Gandalf & Unification Stamps

I've been so excited to share stamps that I received last week with Viridian's Sunday Stamps.

I am really glad that the first of two themes today is 'anything you wish'. Perfect for me to feature these Gandalf stamps. I got them at the back of the two postcards sent to me by my master's degree thesis advisor. He was attending a conference in New Zealand at the exact timing for The Hobbit's  opening season there. I watched the film last week and it was awesome! I was really impatient for this film as I am also a big fan of The Lord of the Rings. And also because the film's main star is Martin Freeman who plays that Dr. John Watson character (such an adorable loyal friend!) in BBC's Sherlock TV series. (Anyone reading this from New Zealand...I really wish to get a Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins stamp for my birthday on February. Please message me if you hear/read my request. Thank you! :D )

The next theme is a challenge to find 'a stamp commemorating the end of something'. It's a challenge really as I had to diligently scan every postcards album that I have to find a stamp fit for the theme. And here's what I got, a stamp for the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy.

The Unification of Italy according to my online research, is significant because it brought a finality to the Vienna settlement of 1815. Now that required me to read about European history cause I barely know anything about it...so I learned that the Vienna conference from November 1814 to June 1815 aimed to unite the political and social structure in Central Europe. Allow me to side comment --Thanks Uncle Wiki, you're always so dependable ;) Moreover, the unification marks the end of lack of agreement between Italian states -- proving that nationalism was still of greater value than liberalism, which was a more popular school of thought for change at that time.

I am looking forward into sharing New Year stamps next week! For now, I wish everyone a wonderful year ender and a cheerful welcome for the 2013 on the night of the 31st.

~maria

The Physics of Santa Claus

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Tuija Thil
Sent from Rovaniemi, Finland, Sent on 05 Sep 2012
Received on 19 Sep 2012, Traveled 8,792 km in 14 days

Fact: Santa Claus is so fat he warps space-time into a black hole and then travels from house to house through the resulting wormhole. The reason people never see him is because any light reflected off him is not able to pass the event horizon. As his energy is released in the form of Hawking radiation Santa must consume milk and cookies to assure he maintains sufficient mass, otherwise he might be seen.

Furthermore, it is a misconception that Rudolph has a red nose. His nose is actually green, but appears to be red due to the electromagnetic Doppler shift caused when the sleigh travels at such a high rate of speed away from the observer. Rudolph was once asked how this light is able to pass through the event horizon of Santa's black hole. His response, "All I can say is that's just the milky way."

I found this Santa anecdote on one of my friends Facebook wall. Of course it's just a joke but it's too amusing not to share! Pardon me folks, it's the trying hard physicist in me kicking in! 

The card by the way is from Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland.

Happy Friday everyone! I'm jumping onto Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday page...Come on, blog hop with me!

~maria

Santa-believer Me!

DE-1784034, Sender: Antje
Sent from Wuppertal, Germany, Sent on 04 Dec 2012
Received on 20 Dec 2012, Traveled 10,319 km in 16 days

I rarely share long status messages in Facebook. (And in fact I haven't really shared one before!) But I was exceptionally inspired than usual last night and posted:

I thought Santa forgot about me...but yes, 20+ girls still get their Christmas wishes coming true! Got mine 50 mins before the 25th is officially over... 

Sobrang salamat po (thank you so much) Big Dad for sending Santa my way even I'm a big girl now! I'll do my best to be even nicer this 2013...so perhaps my gift can come a little earlier next Christmas? Kidding...early or late, just please don't ever erase me on your list even though I'm already a toothless and demented old woman...

I hope everyone's wishes for Christmas came true! If not, I'm sure it's just a little late (like mine almost was). So let's just keep the faith that Santa will drop the gift any time soon. After all, Christmas doesn't really have to be just on the 25th right? ;-)

May we keep the spirit of Christmas: happiness, forgiveness, faith, hope, and love alive all year through! Merry 'all year long' Christmas everyone!

