Did you ever sit on the phone and play music to a friend, or, better yet, read the lyrics to them? It's been a very, very long time since I did either of those things. I still love music, old and new, and find meaning in the lyrics, but now I put a playlist together and burn it to CD and send it out. (I still hear from people about a Giftmas mix I sent out a few years ago. People actually kept it and pull it out every season!)
Last year, I lost most of my playlists. I still have all of the music, but it's not as well-organized as it used to be without those thematic groupings. I've been skipping through my collection, trying to find songs for a new mix (CD), and I had this idea about sharing a song or two here, the reason I like it, and maybe even going old school and including some key lyrics*. I'm always looking for new music, so I'm inviting other bloggers to participate.
If you want to play, it's pretty easy. Post your first entry to your blog, making sure to use a label or tag specific to this topic (I'm using "mix tape"). Email me (see profile) your URL with that tag included (mine is http://melwritesletters.blogspot.com/search/label/mix%20tape). I'll check it out to make sure it's not spam and then add you to a page I'll create once I have my first joiner. No rules beyond that. If there is interest, I can put together a list of suggested themes, but there's no schedule other than being on Monday (ish). You can do as many songs as you want. That's it! (There are no original ideas & alliteration is easy - I just looked on Instagram and it's already a thing. But I already made the graphic, so... I'm rolling with it.)
My first picks
Disturbed: The Light
Starting out with something newer. I'm linking to the lyrics video, but if you go to it, there's a link to the official video (hard for me to watch because it's about an injured fire fighter & my father was on the local fire department pretty much my whole life until he retired)..
I bought the album after hearing their cover of Sound of Silence (next). The first time I heard this song, I was afraid (because I'm not religious), as unlikely as it was with an E (explicit) label, that it was another one of those rock numbers that alludes to religious themes to appeal to as wide an audience as possible**. Then I watched the lyrics video and relaxed. This song absolutely gives me shivers every.damn.time. I never listen to it once without hitting replay and if I'm in the car, watch out! I belt out the lyrics (off-key) at full volume. I've been through some dark places. Other people helped, but I was never going to come out the other side without digging deep and finding something in me.
Partial lyrics
An unforgivable tragedy
The answer isn't where you think you'd find it
Prepare yourself for the reckoning
For when your world seems to crumble again
Don't be afraid to turn away
You’re the one who can redefine it
Don't let hope become a memory
Let the shadow permeate your mind and
Reveal the thoughts that were tucked away
So that the door can be opened again
Within your darkest memories
Lies the answer if you dare to find it
Don't let hope become a memory
When you think all is forsaken,
Listen to me now
You need never feel broken again
Sometimes darkness can show you the light
Sickening weakening
Don't let another somber pariah consume your soul
You need strengthening, toughening
It takes an inner dark to rekindle the fire burning in you
ignite the fire within you
Disturbed:The Sound of Silence (cover)
My music collection contains both this version and the original. I listened to the Simon & Garfunkle version the other day, after listening to Disturbed's amazing cover over the last few weeks, and it (the original) seemed so fast. I'm not going to post lyrics for this one, because the song's been around longer than me (and that's saying something) and this version changed only the pace/arrangement. I love it because it's a haunting retelling of a song I grew up listening to and actually (in my opinion) surpasses the genius of the original.
*If you do this, be careful clicking on lyrics sites. A lot of them are virus-ridden. Check official sites first, and then have some kind of script-blocker going to protect your system. Or transcribe them yourself, old-school.
**Creed
A few days ago, I posted about my pen pal/mail log and promised free downloads and other details. If you want a pen pal log, but don't want to create your own, then use mine! These pages were designed for a disc-style 8½x5½" notebook/planner (print full letter-size sheets then cut in half). I created my log based on products I already owned, so it literally cost me nothing except paper & printing. Going out and buying all of these things just for this log can be pretty pricey, so you may want to research other binding options. (I am, and will update this post if I have anything to report.)
