Alright so I'm at.my.wits.end tonight. I had gotten a full day of school in, prepared 3 meals plus snacks. Played with the kids, read to them, did everything that I could possibly have done and I was just plum worn out. Because ya know, kids keep taking because they just don't have empathy yet. Well, my 10yo does and my 8yo is capable of it but the 6, 4, & 2yo - not a trace of it yet. So I'm into full lecture mode in the van as we went to surprise daddy at work with a homemade grilled steak and potato dinner. I'm telling them that I'm grateful for the help they provide but that they cannot continue to take advantage and it's not fair for mom to clean up or have to yell at them to clean up their mess. I'm sure they heard blah...blah...blah... But I was done. I was ranting and raving, bordering on tears and my 10 & 8yo know enough to just shut up and listen. They have the wisdom. When I'm done talking at them my 10yo says, "Mom, you are always telling us how important it is to look at the positives in every situation. Why are you bringing so many negatives up now?". *sigh* How can you argue with that?
Later I'll write about my reflections on bathrooms and kids. LOL
Showing posts with label RANTING. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RANTING. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Here's why I was so confused about the good ol' Post Office
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent establishment of the executive branch of the United States government (see 39 U.S.C. § 201) responsible for providing postal service in the U.S. Within the United States, it is colloquially referred to simply as "the post office."
Read more on the Post Office and how it came about to be a monopoly here
Kind of like the Wal-Mart of mail carriers I guess? Only they apparently don't have to pay taxes.
Interesting stuff.
Read more on the Post Office and how it came about to be a monopoly here
Kind of like the Wal-Mart of mail carriers I guess? Only they apparently don't have to pay taxes.
Interesting stuff.
Monday, August 13, 2007
The saga continues...
Well, I went to the Post Office on Saturday. I stopped most of my shaking by praying ferverntly all the way there and then while I was on line. I just couldn't calm myself down. I have a very long fuse when it comes to flipping out, I don't flip out when most people do but for some reason this just got to me bad. When I told DH about my experience on the phone and all that he says, "You know something? I really like it when you're really angry and it's not at me".
OK, OK so I'm at the post office. An older kind woman asks how she can help me. She tells me to fill out a "resume mail" form and come back to her. I do this and she disappears to get my mail. 10 minutes later the woman comes back with a big stocky man. "Uh oh, I knew it coudln't be this easy". I asked him if he was the postmaster and he told me no but he was a superviser. He did have my mail in his hand *whew* and had me fill out a "I promise I won't let my dog even look at the pansy ass mailman" card and sign it in blood. Or something like that. I told him we installed atarget for teenagers with bats curbside mailbox as we were told.
Next I reiterated the entire story and my disappointments with this particular office to the supervisor. He basically said in gov't speak that my regular mailman had no problem with us but this sub-mailman was terrified of dogs. Er d'oh - maybe we should pick a DIFFERENT profession?!?! I explained I wasn't trying to justify my dog scaring him and that I understand it's got to be a hazard with the job and scary but I didn't believe he conducted himself in a professional manner. Then I went on to say how both my parents were in customer service and the woman I spoke to on the phone should NEVER have gotten snotty and talked down to me. That I didn't attack her personally, I was just upset with the situation. He must not be from around here because he handled himself completely professionally and kindly. ;-) We shook hands and made peace before I left. I felt like a weight has been lifted.
Sounds all nice right? Well except for the last chapter hasn't been written quite yet. Mail was not delivered again to us today to either mailbox. We did recieve our follow up call from the government and I swear Eartha Kitt left a voicemail on my phone. She said they were calling about my complaint and that they called my local office on Friday but the Postmaster was away from his office and he still hasn't called her back as of today. Frustrating but at least they're dealing with problems as well!
DH and I have some various fantasies (as in we-wouldn't-do-this-in-real-life-so-back-off). a) putting a sensor on the mailbox so when it's opened you hear the sound of a pack of Rottweilers. b) a sensor that sings Snoop Doggy Doggs' rendition of "Who let the Dogs Out" or DH's idea: c) we just chain our dog to the mailbox so they can play chicken. ;-) WWYD?
