Getting back to it.

I wrote and sent 3 cards this week. You might remember this postcard. I got it from Neal but added my own twist when I went and saw bodyworlds for myself. Cute tip jar thing?
Sent off to Natasha who I have felt a guilt for not mailing in weeks. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

Europe postcards here I write,

Mathew John

Sent ~ July

This postcard was almost placed into it's own envelope and sent back to Victioria for Elyse. Natasha sent it but it is so Elyse. I talked about Fan Tan but my gosh it is so perfect.

I feel that I need to rendevous with Natasha before the year is out. Talk about love and failures. It's weird how much we share with each other. Can you be more honest and straight to the point when your strangers.

Other news...my penpal ship is back on with Megan E. and Katie S. Both disappeared from the radar. Both were lost after my 3 posts rule. Breaking it. That's the new me....rule breaker.

Other rules broken: Sent.

With a cell phone not working and ruining my life. I lost track so here's what I did have.

July 14
Peter
Aja

July 16
Erin

July 21
Mark
Natasha
Elyse
Sophie
Charley

July 26
Neal
Natasha
Erin
Elyse

Maybe more but I lost track and lost my memory.

Welcome to August,
Mathew

Back to it.

A letter that sat in my friend Mark's house. Every time I came over in the last two weeks he would show it to me or ask me to mail it off for him. Worth the wait. (Just like blogging again.)
Fan Tan Alley is one of those places I cannot get out of without spending 20 dollars. Victoria for the size of the city is so full of crooked corners and wonderous space. The city has the same type of citizen. Natasha is out playing her accordion with bravado. One day we will meet. anticipating laughs and tears.

Our written exchanges are deeply treasured to me. A remembered conversation loses it's honesty with time. The pen on paper is forever spontaneous and forever available.

This a story of Barbra day at Tam Tams. In Montreal on Sunny Sunday's a community has formed. Anyone with a drum or and ear, head down parc mountain to take part in the largest weekly drumming circle I have ever seen. The hot sun and the rhythm one with the lazy Sunday.

Back to it,

Mathew John

Same Day Same Way

Interesting haul yesterday. Both postcards from regular pals. Both postcards that they have had for along time. Both sharing stories of the moments of their lives attached to the card.

(Left-Natasha)

I wish my childhood was spent going to ski in Poland. Twelve was the first time I went skiing. No use for poles. No fear. Dislike for turning. All these things lead to disaster. Skiing does not appeal to me anymore. To learn to snowboard as well. (Too old now)

Oh I was surfing today and found the cutest envelope. Consider this idea stolen.

Sad that this blog will be taking a different format while I am away. Ce la vie.

(Right-Anja)

The Week.

You know how I love the back's on envelopes. (Erin G)

Here's 2 of my favourite cards. The elephant came in that wonder envelope. It folds into 3. Hallmark used to make so much magic with there cards but now they rely on corny jokes. The other card is from my mother. (and father) She just said "It seemed sweet like you and a little french." Merci Mama.

This week was busy finishing up all the assignment I need to graduate. Apologies for being away from the blog. (Well to Francine she reads like a bible)

Count on Natasha (left) and Elyse(right) to fill my life with cute boys. Che, DREAM BUCKET. I am a repulsed non-smoker, but man in that photo...yahoo. Power is totally hot. So is White Briefs.

Neal hit it on the nose what the next week will be like.

I just have to limit myself to one a day. Only when needed. No cups after 2PM. Only one per day, or else I will be up writing postcards all night. I have been working on my own cards. Really happy with the turn out. If you want one let me know.

Inside the card was this great Pink Balloon. I got me thinking about my childhood when the simplest things gave you hours of enjoyment. Totally pretending the balloon was my ballroom dancing partner and waltzed around the room. (Winning awards.)

Now I use this balloon to blow out some stress,

Mathew John

The Pre-Birthday.

Thank Elyse but most of the time I look hagard and confused. Each day i'm so lucky to getthe love and support from so many people. Blows my mind. Grateful.This is from natasha it is from the same artist as the velvet postcard a month ago. Next visit to the island i'm stocking up. Natasha and I are those independent people not always attached to a lover. As she wrote "they (her friends) don't think I should date just anyone, that my creativity and being is too much for the common man." This made my search, even though I am not searching, bearable. Love will come and I'm not waiting anymore.
Turn you head.
This comes from a first timer, Becky VB. It has a similar look to one by my other pen pals Becky. Weird? I never know how to scan in home made cards. It brought me back to days of my childhood playing with my sisters nail polish.

I did have a nice spring day.

Tomorrow I turn 23.

Watch out world,

Mathew John

The Week's Beauty.

The week I wasn't home I had alot of mail. Up top is a type written letter from Charley She cut out the cutest heart on the envelope.

A New-Old penpal Annalise. We worked together at the Gap and have a chance to live in Quebec this summer. Hopefully it will work out. (If only I could get news either way.)

