With the economy so bad and all, something we do not need is a price increase in products. And, for the most part, with the exception of gasoline (the oil companies are pretty up front about increases, on a regular basis no less) everyone else is keeping prices the same. Of course there is one small issue, the packages are getting smaller. I'm sure you noticed.
Now, we've seen bread prices stay the same, but loaves of bread drop from one pound loaves to twelve ounce loaves. We've seen lotion prices stay the same, but containers drop a couple of ounces. I think you get the idea! But, that's private enterprise and they are trying to stay alive. So, what's the next step? Hey, if it works for free enterprise, shouldn't it work for the government too????? Great idea!
So where is this headed? I had to mail a package to one of my grandsons, and Deb's been on me for awhile to get it done. She'd even put the things into a large box some boots came in. As I finally figured I'd procrastinated about as long as is possible, I went out to the shop to grab a smaller box to see if I could save a few bucks on shipping. Now I've got just about every conceivable sized box, bubble wrap, shredded cardboard, and other packing materials available. So, I judiciously surveyed the inventory to ensure I went with as small a box as possible.
I looked around, and my eye landed on a middle sized flat rate box from the post office. Now we've all seen the adds from USPS and that for a fixed rate you can ship anywhere in the US if it "fits in the box." So, immediately grabbed a new box and figured that was the best way to go. However, next to it is a middle sized flat rate box my father-in-law used to mail a package our way early this year. Hmmmmm!!!!! As I look at the two, the older one "appears" to be slightly larger than the new one.
Well, I am in the shop, and there are at least five or six tape measures in the shop, so I grabbed one and started measuring the new box: 12 1/8 X 13 5/8 X 2 3/4. Then I measure the old box: 12 1/8 X 13 7/8 X 3 1/2. Isn't that interesting? A little quick computation on the old cell phone calculator and I come up with 588 cubic inches on the old flat rate box and 454 cubic inches on the new flat rate box. Gee, I must have missed when the USPS told us they were making the boxes slightly smaller. Still the same rate, just can't quite squeeze as much in as you used to.
Well, if we figure a middle sized flat rate box ships for $10.70, and then divide that by the two different cubes, it comes up to be 1.819 cents/cubic inch to ship the old box and 2.356 cents/cubic inch to ship the new middle sized flat rate box. By my calculations that's a 29% increase.
Of course, the President announced a three year freeze on military pay a couple of months ago, and then today heard he was freezing government except for military. So as I'm understanding this, the post office sneaked in a 29% increase on us the unsuspecting public, but our social security and retirement is going to remain the same for three years. Thought there was a slogan out there somewhere about, "...government for the people." Well, since this blog is about being on the road bend over, we'll "DRIVE" the idea home just one more time!!!!!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
If you are gonna get hosed, it will be by someone of your own species!
Deb worked the Mobile Mammogram Van in Grandview today. With the weather forecast as "very"wintery, they had some no shows and cancellations, therefore got home a bit earlier than usual. So, picked her up and we decided to make an errand run to Shopko, then a run to Winco for groceries (we do have one college kid in town already, with two more showing up Wednesday).
As an olde retired curmudgeon I do take addvantage of the Seniors parking spot which happens to be right next to the Handicapped spot. As we were leaving to head to the grocery store, and almost to the car an olde guy in a Ford Explorer (and a disabled tag in the windshield) pulled into the empty handicapped spot next to where we were parked. I put the stuff we bought in the back seat, and since he was getting out, Deb waited to get in. I stood there to make sure there was no banging of doors against the car. Sometimes these old coots aren't as careful as they should be.
He locked and closed his door and walked forward between the cars in front of his and ours. As Deb and I continued getting in, she said, "Would you look at that! He's getting in a van and leaving!" I asked her, "Who?" She said, " The old guy who just got out of the Ford next to us!"
Sure enough, he walked over and got into the passenger side of a van driven by a woman, they drove off and out of the Shopko parking lot headed East on Fairview. YGBSM!!!!! This guy left his truck there, not going inside, and took a spot some other person with a disability could use who is actually shopping.
I was dumbfounded beyond words. Can't tell you even now how frustrated I am that someone would do this! If Deb hadn't already worked all day, and we needed to get groceries I would have definitely followed them. So, is this just a totally inconsiderate old guy who like those who run red lights, dive into traffic in front of others and tailgates thinking his needs are the most important, and to hell with the rest of the world? Or is it more personal and sinister than that and he's really cheating on his wife, and uses the Shopko parking lot for his rendezvous point and pickup? LOL!
Guess we will never know, but at least he has no conscious, and definitely no concern for his fellow disabled. Shheeezzzz!!!!! And to think I believed the guy who was DWO was bad!
As an olde retired curmudgeon I do take addvantage of the Seniors parking spot which happens to be right next to the Handicapped spot. As we were leaving to head to the grocery store, and almost to the car an olde guy in a Ford Explorer (and a disabled tag in the windshield) pulled into the empty handicapped spot next to where we were parked. I put the stuff we bought in the back seat, and since he was getting out, Deb waited to get in. I stood there to make sure there was no banging of doors against the car. Sometimes these old coots aren't as careful as they should be.
He locked and closed his door and walked forward between the cars in front of his and ours. As Deb and I continued getting in, she said, "Would you look at that! He's getting in a van and leaving!" I asked her, "Who?" She said, " The old guy who just got out of the Ford next to us!"
Sure enough, he walked over and got into the passenger side of a van driven by a woman, they drove off and out of the Shopko parking lot headed East on Fairview. YGBSM!!!!! This guy left his truck there, not going inside, and took a spot some other person with a disability could use who is actually shopping.
I was dumbfounded beyond words. Can't tell you even now how frustrated I am that someone would do this! If Deb hadn't already worked all day, and we needed to get groceries I would have definitely followed them. So, is this just a totally inconsiderate old guy who like those who run red lights, dive into traffic in front of others and tailgates thinking his needs are the most important, and to hell with the rest of the world? Or is it more personal and sinister than that and he's really cheating on his wife, and uses the Shopko parking lot for his rendezvous point and pickup? LOL!
Guess we will never know, but at least he has no conscious, and definitely no concern for his fellow disabled. Shheeezzzz!!!!! And to think I believed the guy who was DWO was bad!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Life is Good -- For Some of Us, Much Better!!!!!
Deb and I flew to Chicago this past weekend to visit with family, share a birthday celebration with her sister, see our nephews and nieces perform in school events and piano receitals, and just share some love. Mission Accomplished!
We raced through airports--gate to gate, Deb on her gimpy leg, rolling around on her "doh dart" and me limping along behind with my olde back. What a pair! But, we kept up and made most connections and were often given first choice on boarding, so we certainly couldn't complain, and Deb had room for her BIG BOOT too. As we showed up for our final leg into Boise, we got our passes and went to sit down by the gate. Deb had made a pit stop, and I found an open chair by a young man so asked if it was taken. In his Texas/Oklahoma drawl he said, "No sir!" Here was a young man in his early twenties, short hair, well trimmed, short beard running in a neat narrow row around his chin and back up. I've rarely had anyone address me as "Sir" since my Navy days, so was immediately impressed.
As I waited for Deb to show, and he and I chatted, I learned this young man had flown into Denver from Oklahoma, his first time ever in an airplane. He sat a little slouched down in the chair and his speech was just a hint slow. As we talked I learned he had been a passenger in a pickup that was T-Boned in September of his Senior year in high school. His neck was broken, C-4 completely pulverized and missing. The doctors fused above and below that, but told him he'd never walk again. Though home-bound in a bed and subsequently in a wheelchair, he continued to work on his studies, along with his PT/OT. This young man ended up his year with the highest academic average of his class, but unfortunately was not selected as Valdictorian since he'd not been in school for the majority of the year. However, instead of complaining about this, he looked at me and with a huge smile said, "You know sir, I walked across that stage and received my diploma!" There was no doubt it was one of the proudest moments of his life!
He was excited. He was going to see his 'friend' in Idaho Falls, and have an 'early' Thanksgiving -- he needed to be back to his job as Lead for "Room Management" at the Casino in his home town since Thanksgiving was a busy time for them. Multiple times he referred to me as sir, and I could tell it was a normal function of how he addressed older people. He truly meant it out of respect. I listened as he said how concerned he was that his friend had driven all the way from Idaho Falls and then would have to drive back again. Yet, I saw the excitement in his eyes of the coming week.
Deb and I then boarded. When we arrived in Boise, we were making our way towards the main terminal and baggage when he passed us -- his left arm hung stifly at his side, his left leg rigid, swung forward awkwardly with each step, almost as if he were going to fall, and then it would catch him. He had a huge smile on his face, he was almost there. With Deb's cart, we took the elevator and when we arrived in the baggage claim, there he stood with an attractive young lady--someone else who saw not the stiff arm, not the nearly dead left leg, but the young man inside who inspite of life handing him a huge challenge didn't say, "Why me?", didn't blame the world for his disability, but instead showed how positive and full of love he really was. Deb's foot and my back seemed pretty trivial at that moment.