OK, OK so I'm at the post office. An older kind woman asks how she can help me. She tells me to fill out a "resume mail" form and come back to her. I do this and she disappears to get my mail. 10 minutes later the woman comes back with a big stocky man. "Uh oh, I knew it coudln't be this easy". I asked him if he was the postmaster and he told me no but he was a superviser. He did have my mail in his hand *whew* and had me fill out a "I promise I won't let my dog even look at the pansy ass mailman" card and sign it in blood. Or something like that. I told him we installed a
Next I reiterated the entire story and my disappointments with this particular office to the supervisor. He basically said in gov't speak that my regular mailman had no problem with us but this sub-mailman was terrified of dogs. Er d'oh - maybe we should pick a DIFFERENT profession?!?! I explained I wasn't trying to justify my dog scaring him and that I understand it's got to be a hazard with the job and scary but I didn't believe he conducted himself in a professional manner. Then I went on to say how both my parents were in customer service and the woman I spoke to on the phone should NEVER have gotten snotty and talked down to me. That I didn't attack her personally, I was just upset with the situation. He must not be from around here because he handled himself completely professionally and kindly. ;-) We shook hands and made peace before I left. I felt like a weight has been lifted.
Sounds all nice right? Well except for the last chapter hasn't been written quite yet. Mail was not delivered again to us today to either mailbox. We did recieve our follow up call from the government and I swear Eartha Kitt left a voicemail on my phone. She said they were calling about my complaint and that they called my local office on Friday but the Postmaster was away from his office and he still hasn't called her back as of today. Frustrating but at least they're dealing with problems as well!
DH and I have some various fantasies (as in we-wouldn't-do-this-in-real-life-so-back-off). a) putting a sensor on the mailbox so when it's opened you hear the sound of a pack of Rottweilers. b) a sensor that sings Snoop Doggy Doggs' rendition of "Who let the Dogs Out" or DH's idea: c) we just chain our dog to the mailbox so they can play chicken. ;-) WWYD?
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Just another reason I'm registering with the Libertarian Party this year.
Yes, it's official, I'm libertarian. I am tired of the false sense of self-control living here. Today I had a prime example that the gov't can do whatever it darn well pleases. *sigh*
3 days ago my dogs went out back with the kids to play. Sheba, the medium sized one is especially not allowed out unsupervised because she figures out how to get out of the fence and the kids often forget. They're no longer allowed to have her out with them but after they came in I asked where the dogs were. They said they were out back (grrr) and I heard barking out front as if on cue. I opened the front door and saw Sheba under my van barking at the mailman. I immediately called her and she ran inside with her tail between her legs (she really is friendly & submissive, if you were walking down the street and called her she'd want to be loved on) RIGHT AWAY. I then looked at the mailman, crouched down and terrified with his hand on his mace can. I apologized profusely and told him she was all bark and no bite but that I was really sorry she got out. He was visibly shaken and just started yelling at me that "that was way too close, she was 2 ft away - 2 ft away". I again apologized and said it wouldn't happen again but he was still yelling so I just turned around and went inside. So 2 days go by and I don't get any mail. None. Not even a junk flyer. I'm beginning to get suspicious and today after no more mail again I called the local post office. They transferred me to a woman who told me that there was in fact, a hold on my mail. Be prepared to get upset folks - this gets bad. I was not the "turn the other cheek Christian" I should have been but at the same time, I did not personally attack this woman - keep that in mind.
So there's a hold on my mail. "How do I get my mail?" I ask. "You have to put a curbside mailbox in line with the curb for him to deliver again" I asked how I could get it until then, if I could pick it up. "We may allow you to pick it up once, if you're not hostile" she says. OK, at this point I became hostile. Let me reiterate I did not personally attack this woman or the mailman involved however tempting that was. I did though, get snippy about the whole ordeal and how it was being handled and their stupid policies. Anyone in customer service knows that you should handle the hostile person calmly and even apologetically as long as it's not personal, correct? That's how I have seen it anyway and both my parents dealt/deal with the public on a regular basis. My mom in fact is a customer service (sales and service) manager. I asked the woman how much a curbside mailbox would cost me (I didnt' know if they provided me with one). With a snotty tone she replied back, "I don't know, you have to go to LOWES or WALMART and get it yourself" implying a) I was an idiot for asking her and b) she didn't give a crap where I got it from or how much it cost. It was after that that I lost it, "So, because my dog got out one time and didn't bite the mailman I have to pay money out of pocket for this?". I was livid. I don't even remember the rest of the banter but I thought there was NO way possible that they could keep my mail from me.
So I called the government USPS hotline and guess what folks? They can!
Having mail is a priviledge apparently, not a right. Not just getting it delivered but allowed to have access to it AT ALL. They can keep me from my mail indefinately. It's up to the local post offices discretion according to the gov't agent. So it's up to my little towns corrupt office whether or not I'm considered too hostile to be allowed entry. And of course by now I'm sure that's how they classify me. I am LIVID folks, absolutely floored.
