circularlogic

H E L L O Hey y'all! You have stumbled into my little swap-bot hub! My name is Jessie; I'm a 41-year-old obsessed with sending and receiving snail mail. DEATH to bill mail!

S T O P scrolling :: If you aren’t satisfied with a swap, I will gladly fix it! I am the best option for finding a reasonable solution! If you have not received expected mail (in any form), please message me! I am happy to resend when communicated to me.

H E Y YOU! A Swap-bot Group for Healthcare Workers
Are you in the healthcare field and love snail mail? I created a group you might be interested in. Check it out, and I hope you see yourself being part! (Created December|6|21)

S N A I L M A I L My first pen pal was my favorite person growing up, Aunt Lori! She would send me letters, cards, and drawings in the mail! I also got letters from my Aunt Carrie! I remember how much happiness it brought me, and I have started the same correspondence with my nieces and nephew to hopefully inspire their own creativity and snail mail habits.

When I was in 6th grade, I gained two pen pals through school. One was in Italy and the other was from the Ivory Coast. I kept in touch with Aristide from the Ivory Coast for over a decade. We lost touch once he started working and had family and life obligations! That is where my love for snail mail, mail art, and writing began.

I enjoy many types of mail from short, sweet letters to rambling, long ones. I enjoy sending postcards from time to time as well. I love sending off my favorite ephemera and receiving others to use in letters, journals, and other mixed media projects I take on.

R A M B L E I am a letter rambler. I could go on and on about anything or nothing. Weather, what I've been up to, books, movies, podcasts, my day-to-day happenings! Pages of randomness that doesn't have the best flow. I just go from topic to topic with reckless abandon. That's just me!

When I'm not sitting at my crafting desk writing a pen pal or creating something, I am living a busy, joy-filled life. I am a nurse, legendary (self-proclaimed) auntie, and enjoy my free time to the max! I have been enjoying reading, keeping a daily/weekly/monthly journal, spending time with family and friends, arts and crafts, and road trips!

I live in a quiet, quaint little town that reminds me of Stars Hollow (Have you seen Gilmore Girls?). We even have a little gazebo where performers can play for the town. The main streets are lined with old businesses, antique & specialty shops, and restaurants. I find so much joy in living here. There is something new I discover every time I walk or ride through the town.

The best part of Uptown is the dedication to art. There are murals, sculptures, and monuments that are colorful and rich with history. I love that my small town takes pride in ensuring art is forefront and important. Even the old theater still holds shows and pageants.

D O G M O M I am a dog mom. Zach is my 14-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, and he is a grumpy old man. He has earned every belly rub, tasty chicken-free treat, and ear scratch possible. When he isn't busy being grumpy, barking at the mail man, pretending to have the spunk of a puppy, or the tenacity of a toddler, he is curled up in a ball nearby wherever someone he loves happens to be! Zach is now living with my parents. He is loving it! I miss him terribly, but his health was suffering from my demanding career. Maybe one day I can be a stay-at-home dog mom. (Anyone know how I can get rich quick?)

C A T M O M I have two kitties, Onyx & Fossil. These gems were born in June 2021. They will be 2 in June.They are sweet, sassy, and a little bit classy. They are vocal, affectionate, and cuddle butts. They love tiny silvervine mice toys!

T R A V E L One of my favorite ways to spend a free day is hopping in the car and driving. I don't care much about the destination. What matters is the music, open road, fresh air, and God's beautiful creation. I love exploring new and old places, taking my time meandering around towns, driving along winding roads, sitting down in a restaurant where no one knows me. It's invigorating. Sometimes I travel with Zach, while other times I go alone or with family or friends. Any road trip is an adventure I can't wait to have. In 2023, I want to try traveling with my cats!

N U R S E I have been a nurse for 5 years. I work in adult oncology, and I love what I do. Some days are more challenging than others. I like writing about my day to day experiences as a nurse. I never know what a day will hold. There are many times that I don't feel like I do enough while other times I feel overwhelmed by the love and compassion I have for the families and loved ones I care for. And some days are just darn frustrating! Nursing is truly a work of heart. I am in awe of the men and women I work alongside across the healthcare field! It takes a village. To put my job into perspective, I make a ‘zine titled UnmaskedRN which is very satirical in nature.

A U N T I E I have 2 nieces (7 & 4) and 2 nephews (2 & baby). They are the heartbeat of my life! I adore them, and I spend time with them each week. The oldest started first grade this year, and we have finally gotten into a good groove! I miss our special adventures, but she is so smart, and I love watching her learn! She is a ravenous reader! What book suggestions do you have for an advanced 7-9 year old reader? We love animals, reading, coloring, sticker slapping, drawing, arts & craft activities, outdoor walks, nature, museums, and ice cream! I love sending the kids snail mail, and when I visit them, they have placed their letters on the fridge or wall in their rooms!

