BORING POSTCARDS

This is cool, Katerina.

. . . to say nothing about Hydrangeas.

15.10.20 Dare Mister Val M. H., Ms. Katerina N., Sir Bradford, et al,....  I enjoy these "word"  games  ( & "image" games) that y'all sophisticated artists play. My horticultural knowledge is limited. ( I feel like just another  stray dandelion in a highly structured & cultivated  garden.) When Sir Bradford sez: "to say nothing of Hydrangeas"---does that mean that Hydrangeas have nothing to do with the situation or does the Hydrangea relate in some way??? SinCelery, Richard Canardtion

TWO MORE -- without flowers, Richard --  FROM KATERINA

.... to whom I say a flowery 'Thankyou'.

1. Madonna dell'Acero, Bologna, Italy

This Boring Postcard was sent to Katerina by a friend in August 2020 who had spent 8 days in July on the beach and 17 days in August in the mountains. This sanctuary is 1200 meters above sea level

2. Beacon Hill St Scene, Boston, Mass

“Beacon Hill, one of the country's oldest residential neughborhoods, is a carefully preserved historic district where almost everything (even the sidewalks – trans 'pavements) seemto be made of brick. Ere wealthy Bostonians have their townhouses within easy walk of downtown financial districts, and young artists and students share apartments handy to Boston's night life and universities.”

Extra marks are available if you can identify the cars. Bradford: is the one front right a VW Beetle?

BORING SUNFLOWER POSTCARD

I'm hopeful that our Gardening Section (Olena, Katerina and Richardina) can find lots about this to discuss.

Hahaaahaaa...  the gardening section will meet at once to discuss this rate and highly praised black and white specimen. 

Ah, sunflowers and the south of France:

Sigean in 2012 :-)

ME TOO, Katerina and Gang

THREE MORE FROM THE SUNFLOWER OF THESSALONIKI

.....thankyou, Katerina and may the sun shine on you!

1.  Sav-A-Dollar Motel, Branson Mass

“Hi Class Family Units – A/C & electric heat – Carpeted Rooms – Cable TV – Seasonal rates – Located behind Roy Clark Theatre – Walking Distance to 10 Country Music Shows and Whiet Water.”

And Lots and Lots of Capitals. (Is 'Sav' short for 'Save'?, & who is Roy Clarke?)

2. Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri

“Covering an entire City block in Kansas City. The Main Arena seats 14,000; the Music Hall seats 2,700. Little theatre seats 700. In addition there is an immense exposition hall. The Beautiful Barney Allis Plaza is in the foreground.”

Note that the littlest theatres (in the cloakrooms) each seat 1 person. (How come there are two Kansas Cities, this one in Missouri, and the other one in....yes, you guessed right – Kansas!

Truly beautiful, Barney!

3. Waupaca Chain O'Lakes, Wisconsin

I can't read all the text on the back of this Boring Postcard, 'cos there's a sticker on it, but this is “...the largest group of connecting lakes in America ...(where) you will find good familty type fishing ...including walleyed pike and trout...”

The famous Irish angler Paddy O'Lakes fished here at the end of the 19^th century.

Beacon Hill, Boston:  Yes, the sliver of automobile in the foreground is a VW Beetle, mid-60s as is the Cadillac which is a 1963-64 model.

On another note, my knowledge of botany is peony compared to others, my great-grandmother usedta grow Hydrangeas or Geraniums in a long brick planter in front of our house in Houston, TX.  They like humidity, so they thrived.

BORING CAR AND BEARS POSTCARD... A CHALLENGE FOR BRADFORD

It's obvious what the car is, Dear Bradford, a Porsche 911, but can you identify the model? (Clue, mid 80's)?

And can you, Dear Bradford, or anyone else, identify what species of bears are here? (Clue, they are not North American bears).

Dear Heidi Monster,

I owe you an apology. You sent me a Boring Postcard of the Everglades National Park that had a Return to Sender sticker on it. I was so intrigued by this that I put the Postcard somewhere safe to come back to later.