Files
Download these three PDFs and print as needed for your personal use (no selling or mass distribution).The files linked below have been saved to Google Drive. If you cannot access them, feel free to email me (see profile) and let me know which page(s) you want and I'll share via email.[Update: link to post with full-size pages.]
To-Do: is my letters to write sheet. I print this page single-sided, so I can see at a glance what letters I owe without flipping pages. It should work fine printed on both sides if you want to save paper.
Mail: is my individual pen pal log. This PDF has 2 pages; when printed correctly & cut in half, you will have two 2-sided log pages per sheet of paper. If possible, print on paper that is a little thicker/smoother than regular copy paper. The pages will be a little sturdier and you should be able to tape little notes with washi tape and remove/replace without damaging your sheets.
Enclosures2: is a slightly different page than shown in the previous post. Trying to have 4 different enclosures per page (two columns each side) was hard to keep straight, so I took this opportunity to tweak it a little. (I couldn't rearrange things, and if I ended up sending a lot of one item, there was no place to overflow.) I'm thinking about printing this 2-sided, but only using one sheet per enclosure. If you want the old version, with two columns, let me know.
Materials & Tools
Punch: Why is this listed first? Because quite honestly, the punch is probably the most expensive component if you're starting from scratch. If you you already have a punch that will work on 8½"x5½" paper then you're all set. If not, check with friends/family to see if anyone has anything in this size that you can use before you go shopping. (People are forever buying things for a planner system, then changing their mind (how do you think I have all this stuff sitting around?).) Unless you can easily afford to buy a whole other batch of stuff, find your punch first, then base your notebook and accessories on that.
If you're buying one for a disc-style notebook, I recommend the Circa portable punch; while it only punches a couple of sheets at a time, it's less than half the price of the full-size one from Staples that has a shallower punch (and is decidedly not portable).
A 3-ring punch might come into the printed area a little, but a punch intended for a planner that size (Franklin, Day Runner, etc.), will probably work, even if it has too many holes. This one from Staples (Amazon link for convenience) has mixed reviews but is not expensive and is the right size. One thing I've been trying to do is convert an old letter-size 3-ring punch to work for a mini binder. If I manage to succeed, I'll post an update. If you want to really save money and are willing to spend the time, make a template out of thick card stock, and hand-punch the holes.
Notebook: Once you know what kind of punch you have (or are going to buy), you can match a notebook to it.
Disc style: I re-purposed an old Arc notebook, but actually prefer Levenger's Circa notebooks (Junior size), because the punch goes a tiny bit deeper, which means the pages stay in the book a little better. Honestly, if you order from Amazon Prime, the basic Circa notebook is just $2 more than the Arc and is, in my opinion, the superior product.
Non-disc style or ringed notebooks: search Amazon for "avery mini binder" or dig up an old 8½x5½" planner.
Accessories:
Sticky Notes helped me remember to use this
Miss Piggy stamp
You don't have to buy dividers, although the heavier ones are nice for frequently-used sections. You can see in the video that I purchased one set, then made additional dividers with cardstock and stick on tabs*. The accessories from both brands** are pretty much interchangeable, which is helpful, in case you find a sale. In fact, on Amazon, you can order the Arc tabs for $4.99, with free shipping, which is less than half the price of the Circa dividers. For ringed binders, see the "mini binder" results on Amazon for pretty inexpensive tabs.
Sticky notes are pretty essential. I make little notes about all kinds of things and attach them to my pals' pages. Example: one of my pals used Muppet stickers on an envelope, and mentioned them in another context. I have Muppet postage stamps, so I made a note to make sure to use one of them on the next letter I sent. I transferred that note to the letter when I started to write it, so I'd remember when I stuck it in the envelope.
*Watch out - I accidentally bought "angled" tabs. I'm using them, but they bum me out.
