Things that come in the mail that make you glad

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Somehow that reminds me of an Oliver Sacks title. Also, other riffs.

I'm speaking of the the bricks-and-mortar postal box. I now live with a community multi container thing, probably of galvanized steel, that is a weird joke, even a taunt, in contrast to the average home mailbox. Not to mention the really good copper ones I used to have brochures for.

What we may be glad not to see in our mail may have some commonality - missives from the IRS, or, if you are not in the United States, an equivalent state bureaucracy; a few of the many envelopes saying urgent that mean it.
Surely some enjoy junk mail, but I figure a zillion people don't.
Some enjoy the arrival of movie discs, magazines, actual handwritten letters or postcards. I do too. (Do people still get porn by mail?) But..

me, I look forward to the Penzey's catalog.

I'm not saying they're the premier purveyor of herbs and spices in the world - but they're pretty good at it, and ... I like the recipes. If I'm going to order, usually I'll pick them.
I've purchased various items, including a pepper grinder that still works these years later. I learn from their explanations. And this last issue, I tore out two recipes, one of which I'm trying this evening - for Cheese Straws and Crackers. They're just out of the oven, delicious. So, I'll probably also try the Poppy Seed Cookies.

I sound like a shill. But no. Do I routinely mention them, when I've gotten many many many catalogs? But even there is a reason to like them. They don't send me catalogs every five minutes. Just enough.

What's your favorite mail?

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I always love to see mail from my grocery store!

I use their "loyalty" card because they send you cash back coupons. Since the store sells everything I typically need in addition to food - shoes, jeans, toys, hardware, housewares, pet supplies, gasoline, etc. I spend quite a bit of money there.

Several times a year I get cash coupons from them along with great coupons for dollars off of fresh produce, meats, and dairy.

In addition they send out "best customer" coupons several times a year that have outrageous buys -- like a gallon of milk for 50 cents.

Seriously, I get a free trip to the grocery store several times a year. It's great!

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@ossobuco,

ossobuco wrote:

Somehow that reminds me of an Oliver Sacks title. Also, other riffs.

I'm speaking of the the bricks-and-mortar postal box. I now live with a community multi container thing, probably of galvanized steel, that is a weird joke, even a taunt, in contrast to the average home mailbox. Not to mention the really good copper ones I used to have brochures for.

What we may be glad not to see in our mail may have some commonality - missives from the IRS, or, if you are not in the United States, an equivalent state bureaucracy; a few of the many envelopes saying urgent that mean it.
Surely some enjoy junk mail, but I figure a zillion people don't.
Some enjoy the arrival of movie discs, magazines, actual handwritten letters or postcards. I do too. (Do people still get porn by mail?) But..

me, I look forward to the Penzey's catalog.

I'm not saying they're the premier purveyor of herbs and spices in the world - but they're pretty good at it, and ... I like the recipes. If I'm going to order, usually I'll pick them.
I've purchased various items, including a pepper grinder that still works these years later. I learn from their explanations. And this last issue, I tore out two recipes, one of which I'm trying this evening - for Cheese Straws and Crackers. They're just out of the oven, delicious. So, I'll probably also try the Poppy Seed Cookies.

I sound like a shill. But no. Do I routinely mention them, when I've gotten many many many catalogs? But even there is a reason to like them. They don't send me catalogs every five minutes. Just enough.

What's your favorite mail?

Gun magazines (the paper kind, that u read, not the metal kind),
Mensa publications informing of Regional Gatherings,
The Scientific American, the arrival of books or DVDs that I ordered
by fone or on-line, and other stuff that I ordered.

David

1 Reply

@boomerang,

I used to love the Eureka Co-op, but it wasn't thaaaaat good! I still hear from them once a year. Sentimental value..
There's a Co=op here, but fairly far away, and the one day Diane and I checked it out, the produce looked lame-o. I should give them another chance.

0 Replies

@OmSigDAVID,

Hi, David. I do like getting dvd's and books too. I'm not a gun follower, but can understand liking the catalogs and magazines. I get almost no magazines anymore and miss some of them.

One of them I miss was - even back then - my idea of rampant sillyness, but it helped form my views, or, as it happened, many antipathies. That was Architectural Digest, the magazine my business partner and I loved to hate, or, more precisely, almost hate. We'd look at it at lunch time on a slow day, or after work for a decompression period before we left for home, picking out what we liked and didn't, and talking about the 'whys'. Communication re verbalizing one's instant takes on this or that.

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@ossobuco,

The LL Bean catalogue - mostly for the lovely bright colours. I quite liked that once upon a time. I remember when the year teal and grey became a popular combo - that was the year I lost interest.

