OK this is not from Postcrosser at least. My dearest penpal Sonia whose letters had failed to reach me these past few years, but after over one year, she replied my letter again and with this lovely card recently. In fact, throughout our friendship, she has always remembered my birthday.. although I didnt manage to remember hers this much! :/

From Anagahan. So this is the first birthday card from a Postcrosser arrived this year, and I am glad it came from a dear friend of GTKY. Thanks Ana, if you ever read this, you know you’ve been special to me! :)

From Wilma. HAHAHA I LOVE this card for my birthday!! :D It’s a real surprise from Arja-Liisa, she’s such a sweetie! Hugs to you! See my other cards of Kaj Stenval’s art here.

From Cockie. Though it’s actually a return card of birthday card I had sent to her friend (which I found a really wonderful way to cheer a friend!!), but knowing that I was having my birthday to come, Mieko also wrote this card as a birthday wish to me. Thanks so much for this pretty card!!

From Hadassah. HAHA Essi!! Are these you and me in the picture, perhaps in our 70s, celebrating our birthday together? On a tree! LOL it doesn’t look too bad! :D :D And thanks dear for this lovely wishes that cheered me up! Big hugs!

From Lauraarual. Another sweet friend of GTKY sent me a lovely birthday wish on this colorful card :)) I can’t be happier! And Laura included some lovely gifts and Holland souvenir, thanks so much – you’re so kind!! :) *hugs!*

Oh I love this card of this happening festival! Thank you for the birthday wishes!!

From Vagirl. I gasped in excitement when I opened the envelope and saw this posh-looking card, it’s just AWESOME!! :D I just love every bit of it, and thanks Chrissy for your lovely message and wishes, it really put a big smile on my face! :))

From Carolinechia. AHAHA I’m sorry others, but I have to say this is the coolest birthday card I ever got! :P Well yeah at least for a second I really thought I was smart and popular and good-looking as the card says! :P LOL I didnt know 20th June was a lucky day either :)) but every day is a lucky day when you’re born that day! ;) Thanks Carol for your lovely thoughts! You’re great!

From Ulpa. She included many of inspiring cards along with her letter! Ula thanks for all the cards you have sent me, as well as this super delicious birthday card… you’re the best!! *hugs!!*

No, it’s not the cake!! But cards!! :D Yes, the lovely Postcrossers have always cheered me up regardless I hate the fact that I get older on birthdays! :) In this post I would like to thank a heaven to everyone who spent some time writing and sending me your lovely wishes, you have no idea how much it means to me!! :) BIG BIG HUGS!!! (well yeah, I’m featuring cards from past years first, as this is officially the first birthday post for this blog – which only started this year – and in a few days I’ll be posting the cards which I have got for this year’s birthday :)). And actually, I have put several other birthday cards that had already fit in regular posts before, and they are equally special to me as well!!

Hugs to Anu!

Hugs to Mimma!

Hugs to Syairah06!

Hugs to SilentNight89!

Hugs to Wespe!

Hugs to Rwidiani!

Hugs to Ipuenktchen!

Hugs to Kungli!

Hugs to Seetas!

Hugs to Indirama!

Hugs to Anzuume!

Hugs to Ketupat!

Hugs to Padme_chandra!

Hugs to Wilma!

Hugs to Panarea!

Hugs to empty_mailbox!

Hugs to Newrule!

Hugs to rosnah!

Hugs to Taxingwoman!

Hugs to geeanuar!

Hugs to Swan!

OKAY that was  a postcards SPAM -______- but I can’t help it coz I did receive alot of birthday cards in past years!! (and of course, a portion of them are thanks to the fact that I put a “tiny advert” about my birthday on my forum signature once, well, hence those expected surprises :P and a few from Birthday tags and RR as well.. so I did not receive all these merely because I am a total celebrity or anything :D though it’s good if I were one lol). And still my dear friends Postcrossers, you are the best!!

This is an image reproduction from 1930. Well, I love to share some fun facts I found about Coca-cola here:

• Coca Cola was first invented by a pharmacist name John Pemberton in 1885 as a medicine to cure headaches.
• Coca-Cola is called “Coca-Cola” because of the original ingredients used in the medicine, Coca leaves and Kola seeds. Wine was also added in place of sugar similar to the coke we drink today.
• When Mentos is added to Coca-Cola, the carbon dioxide in the coke will be rapidly released, causing the coke in the bottle to burst out. Diet coke works the best.
• Coca-Cola can be used to help cure jellyfish stings.
• Coca-Cola can also be used as a cleaning solution, cleaning anything from rusty pans to dirty toilets. It can also be used to remove odor.
• If you accidentally got gum in your hair, rinse it in coca-cola and the gum will come of very easily (!)
• Coca-Cola usually have the phrase “Original Formula” near the bottom of their cans/bottles, but it is not actually “original”, since in 1985, a portion of the sugar in Coca-Cola was removed and replaced by high fructose corn syrup, causing an altered taste as well as causing the coke to become unhealthy.