I can't find it. It is not in my Study. It is not in my Studio. It is not in the house where I have laid out all the Postcards for the Dull Postcard book (see below, 600 or so Postcards). I haven't thrown it away, but don't know where it is.

But, inspired by 'Return to Sender' and Elvis, you might want to sing along with this:

Heidi gave a Boring Postcard to the postperson
Who put it in the sack
Bright and early next morning
S/He brought her Boring Postcard back

La Poste wrote upon it
Return to sender, address unknown
No such number, no such zone

And then When it was sent again

Val mislaid it

Mid-80s?  No, sir.  It looks to be a 1969-73 model 911 Coupe.  The earlier 911's were a shorter wheelbase by 2.3 inches and thus, more prone to oversteer rotation.  By 1974, the grills below the headlights were gone.

On that note, the car I wish I could have back would be a 1974 Carrera with a built Eurospec 3.0/modified exhaust etc.  It was a monster and a bit of a sleeper.  I saw just under 150 MPH (240 KPH) indicated in Wyoming on the way to a niece's Las Vegas wedding.  The early, lighter weight 911's like mine only weighed about 2400 lbs/1100 kilos and are more fun than later ones.

Thanks again, Bradford. Full marks for the Porsche -- again you amaze me with your auto-knowledge. The Postcard was sent in 1984, so I thought the 911 might be from the 1980's. The bears -- a special Porsche option at the time-- come from Tibet.

I used to have a Porsche 944 S. with a 2.5 liter engine. it went superfast -- I once got it to 235 kph, almost 150 mph, and there was a lot more left. The engine blew up, and I had to scrap the car. Then I bought a Citroen 2 CV (602cc) model, but I crashed it. It would go 105 kph (60 mph), downhill, with the wind behind it, and with no passengers. Now I have a 1.4 litre Renault Twingo, boring, but reliable and nice to drive. And your wheels are...?

TWO MORE FROM MIM -- Merci Madame!

1. WOLFIE'S: AMERICA'S MOST FAVOURITE RESTAURANT

“Celebrity Corner.' 'Where Everyone Meets to Eat'.

But the Resraurant is empty – where is Everyone?

(Perhaps Everyone couldn't come for the photo shoot)

2. FORT BOONESBOROUGH STATE PARK

This is the entrance to the Park which 'is on the Kentucky River, between Richmond and Winchester'.Boonesboro (sic) is 'the site of Daniel Boone's Settlement'. Why put the entrance on this Boring Postcard, Dan?

THANKS TO MIKEL UNTZILLA FOR 3 MORE

1. Maison de Marmousets (XV1), Ploermel, France

If 'marmousets' are a French type of woodworm, the owner of this old and beautiful house will have problems.

2. San Franciso

"Victorian Houses in the foreground, with the spectacular city in the distance", it says on the reverse of the Postcard. Methinks the Victorian Houses are the more spectacular.

3. Blowhole, Tasmania, Australia

I wonder what would happen if those 5 children all blew (their noses?) at the same time?

THREE OLD BORING POSTCARDS FROM YOUNG MIM

1. Public School, Chevy Chase, DC

And there I was thinking a 'Chevy Chase' was a Chevrolet model -- but Bradford is our expert on all car (aka automobile) matters, and I'm sure he will have something to say about it.

2. Grand Canyon view

"Looking South from Turkey Path at Pennsylvania's Grand Canyon located 10 miles from Wellsboro", it says on the back. Looking at it in front of me, all I can see is a big tree and lots of tree-covered hills.

3. National Museum, Washington

One of the 'Nation's Capital Choicest Views', it '.. contains the Government collections, comprising millions of objects of scientific and artistic interest, collected from all quarters of the globe.'

It also has a big tree in front of it.

Having drifted in and out of the Washington DC, I recognised The National Museum building. It is now part of the Smithsonian Institution and called the Arts and Industries Building. Regarding Chevy Chase, there are 3 that I know of. One in DC, another just across the district/state line in Maryland, and the American comedian/actor, who's real name is Cornelius Crane Chase. Could there be others?

