckeml1njih13k56y768 monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611804678375-2CPR36TS00SNXQETNOJ7/US-PA_Tim03.jpg Postcards - Happy New Year (in Japanese)! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/philadelphia-love monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611804798044-E0GH3PQ99CDQIBJKVZH3/US_7200551.jpg Postcards - Philadelphia LOVE - This postcard arrived via Postcrossing just a few weeks ago. But in fact the sender had emailed me over a month prior to tell me they’d forgotten to write the postcard ID and to send it via email so I could register it. I was surprised that a domestic postcard had taken so long to arrive, but with the holidays and the elections, I think the USPS was just a bit overwhelmed! Well, arrive it did and with such clear and beautiful handwriting on the back. I was very grateful because I usually have a hard time reading handwritten Chinese. Sometimes I take a photo of the message and ask my friend to transcribe it for me so I can work out any words I don’t know! This time, there was no need as I could make out all of the words quite clearly. This is the famous LOVE sculpture. From the back of the postcard: Perhaps the most familiar of Philadelphia’s many artworks that embellish public spaces is the painted aluminum LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana. It was erected in 1976 as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebration. Photographer - Catherine Gehm. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/jbe9u9odt7skh0b5gg1u7klyq1a8lt monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611804938502-0BHYVDHKTG27592UHNOG/image-asset.jpeg Postcards - En Périgord Nord - Cette carte postale vient de mon ami de lettres depuis assez longtemps en France. Celle-ci réprésente la Place de la Liberté à Sarlat en Dordogne, France. En fait, elle est la quarantième carte postale que j’ai reçue de lui! Ce que j’adore de cette carte est le beffroi courbe dans le centre de l’image. Il me rappelle un peu le beffroi que j’ai passé chaque jour en allant à mon travail comme assistant de langue anglaise à Avesnes-sur-Helpe. Je reçois une carte postale de lui, je dirais, chaque mois au moins, peut-être plus fréquemment. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/bs3iffdfugpk2lvmr9bgq85ljgy9mt monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611805004041-UVH1JMSBOWSMS3AFYENX/US-FL_Dean02.jpg Postcards - George Washington Masonic National Memorial - In early January, I received this postcard from a new penpal that I met through Postcrossing. This card depicts the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia. I particularly love the scalloped edges, which is something you don’t see very often in contemporary postcards. Judging from the paper and overall state, this is definitely a vintage postcard. I also enjoy the stamps that were affixed: a 13-cent Clara Maass stamp and a 22-cent stamp depicting part of the preamble to the U.S. Constitution! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/4zhl7subz1inodr24v0d6s6qp30ije monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611805134087-GOD2JLW6E33CA2O7X5ZK/TW_Jerry01.jpg Postcards - Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan - 我一個學生給我發到這張明信片。我真的很喜歡！我都每一個字看不懂，可是他用英文別便幫助我看得懂。我很久沒去台灣所以呢張照片就讓我很開心啊！謝謝！ https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/piazza-san-marco-venice-italy monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611805201016-4S7TTLGV3K6PME1JW0FA/US-OR_Linda10.jpg Postcards - Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy - This beautiful postcard comes from my equally beautiful friend Linda who never fails to send excellent postcards at every turn. She writes that her home of Portland has been as foggy and rainy as this postcard depicts: "the Italian ambiance!" https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/4la5j7qyemntczhpfx7jlpf1p7hy6e monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611805292577-H5D314ZO1RDM0ABAPIZT/image-asset.jpeg Postcards - Tipsoo Lake, Mt. Rainier, Washington - I have a new penpal who reached out to me via Postcrossing and this was the first postcard he sent, even though he lives in Florida. The beauty of our national parks is unsurpassed and underappreciated. What a great way to get out and enjoy our nation's bounty during the pandemic. Which national parks have you visited recently? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/gbvx3t9hommv74z127p4q05548r2po monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611805350535-6Y03OJJ5TTJ7W5WMQ0LW/image-asset.jpeg Postcards - New River Gorge, West Virginia - This is a postcard sent by my colleague James whom I've only ever met via video calls, but I hope we can meet in person when the TESOL Convention meets in person again! Until then, I continue to travel and "see" friends, family, and strangers via postcards that come and go with my mailbox! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/to99i2ai0a5c0xnvi7nj9xzjgzhoy1 monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611805398879-V2KNR5AV6V7EUGCIADLK/US-GA_James01.jpg Postcards - Ashland, Oregon - This beautiful postcard comes courtesy of Christina and Evan who stopped in Ashland on their way home. Just a day prior, we'd had a great day walking on the beach and eating a distance lunch. I miss them but it was great to receive this card and the thoughtful message. Thanks, friends! