National Gorilla Suit Day, Yes Indeed

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Jellio GummiLights

These solid rubber battery-powered lights are one of life's true guilty pleasures.

Jellio.com

A world of fun childhood memories brought back as unique home furnishings.

Dear Kevin,

Anyone can celebrate Mardi Gras or Ground Hog Day, but Nat'l Gorilla Suit Day is my choice among mid-winter special days.

Dees

Tempus Fugit, Dude

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Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926)
On the Beach at Trouville, 1870-71
Oil on canvas, 38 x 46 cm.
Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris, France/Bridgeman Art Library

Dear Tom,

Today is Ann's fifth birthday & I wonder (a little) where did the years go? Ann herself isn't troubled by temporal musings.

Dees

Merahi metua no Tehamana

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Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903)
The Ancestors of Tehamana OR Tehaman has many Parents (Merahi metua no Tehamana), 1893.
Oil on canvas, 30 1/16 x 21 3/8 in. (76.3 x 54.3 cm).
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Deering McCormick, 1980.613
The Art Institute of Chicago

Dear Catherine,

Can't remember the last card I sent, which means that it's time. We are well here & looking forward to Ann's fifth birthday tomorrow.

Dees

Dolls

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Georgene Raggedy Friends

The Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum
110 E. Main St., Arcola, IL 61910
(217) 268-4908

Dear Sue,

With any luck you're not see the foot or more of snow that's come down here. Thanks for the pecans -- again, if I mentioned it before -- Lilly helped make a pecan pie from them.

Dees

Traverse

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Front St. near Union, Traverse City

Orson Peck Postcard of Traverse City, Circa 1915

You have read the books about Traverse City Pioneers, now see the houses and buildings where they lived and worked!

Ride the (BATA) Trolley for the TC Historic Landmark Tour

Sponsored by the Grand Traverse Historical Society

Conducted by BOB WILSON, Author of Grand Traverse Legends, Volumes I, II & III.

Tours given at 1 PM and 3 PM, Sunday July 22, Sunday August 19

Limited Seating - Tickets $10 Each

Tour starts at the Heritage Center, 322 Sixth Street, Traverse City

Phone: 995 0313

Dear Kirk,

Fine town, Traverse. But not in January. Recommended in July.

Dees

Schaumburgbibliothek

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Schaumburg Township District Library

Central Library
130 S. Roselle Road
Schaumburg, IL 60193
(847) 985-4000
http://www.stdl.org

Dear Jim,

Nice to talk to you this evening. Let us know your schedule as soon as you can.

Dees

The One in New Jersey

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Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Noble tradition reigns as a master trainer teaches a magnificent Andalusian stallion.

Dear Geof & Nancy,

The nearest MT to you is in the burgeoning Meadowlands entertainment complex in NJ. Worth a visit, maybe, if you're in the mood for ersatz.

Dees

The Red Knight, Vanquished

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Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

Knights in full armor astride magnificent Andalusians charge at each other brandishing 10-foot lances.

Dear Tom,

Faux spectacle, but fun. We sat in the red section, cheering for the red knight. He lost & his head was put on a pole. Well, it wasn't a real head. Actually, that didn't happen at all. Audience too squeamish.

Dees

Not Brave Sir Robin

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Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament

The courage and strength of the brave knights are put to the test in a display of fierce competition.

Dear Jay & Deb,

Not really very medieval, but entertaining in its way -- esp. the bloodless mock swordplay & the faux jousts. Dinner included the non-medieval potato, too.

Dees

Sucka

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Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Montana

Looking north from this point, Capt. Thomas Weir and his company could see dust and Indians, but no sign of Custer's command. Photo courtesy: LIBI.

Dear Bonnie,

I found, stashed away under much debris, your copy of I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. I will mail it to you under separate cover.

Hope all is well with you in the new year.

Dees

Sometimes, a Cigar is a Good Smoke

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Ybor City Museum

1820 E. 9th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
www.ybormuseum.org

Tampa's past comes alive! Rich cigar label images on gifts for the entire family. T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, coasters, magnets, mouse pads and custom gift boxes. We also stock dozens of original vintage TAMPA cigar labels framed and loose for you to choose from. Stop by the Museum Store and see how easy this year's gift giving can be!

Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 10-4 p.m.
Fri-Sat: 9-4 p.m.
Sun: 12-4 p.m.
Phone: (813) 241-6554

Dear Bill,

I wouldn't mind being in Tampa right now, checking out the cigars.

Dees

Fun Galore

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Wisconsin Ducks Amphibious Landing
(606) 254-8751

"Ride the Original Wisconsin Ducks -- It's fun galore."

