In the December Gift Exchange thread, Shan mentioned the idea of a old fashioned, ink and paper, snail mail pen pal.
I for one love the idea.
Is there anyone who would like to be my pen pal, or is interested more generally?
[ November 23, 2005, 01:25 AM: Message edited by: imogen ]
Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
I'd go for it, I love getting real mail. Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Me too. Especially when it's travelled a bit.
Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
Yeah, I recieved a letter today from a friend who lives several states away, and it made me extremely happy.
Posted by james01 (Member # 8863) on :
Where are you from?
Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
I'm from Arizona, United States. What about you?
Posted by james01 (Member # 8863) on :
New York State
Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
I've always wanted to visit there. Seems like a pretty exciting place.
Posted by AYC (Member # 8859) on :
I'm new to posting on the forum, but if anyone wants, i'm up for it. I also live in NY state.
Posted by james01 (Member # 8863) on :
goose: Depends on what part you're in.
AYC: Where?
Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
James, so what would be a "good part" to visit? Not that I see a visit anywhere in the near future, but you never know. . .
Posted by james01 (Member # 8863) on :
Well, the city is fun. There are places that have nothing to do, like small towns and stuff. Buffalo has Niagra Falls and you can go to Canada from there but the city itself isn't much.
Posted by Kitsune (Member # 8290) on :
Oooh! This sounds fun I'm from California.
Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
Good to know, I'll keep that in mind if I ever am able to get enough money to make it up there. At this point it seems highly unlikely that such a trip will ever happen, but hey a girl can dream. *sigh*
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I'm in Australia. Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
Australia is another place on my "if I could I would visit" list. So, how are we going to set this pen pal thing up?
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I'll be somebody's pen pal.
But they will need fantastic letter recognition skills.
My hand writing is awful.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I'll leave it for a day more or so, and see how many people we have interested.
Then I'll come up with a fiendishly clever organised scheme. Posted by Kitsune (Member # 8290) on :
How many stamps do we need to send out of our country? ._. I never tried Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
usually you dont need that much extra, but you need an air mail stamp I think.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
A letter weighing <1 oz costs 80c to send to Australia.
Posted by Kitsune (Member # 8290) on :
Cool, cool. Hehe, wow, now I'll have something to do during boring classes at school Posted by esl (Member # 3143) on :
<-- interested
I'm very curious to know what your fiendishly clever organised scheme is, imogen.
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
I'd be interested as well.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
The scheme is yet to be dreamt up.
But rest assured it will be fiendishly clever and organised!
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Imogen, send me your address. I'll write the first one.
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
I would be interested in something like this, but I have this problem about remembering to buy stamps. I hardly ever use them so I just never think about it.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I'm also interested! I live in the US (Indiana to be specific), but I'm from Israel originally. Yay I want to do this with someone! We should pair off or something.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
This might be really interesting!
I live in the UK, though, and I have no idea how much it would cost to send letters to America. It's been so long since I used anything but e-mail. *sigh*
I do have some really nice, perfect-for-letter-writing stationary, just waiting for an excuse to be used.
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
Is it ok to type up the letter and print it and mail it? I don't know if I can write with those stick things anymore. Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I'd say you should strive to write it by hand. Maybe include a typewritten copy for the sake of clarity.
Posted by human_2.0 (Member # 6006) on :
I was just kidding... I think I still know how to use a stick... er.. um... pencil thingy.
Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
w00 w00!! I want part in this!
Posted by jennabean (Member # 8590) on :
I've always wanted a pen pal! I send an obscene amount of letters to family and friends, but they always respond via e-mail or phone. I'd love someone who would write back...
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I wanna!
On a related note, anyone have kids that want pen pals? My seven year old daughter and eight year old son could use the reading and writing skills practice...
Posted by Kitsune (Member # 8290) on :
Why don't we all put our locations, ages, genders, etc etc somewhere, like in a chart?
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
I too love to get postcards and the like. Count me in!
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
I'd be game for this. Real mail is a very good thing.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
quote:Originally posted by jennabean: I've always wanted a pen pal! I send an obscene amount of letters to family and friends, but they always respond via e-mail or phone. I'd love someone who would write back...