G A M E R G I R L I am a gamer girl at heart. I love all games. Card games, board games, video games. I have never been skilled at first person shooter games, and I prefer turn based play or video games that offer adventure, skill growth, and a variety of activities that keep the game play engaging.

card games- cards against humanity, rummy, skip-bo, what's in a meme?, go fish, old maid, spoons, speed, spades, phase 10, mermaid beach

board games- ticket to ride, monopoly, clue, pictionary, life, scrabble, up words, candyland, pretty, pretty princess, sorry, trouble

video games- skyrim, wizard101, crash bandicoot, super mario brothers, the oregon trail, pirate101, super mario karts, zelda, monster party, duck hunt, portal, lego series

F R E E T I M E I don't have a ton of free time, but I love when I do. I love listening to my favorite tunes, audiobook, or podcast, driving for hours taking in the beauty of the open road, laughing, supporting small businesses, creating things, stargazing, gardening, cooking, and cleaning.

Honestly, I also love driving in the rain at night when the sky lights up from a thunderstorm. There is something so satisfying about that experience. I like walking through the local library, the smell of books, and being sucked into a good book. I always have a hard time saying goodbye to characters that are touching. I love walking through antique malls, farmer's markets, specialty shops, flower gardens, museums, parks, and zoos. I have found the older I get the more I want to return to an organic, grounded existence. I want to be surrounded by the people I love, the pastimes I enjoy, and my grumpy old dog and cats.

I love making new friends and look forward to being in a swap with you or making your acquaintance as pen pals!

W O R D of the Y E A R

Each new year, I don't make many new year resolutions. Instead, I try to embrace a word. I try to keep that word in mind year long and do activities that help me grow in that area. This year I am being intrepid! I want to fearlessly explore, travel, and push myself outside of my own comfort zone!

2023 word of the year- intrepid
2022 word of the year- elevate
2021 word of the year- intentional
2020 word of the year- rebrand
2019 word of the year- sufficient
2018 word of the year- sophrosyne

U P D A T E S
3|25|23- A quick note about penpal correspondence :: I am not always quick to reply. My turn around time is approx 1-3 months. I have a goal to be a bit quicker, but I like being able to sit down and ramble. This can’t be rushed.

10|28|22- I have officially caught up on pen pals from May to current. I would also like to say my life has done a 180 since March. I am feeling much better, centered, and am grateful for every good thing in my life. I am thankful for every prayer and positive thought that was sent my way! This community is a blessing!

03|31|22- 2022 started off okay, but I found myself depressed and more anxious than usual. I am feeling much better now. I am catching up on penpal letters, and I am joining swaps slowly. Please be kind to others, always. You never know what someone is going through.

10|18|21- Please be aware I sort and archive swaps about once every month or two. This is when I take inventory on swaps sent and received. I will kindly message to see if you have received and follow up with any swaps that haven't been rated. I am very flexible and patient when working these things out. I know mail can be delayed, illness and family/work/personal issues arise. Just try to keep in contact and all will be just fine!

I have received a few messages that I haven't put my name/swap in/on my letter or package. I am so sorry for the oversight. Please message me if this happens so I can tell you if your happy mail was a wish, RAK, or swap! Sometimes I know I forgot and have sealed the envelope, so the only identification is on the outside of a letter/package! I apologize for how inconvenient that is! I am doing my best to be cognizant of writing the swap and my username!

A Quick Note I was away from swap-bot for a few years while pursuing my nursing degree, but I missed the snail mail and friendships I had made here. I love how many wonderful, unique souls can be found through swaps. I love seeing how others express themselves in the different types of swaps, and I love sharing pieces of myself through the variety of swaps I join.

Many of the original friends I made here have moved on, but I look forward to meeting and connecting with new friends. I enjoy writing letters and creating special packages that house the letters I write. I think turning the pages of letters hand written (or typed) is so very special. I enjoy the deeper side of life and getting to know people in a real way. I love the light and fluffy questions as well as the deeper questions in life. I live in the balance of both.

