Snail Mail Writing List

[GreenVelvet]

I'd love to throw my hat in to the snail-mail ring.

 

I'm a longtime, passionate devotee of the old-fashioned, handwritten snail-mail letter. I write many, many letters to long-distance friends and former students, but very few of them write back regularly. I'm happy to write more than I receive but the empty lonely mailbox is a bit of a downer. I'm a little leery of the "introduce myself to a penpal stranger" idea, but the FPN folks seem very genuine and interesting (and non-creepy), so here I am. I have far, far, far too much stationery (my friends call my collection "eclectic") and I really need to use it to justify all the purchases!

 

I've only been a FPN member for a few months, and have mostly lurked, but as a singer/voice teacher with a lot of free time in the summer, I can devote a little more time to these fun hobby forums. I've been a fountain pen user since I was in high school (I'm 31 now), used to be the proud owner of a buttery Montblanc and a large vintage collection including my grandfather's top-condition Parker 51, but I lost them all in a hurricane. (Long story.) I'm slowly acquiring new FPs, which now includes a lot of dinky but fun cheap plastic disposables, a Waterman Phileas, and a Sheaffer Agio. It's probably time to buy another nice FP but I can't make up my mind on which! (Suggestions welcome.)

 

Other bio info: blissfully married, Jewish, voracious reader of modern fiction/literature with some high-quality SF and fantasy thrown in for fun (my hubby is an English teacher so I get great recommendations). No kids, 3 very spoiled cats. Love my houseplants but have to grow things that the cats won't eat, so I have mostly some herbs and lots of pelargoniums/scented geraniums.

 

I'd love to hear from anyone who sees some similar interests and wants to write. If you give me your address I'm always happy to start out with the first letter.

[succubus]

Well, this is the fourth day this week without "real" mail I've gotten spoiled; I got something like 7 pieces of mail one day last week. I think I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms. So I'll throw my hat into the ring again, with a link to my original post. If nothing else, I write back quickly.

 

 

[le chat serein]

I, too, would love to enter the snailmail fray.

 

I'm a 20 y/o full time student of English Lit at Penn State University from Pittsburgh, PA. As far as bios go, mine is on the less interesting side, I suppose. I read a lot (favorite authors include Dumas, Kipling (though he was a racist SOB), Tolkien, Nabokov, etc.), but my favorite hobby is fencing. I've studied swordplay for 9 years, and that doesn't seem likely to stop any time soon. I'm also an avid student of philosophy and religion (being atheist/agnostic, but mostly interested in why people believe what they do) and am very interested in any discussion of them. As far as my interests affect the letter-writing, though, I should just add that, though my interests are reasonably few and rather obscure, I take great pleasure in learning from my friends, so I'd be happy to read/write about the interests of others.

 

I try to snailmail a few friends, my little sister, and a cousin pretty often, so I'm already practiced at getting the letters out. Don't get too many in return, though, so perhaps this will help with that. Snailmail address on request.

 

Hoping to hear from someone soon,

 

Adam

 

*EDIT* PM me or email me at afm144@psu.edu for mailing address.

Edited June 29, 2008 by le chat serein

[MiniMaupassant]

Can I join in? What a fab way to use all those pens, ink and pads of paper that I've been collecting.....

I'm 31, live in the UK and love reading (and writing), theatre, cinema, music, shopping.....! Although there is a lot I do love about modern life, such as my iPod and laptop, I really enjoy the experience of writing with a smooth fountain pen and then watching my handwriting take shape on the page.

I can definitely promise snails in all different colours, as I must have a collection of around 40 inks at the moment..... let me know if you have any preferences!

PM me for snail address.

Leonie

Edited July 5, 2008 by MiniMaupassant

[dbwooley]

im david, from adelaide, australia, medical student at university. i used to row, and ride, but due to some major back issues i now resort to riding my road bike on an indoor trainer, ive only recently got into pen 'collecting' and using different inks, i love all those little things that most others dont; cufflinks, watches, ties, wallets, etc. think it would be fun to write some letters, so yea, if your up for it shoot me a pm.

[calliej]

Rather than scanning through all these posts looking for people to Pm thought I may as well just throw my name out there.......