I wish the same for my co-bloggers, readers, and friends in the postcards blog sharing community! ;-)

~maria

Pasko Stamps from 2011

Christmas in our local language (Filipino) is 'Pasko'. I remember when I was a kid, during my early years in grade school, our teachers would quiz us about Christmas symbols. This set of 4 stamps is just perfect learning aid for that! Here we have Christmas bells, the Christmas flower - poinsettia, Christmas presents, and the Christmas lantern or 'parol'.

Parol is my favorite Christmas symbol. It It is also one of the most popular decoration for Christmas in the Philippines. It is a reminder of the star which guided the three wise men to the newlyborn Jesus Christ inside a humble manger in Bethlehem. 

Two days before we celebrate Jesus Christ's birthday. I wish everyone a warm and cheerful celebration with family and friends. May we all be blessed and may we multiply these blessings through kindness and love, not only during this holiday season but all throughout the next year.

I'll be in an internet hiatus from now and until Christmas to spend quality time with family. But, sharing these stamps first with Viridian's blog hop and checking what others have posted before I say 'au revoir' to my buddy Net for a few days. ;-)

Merry Christmas everyone! :)

~maria

Seasonal Greetings!

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Valeria Novik
Sent from Minsk, Belarus, Sent on 04 December 2012
Received on 20 December 2012, Traveled 8,968 km in 16 days

Here's a surprise card I got yesterday. :D

Valeria wrote at the back of the card:

Thank you for our swap this year. I would love to wish many exciting cards and letters, love, harmony, joy, and happiness. How have you been? How do you plan to spend your holidays? Best regards, Valeria.

Thank you so much Valeria for this beautiful red seasons greeting cards. Thank you also for the well wishes. I also wish the same for you and your family!

Let's hop into Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday page to check out more Christmas postcards ;-) 

Sunday Stamps # 101: The Nativity Scene

First, my apologies to Viridian for being an absentee from the Sunday Stamps blog hop...I hope in the spirit of the holidays you can welcome me again in your stamps blogger community. Thank you for the comment on my Singapore post that I'm being missed. It means so much to me. :)

I really had to look hard at the back of the postcards and letter/cards envelopes I've received for a Christmas theme stamp cause I don't remember having received one...

But wow! From a set of 6 stamps attached on this beautiful envelope I received from Poland in March 15 this year, I found this stamp of a nativity scene! The nativity scene has a special place to my heart. I believe I've posted an entry before, explaining the nature of my first name. My parents played Mary & Joseph for the Nativity Scene of our parish church. Hence, my name Maria Kristina -- from Mary and Christ (Jesus Christ) since my mother was 6 months pregnant to me at that time. 

The nativity scene is also one of my favorite Bible verses in tangible form:

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

For my readers who celebrate Christmas, may the Christmas symbols continue to remind us of how much Big Dad loves the whole world (Yep, I believe there would be another wonderful holidays celebration this year, the world won't end on 21 December '12!) 

For my readers who aren't into the Catholic/Christian faith, may the symbols and spirit of this holiday season inspire happy and warm thoughts. :)

A great week ahead for everyone! Sharing this post to Viridian's Sunday Stamps on the page dedicated for the love of postcards and stamps.

~maria

11 Days Before Christmas! :D

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Abran Ochoa
Sent from Santa Clarita, CA, Sent on 24 November 2012
Received on 12 December 2012, Traveled 11743.6 km in 18 days

Abran wrote:

Hi Krissa! How are you dear? I hope very well! I hope you've been in good spirits. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and great 2013! Thanks for your cards and hope we'll swap more soon. God bless my friend.

Thank you so much for the wishes Abran! This is my very first Christmas card and written well wishes received for this year. ;-)

And I surely missed the Postcard Friendship Friday blog hop, so join me in as I link with Beth and the other PFF bloggers!

Eleven days to go before Christmas. I hope despite life's constant challenges, we're all filled with good spirit and cheers! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

~ maria