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/qn92kg3kx0nf4bt2f27qd2gh82ckhu monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611805485417-ISKAP5HK0D6SMV6D85JR/US-MI_NatashaKevin01.jpg Postcards - Beast Mode: Oxford, Michigan - This beautiful postcard came along with a fantastic dried orange, anise, clove, and cypress garland, both of which were handmade by the absolutely inimitable Kevin and Natasha. I absolutely adore this card and the garland which is hung in the kitchen where we can enjoy it. Thank you for the handmade holiday greetings! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/8l8sj1x3f7srayh3jxrhbkz54vv52k monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611853976745-JJ4JLSKK3NH47JYB87VY/FR_Dominique39.jpg Postcards - Le Pigeonnier, Eguishem, France - Normally I write in French about these postcards but in case it's easier for folks to read in English, here it is. This postcard is from one of my most prolific penpals, Dominique and this is the thirty-ninth postcard he's sent from France (because he lives along the border, I often get postcards from Germany too). It's such a pleasure to carry on for years with the same person, exchanging information and thoughts, and of course postcards. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/4w7quru4nfjqdu856fnqe4muil52fz monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611853895899-P8VEP8AEL2FTID09P710/DE_9909543.jpg Postcards - Hansestadt Lüneburg, Germany - This is another excellent postcard that came thanks to @postcrossing . The sender is one of the most prolific senders from Germany, no less (itself a very prolific country on Postcrossing), so to receive such a personal message is really something. Sometimes when you receive a postcard sent by someone with thousands of sent and received postcards, the message boils down to "Happy Postcrossing from Germany!" which is fine enough but sometimes it's not even handwritten. But this person really took the time to read my profile and send a postcard I'd like, and write about what we have in common. The disappointing cards are really quite few and far between. This is part of what I love so much about Postcrossing. Have you considered joining? https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/mhq7bo1lexrqlzn8g502t33a3rtpfs monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611854095466-7QANCVXD054V5JYHMZIM/DE_9909553.jpg Postcards - Love from Bavaria, Germany - In my @postcrossing profile, I invite senders (whom I don't know) to tell me about LGBTQ people where they live. I've learned so much and made a lot of friends this way. The German sender of this terrific illustration wrote that although she grew up in a conservative Catholic area of Bavaria, her family was open and accepting of LGBTQ people, and she feels this way today too. I'm glad to have a reminder that good people exist in this world, even when they grow up surrounded by discriminatory religious practices. It gives me hope for the future, something i think we desperately need this year. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/ag2jqqbvwiig5en0om6kvtpl499gww monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611854188212-LLCVZN43PBNLW8JHYRHP/US-PA_LaurenC07.jpg Postcards - Slaynt Vie! (Manx) - What a great postcard from Lauren C! I love the seaside vibes and a sparkling drink. It's reminding me that safe and responsible travel may be in the cards for (late) 2021! I love, too, that this card is written in Manx, a language in the process of revitalization. With luck and perseverance and the hard work of its speakers, I hope we'll read about Manx alongside Hebrew as successful cases of language revitalization. Gura mie ayd! https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/e42nbyjnsf22uo8qnptqgeq4cflt0c monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611854324477-74RY29C1MXILWBQAQJXS/GB_1322859.jpg Postcards - Yorkshire Coast, England - What a beautiful painting coming via Postcrossing from Jane in England. I've seen very little of England so I hope to visit it someday soon and see this scene myself! Until then, I travel safely and responsibly via the terrific postcards I send and receive through Postcrossing. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/f5u85ayomvy7le9db4duddsfgihlh4 monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611854526086-0FVCYOYC168NO39PVXCB/DE_9909544.jpg Postcards - waiting for the train in Germany - This beautiful postcard comes via Postcrossing and was sent by a man who has traveled much of Germany by train, and many other places as well. He writes how he even visited Berlin when it was like an island with its wall. I love the train tracks; there is something very romantic about cross-country trains. Too bad the US doesn't have such a romance-inducing system... Thanks to my niece Caitlyn for the translation help. https://www.kristophergeda.com/postcards/hy451u1ugt4694j1q02ribjnbjahht monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611854653811-EQ0ICG41KLAZDDTPD7T3/US-NM_HongYang01.jpg Postcards - Institute of Arctic Biology, Alaska - 這張明信片昨天受到了。一個以前的學生給我發了。我真的很高興看到這張美麗的明信片。I'm also incredibly lucky to have such thoughtful, smart students who take the time and energy to think of me while on their very limited and previous breaks. 