Woe Is Me . More USPS Insights from where I'm sitting.

 

In my life… there have been numerous USPS mail mishaps over the past few years. Packages and letters that don’t arrive on time.  Gift cards and gifts that have mysteriously disappeared into thin air. Last fall I was out over $300. And thats not including the cost of shipping. No kidding.  Just a litany of bad things, seemingly getting worse over time. I have filled out forms, submitted the paperwork and ultimately arrive at a dead end in most cases. With the USPS giving me excuses that nothing can be done to remedy the situation. These things happen.  A month ago… a clerk didn’t scan ONE of the three items, I brought into the post office to send back to the manufacturer. Each item had a  prepaid label. I hate to be cynical but I bet dimes to donuts, she lifted it.  By not scanning it into the system, there was no record of it ever being returned. This infuriated me. So I sent off a letter to the Postmaster.  It was sent back as undeliverable. I kid you not. It became clear this was another postal problem they didn’t want to deal with.  Fortunately, the  company I had been trying to return this package too, was very understanding. They refunded me... so I wasn’t out the money.  So I’m grateful for their understanding that all this happened through no fault of my own. I seriously hope the postal clerk is enjoying her new ring, courtesy of me. The other clerks are not above reproach either. I can’t tell you how many times… I’ve watched them 'feel up' the envelopes I’m sending,  while I’m buying stamps. They blatantly ask if there is a gift card in them? Then… they inform me the postal service doesn’t reimburse you for lost gift cards. I NOW realize that. Most I’ve attempted to send, have not reached their destinations. And I’ve been out significant sums of money. I wonder why? Employees with STICKY FINGERS, no doubt. Something else to note, this just isn't happening where I live.  A postal clerk,  halfway across the country, back East, miles from here… waited on my mom. She was sending a birthday card to my niece. The man at the counter talked about the pretty PINK envelope it was in. And then inquired if it was for a special occasion? My 87 year old mom said yes. Her granddaughter's birthday. That card never saw the light of day from that point on. My niece never got the $50 bill my mom had innocently tucked inside it. I’m sure that clerk opened it and pocketed the $50. Theft is a great 'side hustle' for these folks who are working at Post Office, isn't it?  I’m desensitized. And disillusioned. Hoping something will change my mind about all this. But more BAD than good has come out of my interactions with the USPS in recent years. So sad, the levels they have now sunk to. Used to be such a respected institution. Now it's a cesspool of greed.  And in closing I’ll just say this. I ordered a Pioneer Woman 'gingham COW mug' a few weeks back. I was so excited to find an affordable one online. I like to drink my tea from a cup/mug with character. Fills me with joy. You have to take it where you can find it, right folks? So I anxiously awaited it's arrival. It  finally was delivered the other day. See the photo below. Need I say more??? I’m just saying??

Que Sera Sera.

