USAFwife

Updated & current as of August 20, 2020

I rate as soon as I open the swap. If I can't rate right away, I hold off opening the mail until I can rate. I do believe in giving hearts, even for e-mail swaps. The amount of time you put in is what earns a heart, and am a believer that email swaps can earn hearts as well. All swaps are welcome for me.

For postcard swaps, I"m ok with just about anything. If you have a handmade card you'd like to send, I'd be happy to receive it. I don't collect them, but they are fun to send and see all the options. :)

If you're going to be late, just tell me. It's ok. I am more annoyed with a lack of communication than I am about being a few days late (or whatever) in sending a swap.

I'm not really big on holidays, but I do enjoy haunted houses and ghosts and psychic images that can usually only be found around Halloween. So anything Spiritualism, fortune telling, ghost, haunted house, black cat, silver moon & stars - you get the idea - is greatly enjoyed. Fall is my favorite season, followed by winter. Prefer seasonal images to holiday related ones, though. :)

So, about me & mine:

I've been a letter writer and a snail mailer for all of my life! I started swapping by snail mail in the late 1980's with Friendship Books and the like, but I wrote to family members before that. Snail mail is one of the few constants in my life. And as much as I love snail mail & swapping, - swap-bot isn't my life. It adds to my life, but my world does not revolve around it. I don't immediately reply to a PM or comment. I'd love to hear from you, feel free to send me a PM or comment on my profile. But give me a chance to reply - it might take a few days.

I'm 44 years old , married 25 years this year, a mom to 3 teens (18 & older now!) and really am a USAF wife. (USAF = United States Air Force) We are currently in Washington (state), originally from Michigan, and have lived in 13 states (and counting!) I'm not thrilled with the current presidency or their politics, but I am an American.

I love to hear from people in other countries or with other customs or beliefs than mine, other lifestyles. I'm LGBTQ+ friendly, and am one of the 'you're safe with me' people who still wears a safety pin.

I'm not Christian, but am 'Faithfully Religionless'. :) I have read a lot and participated in Wiccan celebrations, and enjoy reading about Buddhism. I sometimes miss the old traditions of the Lutheran services I used to attend, but that's not where my beliefs are.

Holidays: We don't do many holidays. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday - love to cook! - and we put up a Christmas tree in December, but don't attend services. For holiday swaps, I'll be happy with whatever you send me

I deal with anxiety, migraines and depression, and it sucks. I'm also an Adult Child of Alcoholics. My children have varying levels of "special needs", including anxiety, Autism spectrum, and TBI. I'm a 'caregiver' for those who need it, and it is exhausting most days. I"m not looking for drama, I have enough of it in my daily life, thanks.

We have 3 pets, all rescues that have traveled the country with us. 2 cats and a dog.

I've participated in the Write On Challenge since 2016, and have done the InCoWriMo challenge since 2019! I LOVE the USPS - yeah, they have issues, but how else can you meet the world, one little postage stamp at a time?! :) Support the USPS!!

I hate Face book. I do have an account, and I remember to check it about once a year. I'm fully anti-social media.

My 'mail art' is usually limited to washi tape and/or stickers - or printed paper, as I make some envelopes, usually from book pages or calendar pages. I like to re-use items when possible.

Planners I'm not a planner person, but have recently started a Bullet Journal. Not interested in planner stickers, washi or other items

Please no owls!

Likes

Garfield!! Books: haunted houses, ghosts, mysteries. Historical fiction (esp American & Czech), memoirs, Salem Witch Trials Audiobooks Authors: Stephen King, Shirley Jackson, JL Bryan, Simone St James, Agatha Christie, Rick Riordan, Grimm Brother's fairy tales, mythology & folklore.

Stationery & stickers: pens (esp purple ink) & love advertising & promotional pens; stickers, washi tape, handmade envelopes, rubber stamps

images: moon & stars, rainbows, unicorns, coffee themed, anything book themed. Cats over dogs, hamsters, hummingbirds, trees, fall/autumn, butterflies, Lisa Frank, sloths, giraffes, llamas, Little Golden Books, Tom & Jerry (the Chuck Jones era was the BEST!), Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, and the REAL Scooby Doo, The Muppets & Sesame Street, Simon's cat & Ziggy. Snowmen, snowflakes. Edward Gorey & Charles Addams/The Addams Family type art work.

Tuck ins/extras: bookmarks (esp the local library type or the free promotional bookmarks that are sometimes handed out). Magnetic ones are awesome, too! I Love bookmarks from local places, promos for books and such, anything usual and unique. Something I can't just buy at Barnes & Noble. //Also really like Tarot cards - can't read them well, but I love the art work on them, so just stray cards are good too. //

TV/movies: Supernatural, Are You Being Served?, Keeping Up Appearances, Northern Exposure, Murder She Wrote, Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Sherlock, Dr Who (David Tennant years), Golden Girls, Broadchurch, Travel Channel shows with Josh Gates, Ghost Hunters & similar shows (but not Ghost Adventurers). Movies: The Mummy (1999), The Haunting (1999), 10 Things I Hate About You, Clue,

Disney: Especially: Aladdin, Emperor's New Groove, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Haunted Mansion

Actors/actresses: Robert Downey Jr, Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, David Tennant, Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson, Nathaniel Parker, Benedict Cumberbatch, Angela Lansbury

Music: The Monkees (since I was about 3 years old),Imagine Dragons, John Mayer, Joan Baez, Soul Asylum, Enigma, Billy Joel, Daft Punk, Bjork, Edwyn Collins, Counting Crows, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin (yes, really. I was a fan of Menudo when he joined, so that lingers). Also 1980's & 1990's music

Comedians: Jim Gaffigan, Kathleen Madigan, John Mulaney, Mike Birbiglia, Brian Regan.

Podcasts: Lore, Cabinet of Curiosities and Unobscured by Aaron Mahnke, Buddhist Boot Camp by Timber Hawkeye, History Goes Bump by Diane Student.

Dislikes

Anything with my name spelled wrong - It's CINDI, not Cindy.

Anything with cigarette smoke smell or other strong smells - it triggers migraines

Religious information - I'm cool w/ my beliefs, not interested in preaching.

Please no food items - I have an odd assortment of allergies, so I'll probably have to throw anything away. Also, please no make up/lip balm type items, either.

Not a fan of 'God Bless America' themed items or flag items. Rather not receive items with scriptures or Christian themed items.