Hello Natasha you brighten my day.

Anja, you brighten other things.

My friend Seema who disappeared to Montreal only to find out we lived only blocks from each other. This Atlantic City card was written in July but sent in March. I happen to do this all the time. I should write a post on how many half written/unsent postcards I have.

Kate K. is my idol. My teacher of history when I travelled abroad. She inspired me to become a teacher and i have sent her enough pieces of mail to create an actual correspondence.

The last 2 day I have had an empty mail box. Also coming down with the flu.

EIIK!

Mathew John

Much needed.

Sad to have 2 days in a row without anything.

I threw the mail down and this slipped out.

Hidden Gem.

Mathew John

Weeks that fly by.

As school get more demanding I try to not let myself get to distracted.

That why I got a little behind on my updates. This is my weeks haul.

Many great pieces. My girl Audrey, sent from my Girl Sophie. Sophie is the reason I came to know Elyse. We sailed around the world then lived in Montreal for a summer. She was going to Meet Elyse in Tennessee for a trip and her flight was cancelled and bags lost. Redirected through Chicago so she sent me 2 postcards this week. Hopefully we can go one day and see the city.

The top orange one is from Anja. Surprise Anja is my mystery pen pal from 2 entries ago. I can't wait to get the set of men in my mail box.

The blue one came from Natasha. Smooth. I could rub this on my face. (I also really like to smell velvet.) It did also help with the finger prints on my scanner.

Boy Hungry!!! Elyse has magic for finding little bits that fit my life. You know it's spring when every second person you see looks good. Oh and soon the blooms will be out. Good thing I have quit looking for love.

Lastly My final Valentine.~Erin I.~ Written on the 14th and sent from Toronto. 2 lovely lollipop bulged the envelope thick. Must have been considered a parcel since it took so long to arrive. Tree's and Deer do make hearts. My heart beats for this girl, we have only had 10 sentences and I'm sure it's gay man straight girl love.

I was up till 1AM writing away so check your mail boxes.

Off to nap on this sunny day,

Mathew John

FRIDAY!!!!

What a great way to end not only this week but this month. Up top is Hot chocolate from Neal. Hello. Amazing.

Below Postcard from Natasha. Cuteness level maxed out.
To my first month of blogging, hurray!!!
Mathew John

Throw away days.

Also titled Mat Days.

Days were I can't seem to accomplish anything and hide in my bed. Maybe I should stay up till 2AM watching TV DVD. (The Office season 3...will Jim and Pam get together?) I have written so letters today. One for Natasha and Neal as a reply to their latest letter. and One to Megan H. Megan I met in a church in Edmonton. She was a familiar face. I asked her how we would know each other. She replied with I helped her when I was buying groceries the day before. It was true but not the reason I knew her. After awhile I figured out I was friends with her friend on Myspace randomly. So i had seen her profile and picture for sometime. The Internet is dangerous, but amazing none the less. This was my 4th piece to her. Waiting for a reply. I did break my rule but I know she will come through.

Buying new stationary of letters as motivation to write more. I bought this great set of 12 cards from Knock Knock from winners for 6 dollars. Elyse always writes on the inside and then the back of a card. So sweet to fill up every corner. The above postcard came today. I can't wait to collect. Kisses all around. Oh and hugs. Everyone needs more hugs. Alot of my Pals have been jumping on planes and heading around. Can't wait to see the new finds and the great stories.

Mathew John

Some Pen Pals.

Well Miss Charley I think your swell too. Charley and I went to the same suburban highschool. But never found away to be friends. We ate dinner together for a mutual friends birthday. She is a vegitarian and ofcourse her pasta came out with chicken on it. Watching her awkwardness, i knew we should be friends. Then years later thanks to facebook we became internet friends. I told her to visit me in Montreal, she said visit her in Halifax. Boom weeks later I was sleeping on her floor. Then we boarded a 20 hour train and she slept on my bed.



This is a drawing Charley sent me. During my visit I bought this amazing print of hers. She spent her first year living in H-fax working with rust. It's a one of a kind using 9 flattend rusted cans. Magic. I'm not a painter or even a capital A Artist. Just a love and peace with writing down my thoughts and sending them away.

My newest pal is Natasha. We have never met. After recieving this first post card I knew she would get the good stuff in her mail box.


Lately I have been spending some time in Banff. But I have yet to see a deer there. As a child the place was overrun with Elk. BRING back the ELK. 2 tourist would die a year because of the elk. "Don't touch something alive that is bigger than you and not human"~Mathew John

'The Creaking Planks'

I received this post earlier this week. Natasha isn't in the photo but there is an accordian. That's how we met. She was just somegirl on the internet holding an accordian. Well more than holding it. Oh man. Find me a man who plays the accordian and I will be in heaven. (Even the glockenspiel...umm) After a little messaging back and forth. Boom pen pals. Only 2 pieces to make it to me so far but i'm excited for more.


Mathew John