Yesterday, I said I was suddenly a joiner. I wasn't kidding! Not only did I join the 5 Fandom Friday, but I'm going to be participating in the Month of Letters (LetterMo) challenge. I've committed to sending 24 pieces of mail during the month of February - every day except Sunday and the 29th.
If you want to play, go to the above link, then click on the "Sign Up" tab and register. We'll figure the rest out as we go! (I signed up as epicmel.)
It's a little intimidating, but I'm going to give it a go!! (I'll probably use the Sundays to get a little ahead of the game. I'm an anarchist, so I can do that kind of thing.)
In addition to joining stuff, I'm about to launch my own themed ...thing, the very originally named Mixed Tape Monday.
The first post will have all the details, but what I'm thinking of is picking a theme, sharing one or two songs (via YouTube videos or other media), and the reasons I chose the song(s) and maybe even share some lyrics.
If anyone else wants to play, I'll create a page to list all the participants, linking to their blogs.
Each participant would be free to pick their own theme. I can post a list in advance of what I'm thinking about doing if anyone would like some help.
So come back Monday for more about Mixed Tape Monday!!
I'm a joiner all of a sudden. I just joined The Nerdy Girlie's 5 Fandom Friday and hope to keep up with it. I discovered the blogalong (?) on a penpal's blog: The Unicorn Princess. I even made my own little banner! I'm joining something else and am starting another thing, so please come back tomorrow for those details!
This week's topic is: Favorite Late to the Game TV Discoveries. I know a lot people do these lists in reverse order of significance, but I'm just posting them in the order I think of them.
Babylon 5
This is my most recent discovery. Season one was tough to get through (I was warned of this by several people, including the friend who gave me the first set of DVDs), but it really picks up and gets fascinating very quickly in season 2. I got special, bonus geeker joy by responding to the intro for the first two seasons. Whenever the captain said "in the night," I would respond with "in the dark." (I'll send a goodie to the first commenter who gets the reference (offer expires 6 months from today).)
Doctor Who
I know, I know. Truth is, I was very aware of the show. Actually, probably more aware of The Scarf. But for some reason, it never crossed my radar growing up. I never saw a promo for it, or "coming up next" notice or anything. I didn't meet The Doctor until the show was revived in 2005, and boy howdy, was I all over it from the first episode. I've managed to see quite a bit of past Doctors, but not nearly enough.
I'm hiding the rest behind a cut, because all of these videos are going to make for a long scroll for someone that is not interested.
Two mail-related things happened last week that made me sad. First, after not getting any mail for a few weeks, my husband came home from the Post Office with a small stack of envelopes, none of which were posted recently; two had been mailed (domestically) before Christmas! We have no idea where it has been all this time - perhaps in the box of someone who doesn't visit often? I was able to notify all but one of the senders immediately online, and sent a post card to the last, so they knew I wasn't ignoring them.
The second thing that made me sad is the reason I'm finally doing a post on this subject. When I went to log that new stack of mail, I found a hole in my letters to write checklist: no checkbox where one should have been. Oh, crap! I wrote a lot of letters and cards over the holidays, but had neglected to respond to one. Luckily, the letter wasn't lost, and once aware of my mistake, I was able to make responding a priority. If I hadn't kept that log, however, I might have come across the older letter, assumed I had already answered it, filed it away and that pen pal would never have written back (having nothing to reply to), assuming I wasn't interested in corresponding.
This is why I keep a log. I'm sure everyone has some kind of system that works for them. Maybe a stack of letters to reply to. Maybe a spreadsheet or a simple to-do list. I use a redundant system to make sure I don't have to rely on my memory. It's in a book, which is harder to lose than a sheet of paper. It can also be changed easily if I find something in the future that works better. I know that not being able to arrange or remove pages would make me crazy, so the notebook I selected allows that.
I don't make a lot of videos, as evidenced by my camera work (which I hope will improve), but here is a tour of my pen pal log.