謝謝你, Hong! 我真的喜歡啊！ 你太客氣了！ https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking daily 0.75 2026-08-08 https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/babchallah monthly 0.5 2024-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1708919970572-FVOH6CFKGL3UO62HE1LZ/babchallah01.jpg Baking - babchallah https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1708919970718-AB5TO6VBHQW1SPRERCCC/babchallah02.jpg Baking - babchallah https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1708919971942-0X8Z9QPARKJVYTRXWMJP/babchallah03.jpg Baking - babchallah https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/boozy-fruit-cake monthly 0.5 2024-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704154988059-OI4RHDQ2O4K18ZMWOC4K/fruitcake01.jpg Baking - boozy fruit cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704154988439-D8V73W5QLO39A6Z823Q2/fruitcake02.jpg Baking - boozy fruit cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704154989286-JTX9N24KZDEVGYH0LO9W/fruitcake03.jpg Baking - boozy fruit cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704154989731-6CWY19HLDOZJ6IS85Z4T/fruitcake04.jpg Baking - boozy fruit cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704154990474-6E84ZNAIGLAUQEIBC4QK/fruitcake05.jpg Baking - boozy fruit cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704154990881-SPK8PJPFJ5LAMXPCFXNY/fruitcake06.jpg Baking - boozy fruit cake https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/duck-pithivier monthly 0.5 2024-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704214378977-PNCTNPHS8V2S0A4GLKTF/duckpithivier01.jpg Baking - duck pithivier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704214379499-3YYZW01URXIP1JVP86CX/duckpithivier02.jpg Baking - duck pithivier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704214380065-GETHN6GGFNGR8TYVERQY/duckpithivier03.jpg Baking - duck pithivier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704214380821-AY4WL20M5DRDIS2AAMV6/duckpithivier04.jpg Baking - duck pithivier https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1704214381405-T9KLA5M83EF7XI7ZNJZY/duckpithivier05.jpg Baking - duck pithivier https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/black-forest-cake-kind-of-from-youtube monthly 0.5 2023-07-31 https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sourdough-carrot-cake-rolls monthly 0.5 2023-04-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1682367644651-KTVZJTAC7SZJN6B2ANSK/sourdoughcinnamon01.jpg Baking - sourdough carrot cake rolls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1682367644407-U9DT7CEDO95I54PJQSUE/sourdoughcinnamon02.jpg Baking - sourdough carrot cake rolls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1682367645232-ZXG0P3SSSOTTZ9XTYJ5E/sourdoughcinnamon03.jpg Baking - sourdough carrot cake rolls https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/speculoos-babka monthly 0.5 2023-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1681753053866-9F2WL5DF8PM9D4RD1LUH/speculoos-babka01.jpg Baking - Speculoos Babka https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1681753054139-4WV6J6XB2DJQMZ12JMCO/speculoos-babka02.jpg Baking - Speculoos Babka https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1681753056063-JH2UI2EA4SUNH0W0H2AG/speculoos-babka03.jpg Baking - Speculoos Babka https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1681753055869-UM8XZFWVHM2876DUXH19/speculoos-babka04.jpg Baking - Speculoos Babka https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1681753056929-NN9C4S2NYPLZ9TJZTULZ/speculoos-babka05.jpg Baking - Speculoos Babka https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/tarte-tropzienne monthly 0.5 2023-01-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028166550-DI1I60CRXBI9Y45HRB55/tarte-tropezienne01.jpg Baking - tarte tropézienne https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028166420-ETWPUR7789Y04XDIA7YP/tarte-tropezienne02.jpg Baking - tarte tropézienne https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028168339-FB156DHA68FJ7W5P7CB6/tarte-tropezienne03.jpg Baking - tarte tropézienne https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028168058-OWGOS3UAHI8HRLUDEKL0/tarte-tropezienne04.jpg Baking - tarte tropézienne https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028169335-XN17R6GDQ9VG32J6SMYI/tarte-tropezienne05.jpg Baking - tarte tropézienne https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/tarte-basque monthly 0.5 2023-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028833346-6ZJAX42XDPSPBOGEZ570/tarte-basque01.jpg Baking - tarte basque https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028832930-DAMJYZA60ML2JT4QLFVB/tarte-basque02.jpg Baking - tarte basque https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673028834373-2G56UVPSDBO4E2Y4H0YL/tarte-basque03.jpg Baking - tarte basque https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/bche-de-nol monthly 0.5 2023-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029731194-GVRRB3S0ZS4A968FO0MW/buche-de-noel01.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029730881-5R8JUWMRGCMCZ29UVKTA/buche-de-noel02.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029734171-T46RXYQXBB0LQ11PXF5Y/buche-de-noel03.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029734345-G8V0HJ1RYM6QEDRWIUH8/buche-de-noel04.