Store Bought Postcards


Disney Villians

Postmarked February 21, 1995

I had offered my Valentines to the Ninnies with the pitch

"Hey, at least it's mail".

I also offered to send a postcard from Disney World.

I took advantage of the early openings for Resort guests. Most notably I was one of 4 people (in that day's first showing) invited to participate in the Virtual Reality Demonstration at the Imagineering Labs. I couldn't get my "magic carpet" to steer smoothly and kept bumping into walls, canopies and the occasional turban. Perhaps I was too stunned from the fact that when I looked down, my hands had only four digits and were wearing white gloves. As fun as mowing down Disney characters sounds (wonder why I identify with the Villains?), obviously enjoying it would probably be enough of an offense to get me escorted out of EPCOT.

The Next Postcard


Mercer, PA

Postmarked August 7, 1995 Mercer, PA

Mercer is Trent Reznor's home town.

I was already planning to attend Pennsic XXIV, which is approximately 20 miles south of Mercer. I arranged to go there for lunch while I steathily assembled 60 odd postcards to be sent. I fooled no one. In spite of my careful efforts to eliminate any NIN related element on my car or my person, the act of buying 60 postcards of their town exposed me. The cashier noted my purchase and immediately asked, "Trent Reznor?"

It turns out that enough of Trent's fans have visited Mercer and bought a souvenir that any tourist is guilty until proven innocent.

There was some solace in knowing I wasn't the most obsessed fan. At least I was getting postcards for my friends. Although it turned out many of them had already been there.

Attentive music fans might remember that this was the day Jerry Garcia passed away.

The Next Postcard


Pennsic XXV

Postmarked August 13, 1996 Pennsic Station: Slippery Rock, PA

Not just an Infinite Halo. When I saw the cool postmark commemorating Pennsic 25, I sent one to nearly everyone in my address book.

August 13th was also the anniversary of the Woodstock performance that made Nine Inch Nails (some would argue, unfortunately) a Pop Musical Act. As much as I genuinely have appreciated the music since 1991, it was that performance, and the resulting high profile of NIN, that made me A Fan, sufficiently enough that I ever bothered to check out the Ninternet.

The Next Postcard



Updated: October 1996 tenney.org