There are two main parts to the book. First, every pen pal has their own page, where I put their contact info, and list details about both incoming and outgoing mail. They're sorted alphabetically, and separated into groups, so it's pretty easy to find whatever page I need. On the back of each page, I tape their response to the little question card I send out. (I use washi tape, so I can easily move the card to the front of the page when the list flows over to the back.)
At the front of the book, I keep the heart and soul of the log system: my "Letters to Write" page (top picture). It's simply a list of letters I need to write that I mark when in progress, and when sent. Whenever I get mail I need to reply to, I first add the person's name to this page, then add more detail on their own page. It was the gap on this page that led me to realize I was long overdue in responding to one pen pal.
Beyond that, I try to keep a list of goodies sent on an "enclosure" page (one section per type of enclosure). I'm not great at keeping this up to date with things like washi tape samples, but have been pretty good when it comes to CD mixes and smashed pennies. This way, I hope to avoid sending the same little giftie to the same person twice.
I have a section for extra pages, one for basic postal rates, and one for inactive correspondents. These are either people I don't write to a lot, but want to keep a record of which cards I send, etc., or they are people who were pen pals who stopped responding (or never responded at all). This way, I don't have to flip past their pages over & over, in the "active" section and be reminded that they've dropped off the radar. I go through it every couple of months and move truly retired pages to a drawer.
I'd love to see what others are using! How do you keep track?
Interested in making your own pen pal log like mine? In a few days, I'll be posting the files, plus a list of resources. Stay tuned!
This tutorial will show you how to reclaim non-canceled vintage (gummed) stamps from messed up envelopes (or for collage purposes).
Far too often, I mess up envelopes I'm planning to mail, or decide not to send something, so I definitely want to get those stamps back before the envelope goes in the trash! Because I order stamps via eBay a lot, I sometimes get cool stamps on packages that I might be able to use in a collage. Older, gummed stamps are far easier to reclaim than modern, pressure-sensitive (sticker) style stamps*; I have not had wonderful luck getting the sticker-style stamps off of paper, but have had amazing luck reclaiming vintage/gummed stamps.
This how-to is not for stamp collectors who put stamps into albums. You really want to find an expert (there are probably several on YouTube) who will demonstrate what tools, etc. to use.
First, cut off the section containing the stamps (top pic).
Cut out each stamp close to the edge without cutting the actual stamp. (If the stamps are still connected, you can leave them that way.)
Next, get a large, shallow bowl or dish and fill it with hot tap water.
One by one, add your cut-apart stamps and tap them gently to submerge. Just do a few at a time - a little gumming may remain and you don't want them to stick together!
Wait a few seconds. It may take longer, but in the batch I did this morning, one stamp was floating free from its backing before I had added them all to the bowl.
Remove the stamps from the water with your fingers or tweezers and lay them on a paper towel. I usually set them out face up, flip them after about a minute (shown, right), then cover them with something lightweight & water-resistant to keep them flat (and safe from the cats' antics).
When they're completely dry, put unused ones back (wherever you keep your stamps (I keep mine in a 3-ring binder, with one labeled sheet-protector for each denomination)) and toss the used ones into your ephemera collection.
When you're ready to use your reclaimed stamps, you'll need a good adhesive (I use Elmer's extra-strength office glue sticks; some craft glue sticks don't hold as well).
*Bonus pic, and a promise: I'll put together a tutorial showing how to retrieve modern, self-adhesive stamps from messed-up envelopes (or SASEs included in begging envelopes).
This is the space I do a lot of my paper-crafting (not letter-writing, because it's too low) and photographing because it's in front of a window. This is also how it looks a lot of the time, including the cat's ass sitting on whatever I'm trying to get done. Just thought it might be a nice change from the perfect spaces a lot of people post. (I'm not being holier-than-though here; I'm not going to share a pic of the whole room until it's in a lot better shape!) One of today's chores is to clear it off.