I'd like to bring the Pony Express back so this crap doesn't happen. Besides, horses could kick a dogs butt. *sigh*
So I have to wait 24 hours for my complaint to filter through to see what happens. The gov't didn't agree with the way the local office handled it so we'll see. But my husband and father are taxpayers in this house and how dare they refuse us service? Picking it up at least!
I do understand him being scared and I'm not justifying my dog getting out. I just think it's a sad world we live in when he can't accept my apology and reassurance that it won't happen again (or maybe even take a second to establish rapport with my dog). And the worst part of all of this was when I asked her why they didn't notify me of this mail holding she told me "We knew you'd eventually figure it out and call" THE NERVE!!! But the gov't didnt' say anything about this either. I just feel so frustrated and like they blew this out of proportion. I'm not the enemy, it was a mistake and no one was hurt thank God.
I'm going to try to be calm and let justice happen. But I am voting libertarian and I'm all for bringing the pony express back. LOL Hey, I'd get my mail sooner. ;-)
3 days ago my dogs went out back with the kids to play. Sheba, the medium sized one is especially not allowed out unsupervised because she figures out how to get out of the fence and the kids often forget. They're no longer allowed to have her out with them but after they came in I asked where the dogs were. They said they were out back (grrr) and I heard barking out front as if on cue. I opened the front door and saw Sheba under my van barking at the mailman. I immediately called her and she ran inside with her tail between her legs (she really is friendly & submissive, if you were walking down the street and called her she'd want to be loved on) RIGHT AWAY. I then looked at the mailman, crouched down and terrified with his hand on his mace can. I apologized profusely and told him she was all bark and no bite but that I was really sorry she got out. He was visibly shaken and just started yelling at me that "that was way too close, she was 2 ft away - 2 ft away". I again apologized and said it wouldn't happen again but he was still yelling so I just turned around and went inside. So 2 days go by and I don't get any mail. None. Not even a junk flyer. I'm beginning to get suspicious and today after no more mail again I called the local post office. They transferred me to a woman who told me that there was in fact, a hold on my mail. Be prepared to get upset folks - this gets bad. I was not the "turn the other cheek Christian" I should have been but at the same time, I did not personally attack this woman - keep that in mind.
So there's a hold on my mail. "How do I get my mail?" I ask. "You have to put a curbside mailbox in line with the curb for him to deliver again" I asked how I could get it until then, if I could pick it up. "We may allow you to pick it up once, if you're not hostile" she says. OK, at this point I became hostile. Let me reiterate I did not personally attack this woman or the mailman involved however tempting that was. I did though, get snippy about the whole ordeal and how it was being handled and their stupid policies. Anyone in customer service knows that you should handle the hostile person calmly and even apologetically as long as it's not personal, correct? That's how I have seen it anyway and both my parents dealt/deal with the public on a regular basis. My mom in fact is a customer service (sales and service) manager. I asked the woman how much a curbside mailbox would cost me (I didnt' know if they provided me with one). With a snotty tone she replied back, "I don't know, you have to go to LOWES or WALMART and get it yourself" implying a) I was an idiot for asking her and b) she didn't give a crap where I got it from or how much it cost. It was after that that I lost it, "So, because my dog got out one time and didn't bite the mailman I have to pay money out of pocket for this?". I was livid. I don't even remember the rest of the banter but I thought there was NO way possible that they could keep my mail from me.
So I called the government USPS hotline and guess what folks? They can!
Having mail is a priviledge apparently, not a right. Not just getting it delivered but allowed to have access to it AT ALL. They can keep me from my mail indefinately. It's up to the local post offices discretion according to the gov't agent. So it's up to my little towns corrupt office whether or not I'm considered too hostile to be allowed entry. And of course by now I'm sure that's how they classify me. I am LIVID folks, absolutely floored.
I'd like to bring the Pony Express back so this crap doesn't happen. Besides, horses could kick a dogs butt. *sigh*
So I have to wait 24 hours for my complaint to filter through to see what happens. The gov't didn't agree with the way the local office handled it so we'll see. But my husband and father are taxpayers in this house and how dare they refuse us service? Picking it up at least!
I do understand him being scared and I'm not justifying my dog getting out. I just think it's a sad world we live in when he can't accept my apology and reassurance that it won't happen again (or maybe even take a second to establish rapport with my dog). And the worst part of all of this was when I asked her why they didn't notify me of this mail holding she told me "We knew you'd eventually figure it out and call" THE NERVE!!! But the gov't didnt' say anything about this either. I just feel so frustrated and like they blew this out of proportion. I'm not the enemy, it was a mistake and no one was hurt thank God.
I'm going to try to be calm and let justice happen. But I am voting libertarian and I'm all for bringing the pony express back. LOL Hey, I'd get my mail sooner. ;-)
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