And another is an official, US-367399 from Bast. LOL I love this card! It’s a reprint of Coca-cola trade card from 1910.

Oh yeah??

From Rissyrissy. I don’t have information on the card about where in Pennsylvania is this country view with cornfield is located.. but look at the balloons!! This is surely a lovely postcard that Rissy sent me for my 24th birthday! :D

From Zmrzlina. This is the Fort Roberdeau, which was constructed in 1778, under General Daniel Ruoberdeau’s supervision and sits on 47 acres near Altoona. It’s also known as the “Lead Mine Fort” as it protected mining operations for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war. Well nowadays people like forts as there are usually places to picnic :)

From Krhocevar. After the country views, now comes the big city. Pittsburgh is the second largest city in Pennsylvania. And this is the Golden Triangle where the Allegheny and Monogahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River, hence the largest inland port in the US! There are over 700 bridges crossing these rivers and valleys. I always love waterfront cities like this.. especially on this postcard with the reflection of those buildings in the water! And look at the fountain! Pretty, isn’t it?

From Nowaglas the famous Captain :)

From RachelR. Who has left Postcrossing, I think. At least I sent underwear to her once :)

From Eleanorrigby the Underwear Queen. Who has also left the forum. Where on earth has she disappeared to these years and gave me hard time organizing this new underwear swap??

And what the hell do I mention underwear in this post for??

Well, Round #2 is closed now and you’ll regret for not joining, I tell you.

From Kalish. There are no fast moving rivers or other sources of energy on Cape Cod, Massachusetts so the early settlers built windmills to catch the ocean breezes. Ocean, breeze, windmill, flowers.. umm that sounds a wonderful atmosphere.

From Vickytoria74. Tulips and windmill, but this is not in Holland! :D This pretty tulip field is in Willamette Valley in Oregon.

From Jenny37. Now Texas windmill! This doesn’t look a traditional one, and it’s tall! I guess it was built tall to catch more breezes up above as these aren’t close to ocean.

From Jenny37. More Texas windmill! What a magnificent view this is, a bright sunset and nothing in sight at all but a windmill. And look at the horizon!

From Jenny37. And this windmill is finally working! (I hope I’m right, coz I see its blades rotating here!)

From Kalish. This is from New England in Northeast of the US, and during the agrarian period, they built stone walls like this to keep the land clear from rocks that keep coming back after every winter.

From Lene. “At Home in the Heartland” as it says on the card.. this farmhouse is in Iowa.

From DawnsRays. This is a reprint postard, I love that price (?) tag with 5 cent :) that was cheap! This house, or actually an office, belongs to Mr Jack Daniel (ever heard of Jack Daniel’s whiskey? He’s the one), and he did his work here until 1952 when a new office was built. Now this house is a popular sitting place on the tour. And see the ducks!! It seems Jack Daniel had many ducks at his office! :D

From Swan. What a beautiful place to live in, a cottage surrounded with pretty pink tulips! This place is located in Tulip Town (yes, it’s named Tulip afterall!) in Mount Vernon, Washington.

From Amily. While countryhouses above are located in greeny fields, this one is rather deserted and abandoned somewhere in the dessert. The ownder either left for the city or built a newer and nicer house. Instead of tearing the old buildings down, they just sit there for generations as a reminder of what it used to be like. Quite nostalgic, isn’t it?

From Mount_Rushmore. “In the Saddle”. This is the image people have of the American cowboy – wearing a big hat and riding a big horse. The typical cowboy lived in the saddle for weeks, rode during extreme weathers and risked his life at times, but usually made no more than $30 a month. Hmm, that was not an easy life.

From Rororosie. “After Dinner”. Cowboys rarely sat at a table, they just sat on whatever was available… usually the ground. A typical evening meal might include Sonofabitch Stew (made from beef, calf heart and liver, sweetbreads, brains..), Cowboy beans, Sourdough biscuits and Vinegar Pie for dessert.

This is my favorite!! :D This card is from the Vertigo set by Greg Spalenka.

This is from Sandman: The Dream Hunters set by Yoshitaka Amano.

Another card from Sandmad: The Dream Hunters set by Yoshitaka Amano. “which bird would you like to be if you had the chance to be one? Fly… fly away one day.. from all this madness… ” – Chat_noir

I’d be a flamingo.

From Art101. The Statute of Liberty was a gift by the people of France to the United States in 1884 as a recognition of the friendship established between the two countries and it has been the international icon of freedom and liberty ever since. The statute is standing in the New York Harbor and always welcomes visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans traveling by ship.

From Zmrzlina. I just think it appropriate that I put along this postcard here! Coz this is how you can see the comparision heights of the Lady Liberty and other world’s most famous landmarks: The Eiffel Tower, Washington Monument, and the Gateway Arch!