Ahhh - I feel SO much better knowing I am not the only one!
I LOVE this "pen-pal" idea . . . *grin*
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
I love the pen-pal idea too, but unfortunately, I'm convinced I would make a very lousy pen-pal. I don't even return e-mails when I haven't talked or chatted with the person in a while. It's not malicious, I'm just not very good at the long-distance thing...
*sigh* Too bad, because having a pen-pal would be a cool idea.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
I'd love to have a pen pal, but I'd never have anything to write. In fact, the best anyone would probably get out of me is a brief note and a sort of crappy drawing.
Posted by BGgurl (Member # 8541) on :
Since getting real mail is also a rare thing for me, I'd definitely be interested!
Posted by AYC (Member # 8859) on :
I'm right on the Hudson river in NY, near Highland Falls, if you know where that is. Who is gonna organize this stuff? Again, i'm definately game.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
quote:Originally posted by pfresh85: I'd love to have a pen pal, but I'd never have anything to write. In fact, the best anyone would probably get out of me is a brief note and a sort of crappy drawing.
What's wrong with that, pray tell?
I still have the peice of string my smart aleck sister mailed me when we were teens in response to my complaints that no one seemed to write back.
Get it? *eyes alight with eager anticipation* I told her to "Drop me a line" and she mailed a piece if string.
*ignores the groans*
See - it's not just me that can't pun. It's a genetic thing! Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Well nothing's wrong with it. I just didn't want to get anyone's hopes up if they got tagged with me as pen pals.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Of course, nothing's wrong with it! I, myself, would be very pleased by a brief note and drawing.
*smiles*
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Ok, I have thought and come up with a (mildly) clever plan. Fell short of fiendish, I'm afraid.
Everyone who wants to:
Email me (imogen.saunders AT gmail.com) with your name and postal address and let me know: - How many pen pals you would like - Whether you would like a domestic (US) / international pen pal or whether you don't mind - Your age(ish) - Whether you want someone close in age to you or you don't mind.
I will then pair people up, and send out the pairs early next week.
Of course, if you have seen someone on this thread you really want to write to, you can just email them directly. Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
Email sent. Thanks!
Posted by Altáriël of Dorthonion (Member # 6473) on :
Hey, Imogen, I want to participate, but I can't right now because as you probably know, I'm moving from where I currently live at. I'll let you know in about two weeks.
Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
Hmm, I've NEVER done this. Also, I think I haven't written more than 5 lettes in my life. I'm a computer's child. :le sigh: So... why not? And I'm with human_2.0 on this, I'll have to annex a printed copy of what I write.
And I just sent imogen an email with this.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
I sent my e-mail just now.
Posted by aiua (Member # 7825) on :
You'll never believe it, but I too sent my e-mail!
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
E-mail sent!
Posted by sillygoose (Member # 1616) on :
I'm in! I just sent my e-mail.
Posted by AYC (Member # 8859) on :
sent mine as well
Posted by Cali-Angel-Cat (Member # 8799) on :
I had Pen pals in high school. This sounds like a cool idea.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
I've been going back and forth on this...it's an awesome idea, but I don't know if I can be counted on to reply reliably.
But what the heck. I like sending and receiving "real" letters. I'm in!
*going off to send email*
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I sent mine as well. Posted by Hamson (Member # 7808) on :
This is a cool idea. There's just something so much more appealing about writing a real letter, even though I've probably only done it when forced to do it for school. And there it's never for fun.
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
Well, I sent mine. Like I said, I don't know how good a pen pal I'll be, but I'll do my best. Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Ok - Just read everyone's emails.
I will start pairing up and probably get back to you all tomorrow, ok?
I was going to both email everyone about it (including addresses) and post it on here (no addresses) so everyone would be clear on who they got. Let me know if people aren't ok with that.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
*bump*
Haven't done it yet, but I will, I promise.
They'll be up by Wednesday 23rd.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
I'll apologize beforehand to whoever gets paired with me. If you send me a letter in December, you may not get a response back until January (unless I get the letter in the first day or two of December). That's what happens when you go home for the holidays.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
The emails are being sent!
