Postal Pearl Clutching - A Guest Post!

 Blessings Darlings!

I have a wonderful, intelligent, diverse, and interesting group of friends.  One of them spent years and years with the US Postal Service, spending her last years as a Postmaster of a post office in Illinois.  While I may have seen her delicately crochet a noose (she IS a delicate flower of womanhood), I've never seen her go postal and shoot anyone.  Yet.

Being of sound mind, I asked HER opinion of all the stuff going on at, and being posted about, the post office.  Here's her informed opinion:

"I'm getting really sick and tired of the fear mongers. Y'all know they've been doing this for years. Unused and underused machines have been removed and relocated all the time.  Collection boxes are routinely reviewed on volume of mail and removed if the volume doesn't justify having it.  Mail is still being processed and still meeting delivery standards  Folk just got use to having that package get there next day at no cost and that isn't happening. I don't remember folks clutching pearls and public outcry when they were closing facilities and removing machine in 2012 or any other year. I firmly believe this administration is trying to destroy the USPS.  But they are doing it by brewing distrust with the service   This is all being reported in a manner to cause the public to lose confidence in the USPS.   Mail early and buy a couple of books of stamps instead of clutching pearls."

 I'm going to add that a shit load of folks are ignoring the huge increase in package delivery that the USPS is doing right now, and how simple volume is slowing some delivery down.  It's JUST like how delivery times increase in December for Christmas and due to all the fucking Christmas and New Year cards, as well as shipping of packages.

All vote my mail ballots have to be postmarked the election date, of course.  Depending on your state, they might have to arrive by the day before the election, or up to 10 days or so after the election.  Here's a link so you can check the rules in your state.
https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot-deadlines/

Frondly, Fern

PS - She adds "I've checked the union sites and nothing on them concerning collection boxes or machines being removed"

August Life in the US update.

 Blessings Darlings!

So, back to more mundane daily life-during-coronavirus.  I'm enjoying a bit of hypomania and the higher energy levels.  House is getting more deeply cleaned, two blog posts I'm really proud of, reading is being done without me falling asleep, etc.  Yes, folks - the pillows are in the wash even as I type.  Maybe it's not hypomania, maybe this is what 'normal' folks without anxiety and depression feel every day.  Whatever.  

I'm trying to incorporate a second daily offering in my life, an offering of some of my coffee to The Morrigan in the morning.  Been meaning to do that for a week.  Last night I put a sticky note on my coffee cup.  This might be just the thing I needed - I MIGHT now be able to do an offering before I actually have my daily coffee! 

But Coronavirus drags on, with more than 5 million infections in the US.  Schools are opening, masks aren't begin worn, infections spreading there, lots of students/staff getting quarantined.  The Spawn's college starts again 2 weeks from today.  We know that one class will be online.  The other 4 are all supposed to be In Person. I have invested in more masks.  Hospitals still full, respirators still fully utilized, deaths still up.

Sturgis is full of bikers going around mask-free, who will infect each other then spread out across the country.  There might be many a Harley on sale cheap in a few months.

Economy still fucked, because folks don't want to become ill or die.  My job is GONE.  The hotel is going to be a dorm for the local college, so the college can do only one student per room.  The dorms do not serve meals.  I worked in the kitchen.  My only job options right now are McDonalds and Dairy Queen, and maybe the Food Lion is hiring.  Both would require lots of exposure to, ya know, people.  For minimum wage.

Grocery prices are still way up, especially for meats. There are new episodes of contamination of lettuce every few months.  We're getting by on Swiss Cress from the garden instead of lettuce. This will be more of a problem come winter, of course.  I don't have quite enough veggies to not have to buy any, but maybe I'll do better next year.

The Chubby Hubby's birthday is coming, and there's really no where to take him for the day.  Museums?  Surely you jest.  If it was MY birthday, we'd hike.  But MY birthday is in December.  His is on the anniversary of the National Park Service, later this month.

While the Spawn and I were getting our Coronavirus stimulus money, we saved most of it.  The govt might start it up again, but Constitutionally money stuff has to start in the House.  Not as executive orders from POTUS.   At any rate, we could save a lot and did save a lot.  We'll be okay for a while, unlike lots of folks.  Most renters here in West Virginia are delinquent on their rent.  

Here in the US we haven't even had the national conventions leading to the election.  But this election has already dragged on for ever.  And the stupid push against voting by mail, especially during the pandemic is, well, stupid.  At least here in WV - a mostly Republican state, so POTUS is okay with it here - I can order my vote my mail ballot online TOMORROW.  And you can bet your ass that I'm going to.  But if I had to vote in person - I'd be there, with a chair, drinks, food, umbrella if needed, etc.  I . am . going . to . vote.

Frondly, Fern