One-hour Tour of Fun and Adventure on Land and Water
Bring Your Camera - Tours Daily - April through mid-November.
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Dear Geof & Nancy,

Today's accidental neologism: eargerge.

Dees

Glacier Room

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Cave of the Mounds

National Natural Landmark

Located in beautiful Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, 20 miles west of Madison off of U.S. Highways 18-151. Open year round, (608) 437-3038. www.caveofthemounds.com

Dear Jim,

It's about zero outside today so it might be a few days before I mail this. I hope you'll be able to visit in March for Sam's wedding.

Dees

I Like Ike

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Arcardia & Anarchy

Vibrant masterpieces by Seurat, Segantini, Pellizza and more.

Through August 6

Guggenheim Museum
5th Ave at 89th St
Sat-Wed 10-5:45
Fri 10-7:45
Information 212 423 3500
guggenheim.org/onveiw

BONUS:

Circular "I LIKE IKE" sticker, in message area of card.

Dear Geof & Nancy,

It's remarkably hard even to do one card a day. But I'm sticking to it.

Dees

Let 6,000 Slot Machines Bloom

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Mohegan Sun is one of the largest, most spectacular casino destinations in the world. With 1,200 luxurious hotel rooms, a world class spa, 60 shops and restaurants, 3 spectacular entertainment venues, 6,000 slot machines and 300 table games, it truly is a world at play. For more information, visit mohegansun.com.

Dear Steve & Jack,

Regards from the frozen Midwest. I¹m not endorsing this "casino destination" but I do like free postcards.

What, no cards from Alaska?

Dees

Not in My Toaster, Ingvar

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(A toaster with a Blackberry or other thin electronic device in one slot, a piece of dark toast in the other)

Only when sleeping do we make no mistakes.

Mistakes are the privilege of the active person, who can start over and put things right. -- Ingvar Kamprad, founder of IKEA

Dear Dan & Pam,

A wisdom postcard from your favorite Swedish mega-retailer. The sort of mistake indicated here points to dementia, I think.

Good of you to send a real letter in '07. Keep 'em coming.

Dees

TR

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Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota

Petrified wood of coniferous trees can be found throughout the park. These ancestors of present-day sequoia tell of a wetter climate and changing past environments. Photographer - Larry Ulrich

Theodore Roosevelt Nature & History Association P.O. Box 167, Medora, ND 58645

Dear Ellen & George,

Regards for '08, time for a postcard. I'm writing one a day this year, so you might get a few more than usual. Drop me a line at -------.

Dees

The Usual Suspects

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CG Ukiyo-e Series "Rekishi Kaido 21 Scenes"

The main route of the Rekishi Kaido, literally the "Highway of History," is approx. 300km-long theme road. It starts from ancient Ise, following Asuka, Nara, Kyoto and Osaka and ends in modern Kobe, going around the 21 major epoch-making sites of Japanese history chronologically. The CG Ukiyo-e Series "Rekishi Kaido 21 Scenes" corresponds to all these locations.

15. Sengan-yagura Tower, Osaka Castle, Osaka

To the Editor [Smithsonian magazine]

Your typically high-quality magazine slipped a little with "28 Places to See Before You Die." Grand destinations, each and every one. But you've also rounded up the Usual Suspects.

Dees Stribling

The Alcazar

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El Arenal Brown Type, Jalisco, Standing Warrior, (200BC-AD700)

Terracotta, 94 x 38 x 38 cm

The Proctor Stafford Collection, Museum purchase with funds provided by Mr.
and Mrs. Allen C. Balch.

Museum Associates, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Dear Jay & Deb,

I liked the picture postcard of the Alcazar that you sent Lilly. I don't know that I've ever seen an image of it --­ it's not quite as I would have imagined.

Dees

The Dutch Urn

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Jan van Huysum (Dutch, 1682-1749)

Flowers in an Urn Decorated with Putti, on a Plinth, early 18th century.

Brush with gray and red wash, pen and black ink, and red chalk, on cream laid paper. laid down on cream laid paper, 385 x 299 mm.

Harry B. and Bessie K. Braude Memorial Collection, 1998.112.

The Art Institute of Chicago.

Dear Martha,

I hope all is well with you in the New Year. Recently I saw (I think at the VU site) that your are a named partner -- nice to know. A firm of your own founding? Any specialty? Just curious.

Dees

By Jove

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Jupiter Aurora

An electric hue aurora glows on Jupiter, 500 million miles from Earth. Produced by electric currents generated by the planet's satellites, these emissions flow along Jupiter's magnetic field. Auroral footprints can be seen from three of Jupiter's moons: Io (far left), Ganymede (just below and to the right of center), and Europa (to the right of Ganymede's signature).