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029736564-J1I0UCJMGHOL5EAJS8IS/buche-de-noel05.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029736066-H523Y7YC1WO5BW5GH3GK/buche-de-noel06.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029737466-DG80U6DGKO8UT86C3MF5/chestnuts01.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673029737976-6NH4G64QHPSIMK5HEAUD/chestnuts02.jpg Baking - Bûche de Noël https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sfogliatelle monthly 0.5 2023-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673030747031-4J8TNDJZEW3YKWIMP0EP/sfogliatelle01.jpg Baking - sfogliatelle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673030746735-4OM89LRP7OK64RHMWXCO/sfogliatelle02.jpg Baking - sfogliatelle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673030748868-7F7P2XDT40RCT765CAG0/sfogliatelle03.jpg Baking - sfogliatelle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673030749279-EC5VZB8UW034SZ5BB1I4/sfogliatelle04.jpg Baking - sfogliatelle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673030750756-DRVTTCQS1CFLXRB9YO64/sfogliatelle05.jpg Baking - sfogliatelle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673030751133-FXC95AR01YGESYIJESCG/sfogliatelle06.jpg Baking - sfogliatelle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673030752516-Q989YH29J092GT8Q8BNJ/sfogliatelle07.jpg Baking - sfogliatelle https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/holiday-chex-mix monthly 0.5 2023-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673031125462-1Y5UGRJ535NZKE3WE9SQ/chex-mix01.jpg Baking - holiday Chex mix https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1673031125411-AOEXAA85J3L9NB9F0E3G/chex-mix02.jpg Baking - holiday Chex mix https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/spiced-plum-custard-cake monthly 0.5 2022-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1662929144424-KRGOLU625NZJZCJIAMZ0/20220901_212731.jpg Baking - spiced plum custard cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1662929144422-6Y1XYNJ7R4EIZ05OBCW1/20220901_212738.jpg Baking - spiced plum custard cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1662929145496-QR5PPVY6JTNJ5KX6S9A4/20220901_213306.jpg Baking - spiced plum custard cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1662929145741-S1XLKXMJL7HZ2MLRXHXH/20220901_213309.jpg Baking - spiced plum custard cake https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/independence-day-coconut-cake monthly 0.5 2022-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1657117754413-WEMK72TAORXIXPYEPG0F/4july-coconutcake01.jpg Baking - Independence Day coconut cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1657117754297-O60U9QVJZ960BFTA2NDA/4july-coconutcake02.jpg Baking - Independence Day coconut cake https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/babchallah-babka-challah monthly 0.5 2022-06-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1654465622779-L08E76PB7837511DK128/babchallah01.jpg Baking - babchallah (babka + challah) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1654465622770-TJYUM8JN7MQLYKVW5RFL/babchallah02.jpg Baking - babchallah (babka + challah) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1654465624369-UQT4GQYYU8T1ZUIKQKN3/babchallah03.jpg Baking - babchallah (babka + challah) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1654465624159-NG5DRQP989E0DNQWMMET/babchallah04.jpg Baking - babchallah (babka + challah) https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sweet-potato-and-brown-sugar-mantou monthly 0.5 2022-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/037553a8-c5aa-45cb-8245-0c0bba0af21d/mantou.jpg Baking - sweet potato and brown sugar mantou - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/split-loaf-milk-bread monthly 0.5 2022-01-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1643043970411-PXQRNCMOHO733HF8E4GI/milkbread01.jpg Baking - split-loaf milk bread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1643043969804-MBLTZFEQGTJB8LZQ72G6/milkbread02.jpg Baking - split-loaf milk bread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1643043975328-5LCND8MGW1UZQX9EZOSL/milkbread03.jpg Baking - split-loaf milk bread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1643043975038-TRREQF998HCKXI5C97WR/milkbread04.jpg Baking - split-loaf milk bread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1643043977298-0BIISCV130HUZHITLZ6N/milkbread05.jpg Baking - split-loaf milk bread https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/quadruple-coconut-cake monthly 0.5 2022-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1642365578761-S6BS5LTRXA7ZVFYD5PJQ/cococake01.jpg Baking - quadruple coconut cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1642365578495-UPV4GYYVKYZBJUEVAUCN/cococake02.jpg Baking - quadruple coconut cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1642365579467-VJAS6V9ELJCK1WJZQW8P/cococake03.jpg Baking - quadruple coconut cake https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/carrot-cake monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1641571700432-NJ204CNFD2FAAS1LMLTO/carrotcake01.jpg Baking - carrot cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1641571700023-01IBTR7Q52SOBQ5EK6RV/carrotcake02.jpg Baking - carrot cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1641571702971-2WXFDJK17KTR5HHXNH8H/carrotcake03.jpg Baking - carrot cake https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/seven-ajah-sugar-cookies monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1638148925892-B3PVJYNQWKR23L08Q232/seven-ajahs02.jpg Baking - seven Ajah sugar cookies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1638148925525-1K58PFTRAF72W7MO7YO7/seven-ajahs03.jpg Baking - seven Ajah sugar cookies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1638148926444-YOJ7QFVPJYQF1EWI2DXM/seven-ajahs04.jpg Baking - seven Ajah sugar cookies https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/lj3nvdjq3vzb48mefuaesclhsbss1j monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1636124914822-PSB4AWRG5ZSX1603YQ1G/puff-pastry-applepies.jpg Baking - puff pastry pies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1636124915372-VJGM4E8APQ5AAWKO2UDI/puff-pastry-meat-pies.jpg Baking - puff pastry pies https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sweet-potato-flatbread monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1636124403333-FZCT741JGLJBJJ2NIJJJ/grosse-patate-douce.jpg Baking - sweet potato flatbread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1636124403628-4RQRIZV4TVMR34DEKB9W/sweet-potato-flatbread.jpg Baking - sweet potato flatbread https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/a-return-to-the-familiar-kouigno-amann monthly 0.5 2021-08-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629159620315-5UWG7ACF7T4KK31UIRF4/kouign-amann01.jpg Baking - a return to the familiar - kouignoù amann https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629159619852-NJW8ZIIK2KXW1GQQ7X31/kouign-amann02.jpg Baking - a return to the familiar - kouignoù amann https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629159622625-IZ5N6YKWQCDD0Z1R82TB/kouign-amann03.jpg Baking - a return to the familiar - kouignoù amann https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1629159622178-45KTEWFME2CU980AGB6Y/kouign-amann04.jpg Baking - a return to the familiar - kouignoù amann https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/black-sesame-paris-brest monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628561084708-OMXQWGAOVUFYBAYS4I49/qizha-paris-breast01.jpg Baking - black sesame Paris-Brest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1628561083144-QD1NFZNF4KRN3Q53M7CV/qizha-paris-breast02.jpg Baking - black sesame Paris-Brest https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/peach-galette monthly 0.5 2021-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626919122882-B2QLZDK8E0767TH6R8YD/peach-galette01.jpg Baking - peach galette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626919123258-XKV9737PWK9AX4JE4P2U/peach-galette02.jpg Baking - peach galette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626919124030-QS59A7HZFG7JZ94MLPBS/peach-galette03.jpg Baking - peach galette https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1626919124176-Q3CNO7V7286IW4DIUXAJ/peach-galette04.jpg Baking - peach galette https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/pecan-sticky-buns monthly 0.5 2021-06-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624907183038-F231PD6QBHME25NXUAMI/pecanrolls.jpg Baking - pecan sticky buns - We recently went to visit two friends who just welcomed a baby this year; they were preparing brunch for us and I decided to bring a brunch-like dessert: pecan sticky buns. I adapted it from Claire Saffitz’s recipe for walnut sticky buns in Dessert Person and it just came together so fantastically! The night before, when I was mixing the dough, I forgot to add the eggs until the very end! I put them in the mixed and started mixing and for a few minutes, I thought I was going to have to throw it all out and start over again. But with a little persistence, it finally came together. The assembly is very easy and came together like a dream. The buns are soft and tender, which I’ve found to be rare in homemade cinnamon roll recipes, so I certainly recommend this one! https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/schwarzwalder-kirschtorte monthly 0.5 2022-01-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624313040563-WLLE21D59QT5V5FFGCIX/SchwarzwalderKirschtorte01.jpg Baking - Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624313040320-FICQQKMME50LZFT9NMXS/SchwarzwalderKirschtorte04.jpg Baking - Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624313042164-1WVU2TRPFHPZC1AKXMWT/SchwarzwalderKirschtorte06.jpg Baking - Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/pigs-in-a-blanket monthly 0.5 2021-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624312723798-2EMOBQ66GFFREGKQBMCN/pigsblanket01.jpg Baking - pigs in a blanket https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624312717869-7A67OISY7GXS0VX0JGLU/pigsblanket03.jpg Baking - pigs in a blanket https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624312725564-3GJHPMRSSKBQYAUBJTP4/pigsblanket04.jpg Baking - pigs in a blanket https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sourdough-bread monthly 0.5 2021-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624312539292-GQL6CUTRKYP413X8SBRI/sourdough01.jpg Baking - sourdough bread https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1624312539247-09329Y4BS3OMK2DWB812/sourdough02.jpg