Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Countdown to New Year


The countdown to 2014 has begun! In Las Vegas, the biggest party of the year is tonight that include concerts, celebrity-hosted parties. Fireworks will be shot from casino rooftops of Stratosphere Tower, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Caesars Palace, Aria, Planet Hollywood, and MGM Grant. New to this year: a special "count up" to midnight, on the side of the Stratosphere Tower, will start 10 seconds before midnight.

Postcard US-2025670 to Belarus shows the fireworks from Stratosphere on January 1, 2013.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Fröhliche Weihnachten und viel Glück im neuen Jahr


"Merry Christmas and Good Luck in the New Year" via postcard DE-2752397 from Germany. It also came with a wise quote "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". Perfect for the New Year!

Sunday, December 29, 2013

2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk, Belarus


Postcard BY-1073799 from Belarus was one of the earliest Christmas themed cards that I received. It arrived in the mid November with Santa Claus playing ice hockey. It turns out that Minsk, the capital of Belarus, will host the 2014 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship from May 9 to May 25, 2014. Good luck and Congratulations!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmasland in New Taipei City


Christmas may be over, but Christmas cards are still pouring in. The latest addition was postcard TW-1107953 from the Christmasland (新北市歡樂聖誕城) in New Taipei City, Taiwan. In addition to usual Christmas trees, decorations and concerts, there was a Christmas Post Office with a special pictorial stamp! The profit from the postcard sale benefited public charities.

Friday, December 27, 2013

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!


US-2518598 to Germany
According to USA Today, UPS was overwhelmed by a large number of Christmas packages, many of which were delayed nation-wide and would not arrive until today.

On a different note, quite a few postcards I sent to Christmas, Florida to get their postmarks reached their destinations without any postmarks. Postcard US-2518598 to Germany was one of them. Tracking information shows the package that contained those cards was delivered to the Christmas, Florida on November 25, 2013. I had attached post-it notes on the cards to request cancellations. If the "Christmas, FL" postmarks were applied, they would have made great Maxi cards.

US-2521528 (left) and US-2518598 (right) with postmark request notes
Similarly, postcard US-2521528 to Belarus didn't get any postmarks for the stamps either on the front or on the back. However, it did score a Belarus postmark on arrival. Maybe the bar code on the bottom would tell where it had been and what happened.

US-2521528 to Belarus
A couple of cards from the same package did get a  machine cancellation.


So, for those who received my postcards without "Christmas" postmarks, I initially felt horrible because I promised something that was eventually not delivered in spite of extra money, time, and effort that I spent -- The Grinch literally stole the "Christmas" from the cards. The Grinch is a bitter, grouchy, cave-dwelling fictional character, created by Dr. Seuss, who stole Christmas presents and expected to cause bitterness and sorrows. But to his dismay, he still hear the singing joyous Christmas songs from people who lost presents. I was overwhelmed by recipients' comments that how much they like the cards, with or without the promised postmarks.

In the end, Christmas is more than presents; and a sincere greeting is more than a postmark. For those whose Christmas gifts are delayed, hope you are grateful when you eventually receive the package. Someone special is thinking of you, and the holidays are not over yet.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Happy Holidays from the Netherlands


The holiday spirits continue with today's new arrival NL-2237831. On the back of the card are many snow flakes from a rubber stamp.  

Wednesday, December 25, 2013