Courtesy of NASA/ESA and John Clarke (Univ. of Michigan).

Dear Jim,

I hope you rec'd my previous mailing -- can't call it a letter. Not much new to report here, except that Lilly and Ann are back in school, and I have a lot of writing to do this month.

Dees

Ducks

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Troop-laden Duck on invasion road so. France June 12, 1944

Ducks in Service -- World War II

Original Wisconsin Ducks®

Open April through mid-November

(608) 254-8751


Dear Peter,

Here's a leftover from last summer, not too far from your old stomping grounds.

I liked Baraboo better than the Dells, but the kids will probably lobby for a return to the Dells someday.

Dees

Pampas Grass in Dairyland

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Pampas Grass as featured in an oasis setting in the Arid Dome at Mitchell Conservatory located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Conservancy located at South 27th and West Pierce Street. Open 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. daily and weekends, except Mondays, open 9 to 5.

A major unit of the Milwaukee County Park System.

Dear Layne,

Regards for the New Year. Recently we were in Milwaukee to see Wisconsin's best selection of Pampas Grass.

Dees

More Macrobrew

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Miller Brewery

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Miller Brewery production facility is located in what is known as Miller Valley. Pictured are the original facility built by Frederic Miller and the existing brew house.

Photos by Steve Gibson, Terrell Publishing Co.

Dear Ed,

We dropped by for some macrobrew last weekend. Tasted as you'd expect, but I did enjoy the hole-in-the-wall beer cave.

Have a fine time in England.

Dees

Burke Brise Soliel

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Milwaukee Art Museum

Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava of Spain, the museum structure is known for its "Burke Brise Soliel," or sunshade, which gently and silently rolls up against the backdrop of Lake Michigan.

Photo by Donald Frisque - Lightcatcher Photography

Dear Geof & Nancy,

Not to worry, you'll get plenty of postcards in '08, some numbered, some not.

I saw this structure close up a few years ago & last weekend from the highway, obscured by fog.

Dees

The Domes

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Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Visitors to Mitchell Park Conservatory experience nature from all regions of the world. The three massive glass domes feature tropical, arid and seasonal displays including spectacular shows at Christmas and Easter.

Photo by James Blank.

Dear Steph & Wendall,

We caught the tail end of the Christmas display under the big dome -- more poinsettias in one place than I've ever seen, except maybe at Costco. Or was that Home Depot?

Dees

Miller Time

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(A sepia print of an old-timey beer wagon)

Miller Brewing Company
Guided Tours Monday - Saturday, Call for Times.
Gift Shop Open Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
For information call (414) 931-BEER
www.shopmillerbrewing.com

Dear Jay & Deb,

Regards from "Miller Valley" in Milwaukee. It was above freezing today, so we took a drive.

Dees

Dali Card

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Salvador Dali (1904-1989). The Weaning of Furniture-Nutrition, 1934. Oil on panel, 7 x 9 1/2 inches. The Salvador Dali Museum Inc., St. Petersburg, Florida.

Dear Rich & Lisa,

Good to talk to you on New Year's Eve. I forgot to ask if you ever made it to the Dali Museum -- fairly close to where you were, just a drive across that narrow Fla. peninsula.

This is the last of the cards that I bought there.

Dees

The Big Buddha Postcard

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CG Ukiyo-e Series "Rekishi Kaido 21 Scenes"

7. Great Buddha Hall, Todaiji Temple, Nara Park, Nara

The main route of the Rekishi Kaido, literally the "Highway of History," is an approx. 300km-long theme road. It starts from ancient Ise, following Auska, Nara, Kyoto and Osaka, and end in modern Kobe, going around to 21 epoch-making sites of Japanese history chronologically. The CG Ukiyo-e Series "Rekishi Kaido 21 Scenes" corresponds to all these locations.

Dear Tom,

I hope all is well with you and, in fact, that you remember who I am. Not long ago Rich F. gave me your address & so I thought I would send my regards after 25 years. I'd be pleased to hear from you.

Regards,

Dees Stribling

Frank Lloyd Living Room

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Living Room. Taliesin® is the Spring Green, Wisconsin home of architect Frank Lloyd Wright®. Within the 37,000 square feet of Taliesin is the living room, which has been described as the greatest domestic space in America.

Dear Jim,

Regards for your birthday. We spent New Years Day at home, surrounded by snow and low temps.

Dees

The First Card

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Altar staff with seated male figure (detail), probably late 19th century. Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Baule. Wood and iron, height 161.3 cm. The Art Institute of Chicago.

Dear Geof & Nancy,

I have an ambition to send 366 postcards this year at a cost, not counting the cards, of $95.16. The contents will be recorded at a minor blog.

Regards for '08.

Dees