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    • Bizarre Holidays - MARCH Due March 20th

    Okay, okay. I have to apologize for being all snarky earlier. It was just...well, one of those days and I'm sorry for appearing all petty.

    My envelope had more than just a Forever stamp on it. I had the Forever stamp on with almost enough other postage. When the first woman "credited" my Forever stamp, I was still 6-cents short, so I paid for (2) 3-cent stamps. I was told that international to anywhere is a minimum $1.05, and--surprise!--the PO sells those postage stamps.

    So Donna...when Australia gets international mail, is there a tax or surcharge on that postage? The postal clerk here said that since there was no cash amount printed on the stamp, Australia wouldn't know what to count it as. Maybe she actually meant there would be a problem "here," as in "the US." To my knowledge there is no obvious stamp tax. A Forever stamp is just that; buy it at 42-cents and you can use it as legit postage when there's an increase to 50-cents; you saved 8-cents by using an older Forever stamp. That may be the issue: is "this Forever stamp" a 42-cent Forever or a 44-cent Forever or a 45-cent Forever? Maybe that's the issue, but no one here has explained that to me, unlike the nice postal woman you encountered, Donna.
     
    As far as I know, once a letter is out of its 'home' country it is counted as having been paid for (otherwise, you would have to use stamps that came from the country to which you are sending the letter or NO-ONE would know what a stamp is worth - the exchange rate changes every day:wacko:).
     
    Here is the explaination that I received. See you get me all interested in something and then I happen to have to call information.

    "The PO electronicallly, (those barcodes) know where things are going and how many in a year. If they had a country where 5 million units were being sent to the US but nothing was being sent from US. Then the US could appeal for partcial payment since they would be loosing money. Otherwise countries send about the same amount back and forth.

    The country of origin decides the amount of postage. There would be no reason for the other countries to even count the postage, they can't ask for more."

    And you are completely correct it is $1.05 now I forgot it went up (again). We are still the one of the least expensive countries to send mail. Have you gotten a piece of mail from Canada lately? I couldn't believe it.
     
    I love the people who take part in these Bizarre Holiday swaps - our thread conversations can be as Bizarre as the Holidays we illustrate. I learn so much - thanks!
     
    My aunt passed away on monday. I'm going home for the funeral, so I have zero time to deal with the PO here. If you get the cards please post AND PM me; I'll try to check often. If not and they're still hanging at the PO, I'll go when I retrun and please hope you'll hold returns until mine get there. Hugs to you all.
     
    Scrap Pea I'm so sorry about your Aunt. My prayers are with you and your family
     
    scrapPea - your cards have arrived, you can stop panicking (but they do have an extra 89c printout stamp on the envelope). Love the variety of real stamps you used.
     
    Donna did cards go out? I haven't heard anyone say they rec'd them. And then again I really just could have missed something too. You know me:confused:
     
    jennie - you haven't missed anything. . . Life got in the way. I lost 1 week to a nasty bout of gastro, then another week to an unexpected stay in hospital. All is now fine and the cards are on their way.
    I am playing a mad game of catch-up at the moment so apologies to all for the delay.:embarrassed:
     
    I wondered why you had been so quiet. I'm so glad you are feeling better now. I do hope that it's nothing we have to worry about.
     
    It was the final 'tidy up' from the cancer so there should be NOTHING left to go wrong with me for many years to come. I am more frustrated at waiting for the stitches to come out and for the doctor to give me the 'okay' so that I can get back to 10 pin bowling. I started bowling at the beginning of 2011 to try and rebuild my upper body strength - now I am afraid that I am addicted and play in 2 different Leagues and get coaching. My lymphoedema specialist has suggested that I learn to bowl left handed now as my left and right sides are 'mismatched':) I am considering having a go at this.
     
    Well as a left hander I can tell you that bowling left handed is easy. I was worried about a relapse. Thank God it's just a tidy up. So 2 leagues, one left and one right. i really don't know how I would bowl right handed though. I would really need a lighter ball.
     
    Oh, Donna, I'm glad you're alright! I, too, have been stalking my mailbox. My husband commented: "You haven't received any ATCs lately." That's because all of my swaps have just ended and I'm waiting for returns. I always look forward to your returns, but I'm glad you took care of yourself first!

    Ambidextrous bowling? I can't even eat with a fork with my left-hand.
     
    Basically I am ambidextrous anyway - I even bowl 'left-handed' with my right hand according to my coach, he calls it 'back up'. I wonder if I will be cack handed with my left as well?!?:rolleyes::twitcy:
     
    Wel my right hand isn't too useful at all. It does hold up a watch or bracelet if I wear one. See there is a use for it. Being left handed just means I'm in my right mind thats all
     
    Oh, I do like my fix of Bizarre-ness in the mail!
    many thanks to:
    studio39designs..National Joe Day
    maggieblooms for Alfred Hitchcock day
    suntrade for potatto chip day
    and Donna, your host cards ALWAYS make me smile..thank you.
    Hope all is well "over the border", its wonderful to be home to receive my fab mail art again!
     
    cee-emm - did your holiday live up to all your hopes or was it just Bizarre?:)

    Glad the first cards have made their way home - I had a lot of fun making this month's Host card:D
     
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