S W A P B O T disclaimer I am pretty laid back, flexible, and understanding. If an issue with a swap arises, I am upfront and I hope you will be as well. It isn't unusual for me to drop a message to make sure you have received a swap. I don't demand a rating, but I want to make sure you receive what is expected. If you receive something that doesn't follow the swap guidelines precisely, let me know and I will gladly resend or make it right for you. If something is damaged in transit, let me know, and I will resend. If you do not receive, let me know, and I will resend. Snail mail isn't always linear, so I am willing to give it a little extra time or resend based on your preference. Just communicate with me! I don't bite... (hard!)!

my S T Y L E I like to dabble in many things but am not a master in anything. I enjoy the process. I like sitting in front of a blank canvas and creating something that has never been made before. I like the feel of ink on a blank page. I like the ache in my wrist from writing one more page of a rambling letter! I love the feel of putting my thoughts onto paper. I find so much joy in finding a way to express my own thoughts and feelings through words and art. I would say that my artistic expression is made through mixed media and abstract means verses a concrete idea executed perfectly. If you are looking for Rembrandt, I'm not your girl. If you're looking for happy little trees, I am most definitely your girl!

If you don't see what you're looking for in terms of my likes/interests, just ask. I am always expanding and evolving my likes and interests.

T O P T U C K-I N S

• your favorite YouTube paper craft tutorial
• any playing card (old or new) with a cat on the back! My 2023 goal is a cat frankendeck!
• cat, dog, animal or faith washi
• Rolodex card (blank or decorated by you!)
• fairytale or woodland ephemera
• stationery letter set
• garbage pail kids trading card

For CAT FRANKENDECK ::
I need ::
♦️ 5, 7, K
♠️ A, 5, J, K
♣️ 4
but any and all cat playing cards welcome!

last update to About Me :: feb|24|2023

ATCs, altered anything, antique mall finds
Butterflies, bible verses, beach, brain teasers, board games
Colors :: green (any shade!), neutrals, earth tones, jewel tones, conspiracy theories, Christmas
Doodles, drawings, dogs (jack russell terriers!)
Envelope art, embellishments, ephemera
Foreign languages, fairy tales, fabric (esp vintage, interesting, tiny patterns, or unique), firepits
Green, glue sticks, Gilmore Girls
Handmaking items, how to videos, handlettering, hiking, Halloween
Index cards (altered), interesting (to you) interpretations, inspirational quotes, and ideas--please share yours!
Journals (tiny, sewn binding)
Knitting, kawaii fabric & kawaii stationery, keroppi
Letters, lists (in a letter or on a postcard), lazy days, lakes, laughter
Mixed media, mermaids, mail art, mountains
Nature themed items, notebooks, nieces, nephews, naps, napkins
Ocean animals (sea cucumbers, jellyfish, dolphins, deep sea creatures, narwhals, nessie, & mermaids!)
Pen pals, pocket letters, paper (unique, vintage, strange), photography (vintage), playlists (your favorite songs!), penny press variety puzzles, podcasts, playing card(s)- bonus if it has a cat back!
Quotes on items (handmade or bought)
Reusing/recycling items, road trips, rolodex altered cards, recipes
Stationery, stamped images or messages, stories, The ScrapExchange, serial killers (i'm totally intrigued!)
Tape runners, teas (loose leaf, bags, simple, or flavored), tiny tidbits, true crime
Unique stickers, upcycling ideas
Vintage games, vampires, vacations
Weird takes on ordinary swaps (just add a note explaining yourself!) think outside the box; it's fun! washi tape (new obsession--obsessed with dog washi and funky, cool patterns), writing
X-files
Your religious/spiritual/life/current story; tell me about you
Zines, zentangles, zendalas, zombies

last update to ABC me :: april|1|2023

1 :: cat themed ATC, mail art, or similar
2 :: decorative napkins
3 :: fairy tale/fairy/woodland related ephemera
4 :: anything faith-based or inspirational
5 :: a postcard filled with lists
6 :: a stationery letter set
7 :: garbage pail kids trading card
8 :: playcard(s) with a cat back!
9 :: unused postage
10:: anything I can share with my perfectly adorable nieces (7 & 4) & nephews (2 & baby!) such as coloring pages, crafts, stickers, disney anything. they have a million toys, and we love doing things together, so anything that we can do together is a win in my book!

last update to current wishlist :: april|1|2023

Here are a few specific likes and wishes regarding some of the more niche swaps you might find me in!

Fairy Tales/Fables ::

Little Red Riding Hood, Beauty & the Beast, Hansel & Gretel, Princess & the Pea, Rapunzel, Rumplestilkskin, The Ugly Duckling, Snow Queen, The Little Red Hen, The Lion, the ASS, & the Fox, The Lion & the Mouse, Fern Gully, Robin Hood, Jack & the Beanstalk, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Mother Holle, Rusalka, elves, sprites, fairies of all varieties

Darkly Yours ::

if you're in a dark swap with me, I enjoy ::

zombies, sea monsters, aliens, monsters, hybrid creatures, cryptids, creatures and lore from foreign countries, nymphs, werewolves, vampires, skulls (over skeletons), dark, eerie creatures, & not always dark but cool: mythical creatures, silhouettes of bones, heart, brain, lungs (body parts), conspiracy theories

pen pal ideas :: write me a poem or haiku. write anything from the perspective of your (or my) favorite fairy tale, fable, or spooky character. Tell me about your greatest adventure. Write me a fictional short story. This or that lists. Currently reading, listening to, loving... etc. Describe a character you’d love to be in a book! Fill a letter with lists! Tell me anything. Ramble on and on about nothing.