I haven't included people's hatrack names because not all of you sent them to me.
For the same reason, I won't be posting the pairs here.
Have fun everyone!
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
*goes to check email*
Thanks for doing this, imogen. Should be fun. Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
No problems!
They are all sent now - please anyone, let me know if you didn't get one.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
Got my e-mail. Maybe I'll send out a pre-emptive letter warning of my lack of correspondence until January.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Good idea. Posted by jennabean (Member # 8590) on :
Thanks for organizing it!!! Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
Thanks imogen! Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
Cooool. Now to find out where the post office is...
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
Would someone like to have a Brazilian pen pal?
Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
Sure! That would be fun. Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Imogen - like the sorting hat, but cooler. Thank you! Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I like the nifty stamps that show up on letters from other parts of the world!
Imogen, I e-mailed another e-mail connecting the 'rack SN to the RL name! Hope that helps!
*feels silly for not having done so to begin with*
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Thanks Shan. I probably could have worked it out but I didn't want to get it wrong and start emailing someone else entirely. Posted by desta (Member # 8777) on :
I want a pen pal. I remember in elementary school one year, when our entire class wrote letters to other kids, and everyone in my class received responses, but me.
I'd like to give it another try!!
Posted by desta (Member # 8777) on :
Just sent off my email. Thanks again imogen!
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Desta - I've already sorted out everyone that emailed initially.
If someone else signs up, I'll let you know and make them your pen pal.
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
Imogen - thanks for sending me the address! Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
Man I would do this, but I end up sucking at correspondence in the end. I'm usually too busy and then forget.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
That's kinda how I am kojabu.
I had pen pals in grade school and loved it.
But now I have a hard time even keeping up with e-mail, and I hardly ever write FAMILY members that I need to write out of state.
so while I wish I could say "sign up me" I'm afraid I would disappoint someone terribly by not holding up my end. So I'd better not.
FG
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Wheee! I sent my pen pals their letter, and guess what . . . THEY BOTH WROTE BACK!
How exciting!
Posted by dh (Member # 6929) on :
So far my prediction has been true. I'm a very bad pen pal. I haven't written a single letter yet. Mostly because I've been rather busy and haven't had time to sit down and figure out what you are supposed to write in a first pen-pal letter. *sigh*
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I've written about half a letter. I suppose I could just sign it and send it as-is...
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
I've partially written a note and drawn a picture. In the next week though, I'll definitely get it done and out. It's my goal for next week.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
I wrote my penpal and sent it last week but I know it will take a long time to get to Australia.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I haven't writted. *hangs head in shame*
I've been busy moping (Tony is in Antartica) but I will. This week. I promise!
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Let me know when you get my letter (just post) so I know how long it will usually take to get to you. Also, let me know when it was postmarked (I forgot the exact date).
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Will do. Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I'm part-way through writing a letter, but this is an absolutely crazy week for me, so it might not get done for a few days, unfortunately.
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
Add me to the bad pen pal (so far) list. I'm in end-of-semester hell for the next week or two, but after that, letters will be written!
Posted by jennabean (Member # 8590) on :
The key to being a good pen pal is... well, forget the keys. Seriously. I locked myself out of my house and suddenly found enough time to write everyone letters!!
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
And postcards are a nifty way of saying hi, too! Posted by Corwin (Member # 5705) on :
Hey, Nell! I'm planning on sending the letter on Friday or Saturday when I send the gift for the "gift exchange" thing. Efficiency! And don't worry about the end-of-semester thingy, I'm in the same... uh... situation as you are.
quote:Originally posted by jennabean: The key to being a good pen pal is... well, forget the keys. Seriously. I locked myself out of my house and suddenly found enough time to write everyone letters!!
Won't work for me. I need to write in my room where nobody sees how many times I rewrite the letter until I'm sure the other person is able to read it. Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
I love you guys.
I was having such a bad day and I got home to find not one but *two* letters and postcard in my letter box.
*dances*
Thanks Val & jennabean!
I will write back straight away.
Val - As far as I can tell yours is postmarked the 28th November (it's kinda blurry) so that took (counts) 8 days. Not bad!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)