Public Enemy Number One: USPS

I seem to have an ever growing shit list these days, but the U.S. postal service, with their unheard of levels of fuckery, are definitely number one on it.


My biggest beefs with the postal service can be summarized as follows:

1) They seem to be set up not only in the most illogical and inefficient way possible, but in a way in which no one EVER has to have any liability or consequences for their actions. They could literally throw your package in the garbage and if you didn't insure it, too bad for you sucker. I am in no doubt if a hell does exist, it is some sort of combination DMV/post office

2) The complete incompetence of the system seems to be matched only by their inexplicable residence to a hotbed of crime. I have heard too many stories of people not only have their stuff "mysteriously" disappear in the hands of the postal service but also things such as having gift cards ripped out and removed and packages opened and valuables removed. And although I am incapable of proving it, I am almost positive that a postal employee took my card information and stole 400 dollars from my account.

3) Their status as a government agency presents them with more protections and funds than they deserve. Any other business with such a poor and unreliable track record would most likely be investigated by the Better Business Bureau. On top of all that, the United States Piece of Shit is receiving funds out of all of our pockets so that they can continue their reign of terror. My solution to the budget crisis: Dissolve the USPS and use that money to fund education.

4) The fact that their services usually come with false advertising. You can pay for overnight shipping but it's not guaranteed. There never is a guarantee is there. You have to pay a ton of money for insurance if you want any sort of security, and that only works if you file during a certain time periods--while of course the Post Office never holds it self to such trivial things like realistic time periods for doing anything. Why should you have to pay extra for them to insure that they do their job right?

5) When something goes wrong, nobody really wants to or is capable of helping me. Yeah some crack hole known as the International Inquiry Center is supposed to be dong SOMETHING, but I have my doubts. They also say it takes 60 DAYS. WTF. I have been doing a lot of legwork on this and it's only been a few days. Nobody in the post office communicates with each other and I am having to play the unpayed investigator.

In conclusion, the post office has recently caused me several months of hell/tears/stress due to their unbelievable levels of stupidity. Plus due to the unfortunate circumstance of my package not being insured, I am going to be losing a TON of money. Well a ton for me at least.

I am vowing never EVER to use the postal service EVER AGAIN. I mean it. This whole saga has been absurd. (Granted their may be times when it is absolutely unavoidable, but I am prepared to go to extreme lengths to achieve this.) I am a FedEx/UPS girl now.

Thank god for the Shiba Inu 6 or my bad mood might be irreparable. Puppies and chocolate seem to be the best answers to bad moods.

Lessons from the Big Apple

After spending 10 days in New York, I think I have learned several important lessons.

1) When they say it's cold, they mean it. As a previous Bavarian, I thought I could handle it, but I was definitely ignorant of the windchill here. I have never been so cold in my entire life, but I learned the lesson of layers. To prevent myself from constantly whining, I survived by wearing my entire wardrobe---a tshirt, 3 sweaters, a thick peacoat, a big scarf, a hat, tights, jeans, and warm boots. Everyone here seems to be more used to it or at least more willing to sacrifice for fashion, because I was the only marshmellow shaped one of the bunch.

I think living New York you also need to be a pro at de-layering, since every inside place seems to be sweltering---especially apartments, which are sauna-fied without control of the tenants and btw make very scary banging noises that sound like cat burglars coming to attack.

2) It really is the most expensive place in the U.S. You can pay close to 700 dollars to rent a closet, and beer costs §6(!!!) a pint without tip. Sadly minimum wage and menial jobs don't seem to pay much better than here in California, so I have no idea how anyone in New York affords to get drunk. Especially when Two Buck Chuck is 3 Buck Chuck (Yes. I was very offended).


3) Brooklyn is AWESOME. Especially the Williamsburg area. My closest comparison is to that of the Mission district, except with less Mexican food and more bars. No one who lives here seems to be over 30 (or at least they don't act like it), and they all know each other and live permantly in the really cool bars here. I like.