I'm not sure why some of us are so much more fortunate, when others carry so much bigger a burden, but I truthfully hope and pray, that I can be as positive as he is, that I can respect others as he does, that I can say I'm responsible for who I am. Life is Very Good, and for some of us (whether we always realize it or not) it's Much, Much Better!!!!!
We raced through airports--gate to gate, Deb on her gimpy leg, rolling around on her "doh dart" and me limping along behind with my olde back. What a pair! But, we kept up and made most connections and were often given first choice on boarding, so we certainly couldn't complain, and Deb had room for her BIG BOOT too. As we showed up for our final leg into Boise, we got our passes and went to sit down by the gate. Deb had made a pit stop, and I found an open chair by a young man so asked if it was taken. In his Texas/Oklahoma drawl he said, "No sir!" Here was a young man in his early twenties, short hair, well trimmed, short beard running in a neat narrow row around his chin and back up. I've rarely had anyone address me as "Sir" since my Navy days, so was immediately impressed.
As I waited for Deb to show, and he and I chatted, I learned this young man had flown into Denver from Oklahoma, his first time ever in an airplane. He sat a little slouched down in the chair and his speech was just a hint slow. As we talked I learned he had been a passenger in a pickup that was T-Boned in September of his Senior year in high school. His neck was broken, C-4 completely pulverized and missing. The doctors fused above and below that, but told him he'd never walk again. Though home-bound in a bed and subsequently in a wheelchair, he continued to work on his studies, along with his PT/OT. This young man ended up his year with the highest academic average of his class, but unfortunately was not selected as Valdictorian since he'd not been in school for the majority of the year. However, instead of complaining about this, he looked at me and with a huge smile said, "You know sir, I walked across that stage and received my diploma!" There was no doubt it was one of the proudest moments of his life!
He was excited. He was going to see his 'friend' in Idaho Falls, and have an 'early' Thanksgiving -- he needed to be back to his job as Lead for "Room Management" at the Casino in his home town since Thanksgiving was a busy time for them. Multiple times he referred to me as sir, and I could tell it was a normal function of how he addressed older people. He truly meant it out of respect. I listened as he said how concerned he was that his friend had driven all the way from Idaho Falls and then would have to drive back again. Yet, I saw the excitement in his eyes of the coming week.
Deb and I then boarded. When we arrived in Boise, we were making our way towards the main terminal and baggage when he passed us -- his left arm hung stifly at his side, his left leg rigid, swung forward awkwardly with each step, almost as if he were going to fall, and then it would catch him. He had a huge smile on his face, he was almost there. With Deb's cart, we took the elevator and when we arrived in the baggage claim, there he stood with an attractive young lady--someone else who saw not the stiff arm, not the nearly dead left leg, but the young man inside who inspite of life handing him a huge challenge didn't say, "Why me?", didn't blame the world for his disability, but instead showed how positive and full of love he really was. Deb's foot and my back seemed pretty trivial at that moment.
I'm not sure why some of us are so much more fortunate, when others carry so much bigger a burden, but I truthfully hope and pray, that I can be as positive as he is, that I can respect others as he does, that I can say I'm responsible for who I am. Life is Very Good, and for some of us (whether we always realize it or not) it's Much, Much Better!!!!!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
DWO
No, not DWI nor DUI -- DWO!
Driving Deb to work this morning we passed through this one intersection, and again for the forty-eleventh time I shared with her a story from that intersection that occurred nearly six to eight months ago. I said, "I ought to put that on my blog." and of course she said that I finally was beginning to understand the idea of a blog. I often refrain, because I read hers and see how creative a writer she is, and realize I'll never get there. However, I'm growing to understand that even without the creativity, some of the things we see and experience are still worth sharing. So, bear with me, here goes!
One afternoon going to pick Deb up from work, East bound on one of the main streets in Boise, another gent in a truck and I were stopped at a red light. As with most of the lights in Boise, before we get a green the oncoming left turning traffic gets the right of way. Now Boise is infamous for the great numbers of drivers who run through on yellow, and all too frequently even blatantly continue through lights on red. (Thus why we have so many accidents, but that's a blog for another day).
A couple of cars that had been waiting for the green left turn arrow made their turns, and as I looked up saw this old beater car coming toward us in the left turn lane. He wasn't going all that fast, but it was one of those where experience tells you this driver was not going to stop, even if the light changed. Sure enough, the light turned green for us, but the old beater with an equally "old beater" driver continued with no appearance of even slowing, let alone stopping.