God, Bible, & Faith ::

I would love to hear about your favorite verse and what it means to you, how God has shown his love, how God has pulled you through adversity, how your relationship with God has changed you, Bible verses on overcoming difficult situations, uplifting verses, and I would love, love, love any story you have to share about your faith, your faith journey, or how God has been beside you in times of uncertainty! Share your favorite praise/worship playlist.

I love, love love, love , love, love the holidays. St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day, July 4, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!! I love them all. Christmas is one of my favorites because I get to enjoy the act of gift giving, providing others with simply joys, and baking! I love the sights, sounds, and smells of the holidays! Christmas lights, the Christmas movies, crafting, writing cards, and sending Christmas snail mail! All of it brings me so much happiness!

last update to the nitty gritty :: march|24|2023

Current Playlist:
01 :: Sunflower, The Weepies
02 :: Social Stamina, Rosie
03 :: illicit affairs, Taylor Swift
04 :: Clarity, Zedd [feat. Foxes]
05 :: Different Eyes, Marco Tamimi
06 :: Next, Olivia Holt
07 :: Gardenia, Mandy Moore
08 :: I Hope, Gabby Barrett
09 :: Conversations with Emily, Park
10 :: Stranger, Skrillex
11 :: Easy on Me, Adele
12 :: The Call, Regina Spektor
13 :: This Is The Stuff, Francesca Battistelli
14 :: Love Is All I Got (Friction Remix), Feed Me
15 :: Meet Me in Our Spot, The Anxiety
16 :: Fancy Life, Walker Hayes
17 :: Would You Go With Me, Josh Turner
18 :: Should've Known Better, Carly Pearce
19 :: Society, Eddie Vedder
20 :: Biblical, Calum Scott
21 :: I Thank GOd, Maverick City Music
22 :: Death Was Arrested, North Point Worship
23 :: Leave a Light On, Tom Walker
24 :: Happy Together, The Turtles
25 :: Oh Love, Prateek Kuhad
26 :: Stay, tyDi

last update to favorite music :: april|3|2022

The Bible
Eating Well (magazine)
Cookbooks (just about any one and especially those from before 1980!)
Only Revolutions, Mark Z. Danielewski
The Woman in Cabin 10, Ruth Ware
Behind Closed Doors, B.A. Paris
The Shift, Theresa Brown
Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom
Wicked, Gregory Maguire
Congo, Michael Crichton
Twilight Series, Stephenie Meyer
Sookie Stackhouse Series, Charlaine Harris
Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling
Sarah J. Maas Series
Vampires, Hearts, and Other Dead Things, Margie Fuston
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires, Grady Hendrix
The Buried and the Bound, Rochelle Hassan

Harry Potter Series
Twilight Series
Return to Oz
Jurassic Park Series
Bedknobs & Broomsticks
Fairy Tale Theater
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (TV 2 Part Series, 1985)
The Sweetest Thing
Leap Year
The Wilderness Family
Hook
Fern Gully

Haters Back Off
Gilmore Girls
Bones
Grey's Anatomy
Scrubs
Beauty & the Beast
The Bachelor
The Bachelorette
Bachelor in Paradise
Drunk History
The Shannara Chronicles
Wakfu
TWD
The Vampire Diaries
Grace and Frankie
Hemlock Grove
Anne with an E
Road to Avonlea
Parks & Rec
The Office
Reacher
All of Us are Dead
Bridgerton
Unbelievable
TruBlood

I have been enjoying letters and writing recently, but I love to dabble in junk journals, journaling, photography, sewing, ATCs, drawing/doodling, mail art (very new to this, and I'm still learning so much as I make attempts!), and other paper crafts.

If you made it here, bless your heart. Send me a private message and put Oh, biscuits! in the subject and put your address in the message for a profile based flat surprise.

If you think we’d make good friends, private message me with your idea for a swap or pen pal exchange.

Have a blessed day, and please take a little time today to find 3 good things to appreciate in your day! Doing this consistently is proven to lift your mood and have a long lasting, positive impact on your mental health.

3 Good Things ::

• fresh mown lawns
• time spent with friends
• popcorn