A series of unfortunate confessions...

[k8cre8]

Disclaimer confession: I've been working on this post for weeks now, and I've decided to break it up into multiple parts, since the first part is done. Clearly, I take this all too seriously. 

I have a confession to make. It's not one I make lightly, and it leads to a second confession, which has less potential for embarassment, but, in revealing it, I end up facing some expectations which I'm hoping to be able to meet. 

Confession #1. I collect postage stamps. I know. Shocking. Appaling, even. A few of you knew about this *other* strange hobby of mine, one of the many distressing and curious factoids about me, and something I'm sure the revelation of which has now skewed your perception of me in new and frightening ways. Glad to be of service. 

As the initial shock wears off, I can even add a few details. I have a relatively small collection, which still numbers in the thousands of stamps. From all over the world. I even have a few specialties, stamps from so-called "philatically-dead" countries. (To down-geek that, those are countries that no longer produce stamps, such as the USSR, or East Germany.) I have several stamps that are well over 100 years old. (Sidenote: Stamps haven't been around for *all* that long, only since about 1840). I even have a small collection of stamps with errors, and a mint set of the first Armenian stamps (c. 1919), among other oddities. 

Why the sudden confession? 

Well, it has to do with confession #2... 

Several weeks ago, I was in this training class for work, and saw an offer to register domain names for $1.99 for a full year. Clearly, this was a sign. Right then and there, I *finally* purchased a domain name for my very own website. By popular vote, I went with " k8space.com" Please note, it's only got a sparce skeleton there right now. 

And here's where the two confessions meet. 

The design is being built around the idea of "postcards." Simple, universal, common mail items, which will let me use my postage stamps as cheap, elegant, evocative design elements. U.S. postage stamps produced before 1978 are in the public domain, as are UK stamps made before 1937, excepting the penny black (not that I have any of those, though, one day, I may buy a penny black, which is, essentially, the first postage stamp. Used ones can be had for a few hundred bucks, mint ones for about 1,000. Geeky digression. Sorry.).

Even better, stamps for countries that no longer exist are *also* in the public domain. So, I've been sorting through stamps, and for the first time in ages, I'm spending the time to organize them properly. It's a nice excuse to look through them, figure out the status of the collection as a whole, and pick
candidates for the web site.

Of course, all this is somewhat easier than trying to figure out what the site's purpose is, and who the audience is. When I was teaching web design, this was what I told my students was the most important thing to do in site design, before you even start designing. What the heck was I thinking?! 

Okay, so, I'm working on those answers, too. I think it will be something of a work in progress, but, I'd like to have part of the site's purpose as a way to handle routine responses to freelance submissions. I'll also probably have "private" sections of the site for various things, and my thought is that a more professional site, where I'm spending money and investing in design and such will force me to write an actual column on a daily basis. I'm debating whether it will be all WoD stuff (probably not), or a mix of things. Suggestions are welcome. Mostly, it's still on the drawing board. (obviously) 

Oh, and if you've got interesting stamps lying around, hey, you know someone that will find the silly little things a nice home.

Comments

ummm

[boat-of-car.livejournal.com]

Okay- that was so NOT what I thought it was going to be.
I think I surf the internet too much.

Anyway- Stamps are cool. I'm looking forward to your website.

Re: ummm

[k8cre8.livejournal.com]

;) Well, see, compared to the web and all its lurid appeal, I *am* scandalously boring...

and, thanks! (I actually even have one of those locomotive ones, it's from 1869)

[kessiebabe.livejournal.com]

*g* I still think its nothing to be ashamed about. Cause hey I have a stamp collection, too! But you know that! *hugs*

[lovecarnievan.livejournal.com]

Ok, let me see if I've got this right. You collect stamps naked? Or you have a new naked domain? We all have scandalously boring lives. That's why we're all still alive!

Oh, and my confession is that I read lurid romance novels. And I refuse to be ashamed of it.

Re: ahhh

[k8cre8.livejournal.com]

Yes... Nekid stamp collecting...

I'd forgotten about the Daily Dose of Schmuck. Wow. Memories.

ahhh

[boat-of-car.livejournal.com]

see, now THERE is what I was surfing for.
(shhhh don't tell C)

(loudly) OF COURSE *I* Have no such scandalous secrets...
*ahem*

Re: ahhh

[k8cre8.livejournal.com]

Your secret is safe with us.

[chrismarlowe.livejournal.com]

You collect postage stamps? Then you're in good company. *g*

[k8cre8.livejournal.com]

No kidding? Really? I had no idea. I won't tell a soul... *g*

[helygen.livejournal.com]

I had a modest stamp collection from childhood until my early twenties. Alas it went the way of many of my prized possessions at that time: sold or destroyed by my first husband :(
I like that you collect stamps too :)

[k8cre8.livejournal.com]

It's nice to have more company. It's weird, I actually expected I was all alone on this one.

I will add some fist shaking and grunts of annoyance toward your first husband on behalf of you and your collection. I'm glad you are no longer with him.

I just got a bunch of stamps from the UK, and thought of you this weekend as I was taking them off the paper. The mix even had a few stamps that actually are from before 1937. I was pleasantly surprised. A handful of Edward VIII, George V and George VI. I'm kinda excited...

[helygen.livejournal.com]

I'll keep my eye out for the older ones, and will send them on to you :)

[k8cre8.livejournal.com]

Many thanks...

And, if you have interest, I'd be happy to return the favor