As the gent in the truck next to me and I waited to see what the "olde feller" was going to do, he gracefully and with no expediency continued into the intersection, made the left turn and half-way through it "flipped us both off!" As I turned with what I know was an incredible look and smile on my face, and looked at the gent in the truck, he was looking at me with this huge smile, and just shaking his head from side to side.
Sometimes you have to watch out for DWI's and other times you have to watch out for DWO's -- Driving While Olde!!!!!
Driving Deb to work this morning we passed through this one intersection, and again for the forty-eleventh time I shared with her a story from that intersection that occurred nearly six to eight months ago. I said, "I ought to put that on my blog." and of course she said that I finally was beginning to understand the idea of a blog. I often refrain, because I read hers and see how creative a writer she is, and realize I'll never get there. However, I'm growing to understand that even without the creativity, some of the things we see and experience are still worth sharing. So, bear with me, here goes!
One afternoon going to pick Deb up from work, East bound on one of the main streets in Boise, another gent in a truck and I were stopped at a red light. As with most of the lights in Boise, before we get a green the oncoming left turning traffic gets the right of way. Now Boise is infamous for the great numbers of drivers who run through on yellow, and all too frequently even blatantly continue through lights on red. (Thus why we have so many accidents, but that's a blog for another day).
A couple of cars that had been waiting for the green left turn arrow made their turns, and as I looked up saw this old beater car coming toward us in the left turn lane. He wasn't going all that fast, but it was one of those where experience tells you this driver was not going to stop, even if the light changed. Sure enough, the light turned green for us, but the old beater with an equally "old beater" driver continued with no appearance of even slowing, let alone stopping.
As the gent in the truck next to me and I waited to see what the "olde feller" was going to do, he gracefully and with no expediency continued into the intersection, made the left turn and half-way through it "flipped us both off!" As I turned with what I know was an incredible look and smile on my face, and looked at the gent in the truck, he was looking at me with this huge smile, and just shaking his head from side to side.
Sometimes you have to watch out for DWI's and other times you have to watch out for DWO's -- Driving While Olde!!!!!
Parallel Parking
If approached correctly, pun intended, parallel parking is actually one of the simplest maneuvers to do. Because it is usually on busy main streets, it is important to be able to execute a parallel parking maneuver quickly and efficiently. As a result, when our two oldest (Erin and Matthew) were ready to get their driver's licenses we spent considerable time talking about the geometry of parallel parking and then going out on side streets and finding spaces in which to practice. As a result, we are pleased they are both exceptional at performing this parking maneuver and pride themselves on this particular skill.
Now, this is not to slight our youngest son, but as a great surprise to me, when Krieg was ready to take his driving test, we were saddened to learn the State of Idaho did not require parallel parking as a qualifier on the exam. We still had him try some, but not to the extent of the older two.
So, this morning, as I'm pulled into the curb at the corner to drop Deb at work, and get her little cart out of the back of the car, we both look up to see this Jeep Wrangler backing into a large space to parallel park two up from us. After he backed into the curb the first time, with the front end still in traffic, we looked at each other and smiled. When a second attempt resulted in getting parallel, but being about four feet from the curb (sticking out in traffic) we shook our heads. With two more attempts, he finally got the Wrangler parallel and within two feet of the curb, and hadn't banged into the cars on either end of his space.
We looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Erin and Matt would be embarrassed!"
Unfortunately, parallel parking skills don't seem to be the only ones in which today's drivers are deficient!
Now, this is not to slight our youngest son, but as a great surprise to me, when Krieg was ready to take his driving test, we were saddened to learn the State of Idaho did not require parallel parking as a qualifier on the exam. We still had him try some, but not to the extent of the older two.
So, this morning, as I'm pulled into the curb at the corner to drop Deb at work, and get her little cart out of the back of the car, we both look up to see this Jeep Wrangler backing into a large space to parallel park two up from us. After he backed into the curb the first time, with the front end still in traffic, we looked at each other and smiled. When a second attempt resulted in getting parallel, but being about four feet from the curb (sticking out in traffic) we shook our heads. With two more attempts, he finally got the Wrangler parallel and within two feet of the curb, and hadn't banged into the cars on either end of his space.
We looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Erin and Matt would be embarrassed!"
Unfortunately, parallel parking skills don't seem to be the only ones in which today's drivers are deficient!
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