Tag Archives: postal

Japan Cottage Musings

Time Travelers in a New Year ~ Japan Cottage Musings

Video 1 Comment

Quickly before running a bath, Dave – regaining equilibrium – discusses creation of a slightly-delayed but very-pleasurable project, ergo: “Time Travelers“ handmade cards including outfits, printing techniques and paper choices, fire hazards, inky & postal stamps, and fingerprints.

Plus riffs about carrying on in strange times, wonderful events, fountain pens and puppets. And expressing gratitude to friends who sent cards and letters, often reciprocated by Hokusai woodblock prints and/or “cheap and cheerful” time traveler cards.

++

Consider Perusing:

Japan Cottage Musings

Books by Post – Japan Cottage Musings

Video 1 Comment

+ Books by Post / Japan Cottage Musings catch-up riff +

Wearing stolen hotel pyjamas, Dave riffs about: Larry Harper’s “70” variety collection, various Richard Brautigan items (Rick Lupert’s Van Nuys Tokyo Express, William Hjortsberg’s Jubilee Hitchhiker, and “the world’s mightiest hat” gift from Marty and Willis), then onwards to the legendary Joan Anderson letter from Neal Cassady to Jack Kerouac, and Jack Micheline’s poems and ephemera… also riffs about analog and digital creative symbiosis and and namechecks Douglas Coupland and others… plus importantly, Ichiro bathtime, Ryoko’s chainsaws, and the usual postcards. Yowza.

Fondly from Tsuchida Cottage, Okayama, Japan.

Consider Perusing:

Post'd (cards + letters)

Post’d: usual dossiers of art, poetry and ephemera (and tea)

Image Leave a comment

The usual, ergo:

dossiers of art, poetry and ephemera

scrapbooks of same(ish)

piles to Post offices.

Also tea.

PS I enjoy this sort of activity on many levels for sure, i.e.: find playing with scissors and glue and pens very pleasant and, like the thought of spreading a little bit of goodness to various places around the world and, going to the post office gives me a little manageable errand.

I have a hard time getting “out and about” and really have to minimize screen time so this allows me to communicate and create and keep my brain active.

In these dossiers, i included prints of my paintings, bits of poetry, various insta snapshots, and letters on expired aerograms etc.

Enjoy the goodness / (of course) my address is available and you can sign up for Postal Club. I hope you hang on your fridge or put in a shoebox. 

Consider Perusing:

Shoebox

Poem: post office closed (again)

Image Leave a comment
Poem: post office closed (again)

Post office closed
(again)
You’ll need another
day to know
you are loved
by a lost poet
without a watch

Consider Perusing:

Personal Musings

Diary: Tie dyes for Ichiro + Deadhead treats from Brother/Uncle Dan

Leave a comment

{Catching up with…} Leading up to Ichiro’s birth, another wonderful package arrived – this one from brother Dan (with postal assist by brother Bob) containing an assortment of handmade treats and other related goods.

Most noteworthy were a variety of tie-dye t-shirts including one for papa (hello!), mama and the forthcoming-at-the-time baby in our “family tartan“ which he also made for various brothers and nieces and nephews. Will make a splendid family photo one day. 

In the meantime, here’s two of us, and the tie-dyes on standby for little Ichi-Stan.

Also in the mix there’s a few gifts of soccer scarves for some friends Dan met during his last visit and, a variety of Grateful Dead socks for us and the notable Deadhead/goat farmer Mac.

Ichiro being extra special got an additional tie-dye which, paired with his various bibs and hats would be extra cool.

Thanks brother/in-law-uncle Dan for being so thoughtful and we’ll soon I’ll put on our tie-dyes for a photo with the young nephew.

Note: Dan learned his tie-dye trade, well perfected it anyway, from Lance who along with Leslie were proprietors of Aaron’s Tie-Dyes for many years. Dan and I were able to assist – in my case, purely as a “road trip logistical assistant”, and indeed, it was the tie-dye is that introduced me to Lance and his cohorts other then-new ISP (OlyWa.net) in a totally life-changing coincidence of asking for change for laundry machine.