VMH - A "Chevy Chase" is not an automobile, but rather, an action known as a police pursuit.

Chevy chasing to "Lewis and Clark" info for Valentine...

(or "Clark and Lewis"? naw)

Google up Lewis and Clark Expedition, during the time of Thomas Jefferson?

And 'would like to know what "wheels" has Brad :-)

Never mind cars or actors, the original Chevy Chase is a ballad about a fourteenth century battle in the Cheviot Hills of northern England

We live and learn, Alan. The Hills are about 80 miles from where I was born and bred

Nothing like contributing to a brainstorming session: 

Postcards Past Their Best By Date: A Collection

Commonplaceness and Uninterestingness: A Postcard Collection

Poetically Pointless Postcards

another title suggestion:

"Wish You Were Here? : A Compendium of Boring Postcards"

"Dear Postcard"

" BOR-riinnngggg Postcards"

Thanks everyone!

Nancy: I have a chapter called "Wish yiu were here -- Not." It includes Boring Postcards including a young offender's prison, someone being treated in a hospital, a hospital ward, an island on fire, etc. I was considering using "Wish..." as the title, but with the word "Not". I like your subtitle too.

No decision yet.

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK FROM HEIDE MONSTER

Thanks Heide for this Lost and Found Boring and Interesting Postcard

Why did you loose it, Val?

It got lost amongst the 600 Postcards I'm sorting out and writing about. But I found it!

Do you often loose things, Val?

Yes, all the time. I once lost my 6-year old sister on a beach in Italy. the police found her, she was safe, and returned to the hotel

Why is this an Interesting Postcard, Val?

Because it has a Real Rock'n'Roll US Post Office "Return to Sender" label on the back.

Dear Heide, My postcode is 11130, not 1130 -- just in case you send me something again. Regards, Val

Bonjour Gang, I think I've got a title (and subtitle) for my book:

WISH YOU WERE HERE --NOT! A Collection of Boring Postcards

It's very similiar to Nancy Nosegay's suggestion (see my comment on it from yesterday, but i) I've add a 'NOT!', and 'Collection' is better than 'Compendium', the latter referring to a complete listing.

More about the book later.

Val

THREE MORE FRO MIKEL -- THANKS ONCE AGAIN!

1. Musée de Cluny, Paris, France

One of my favourite Paris Musées -- strongly recommended by moi

2. Monument Valley, AZ

Never been there. looks a bit scarey. 'Lightning strikes again, and again, and again'

3.Carter Fountain, Wellington, New Zealand

"This spectacular fountain was donated to the people of Wellington by Mr H.A. Carter in memory of his parents. It is illuminated by high-powered flood-lights and plays in a 15 minute cycle with the main column rising to 46m (150ft)".

It also has a twin in Geneva. Do two fountains each with one cycle make a bicycle?

FOUR FROM KATERINA THAT ARRIVED SAFELY 6 DAYS AFTER BEING POSTED.  Thanks MomKat

1. The Terrace Hilton, Cincinatti, Ohio

350 guest rooms, located near the Skywalk, walking distance of all sorts of exciting things, etc. And, "The Gourmet Room is rated four stars by the Mobil Travel Guide who says 'Outstanding --worth a special trip'"

(Shouldn't it read ...which says 'Outstanding...?)

2. New Orleans Rivergate Convention Facility and International Trade Mart

The back of the card says "New Orleans -- City of Enchantment", and to prove it here is the truly enchanting Convention Facility. Its enchantment (honest, I'm not making this up) comes from "..it's 130,000 square feet of unobstructed space, capable of seating 14,000 people. This $13,500,000 structure is one of the nation's finest facilties."

The Boyds who sent this card were enchanted. they wrote "This is where (we?!) will have our dance. Looks great. Met a lot of friends so far."

3. Gateway Arch, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

The Arch "...looks down on the Old Courthouse, the Old Cathedral, Civic Centre, Busch memorial Stadium [not Katerina tells me named after the Bush Presidents] and the Spanish Pavilion.

You have to look very hard at the picture to see anything of the Arch, but do not despair, for here it is...