Baking - sourdough bread https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/nectarine-and-blueberry-clafouti monthly 0.5 2021-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623971806041-AXX71GP7VOKF9CFE6H8J/clafouti01.jpg Baking - nectarine and blueberry clafouti https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623971805719-YCBEF6L556TW1JLYVIQT/clafouti02.jpg Baking - nectarine and blueberry clafouti https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/black-and-blue-pie monthly 0.5 2021-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623971558884-FC270KKQ9Y7CONAO0JI4/blackbluepie01.jpg Baking - black and blue pie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623971558943-4C078IBXJQ4GJBTPFAPM/blackbluepie02.jpg Baking - black and blue pie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623971561615-J2LMLI6ZX3GPY1QNB540/blackbluepie03.jpg Baking - black and blue pie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1623971561723-RBHD6VTEND115BO5T7AJ/blackbluepie04.jpg Baking - black and blue pie https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/perfect-pound-cake monthly 0.5 2021-04-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619015584016-C1ECRPT9JSARUG11SVKI/perfectpoundcake01.jpg Baking - perfect pound cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619015583656-KKZZ6S1TSVFIWUNM2PFS/perfectpoundcake02.jpg Baking - perfect pound cake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1619015584547-Y7RCDIKBU6EWWMREOVO1/perfectpoundcake03.jpg Baking - perfect pound cake https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/tarte-bourdaloue monthly 0.5 2021-04-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618861854168-P26EYZ29A6C01AZB8X0Q/tarte-bourdaloue01.jpg Baking - tarte bourdaloue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618861854141-J9PX32G9UQBQKYBFU8Y3/tarte-bourdaloue02.jpg Baking - tarte bourdaloue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618861855022-IPI195VJ0JI05J0IDMI2/tarte-bourdaloue03.jpg Baking - tarte bourdaloue https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/chocolatines monthly 0.5 2021-04-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618500726684-SLJ4C04HRNBSXT6IHUTB/chocolatines01.jpg Baking - chocolatines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618500726530-OU8D3ZRXL2VGOAB6M6X5/chocolatines02.jpg Baking - chocolatines https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1618500727666-3B18TFME1CSWRFBL4SSV/chocolatines03.jpg Baking - chocolatines https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sour-cream-and-chive-dinner-rolls monthly 0.5 2021-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617669465504-826TELBF00RRU7BAJFW2/rolls01.jpg Baking - sour cream and chive dinner rolls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617669462761-6RMJWETRZC0LR5JSS3NM/rolls02.jpg Baking - sour cream and chive dinner rolls https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617669465497-EL53S9IINPI5CX6MN54J/rolls03.jpg Baking - sour cream and chive dinner rolls https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/ugly-delicious-lemon-tart monthly 0.5 2021-04-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617668864671-B6EY17CVNZ9NXF5SN0GN/lemontart01.jpg Baking - ugly delicious lemon tart https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617668863232-5OKTAYQ7PSE4J7SMEUNC/lemontart02.jpg Baking - ugly delicious lemon tart https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1617668864363-690LUXNX2EYSQAFERVU8/lemontart03.jpg Baking - ugly delicious lemon tart https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/morning-buns monthly 0.5 2021-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616433278138-U3JOBBLWACJDTUAHIRQL/morningbuns01.jpg Baking - morning buns https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616433277657-GOEZ5CMZG07HMEAZP7MP/morningbuns02.jpg Baking - morning buns https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1616433278331-RMTF6MAUPKSBRVNEJER1/morningbuns03.jpg Baking - morning buns https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/td6ok637bm11xf7zfcczn2iore17yc monthly 0.5 2021-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1615767401502-G3PUH61T1VGALTSM6JWV/20210314_103432.jpg Baking - rainy day bagels https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/brioche-twists-cinnamon-or-coriander monthly 0.5 2021-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1615141386605-DKJ0KUVFF6B30R4G3JT3/brioche-twists.jpg Baking - brioche twists - cinnamon or coriander - This weekend, I made Claire Saffitz’ brioche twists recipe from her Dessert Person book. The recipe calls for ground coriander seed to be mixed with demerara sugar for the topping and I was skeptical. Coriander (fun fact: in the US, “coriander” refers only to the seed; the leaf is called “cilantro”; but other English speakers use “coriander” for both the leaf and the seed!) for me has always been a savory spice, and I was worried the brioches would be strange. So I did 1/2 and 1/2, also remembering that Andy is addicted to cinnamon-sugar. The coriander half turned out more beautiful with their golden, shimmering sugar coating. The cinnamon half were a bit darker and patchier in coverage, but both are equally delicious. The dough itself