The Universe Taketh away my HEART on Valentine's Day

Before we had left the house. I had plucked my Heart pin off the dresser and placed it on my coat lapel. It made me smile. A souvenir of days past. It was going to be a good day to take our minds off our health issues. And I prayed that’s exactly how the meal would play out. For Valentines Day we opted for a lovely seafood supper. We went on Sunday afternoon... because we figured it would be less crowded, than going on Monday. Figured The Super Bowl would keep most folks home on Sunday, and not out and about. Strategy worked. When we arrived, almost had the whole place to ourselves. A nice romantic setting. At Christmas, my hubby gave me a gift card. And we intended to cash it in, to buy our entrees. So the Valentine Day meal would effectively be FREE. A nice treat for sure. Everything was going well, but it was a bit too warm in the restaurant. (It was 18 degrees outside.) But in there I felt like I was on a tropical beach, wearing the wrong clothes. So I stood up and took off my winter coat. I was wearing a velour blazer underneath, where I had attached the Heart pin. As I straightened myself out, to sit back down…  I screeched in shock. My Heart pin was missing. Where was it??? I was devastated. It wasn’t expensive. But very sentimental. It had been in my life more than a few years. I searched for it around my chair and under the table. Nothing there. My husband told me to retrace my steps from our table, back to the lobby. As I meandered along the hallway I carefully looked for a glimpse of it. Nothing visible anywhere. My cane and I were weary from the long trek. So I plopped down on a bench and explained to the hostess in the lobby what had happened. She said she'd be on the lookout for it in the Lost & Found Box if someone turned it in. I thanked her. I was holding back my tears, determined not to let this loss, ruin my husband's and my celebration. Even though I didn’t have the keys to the van. As long as I was this close to it… I decided to make a quick walk outside, and peek in the window, plus scan the ground near it. From what I could see. The pin wasn’t there either. Just more disappointment. My husband knew how physically and emotionally draining… All this was on me. Walking is difficult at best, for both of us. But I had a litany of other health issues that were more worrisome. I found my happy where I could. And he knew how much I was hurting about the Heart pin. He looked at me, when I got back to the table. I forced a smile on my face, said I couldn’t find it. Then added, it wasn’t a BIG deal. And sat down to eat. The salmon, lobster, shrimp trio was unbelievably flavorful. Just the right seasonings. The food was delicious. We savored each bite. My hubby and I were Foodies. It warmed my heart and his to have such a fabulous banquet. I toasted with my TALL Blue Moon Beer. Holidays are usually only time I imbibe.

We had managed to put our worries away and find some joy. However, fleeting. Red Velvet cake for dessert awaited us at home. So back outside… to the van, we went. I climbed up and sat down… I lifted my cane into the vehicle… and slid it down between the console and my seat. It’s a tight fit. Took a moment or two to adjust. You have to get it just right. I noticed a dirty crumpled up napkin on the floor there… so I leaned over, much to my back's chagrin, and scooped it up, to throw away. When I did… I couldn’t believe my eyes. Underneath it, lying upside down was my Heart pin. It must have fallen off my coat… into this narrow crack. It was amazing I had discovered it... because the ornate part was on the front, and the back blended into the van carpet. My neuropathy laden, arthritic hands, trembled… as I reached back down and tenderly picked it up, turning it over to see the pretty roses. My eyes filled with tears… as I cradled it, holding it close to my chest, while ignoring the pain in my back. I NEVER really lost my HEART after all. Imagine that?

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

To ALL my blog buddies, family 

and other friends.

 

ENJOY!