 

I am 39, living in south west UK currently a mature student studying Remote Sensing & GIS. Still think I'm 17 most of the time but my body has most definately started to remind me that I am not and I wonder who it is staring back at me in the mirror sometimes.

 

My interests are wide ranging - music, film, good food, good company. I am a knowledge junky and will study just about anything - my passions include books of all kinds, science, archaeology, psychology, philosophy, future sciences, meditation, creating colour and sound......... well just about anything really.

 

I have a very vocal outlook on life so if you are feeling brave Pm me.

[rogerb]

Well, this is the fourth day this week without "real" mail I've gotten spoiled; I got something like 7 pieces of mail one day last week. I think I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms. So I'll throw my hat into the ring again, with a link to my original post. If nothing else, I write back quickly.

 

Got yours very swiftly today, succubus, thanks, and have written a reply...this will go to UK tomorrow and be in UK post on Thursday.

(Quicker than Spanish post, generally, I think....and the PO queues aren't as long!)

[kaos]

Hello,

 

I have a couple of pen pals that are friends that have moved away over the years, but I have always wanted the traditional pen pal from a foreign nation. Pen Pals from anywhere in the US are also fine with me. I just really enjoy sending and receiving real letters via snail mail, as well as making new friends. You can never have too many friends.

 

I am a 45 year old engineer that lives and works in Anchorage, Alaska. I am married, have one son, two dogs, two cats, two lizards, a snake, and a bird. I love outdoor activitites, I hunt, fish, hike, camp, etc. For those who wonder, I do eat what I catch or kill, I am in it for the meat, not the trophy.

 

I have used fountain pens since I was a child, as my grand parents still used them, wish I had those pens now.

 

If you are interested, please PM me for an address, or just send your address and I will get a letter out to you.

Edited July 10, 2008 by kaos

[Rocket Jones]

Ted here, and I'm looking for good ol' fashioned pen pals.

 

A little about me:

 

"Rocket Jones" is a literal description of my state of mind. I love to design, build and fly rockets, from small Estes style models all the way up to large high-power beasties designed to go miles straight up. Our rocketry organization spends a good amount of time working with kids, having fun flying rockets and hopefully inspiring them to further pursue sciences and maths in school and life.

 

Personally, I work with computers to pay for pens, rocket motors and doodads for my various hobbies. I'm married with three grown kids. Other members of the family include a dog and three house rabbits, each of which displays a remarkably distinct personality.

 

I live in Northern Virginia, a little south of Washington DC. If you'd like to come out to see real amateur rocket science in action, our club flies monthly just west of Manassas and everyone is invited. Smoke, fire, noise... what's not to love?

 

 

 

 

[succubus]

Another 7-letter day - woo hoo!

 

Letters from UK, Spain, New Zealand & Sweden, as well as my from regular US correspondents.

 

Responses to all should go out by tomorrow! (I used the fallow time to stock up on postage.)

 

Thanks!

 

Well, this is the fourth day this week without "real" mail I've gotten spoiled; I got something like 7 pieces of mail one day last week. I think I'm suffering withdrawal symptoms. So I'll throw my hat into the ring again, with a link to my original post. If nothing else, I write back quickly.

 

Got yours very swiftly today, succubus, thanks, and have written a reply...this will go to UK tomorrow and be in UK post on Thursday.

(Quicker than Spanish post, generally, I think....and the PO queues aren't as long!)

[GreenVelvet]

I had my best letter day ever this past Saturday, with 8 letters arriving that day!

 

Here's a pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenvelvet/2670835249/

 

I have to note that FOUR of them came from FPN members! If anyone doubts that this list is actually useful, doubt no more: I've been amazed by the interesting and dedicated letter-writers!

[fatehbajwa]

I had my best letter day ever this past Saturday, with 8 letters arriving that day!

 

Here's a pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenvelvet/2670835249/

 

I have to note that FOUR of them came from FPN members! If anyone doubts that this list is actually useful, doubt no more: I've been amazed by the interesting and dedicated letter-writers!

 

Wow........congratulations...ages since I had a day like that.

[succubus]

Here's a pic:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenvelvet/2670835249/

 

Ha ha - I see my letter. (Yoda stamp.) And I recognize (and share) at least two other of your correspondents.