is lightly sweet so without the spice-sugar coating, it could certainly be used for a savory application! Brioche is no joke to work with - I found myself very frustrated with its stickiness until I finally let go of my pride and floured the countertop a bit. https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/king-cake-from-new-orleans monthly 0.5 2021-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1613598111371-TAUMV07GF77SFN02BK6J/king-cake.jpg Baking - King Cake from New Orleans - I seldom post photos of things I didn’t bake, but this one deserves an exception. Our fantastic friend Kaylé ordered us a king cake all the way from Louisiana so we could celebrate Mardi Gras properly! The king cake came baked and un-iced — of course, as you can tell from my amateur hour icing job — with sprinkles and even a small baby to hide in the cake! I didn’t grow up with the tradition of king cakes, but I so love it! This one was cinnamon flavor and light and mildly sweet (more so with the icing) and was a great way to responsibly celebrate Mardi Gras at home. Next year I hope to be able to give Kaylé a homemade king cake as thanks for her consistently bringing me happiness and good cheer. https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sv3pihoc7s0c4bdoujoi8kcp134gk2 monthly 0.5 2021-03-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612651455557-QVFB81UY6REKGZL5N0X7/20210205_201805.jpg Baking - pecan brittle oat cookies https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1612651455933-24N0ZNAFMVQO98Q3SUUM/20210205_201816.jpg Baking - pecan brittle oat cookies https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/o7vc4fpsrb89yvbtwf4bewf9li1n9n monthly 0.5 2021-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611806625834-LBKQS5ILCFCKJ7LOZMZO/pita01.jpg Baking - homemade pita https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611806625925-L3A6RI9CV0SQHS1P724A/pita02.jpg Baking - homemade pita https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/c89ukuw2owqcvkxejcep86qf7lf4mi monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611806906581-U0U55GUHI5S2FCQDWHDO/focaccia.jpg Baking - focaccia - This was my second time making focaccia from Claire Saffitz’s excellent “Dessert Person” cookbook. I again topped it with fresh rosemary, garlic, olive oil, and flaky salt. The only problem with this recipe is that this giant slab of focaccia is half of the recipe… and we’re inclined to eat a whole half in one day. No one’s watching, I suppose, but can this be good in the long term? https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/ctp05csig4j10b0pgrf7ievvkiiytr monthly 0.5 2021-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807867767-5YEE8NW5ICB3QC1SBIC2/applepie01.jpg Baking - superlative apple pie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807867650-MTPESPUMDRXPDZH113KB/applepie02.jpg Baking - superlative apple pie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807869475-0G0AM09O0X040NJGVTUV/applepie03.jpg Baking - superlative apple pie https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/xm2obcmmy1x4b19xzhu5yt9n22hzj6 monthly 0.5 2021-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807586445-XBIQXE77J5GYY1XE29X9/tartetatin01.jpg Baking - tarte tatin https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807588440-7DN9FLEMDODWIZCDLMEI/tartetatin02.jpg Baking - tarte tatin https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/gjqxd6vfjsz6wq5guf26p3hi3sv380 monthly 0.5 2021-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807287780-X7Y62ZEXWXX1X7KKTN11/sweetpotatopie01.jpg Baking - sweet potato pie https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807286558-CO7E6RY13R3E0W2AMUDP/sweetpotatopie02.jpg Baking - sweet potato pie https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/t82cpt8tbs81l8ieogtly68jqaciia monthly 0.5 2021-02-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807080109-OHF4A9M3RYCGD6QIK4GY/sourdough01.jpg Baking - sourdough loaves https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611807079262-ZTKS2CY8A89DNPCISNIE/sourdough02.jpg Baking - sourdough loaves https://www.kristophergeda.com/baking/sxjq4qvn74fw0o4y6rlocit7cpnrnf monthly 0.5 2021-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611808244490-OJWNEOI6HRWZDAZSZS6N/challah.jpg Baking - challah with a twist* - You know challah - that warm, tender loaf that your (neighbor’s) mother served to you on Shabbos night. Or if you were lucky, maybe you had it the day after made into French toast. The principal is simple: flour, salt, water, year, egg, oil, sugar, and sesame (or poppy seeds). We used to make it over the holidays, dividing the dough and tinting one third red, one third green, and leaving the other au naturel. It was our interfaith wedding over Jewish and Christian celebrations. No need for food color in this loaf, which Claire Saffitz infuses with honey and tahini, lending it a warm, nutty note. The dough rises like gangbusters, probably due to the honey, and the resulting loaf is that same tender, soft, sweet trip down memory lane. Take a look at her “Dessert Person” cookbook for the recipe. https://www.kristophergeda.com/home daily 1.0 2026-05-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611720883724-C2O67OBNCECQTRPJMYW7/2019_Kristopher_Headshots+-+68.jpg Home - English Language Educator I have been teaching English to learners for over fifteen years in the US and abroad. I have worked with students from a broad range of backgrounds from teenagers to retirees, in private one-on-one tutorials and in large classes. I am currently a lecturer at Stanford University where I teach English to international graduate students. I also offer private English language courses to individuals and groups. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611721859585-FM4PTZF42IOGHVJ4FF9W/mailbox.jpg Home - Snail Mail Enthusiast I have always been fascinated by snail mail, even before there was such a concept (because email wasn’t yet widely used!). I remember a short campaign I embarked on when I was nine or ten to write letters to world leaders. Since then, I’ve found deep satisfaction in the ache of my hand after writing several pages of a letter, and a shock of joy at receiving a real letter addressed to me from a friend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611722136718-HGIZ5WF4Q05LVR8PNJEP/baker.jpg Home - Amateur Baker I’ve been baking since I can remember. I love the fussy, detail-oriented work of following a recipe, adhering to the directions as I can. Of course, the best part is when the bake comes out of the oven (or off the stove!) and you wait for it to cool enough to eat. If you live near me, you may be the target of a drive-by give away. https://www.kristophergeda.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-01-31 https://www.kristophergeda.com/subscribe daily 0.75 2021-02-04 https://www.kristophergeda.com/work daily 0.75 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611764601311-W8RFRJ8DTLRLLM28QWMJ/pittsburgh+%282%29.jpg English Language Teaching - My background I’m an English instructor and linguist living in San Francisco, California. I grew up in a big family (by US standards anyway!) near Flint, Michigan where I studied Spanish and French in undergrad. After teaching English in a high school in northern France, I moved to northern Texas to earn my Master’s degree in Linguistics and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Then I moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I earned my PhD in Linguistics and taught linguistics to undergraduate students and intensive English language classes to international students. In 2012, I moved to San Francisco and I’ve been teaching full-time at private universities and seeing private clients since then. For more detail, you can see my resume here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611763863669-VF6K486RBGRIEWD9H6MH/bookshelf.jpg English Language Teaching - My approach My focus is on developing English skills to help you succeed in your academic and professional goals. I can help you with: cultural knowledge avoiding social missteps that can cost you opportunities reading “between the lines” in business and social settings pronunciation clarifying your pronunciation to accommodate a variety of listeners using pausing and intonation to convey exactly what you mean to say speaking engaging in relaxed and approachable conversations to build connection giving clear and confident presentations to persuade listeners writing adhering to the expectations your readers have for your text identifying the standards of your professional or academic context I have helped clients tackle a variety of projects. Here is a short list of some of the successes we’ve had together: business plans – grant proposals, calls for proposals, website redesigns, pamphlets, pitch decks, funding proposals academic monographs - book proposals, sample chapters, manuscripts, and accompanying documentation job searches – resumes, cover letters, website redesigns, portfolios, interview preparation university applications – including written and oral preparation for undergraduate and graduate programs in all fields, especially engineering, law, and business school I’m eager to help you achieve your English language goals for school, work, or daily life. Don’t hesitate to let me know what you’re working on and ask me how I can help you do your best. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6010d8d5785ac6038b67f216/1611766208397-48YD15TWJC7NKPWLQSYG/stepanenko.jpg English Language Teaching - “I was very lucky to work with Kristopher during my MBA preparation. .. I was impressed by his attention to English learners and his gentle style of correcting mistakes... Kristopher’s lessons helped me understand a lot of the cultural aspects of the language, which I believe is very valuable… [D]uring my preparation for the MBA, I had another goal – improve my writing English skills. At this time, Kristopher developed the curriculum, found the relevant materials, and taught me techniques for creative writings. Later in my MBA admission journey, I was looking for improving my interviewing skills… I like his structured approach to every request I had… [W]e did mock interviews. Kristopher recorded the whole lesson and then divided it by interviewing questions. He provided audio files with a thorough analysis of pronunciation, intonation, and figures of speech for every question. Overall, I am very grateful for all the tremendous work done by Kristopher! He taught me English in a way no one does before. Kristopher lighted my learning journey with anecdotes, jokes, and fun! .” — Marina Stepanenko