ANGELS IN THE SNOW

The BIG blizzard we were expecting turned out to be not such a big deal. The ice predicted didn’t come. Just snow. A whopping 9 inches. Nothing to scoff at, I realize. But those winds gusting at 35 to 50 mph never showed up either. So there wasn’t a lot of blowing and drifting snow across the roadways. However we still got up to a Level 2 emergency. Which means don’t go out on the roads if you don’t have to. Fortunately, the power stayed on throughout the storm. And life went on as normal despite the heavy snowfall. TV and computers, as usual kept us occupied and entertained. That is of course… until the next morning… when I opened the front door. It took my breath away. I stood there looking at the beauty of the season, thanking Mother Nature for this  glorious winter wonderland. And then suddenly realized, we needed to dig out. We were prisoners, stuck in place until we did that. My hubby is 83. He physically is in no condition to do the heavy lifting involving a snow shovel. (Especially with his breathing problems, heart issues and spine complications.) BUT, frankly neither am I in a position to do anything to clear away the snow. A bad back, geriatric osteoporosis, arthritis, polymalagia rheumatica, etc has sidelined me too and that’s that. During the thirty six years we have lived here, few if any of the neighbors have offered to help, when my hubby worked out of town and I was here all alone. Even if we were willing to pay. The couple across the street has pitched in during the warmer months to mow the grass in the past few years. And they’ve  been a god send. I give them gift cards for their efforts. But with all this snow I figured we were on our own to take care of it, since they never volunteered to assist us during winter months. Finding someone to do the job would be difficult because they’d deem it too small a job to tackle. To us it’s a mountain too high to climb. As I contemplated that fate and tried to figure out what to do next… I went about my business, depressed by the notion, we’d be stuck in place for a while... until rising temps melted the snow away. But the weatherman burst my bubble explaining frigid temps... only in the teens or below were sticking around. Not good news at all. No melting snow. But it is what it is. We’d cope because others are in far worse shape. The day came and went and sometime during the evening I heard noises outside. After a certain time of night, we don’t ever open the front door, because of the 'crazy two men' breaking into the house, a few years back. We had been traumatized by that situation. Since then… If something happens, the door remains locked and we call 911. This noise and the voices out there now were persistent… before I called the police… I tried to peek out the window to see if I could see what was going on? There was a man in the driveway, on the other side of the van and a woman with a ponytail near our sidewalk. I couldn’t see what they were doing, but for some reason, at this odd, late night hour… I took a leap of faith thinking they didn’t appear to be threatening. So I walked away from the window and sat down on the sofa. I hoped I made the right decision and tried not to worry. My hubby was sleeping and I decided not to wake him up. Eventually… the voices and the noise outside… died down and disappeared. I was relieved. But... before I could get ready for bed… curiosity overwhelmed me. I went to the front door and opened it a crack, and indeed the couple appeared to be gone. So… I threw caution to the wind… and opened the door a little farther, then stepped out on the stoop. I drew in my breath, as I looked around. I realized with absolute certainty that we had been visited by a pair of Snow Angels. Heaven sent. Our sidewalk, porch and driveway were completely shoveled. What an amazing gift, these two strangers in the night, had given us. I’ve been disillusioned of late, feeling the world was full of more hateful rhetoric, than not. But this gesture of kindness has touched my heart and shown me, I must not despair. There is HOPE. GOOD people are out there. I hope we can awaken the masses and pass this GOODNESS on. It’s a glorious thing. PEOPLE helping people. Imagine that? No strings attached. KINDNESS. PASS IT ON!

A candle & a stinkbug during a Blizzard

Yesterday was Ground Hog’s Day. Phil the cute groundhog predicted 6 more weeks of winter. Which explains why a snowstorm is bearing down on us, as I write. Blizzard conditions are predicted. It’s going to be BAD. The ice and snow have begun. It’s suppose to last  though Friday.  Our local weather guy says to expect 12- 16 inches. We have a generator in the garage that should have been trashed long ago. If the power goes out… we are just going to have to grin and bear it. So… we’ll be piling on extra layers of clothes and blankets to get us through the worst of it… if that happens. I spent all yesterday morning preparing meals for the next 5 days. They can be eaten HOT or COLD to handle whatever circumstances Mother Nature puts us in.  After I had finished my meal preparation I needed to sit and relax. The calm before the storm. Wanted a cup of hot tea. So I made it… and sat down at the kitchen table. I had put my Yankee Candle/ Merry Berry under my candle warmer when I woke up earlier around 4 am.  It’s fragrance permeated the air with its sweet notes of sugar plum, raspberry, butter cookie, apricot and honeybell orange. As I was sitting there enjoying the moment…  I noticed something besides a candle wick floating in the melting wax. At first... I wasn’t sure what it could be…. then when I moved the candle warmer closer, it became obvious. A rotten old STINKBUG was on it's back,  lying in the hot wax. At first… I was horrified that it’s rancid odor had been released when he accidently landed…  into my $25 candle… (that I had gotten for 75% off… after the holidays.) I was sure that he had ruined it. But… when my hubby sniffed the candle, there was no evidence of that. So I immediately scooped the dead nuisance out of the candle wax… with a napkin, and handed it to my husband to put in the trash. He looked at me and I looked at him and I said, “At least now he won’t STINK.” Both of us burst out laughing. Those of you who have encountered a stinkbug, will understand just how funny that is. A little humor went a long way to change the trajectory of what’s suppose to turn into a BAD situation here over the next few days. And I appreciated the diversion. One stinkbug down. 

One blizzard to go. 

LET IT SNOW.

CHEERS