4. Gateway Arch...again

Here it is "soaring 630ft into the sky above St Louis symbolising St Louis' historic role as Gateway to the West."

(No, Richard C, it's not a giant boomerang)

SOMETIMES YOU COME ACROSS A BORING POSTCARD THAT MAKES THIS WHOLE PROJECT GREAT FUN.

AND HERE IS ONE FROM KATERINA.

Loading Iron Ore, Minnesota

A classic!

The back of the card is wonderful. The description reads " On Minnesota's 'Iron Range' iron ore is scooped up by large shovels and transported by truck and rail for conversion into steel."

It gets better in the message that Jean-Marie sent to Grandma and Grandpa in Cicero, ILL. "We're having a lot of fun -- we toured the Iron range yesterday and saw about 10 mines and as many iron ore mountains of stockpiled ore. These mines are about a mile across and two miles long. Paddy still hasn't caught any fish."

(Poor Paddy, he might be better off fishing in lakes or rivers than in iron ore mountains.)

Thanks Katerina!

FROM THE GARLIC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, GILROY CALIFORNIA, BUT NOT TO MY STOMACH BECAUSE I'M ALLERGIC TO THE STUFF

"Gilroy...undisputed Garlic Capital of teh World, grows, processes and ships millions of pounds of garlic and garlic products each year. To celebrate bountiful harvests of the King of Flavors, known fondly as 'The Stinking Rose", Gilroyans each year hold their annual Gilroy Festival where, among a myriad of other activities, gourmet cooks, demonstrate the preparation of delightful recipes enhanced with garlic".

Not for me, Rose.

"(Isn't it hard to live in France and avoid garlic, Val?" "Yes, very hard. My stomach and I have no plans to visit Gilroy in the near or distant future".)

3. Gateway Arch, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

The view is from the top of the Gateway Arch looking west.

At the bottom of the card, if you look at the the block just left of the one-block park, the middle building was the old Fur Exchange building, so named when furs trappers caught out west were brought back from the High Plains (where I live now) to vend.  It later became the corporate data center for Southwestern Bell which is where I worked starting in the late 70s.

The 4th floor corner window on the left side of that building is from where a co-worker and friend, Patti, once threw a rye bread dip after a holiday party around 1990.  It sailed and turned on its side such that the dill dip squirted across the service alley behind.  Mark, one of the janitors, walked out a few moments later to survey the scene, remove the detritus, but a dark stain remained for weeks.

It's also where one Ed Sullivan (not the TV star) walked over from his cubby to sniff Patti's hair as she sat at her desk.  She asked what it smelled like.  "An old washwoman's hair", was his smartass reply.  She promptly took a pair of scissors and cut off the bottom half of his tie.

Another time, I was running the evening shift crew processing bills, toll calls and such for over 2 million customers.  There was much snow on the ground at the time which made evacuation and head counts difficult after the building went dark so we convened at the Adam's Mark on the right side of the one block park.  Later, it was determined that a rat had chewed into a 440-volt power feed in the basement.  Computer folks talk about a "bug" when things don't go right, but this time it was a rodent that caused a problem.

Nowadays that building (was addressed 14 South 4th Street) is a Drury Inn.  A new data center was built on the 800 block of Chestnut in 1993.

The tall building next to it is where the CBS affiliate in St. Louis is headquartered.  I once saw a postcard mailed to Jack Carney from Phyllis Diller about 1980.  She was in the Bahamas and selected a card that depicted an ancient sailing ship with about a million sails on it.  Phyllis Diller wrote, "Dear Jack, / You'll notice I finally figured out how to dry contour sheets."  In that building's basement was one of the seven Fando's locations; a cafeteria open for breakfast and lunch.  In line you might see local celebrities as well as even more well-known folks like Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Jack Buck.

17.11.20 Dare Val M. H., ... Sir Bradford easily illustrates your earlier point about how boring postcards can actually be quite interesting---but then, I don't think that I would ever be capable of turning a postcard into a five page letter.  I enjoyed reading  these tidbits from Bradford's nostalgic St. Louis  days. SinCelery, Richard Canard  

FIVE BORING POSTCARDS FRO HELEEN -- BEDANKT, HELEEN

1. Het Hoge Duin Restaurant-Hotel, Vugelvlucht, the Netherlands

Heleen asks, 'Is this a Postcard?'. Well, it looks and feels like one, so 'Yes'. Another question is, 'Is this a Restaurant-Hotel or a Flying Saucer?'

2. Ceci n'est pas un chien

Of course it's not, Mr Magritte -- it's a giraffe.

3. Parkhotel, Valkenburg, the Netherlands

I used to live near Valkenberg in the south of Holland, and must have passed this hotel -- on foot, bike, in car -- hundreds of times, but never went in it. It's on a very steep hill near the finish of the annual Amstel Gold cycle race.

4. Fijne Vakantie!

It means 'Good Holiday!' and is the sort of card sent during a pandemic from one virus to another before a vaccine is discoverd.

5.' Freedom must be cherished'

....is the title of the poem on the back of this card commemorating the end of WW2.

I didn't notice that those postcards from the States (via Greece) arrived,Val.

Too funny is the really really boring postcard from Jean-Marie (my niece)

to her Grandparents...there were 3 cards, but I kept 2 for my "Minnesota" page in my "50 States of the Union" postcard album!

(Hoping Brad will send me a few boring "Greetings from..." postcards from the Dakotas (both North and South would be nice , even one from Deadwood City?:-)

I have many, many postcards from Missouri, and St. Louis, Golden Arch, and  all that dill dip stain, too!

THREE MORE FROM MIKEL.....thanks, thanks, thanks.

1. LA Freeways

'The Santa Monica* Freeway as it leaves downtown LA and travels towards the ocean and Santa Monica.'

This one is a real test for our Automobile Expert Bradley. How many cars can you identify; Bradley?

(* Is Santa Monica the female equivalent of Santa Claus?)

2.  Hotel Europa, adrid, Espagne

And a (cake?) shop at the bottom.

3. The Edgar Allen Building, Biringham University, England

This building --originally a library, now an adinistrative building -- was not named after Edgar Allen Poe, but after the infamous Birmingham football (soccer, to you across the Atlantic) Edgar 'Killer' Allen feared by all opponents for his ankle-breaking tackles.

THE FIRST ONES IN 2021 FROM MIKEL UNTZILLA

But first all of let me wish y'all a Happy, Hippy and Healthy 2021!

Freddy tells me that he is making good progress in finishing off the Boring Postcards book, and we should be able to announce details of it very soon.

And as 2021 gets underway, I hope to be able to re-start collecting Boring Postcards when the covid restrictions are lifted in France and things return to what we had before. (I avoid using the word 'n****l', because for me no such thing existed or will exist).

Here we go...

CLIFFS AT THE PRAIA DA PIEDADER,ALGARVE, PORTUGAL

It's nice to see people enjoying themselve on a beach on a warm and sunny day, when you are subject to a nightime curfew in France, and no-one in their right mind would want to go out anyway as it is freezing cold and very windy. (Not even Mr; Boots my cat wants to go out tonight)

REPULSE BAY, HONG KONG

Why 'Repulse' Bay, I wonder? Is it becasue it is repulsing? Or because it repulses people? (But it looks crowded and has lots of tall buildings/hotels). Or because...

RUINAS DE CATEDRAL DE CIADE VELHA, SANTIAGO, CHILE

This has a nice framed view of one-and-a-half old huts in very bad repair. A strange subject for a Boring (and even a non-Boring) Postcard.

ANOTHER START-OF-2021 FROM JOHN GRAYER

Thanks, John.

FROM RUSSIA....

A very old b/w postcard. John says he found it on a sidewalk recycling shelf in Ixelles, Belgium, took it back to Helsinki, and mailed it to me in France. It has no caption or indication of what it's all about. Have fun working out what's it all about.

