The Post Office Thinks I'm in California

So whenever I feel frustrated with the fact that Post Office prices have doubled over the last 15 years, I think about how terrible they are at their job and then I feel even worse.

So here's the deal.  In the month of May there are like 4,000 birthdays over the course of 2 days in my family.  (And by 4,000 I mean 3.)  We celebrated one of those birthdays this past Saturday.   I purchased the present roughly a week before, knowing that Amazon could get it to me in plenty of time.

Amazon said it would arrive on Wednesday.  I always trust Amazon.  Amazon is my most trusted friend.

On Thursday, it hadn't arrived yet, so I checked the website.  It said the package had been delivered.  But since I hadn't received it, I was a little confused.  I clicked on the "track package" button because it usually has notes about whether they left it with a neighbor or at the back door or something weird like that.

Well, the delivery notes were a little weird.  But it wasn't at my back door.  It was in Norco, California.  It just said, "Delivered:  Parcel Locker.  Norco, CA."

I double checked the address I had given them.  It was definitely to my house in Lehi, UT.

I'm just trying to imagine how that even happens.  The guy driving the truck is like, "I have a whole truckload of packages.  I bet at least one of them belongs in Norco, and that does seem like a big parcel locker.  I guess I'll leave them all here.  I bet no one will notice."

I got online to chat with an Amazon representative.  They were very helpful.  They told me there was nothing they could do to retrieve the package because it was delivered.  (I was hoping Amazon would send stormtroopers to break in and get it back, but alas, that didn't happen.)  But they asked if it would be acceptable to ship another copy.  I said that would be very acceptable.

You want to know the best part?  Apparently whoever owned the parcel locker decided to forward the package on to me.  Now I have 2 copies.  One as a gift, and one for me.

I guess this post office blunder gave me a free book.  That might help to pay back the ever rising postal costs.

People Love Me

It's true. There are lots of people that love me. Do you know how I can tell?

 This

If you don't know what the above picture is, I feel sad for you.  You are missing out on one of life's greatest joys.  You see, Amazon has a feature called a Wish List.  It allows you to tag items for future purchase.  You can purchase items off your wish list or you can make it public for others to see.  (Mine is here)

I am an avid user of the wish list, it makes it easy to remember that book I wanted to read, or something else I saw.  It also eliminates the "you're difficult to shop for" complaint.  I feel that every person on the planet should have an updated Amazon Wish List.

Another fun thing is that you can also view items that have been purchased from your wish list.  But there's a handy dandy feature that hides newly purchased items right before your birthday or Christmas (basically, during the purchase freeze period.)  You can click to reveal the items, but why would you ever want to ruin your own surprise?

I happened to logon today and saw the beauty above.  My birthday is in 2 weeks and already so many people  have loved me.  Birthdays are great.  I'm feeling the love.

The Purchase Freeze

Every year at this time of year it is a very difficult time. You see, my birthday is in just over a month. (May 27) This is, of course, a happy time but it's also very difficult. You see, there are those that would say that I'm difficult to purchase presents for. This is probably due to the fact that whenever I want something I buy it (obviously within reason, but someday I'll be wealthy enought to abandon reason.) This leaves me in a position where if I really want something then I have already bought it.

So, 4 or 5 years ago I came up with a brilliant plan to serve those who want to buy me birthday presents. (For the record, this plan also happens around Christmas time.) The plan is what I call the purchase freeze. It means I am not allowed to buy anything for myself for a month or two. Also, when I go into this mode I make sure that my amazon wishlist is up to date. In this way, I can fully support anyone who would desire to get me any sort of gift.

For those of you who are scoffing at the idea that I need to go into a special mode, and especially for those that are looking down on me for the fact that I'm writing a blog about my own birthday and my own presents I want you to know how difficult it has been historically to refrain from buying things during this time. It's significantly easier now that I'm married since we've put ourselves on a stricter budget, especially since I can now just tell Robyn anything I really want. But I want you all to know that I go to great sacrifice to allow you to have plenty of options in what you can buy me.

At any rate, I just wanted to announce that I am officially in purchase freeze mode and my amazon wish list is fully up to date. Also, I have setup my amazon wish list so that it doesn't tell me what people have bought from it during this time as well. You are now fully empowered to buy me birthday presents, early Christmas presents or happy Thursday presents.