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I love seeing Jillians highlights magazine.

I remember years of those magazines when I was younger. It was my favorite then..

I think it still is now. Even beyond christmas cards, letters etc..

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@ehBeth,

Teal and Grey. I was wary of moving to new mexico because I figured I'd be in the land of turquoise, black, and peach/coral/rust forever.. as it happens, I haven't seen much of that.

I liked Eddie Bauer over Bean for reasons having to do with seeming lack of hunting stuff in their catalogs, back then. I don't mind that hunting exists, but joy of hunting culture stuff is a stopper for me. Don't remember the individual catalogs so much as that I got a great pair of brown suede boots from a Bauer catalog.

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@shewolfnm,

Next time I see one, I'll look harder, because of you...

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@ossobuco,

ossobuco wrote:

Hi, David. I do like getting dvd's and books too. I'm not a gun follower, but can understand liking the catalogs and magazines. I get almost no magazines anymore and miss some of them.

One of them I miss was - even back then - my idea of rampant sillyness, but it helped form my views, or, as it happened, many antipathies. That was Architectural Digest, the magazine my business partner and I loved to hate, or, more precisely, almost hate. We'd look at it at lunch time on a slow day, or after work for a decompression period before we left for home, picking out what we liked and didn't, and talking about the 'whys'. Communication re verbalizing one's instant takes on this or that.

Hi, Osso
In this computer-based age of interactivity,
perhaps u can have dialogues about the merits of specific architecture,
if that journal provides for that. We have that in some of our gun-based fora.
U might as well ENJOY life, Osso.

David

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

David, I do belong to many architectural news and talk sites.

This magazine does feature architecture from time to time, but is mostly a giant puff extravaganza for home decor purveyors. It's a commercial magazine - I wouldn't mention the word 'journal' in the same hour or day..
It's so anachronistic it is probably in again.
I don't think I know anyone who takes it seriously - but then I don't know everyone.
They've had some good photographers from time to time, though.

But back to communication - of course it's better, more challenging, more rewarding, to deal with people who are both knowledgeable and articulate, who will challenge even phrases of comments.

This magazine is/was not like that. All the letters to the editor are grovelling paeans. Why ever subscribe? Good question. I probably did, when I did, for the photography. I might say for cheap fun - but that would be wrong. I and we did like some articles, once in a while, for what the articles featured.

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@ossobuco,

On cheap fun, that's not quite right. I did like some of the magazine, sometimes. I didn't dislike the magazine existing, much as I mock it, and, re the articles, once in while.. paid attention.

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I love receiving love letters, gifts and tax rebates. Plus cards hand made by children. And exotic valentines. One day I hope to be rich enough to receive begging letter I can ignore

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@ossobuco,

The New Yorker.

Hand-written cards/ letters (as in, from friends and family).

Penzey's! (I know what you mean. I save 'em, have used several of their recipes.)

Stuff I've ordered (like photos, or a pattern I just got for cheap on eBay -- sozlet got an American Girl doll [sigh] from her grandma for Christmas and since the Official Outfits are incredibly expensive, I'll be making a lot. Sozlet is now really getting into sewing so she can help. So far I finished a robe that my mom started [one of those THIS is why I save and organize my fabric moments -- she wanted to go buy some fabric for it and I thought hmm, that snowflake print flannel remnant I bought like a dozen years ago would be perfect... and it was! and I found it immediately!] and made a complete dancing outfit [tulle, ribbons, etc.]. A coat and boot set is next.) (Digression, sorry.)

1 Reply

Dividend checks- LOVE to get those.

New York Magazine- For a short while, a can imagine that I am in Manhattan.

Blockbuster movies.

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I just received my first seed catalogs. Their timing is so good, right when the days begin to lengthen and hopelessly snow-bound people nevertheless turn their thoughts to the hope of spring. The pictures of green beans and full-blossomed flowers makes me happy.

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guitar center catalogs

1 Reply

@Bi-Polar Bear,

Sorry for not responding today..

all splendid responses.

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@sozobe,

perfect digression... v. much understand..

1 Reply

@ossobuco,

I recently got a book from my ex - I'd been asking if he still had it (when we split, it was his since he bought it) because I wanted to reread the scalloped potato recipe - very simple, involving slicing potatoes thinly into cooking milk - and I can't find it online. Not only that, but the book is now amazingly valuable.

He knows I need to sell stuff to accumulate some money... and mailed it to me.

Ahhh, pleasure to see, for sure.

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Things that come in the mail that make you glad

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