REPULSE BAY, Hong Kong ...(wiki knows :-)

"The origins of the bay's English name have become extremely obscure. There are, however, many stories — none resting on any solid evidence that has so far been established. A typical example is that in 1841, the bay was used as a base by pirates and caused serious concern to foreign merchant ships trading with China. The pirates were subsequently repulsed by the Royal Navy, hence the name..."

It is considered the most expensive residential area not only in hong kong, but in the world! And Hemingway, as well as Marlon Brando have stayed at the Repulse Bay Hotel :-) Interesting...

any sign of Minnesota "boring" in the mail, Val?

WE'RE BACK ON THE ROAD! TWO MORE CLASSIC BORING POSTCARDS

From Mikel: W41 High School, Salmon, Idaho

Salmon Idaho, has a well-deserved reputation for providing outsanding education not just to the local pupils, but also to the local fish. This High School is exclusively for the W41 species of Idaho(ian) salmon. (There are also schools for perch, trout, etc, and we await further fishy postcards from Mikel.)

From Katerina: Loading Iron Ore, Minnesota

A postcard from Minnesota's 'Iron Range', and the 2nd in this series that Katerina has sent.

In 1971, George and Francois sent this postcard to their grandparents in Cicero, ILL, with this message: "Hi! This is one of the small ore trucks (60 TONS OF ORE). THE BIG TRUCKS carry about 120 tons of ore. The new trucks will be twice as big about 250 tons. In the big 120 tone trucks the drivers sits 17 feet above the road."

I am susre that the Grandparents Matejovsky found this Postcard and message oresome (groan).

Thanks Katerina (it only just arrived)!

oresome? ha! So glad that mail is arriving in Sigean relatively "fast"!

You actually also got the heART card for today :-)

yay! (boring...but "cute"?)

Thanks!

"Boring...but cute!".... a bit like me.

(St) Valentine

1950s(?) "Yuletide Greetings" Postcard. I am not sure if this qualifies to be shown here, since it does not show an aspect of everyday life.  It is so not Christmas-like and yet it says "Yuletide Greetings". 

Anyone wanna exchange boring pcs? send me one and I will do the same, with some decoration on the back.

THE MOST BORING POSTCARD

"Worldwide interest was immediately sparked in 1992 when the Wiend Center in Wigan [England] announced that it would not only be holding an exhibition of the world's most boring postcards, but also unveiling the greatest work ever produced in this genre. Swamped with superlative exhibits from as far afield as Brazil, Mongolia and Tibet, the organisers said that early front-runners included a dimly lit view of a transport pontoon in Ulan Bator, and 'Gasworks, Leeds, viewed from Adlington Street Toilets'.

"We think there is something for everyone", said Brian Corrigan, the Marketing Officer of Wigan Council.

The winning entry was a '..staggeringly boring trafic interchange in Redditch'. It was sent in by Liz McParlin of Aberystwyth who won a "Luxury weekend in Wigan".

Gil Swift crowned his career as Director of Leisure Services by opening this exhibition, and then retired at the top."

From Stephen Pile, The Ultimate Book of Heroic Failures, Faber & Faber, London, 2011

(If you have ever been to Wigan -- which I have once, but never again, thankyou very much -- you will realise that there is something oxymoronic about a "Luxury weekend" .."in Wigan".)

'A one time, but never again visit' to Wigan sounds rather enticing to me. Must add it to my post-Covid list of things to do.

TWO BORING POSTCARDS FROM IRELAND AND BELGIUM

1; Hello from Ireland

Well Hello to you too!

If you are a donky you may find this a very interesting postcard indeed.

If you are not a donky, well....

And if you are Irish, you may not think that a donky really shows your country in it's best light (although there might be a secret message here)

And if you are Irish and a donkey, well....

2. From the HQ of the capital of the EU -- the Berlaymont building, Brussels/Bruxelles

There are more EU civil servants (an oxymoron, if ever there was one) working in this building than in any of thenumerous other Commission buildings in Brussels. The Commissioners wisely work elsewhere. I spent many hours in the Berlaymont. For many years, this postcard was pinned on a notice-board above my desk.