1--The bad news is that the local postmaster who has been so helpful in the past is no longer there. He is no longer employed by the USPS....sigh 2--This AM I called about making an appointment with the person in charge. I spoke with the 'officer in charge'. When I asked his name, he gave me his first name, and would not give me his last name. Why would he have refused me that info? 3--I explained that I had several padded mailers that I had received in and they were unopened, and the customers who had sent them had been overcharged. I was wanting to bring them in, and have him (or anyone for that matter) inspect them and determine that they had indeed been overcharged. I explained that I then wanted a signed piece of paper saying that they were overcharged. He said he could not help me and gave me the telephone number of Consumer Affairs in Louisville. Well, I know from talking to someone down there a while back that there was at that time no Consumer Affairs Manager and that NO ONE was even an acting manager. gggrrrrrrrr........ 4--This week I received in a bubblie from Williamsport OH 46134 that was overcharged. It weighed .7 OZ yet was charged $1.05, which is for a 2 OZ large envelope. That means that either the clerk failed to weigh it, or else their scale needs calibration, thus is overcharging a lot of customers. I got a tel# for that PO, and when I called it, I get a non working # recording.........ggggrrrrrrr.........shot down on getting that done. 5--I was on the phone probably 30 minutes or so this AM with the USPS complaint #, getting 3 separate complaints filed. I have the confirmation numbers on all 3 of them and someone is supposed to call me back within 2 business days. Yeah right. I'm not holding my breath on that one. On the one report that was filed for overcharge, I have asked that the overcharge be sent to me. I wonder how they are going to handle that. shall I go on? Anyway, I this AM I learned about Restricted Delivery. Below is the info on that. Restricted Delivery Be sure your mail gets into the right hands. When you want your mail to reach a specific recipient, use Restricted Delivery. Sometimes, you might have private or highly classified documents that you require to be seen only by the addressee. Restricted Delivery ensures that your mail is only delivered to the person you specify, or to the person authorized in writing to sign for intended recipient. I just checked and the cost on a 13 OZ First Class Parcel, sent Certified, with Restricted Delivery signature and signed receipt of the person that accepted it being sent back to me would be less than $11. The exact amount escapes me now. What a bargain, huh, if the Parcel gets to someone who does their job? I have started to compose my letter to The Honorable John E. Potter..but will have to abandon that until I am feeling better. Postmaster General U.S. Postal Service 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20260-0010 I also found an email address for him this AM, not that anyone would even really read any of the complaint emails and actually respond. I found the addy at the Answers.com site, so don't put much faith in it being up to date or valid. E-mail: pmgceo@usps.gov Light bulb moment. I can try taking in the overcharged envelopes, (one at a time might be best) along with an email from the member who sent them and they can authorize me to file for and collect the overcharged amount. I would think that would generate paperwork and that paperwork could then be used as additional evidence (proof) of the 2 year 9 month old problems of post offices across the US overcharging.

You can be firm without being rude. (As you would with an ill-mannered child.) And you don't have to be apologetic. She's the one who should apologize. "Hello, Mrs. _______. We're not going to be sharing our raspberries with you anymore, and we'd prefer to do our own garden maintenance. I'm sure you understand." Then smile warmly and stand there until she responds. This is important. DO NOT walk away. Make sure she's the first one to walk away. It may be hard, but it sends the message that you know you're in the right. If you have a dog, bring him/her with you for moral support. If not, bring some sort of prop (the family Bible, your latest needlework project, whatever) to bolster your self-confidence. Role-playing several times first with a family member can also help a lot. Good luck, and remember that SHE'S the one who crossed the line. Calypso

YAY!!! I got the Blue Robin yesterday (unfortunately not in time to send it back out though). So I had tons of fun going through it and found lots of goodies to winter sow (especially lots of annuals!) I will put it all back together today and send it out to Amy Moday morning, I'll post the confirmation number Monday afternoon. Thanks again Tina for a wonderful swap, and thanks for the great seed options everyone!!! Here's what I took out: (22 packets) Morning Glory "Milk Way", Morning Glory "Star of Yelta", Johnny Jump-ups, Celosia "Flamingo Feather", Cactus Zinnia, Lilliput Zinnia, California Giants Zinnia, Chicory, Lemon Catnip, Pansy giant blue, Pansy Trimardeau Mix, Marigold "Safari", Impatiens, green Hosta, Wisteria floribunda, Scabiosa ochroleuca, Poppy mix, Cucumber "Garden Sweet", Tomato "Elfin Cherry", Tomato "Sweet Baby Girl Hybrid", Tomato "Porterhouse Hybrid", Dianthus "Summer Sundae". Here is what I added: (34 packets) Peony Poppy salmon, Peony Poppy red, Peony Poppy pink, Peony Poppy lavender, purple cross Poppy, Iris "Yellow Flag", Echinacea Rubinstern, Echinacea "Rocky Top", Gaillardia "Dazzler", Eupatorium "Gateway", Primrose "Sierra Sundrop", Ligularia "Desdemona", Ligularia "The Rocket", Scabiosa "Summer Sundae", Scabiosa "Ebony & Ivory", Scabiosa "Imperial Mix", Tithonia "Sundance", Heliopsis "Summer Sun", Millet "Limelight Spray", Crape Myrtle "Candycane", Verbascum "Album", Portulaca "Pink Sundial", Celosia "Glowing Spears", Helenium "Mardi Gras", Malva "Pirouette", Malva "Zebrina", Tiarella "Wherryi", Columbine "Dragonfly Hybrid Mix", Columbine purple bonnet, Columbine "Irish Elegance", Cleome "Rose Queen", Cleome "Violet Queen", Cleome "Cherry Queen", Cleome "Purple Queen".

Argh! Nothing's easy. If you notice a dimple in the brass bracket above, it's actually a hole. I've waited a month to get a replacement and the replacement doesn't match! So it's back to the drawing board with the brackets. Has me rethinking the whole design. Scroll brackets would go with Art Deco style railing and vertical volute. I picked up some 5" box newels at HD today and definitely way too big. Might still consider 3.5" box newels but since I have to hide a gap between the tread and the wall (on the right side going up), a 3.5" newel isn't going to do it. Maybe a 4.5"? And then how would it look to have one newel on that top step on the right, one matching on the left and one on the bottom step on the left? Also, carpenter wanted me to find round-bottom baluster b/c it's easier to install than square unless I do show rail, but if we do box newels I don't think I'd like round balusters and I can't find square balusters with round pegs. I had really decided to do the Art Deco (slimmer, 3.5" bottom with tapered top newel and tapered balusters, would still have to trim out top step to hide gap) until this replacement bracket came in the mail, now I don't know what to do if we're not using those.