 

 

Consider Perusing:

Post'd (cards + letters)

Ichiro: Telegram, rec’d

Image Leave a comment

Why yes, we do accept telegrams here at Tsuchida cottage / No Time Machine required. #io

Consider Perusing:

Personal Musings, Post'd (cards + letters)

Mail Box Open for Delivery / Postal Info and Tips

3 Comments

Postal mail is now making the journey across oceans successfully. As such, you are invited to send letters, cards, dossiers and packaged goodness to your forthcoming lil pal Ichiro Stanley Thorvald Olson.

+ Service +

Use your national postal service (assuming they are operational) and/or DHL (better for Japan then FedEx or UPS) or if available in your area, the fantastic “Yamato / Black Cat” courier service.

+ Coordinates +

Ichiro Olson
c/o Dave, Ryoko
937-1 Tsuchida, Naka-ku
Okayama-shi, Okayama-ken
703-8217 Japan

You can get fancy and print out this if desired #extracredit
〠703-8317 岡山県岡山市中区土田９３７ー1

If asked for a phone number, please use:
Ryoko Olson: +81 9075095064

If you misplace this address, its easily accessed via FB, Twitter, daveostory.com &/or search “Dave Olson uncleweed postal address” via preferred search engine.

+ Pro Tips +

When using national postal service for packages bigger than a card/letter, use the “Small Packet” option / saves money from “regular” airmail.

If sending books/magazines you can use “Printed Matter” service which again will save money (usually sent via Surface Air Lifted).

You will need to complete a customs declaration including assigning a value. Just add a nominal amount – *we know its priceless* but this is for customs duty, not insurance.

Of course, ensure you have a legible return address in case the system is thwarted by various apocalypse. We will do best efforts to let you know when your kind sentiments have arrived. Continue reading Mail Box Open for Delivery / Postal Info and Tips →

Consider Perusing:

Post'd (cards + letters)

Post: Jack Kerouac Bonanza from Lowell, Mass

Image Leave a comment
Kerouac postal pack Lowell Massachusetts
Kerouac postal pack Lowell Massachusetts

Postal mail has been a little bit lean of late due to various restrictions and delays and whatnot but wow, the dam burst big-time with a remarkable packet from Lowell, Massachusetts containing a bonanza of Jack Kerouac ephemera and artifacts, along with a lovely handwritten letter compiled into a mini chap book.
There’s more to it than this humble snapshot can contain and taking my time to savour it all (and not shockingly, add stickers to suitcases and laptops).

Reciprocation underway but this is a hard one to match > Going to have to pull out all the skills.

Fantastically #grateful for all the mail and today, especially this one.

Consider Perusing:

Post'd (cards + letters)

Post’d: Aerogramme Rec’d from Ends of the Earth, Jan/Feb. 2020

Leave a comment

Aerogrammes from South Georgia, postcards from Antarctica… present reality of our postbox in Okayama from an intrepid traveler nephew / distiller

Consider Perusing:

Post'd (cards + letters)

Post’d: Cards, rec’d from farthest reaches of ocean & continents (Jan. 2020)

Image Leave a comment

Another postcard bonanza (“bonanza” used again for pal in Dubai) from such remote areas and the ghost of Shackleton)

Ergo: assorted British Overseas territories (disputed) Falkland Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, and Argentina on the way to Antartica.

Have some geography fun and track down these locations on a map and follow along the rambles of a fine Son of Vancouver.

Bonus: The Weakerthans sing about Shakleton (the explorer who’s influential book is pictured upon the black/white card) in Our Retired Explorer (Dines with Michel Foucault in Paris, 1961)

Consider Perusing:

Post'd (cards + letters)

Post’d: Cards Received, Jan. 2020, various

Leave a comment

What a postal bonanza of late!

Dispatches from Budapest, Nozawa onsen, Connecticut, Vancouver, Valencia + Kanazawa’s D.  T.  Suzuki museum added to say “wonderful” (which is what i think of these treats). 

Note: There was also a jet black envelope which is beyond your security clearance… and a box of new curtains which is purely practical and just happened to be delivered.

Also some black pepper but that’s a whole other story.

Consider Perusing:

Static Montages

Re-Building Triptych: part 3, Replenish

Image Leave a comment
Re-Building Triptych: part 3, Replenish
Re-Building Triptych: part 3, Replenish

Consider Perusing: