Royally Messed Over

Yesterday, my fellow substitute rural carriers really did a number on me. We were down a route as usual. We've been down routes for 2 weeks now. I cased the down route so I didn't have to deliver any of it. That put me behind on the route I was assigned but, I managed to get out on the street in decent time and was doing a good job on it. I get a call from my boss. Apparently, other subs weren't taking their parts of the broken up route. I told him he needed to call them back in. He couldn't reach them. I finished my route and returned to the Post Office. There were 2 segments of the broken up route left.

One thing you must understand is that First and Second class mail MUST be delivered the day it is received. There are no exemptions on this rule. It MUST be delivered. Because one sub didn't take his segment, another sub would have to take 2. That sub wasn't going to go for that. The mail HAD to be delivered. So, I got tagged to deliver the segment the other sub SHIRKED. I deliver that segment. I'm the last rural carrier back because of it. The sub who was supposed to take the segment doesn't take it for unknown reasons. The mail MUST be delivered. I'm the only one at the Post Office who knows where this mail goes. Apparently, they won't call or can't reach any of the other subs. I'm made to deliver a SECOND bump that I shouldn't have had to deliver. I end up clocking out at 7:40 P.M.! Some subs who didn't do diddly got to leave at 1:30 P.M. I got royally messed over and, I was furious as I've been getting the shaft for the last 2 weeks. This crap must stop. I'll likely to filing my first grievance as otherwise it's almost certain to continue. I'd also like to retaliate on the subs who messed me over by calling out on their lazy asses. Then, they can pick up my shit for a change and see how they like it. We'll see what happens.

Old Sore

Yesterday, an old sore came back. I was hoping to have a normal day at the post office after a week and a half of having to take bumps or Express Mail in addition to having to do a full route. I wasn't going to be so lucky. 2 subs called out on one route. The sub that normally does the route called out sick. The sub that assigned to replace him called out as he had to work at his normal post office. That is always one of the problems with using a sub from another post office. So, we had to break the route up. It got worse. Someone needed to case the down route. The boss decided to have a sub who has another route to case it. This sub is a single parent. The sub has to be done by 2 p.m. so the sub can meet their kids when they get home from school. Fair enough right except, the rules state the sub should be able to do the job as any other sub which means if the sub has to stay late so be it. For months, the sub hasn't had to do that. So, that sub gets to go home by 2 p.m. while I'm slogging away at 7 p.m. delivering mail still. Unfair I say! Yet, nothing is done about it. So, I'm sore about the unfairness of it and having to stay out late. Another issue to add to my list with the seriously messed up post office.

Worse

I thought things couldn't get worse at the Post Office after Monday of last week's debacle where we were down 3 routes and had to do double routes. I was wrong. What is worse than that? Being down SIX routes! I couldn't believe it. A sub from another post office who was scheduled to work at ours got tagged to work at his on short notice. A regular carrier came down with chickenpox. One of our regular subs was still sick from his trip home. Another sub who was scheduled to work walked out and had to be persuaded to come back. Yet another sub had car problems and couldn't make it in. Lastly, we didn't have a sub to do the sixth route from the get go. It was the worst mess I've seen yet. I ended up casing mail on 5 different routes and, I ended delivering it on one till 8 p.m. I racked up 13 hours yesterday. Today, it looks like we'll ONLY be down 1 route. After yesterday, that'll be a cake walk. We'll see how it goes. Cheers!

End of an Era

To my shock, I found out Pastor R. B. Thieme Jr. died last Sunday. I've listened to Thieme's bible doctrine lessons for years. I found him an incredible teacher of the word. He was also very unique. Gruff, tough and times abrasive and yet, he was an incredible teacher. His teaching of the word has helped get through numerous personal crices. So many times when the crap was or seemed to be hitting the fan, his teaching would calm me down, give me hope and help me focus on the solution instead of the problem. I got to see him twice during a bible conference he held in Pensacola Beach some years ago. It was an experience to see him in the flesh. I wish I could've known him better. I was very saddened to hear of his death. In my opinion, he was an incredible man and pastor. My consolation is that he is "absent from the body and face to face with the Lord in a place of no more sorrow and no more tears." While his son Bobby carries on his great work of disseminating bible doctrine, I will miss him and I know other tapers will too.

Ouch!

I got my latest Baltimore Gas & Electric bill this morning. I was stunned. It was a whopping $156. That is the largest bill I've ever received from them. The kicker is I don't keep my apartment icy cold either. I'd hate to see some of the bills my friends are getting. Also, I dread what my bill is going to be like if Congress passes Cap and Trade. I've heard that will nearly double people's utility bills. They're expensive enough already. Jeez! Thankfully, I've been racking up lots of hours at the Post Office so I'll be able to pay it. I sure will be glad when the cooler weather gets here. This 90 degree plus stuff is for the birds. Cheers all!

Crazy Day

Yesterday, I had a crazy day at the Post Office. For starters, we were short one carrier for one of the routes so we had to break it up and, I had to take part of the route. Second, I tried to help case mail on the route. However, I don't know the mail case and, I ended going in circles trying to find addresses on the mail case. Lastly, the delivery to point service mail (DPS) got totally messed up. There were large amounts of mis-sorted mail in the DPS. This meant I had to go through all the DPS mail and find the mis-sorted mail for my route and the part of the other route I was taking. It was a real nuisance. Still, I managed and got through the day. Tomorrow promises to be worse as we'll be down 2 carriers and have to break up 2 routes. We'll see how long my day ends up being tomorrow. Cheers all!

The Heat

Yesterday was one of the days when I wish I didn't work for the Postal Service. The heat index hit 105 supposedly. The only thing that would've made it worse was if we'd had high humidity. I was sweating a bunch and having to make sure I kept tanking up on water. Luckily, the route I was assigned had places where I could run in and get drinks from water fountains. I plan to buy me a good water jug today so I'll be better prepared for the full route I have to do tomorrow. Cheers all!

Motorcycle Course

I stopped by the local Harley Davidson dealership. They offered the motorcycle safety course you have to take in order to get your motorcycle license. Without that license, I can't ride the super scooter I want to buy very badly. So, I asked what September dates they'll have and if I could get into a class on short notice. It turns out I can't get in on short notice as their classes fill up quickly. Concerning dates, once it's likely I can get 3 days off to do the course, I'll have to check back with them when they'll be offering the course on Mondays through Wednesdays. They also offer the course Thursday through Sunday HOWEVER, if there is one day I can't take off, it's Saturday. Saturdays are always a mess at the Post Office where I work. So, I have to take the course Monday through Wednesday.

On something related to the course, I ordered myself some motorcycle boots. You need something that has thick soles and covers the ankle for adequate protection. These will do the trick WHEN I get them. To my annoyance, they got back ordered. I'm hoping they'll show up sometime around the 17th. We'll see. Stay tuned for more motorcycle adventure stuff.

Back to Work

I had to go back to work today. I can't say I was thrilled. When I met the U.S. Customs official at the Toronto Airport, he asked if I liked my job. I told him no BUT, I do like the money I make. I think that sums it up. My job at the Post Office is a royal pain BUT, it pays for my trips and my cool new toys. In a couple months, I hope to buy a Yamaha TMAX scooter. I'd like to get it now but, I wouldn't be able to ride the thing as you have to have a motorcycle license for a bike with an engine that large (499cc). My job at the Post Office will be paying for that TMAX scooter. It'll also be paying for my future trip to Ireland (I can't wait). So, I guess I can't bitch and moan too much about my job. Considering how things are job wise in the U.S., I should count my blessings I have one. Plus, tomorrow I'll get to do my favorite route. That's all for now. Cheers!

Home Again

I made it home last night. The Globus Canada tour I was on finished Sunday. Globus had the tour finish with a bang by having the group go to Niagara Falls and a farewell dinner at the CN tower. Niagara Falls were very impressive. They are the biggest falls I've ever seen. Globus included a ride of the Maid of the Mist boat which takes you right up to the falls. The boat ride was a lot of fun. After the boat ride, I made my quickest trip to the U.S. when I dashed across the border so I could get a Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt from the U.S. Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe. Then, I dashed back to Canada to get the Canada shirt. The dinner at the CN tower was top knotch. However, I was saddened as the tour was over. We had a nice group.

Monday, I made my way home. I'd heard flights were being delayed into and out of New York. To my relief, I got out of Toronto all right. However, I got stuck in New York JFK Airport for 4 hours! When our plane arrived at Baltimore Washington Airport (BWIA), we got stuck on the tarmac for 40 minutes. Another plane had taken our spot and, they had to move the other plane so we could park. I ended getting home around 11 p.m. Aargh!

Thankfully, I gave myself a couple days to recover and catch up on stuff. I need to buy groceries, pay various bills and hand out presents I bought on the trip. However, I've already contacted my travel agent Joel Mills to see about my next tour. That one will be a while as there isn't any place I'm real anxious to see during the winter. A cruise would be nice but, I absolutely want my own cabin and, they charge double for that. I may do a trip home during the winter. I promised my Dad I would try to make it home more often. Come summer, I'm determined to see Ireland. That trip would be a 2 weeker. There is lots to see there. One nice thing about Ireland is it's not super far flying wise. Joel said Globus should release its summer Ireland tour dates soon so, I should be able to figure when I want to go and put a deposit down. Once I do that, I'll counting the days till I get to go to Ireland. Cheers all!