 

All of the ones I receive at work are FPN - people I know "in real life" have my home and/or post office box addresses. It really helps break up the day to receive them at work and gives me something interesting to do at lunch and before my evening activities.

[Carrie]

Wow, I don't think I ever had that many letters in one day even when I was at uni which was the time I had the most penpals. Apart from a couple of regular correspondents from here letters these days seem to be few and far between.

[Defacto]

Wow........congratulations...ages since I had a day like that.

 

 

Sorry mate, can't increase the speed of the mailmen................... :roflmho:

And I can't write with two hands on the same time....

I could save them and send them all together, but then again............... You would be out of mail for a couple of weeks......

 

 

BFN

 

Nic

 

 

[DaleR]

I always tell myself I'm going to write more letters, and this looks like the way to do it The only mail I receive nowadays is junk mail...

 

I'm Dale, 41 years young, and I live in O'Fallon, IL, just over the river from St. Louis. I'm happily married to my beautiful wife of 16 years. I've served in the U.S. Air Force for over 22 years now. Being military, I've had the awesome opportunity to travel the globe, and I've lived in South Korea and Naples, Italy, as well as various points in the U.S. I have a B.S. in Human Resources, and I'm planning to start in on a Master in Public Administration in the Fall. I love to read, but I have a stack of books to catch up on and I bought three more this week! I read mostly works on American history and current events (although not necessarily about politics). I love classical, as well as classic rock music.

 

I've been involved with fountain pens for several years, and my obsession just keeps growing. I think my wife first realized I had a problem when I visited the Paradise Pen store in Costa Mesa, California, and purchased three pens! Since then, I've tried to be a bit more "budget-conscious", purchasing pens on e-bay. My "killer find" has to be the NOS 1948 Parker "51" I picked up at the Los Angeles Pen Show a couple of years back. I believe I was meant to use fountain pens...ballpoint and rollerball pens just don't "feel" right!

 

Anyway, enough about me...Drop me a PM if you like and maybe we can be pen pals!

 

Dale

Edited July 20, 2008 by DaleR

[Azurelion]

I just discovered this thread. It's been ages since I wrote a REAL letter. This sounds like fun!

 

I'm Jeff, 31, and I live in the Dallas, Texas area. Single, and currently a graduate student (I'm about to start my third and final year toward my MFA). While I've done some traveling, I've always lived in this same area. My first fountain pen was a blue Lamy Safari I bought from Levenger when I was in college the first time around, and it served me through a couple years of notetaking before getting packed away. Got back into pens a couple years ago, and managed to find it again (and add to the collection!) I'm interested in theatre and opera, history (Renaissance and Tudor history in particular), computing on my beloved Mac, and learning to take good photographs. I also was a performer at a Renaissance faire for a season and still like to visit them when I get the chance. I read lots of things, but I probably read mysteries the most. My personal reading challenge right now is to read the entire Agatha Christie oeuvre in publication order. (I've only just started, so it's going to take a while!)

 

Sad to say my only language is English - I had two years of French back in high school but it wasn't enough to really sink in.

 

 

Looking forward to finding some pen pals!

[handlebar]

While i have plenty of english speaking penpals,i really would like one or two german friends to write to.I want to get back into mein deutsch and it will go a long way to help.

So if any FPN members from Deutschland would like to correspond,please let me know.I can write in german and he or she in english if desired.

 

Jim

[hamadryad11]

Like handlebar, I would also like to find a native German-speaking pen friend. I speak it every day, but when I'm speaking, it's too easy to gloss over mistakes or substitute an English word if I can't think of the right one in German. Are there any Germans here who would like to let me practise on them?

[johnee]

I think I will join this thread!

 

I currently write to family (wife, mother, sisters, etc) but I like the idea of including others into that circle.

 

I live in Vermont which sometimes feels like a David Lynch story, but more about that when I write you.

 

My interests are wide and varied. Poetry, movies, the mysteries of the universe, the desert, data encryption algorithms, music, history of everything (but mostly the 40s-60s), etc.

 

I'm also thinking about telling an ongoing story and breaking it up into individual letters.

 

Let me know if you're interested, it should be fascinating!

 

John.