Reviews from

What Did You Call Me?

I like collecting certain postage stamps

30 total reviews 
Comment from BethShelby
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I have been noticing the discontinued stamps are selling at a lot less than the newer stamps. I course by buying in bulk you save a lot of money but get a lot of similar designs. I seldom use stamps and all of them are forever stamps now so you save again if the price goes up. I'm waiting for post offices to close and leave us with a lot of unused stamps.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Beth,
    My friend in Vermont, Buffalo Bob, bought two rolls of 100 stamps for $29.00 each. I though they might have been counterfeit, but he's used them, so I guess not. You can buy stamps that are unused, that were issued years ago, but unless they are forever stamps, you'll have to pay the difference. Postage rates are ridiculous, but what can you do? Thanks for the great review gal.
    Happy Easter!
    Tom
Comment from davisr (Rhonda)
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Hi Tom,
I think you just made me fall in love with collecting stamps. It sounds like a lot of fun, and a whole lot of history. There are many more expensive habits you could get into, and it's supporting your post office service, or something important like that.

I love the one on the solar eclipse. I'd buy some of those!!

Thanks for sharing your hobby,
Rhonda

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Rhonda,
    I'm so glad you enjoyed this post. If you get online, there are a handful of regular stamp catalogue businesses that you can order stamps from. There are so many that it's mind boggling. I got out one of my books to look through and turned to a collection called Life Magnified, showing everything from moth wing scales to a freshwater snail tongue. The opposite page has endangered species with animals like the Nashville Crayfish, the Mississippi Sandhill Crane, and the Roanoke Logfish to name a few. Stamps cover a variety of subjects and the colors and designs are endless.
    Happy Easter gal!
    Tom
reply by davisr (Rhonda) on 31-Mar-2024
    That is so cool!! New hobby for Rhonda!!
    Happy Easter!!
Comment from Debbie D'Arcy
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You make me feel very ashamed, Tom, because I sold my father's collection for a pittance after he died. He'd collected all his life (as he worked in the post office) but, as I was the younger of two sisters, I would only get the stamps that either my father or older sister already had. So they never seemed really special to me. You are, indeed, entitled to that proud title of philatelist and, from now on, I may just have to remind you of this very worthy status! I had to look up Tlingit because I thought it was a spelling error. So you've introduced me to another word in your encyclopedic knowledge of nature. Thanks for sharing your lovely story. Happy Easter! Debbie

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Debbie,
    Wow, I would have loved to have seen that collection gal. It's unfortunate that you sold it, but how can you know? We all have done things we've regretted later on.
    The Tlingit Indians in Hoonah, where I lived, were driven out of Glacier Bay when the glaciers were advancing. They traveled to several different places in Icy Strait before they settled on the shores of Komtok Hon, or Brown Bear Bay. It was later renamed Port Frederick by Captain George Vancouver, in honor of Adolphus Frederick, son of King George III. They were a very fierce, war-like people and used to go off in their canoes, traveling long distances to fight with other tribes in places like Angoon and Kake. Now of course, many of them work at the Icy Strait Point cannery, a local native owned tourist destination. I'm so glad you enjoyed this gal.
    Happy Easter!
    Tom
Comment from LJbutterfly
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I am so glad I read this post. For the past thirty years, I have only purchased "commemorative" postage stamps. That's what I was told they are called. I love writing checks because I like my handwriting. I like unusual stamps for the same reasons you mentioned. However, I don't save them, except for one or two for the memory. When I taught preschool, I purchased enough Disney, and cartoon stamps to last a lifetime. Every February, I purchase "love" stamps, or I ask for celebrities, or birds, or flowers. Right now I'm using Pinatas because they're colorful.

The postmaster usually gives me a looseleaf book to look through to select my stamps. However, thanks to you, I will now go to the Postal Service's website to determine what I want before I go to the post office. Looking through a book takes up time, especially if there's a line of people waiting.

Stamps I have a few of...Richard Nixon, Alfred Hitchcock, The First Moon Landing 1969, Lena Horne, and other celebrities, many birds, flowers, hearts, and POW stamps.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello LJ,
    I'm so glad you shared with me some of the stamps you've collected. I've got Hot Wheels, Classic American Aircraft, Comic Strip Classics,(Lil' Abner, Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Nancy, Popeye, ect, Honoring First Responders, Henry David Thoreau, Lunar New Year- year of the rabbit and year of the rat and so many more. They are just delightful to look at. Thanks for the great review.
    Happy Easter.
    Tom
Comment from nomi338
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You had me at the title of this most amusing and entertaining post. I often tease my great grandson with "What did you call me?" I do this even when he did not call me anything. It is a game I love to play with him at his expense. He often fears that he has done something wrong until I let him know that I am only playing with him.
I very much appreciate the information about the stamps available for viewing. My wife and I got into purchasing stamps of favorite African Americans a few years ago, but stopped after a time. I may resume my pursuit of them.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Nomi,
    I loved what you had to say about teasing your grandson. As far as stamps,I have Lena Horne, a block titled Harlem Renaissance, Legends of the West featuring Bill Pickett, Sarah Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and of course countless other stamps depicting everything from nature scenes to Classic Comic strips. They are little works of art, and some of them come with information about the topic on the back. I hope you continue to collect. Your grandson might enjoy them some day.
    Happy Easter!
    Tom
Comment from Mrs. KT
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I never would have taken you for a philatelist, Tom! But I am proud to know that you are! Of course, that reminds me of the story about the young female teacher - name will remain anonymous - who shared with her class that in high school she was a "thespian." (You do know where this is going, right?) And sure enough, from the back of the room, a buffoon yelled out, "We don't allow those kind of people at our school!"
Oy...
I don't collect stamps, but I go to great lengths to always purchase the most pleasing when I buy any! :)

Much enjoyed, Tom!
Happy Easter!
Fondly,
diane

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Diane,
    Thanks so much for the highly entertaining review. I did figure out quickly where that was going-ha, ha, ha. I loved the review that you gave to Terry also about the inevitable draw of gravity on the 36 D's that were mentioned. I laughed for five minutes over that. You're too much Diane. I'm so glad to know you.
    Have a blessed Easter my friend.
    Tom
reply by Mrs. KT on 31-Mar-2024
    Hah, Tom!
    Smiles all around!
    I may write stuffy sonnets, odes, etc, but I love a good laugh any time of the day or night!

    Hoping you and yours had a lovely Easter as well!
    I hosted Easter this year; everyone just left. I've been up since 5:00 am this morning getting everything ready.
    It's now 9:45 pm, and I'm headed to bed; going to sleep until noon tomorrow!

    Take Care,
    diane
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Sleep well my friend. We're yet to have dinner. Family will be arriving any minute. Can't stand the noise and confusion, but what can you do? I was up at 5:30 this morning because the power went out. I finally lit off the generator about 8:00 so it didn't get too cold in here.
Comment from Julie G1
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So well written. This tale presents an evocative word picture, which builds to an effective conclusion, a promise for tomorrow. The choice of subject provided a great response. Overall, this story worked well for this reader.

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Julie,
    thanks so much for the positive review gal. I appreciate you comments and I'm pleased that you enjoyed this offering.
    Happy Easter!
    Tom
Comment from GWHARGIS
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Stamps have some very interesting art on them. They also show our history as a country. I have a few stamps that were printed during the bicentennial. I have snoopy stamps. I love when the postal service has contests for designing the next stamp. Hang onto them. Who knows, they may be worth a lot of money one day. Gretchen

 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Gretchen,
    I suppose they will be worth something. They've gone up a number of times just since I started collecting them. It's hard to believe that it cost 58 cents for a first class stamp now. If you look at them as little pieces of art though, I guess they're a bargain.
    Happy Easter gal!
    Tom
Comment from Tom Horonzy
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Holey moley, that has me recollect collecting stamps as a young boy before age 12. That's when stamps were 2 cents or three and a proof of four would one day be gold. I still have some from then, though not many, and think I ought to give them away, but are they boys today that do as I did? I doubt it.

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 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Tom,
    I don't know if young people have the same interests as we do or not. They keep cranking out some really great designs though, so there must be some interest in them aside from just postage. Maybe one of your grandchildren would like them. Thanks for the great review.
    Happy Easter!
    Tom
Comment from Karen Cherry Threadgill
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I was a big stamp collector as a kid. Now, I only collect things I like to look at, Hollywood characters, animated especially. Lucy, harry potter. etc. Some are worth more than their face value some aren't I just like them. Kids today don't get it. Good writing. Karen

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 Comment Written 30-Mar-2024


reply by the author on 31-Mar-2024
    Hello Karen,
    Aside from my stamps and a goodly number of colored octopus that I used for fishing, called hoochies, the only thing that I have that might be worth something some day are a few Sponge Bob things. I used to love watching Sponge Bob. How can you not like a little sponge living in a pineapple under the sea? Plus Squidward, the squid reminded me of the guy who taught music at the local school. Got to love it.
    Happy Easter gal!
    Tom
reply by Karen Cherry Threadgill on 01-Apr-2024
    Collecting is a grasp for permanence, I think. I have some Spongebob stuff too.
    :-)
reply by the author on 01-Apr-2024
    I never thought of it that way, but you might be right gal. Gotta love the Sponge.