The Post Office strikes again

mailboxtag, originally uploaded by edrahe.

For years and years I never had a complaint with the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, I thought it was unfair that postal workers are the butt of a lot of jokes and are usually portrayed in movies and television as bumbling idiots. I admit, I enjoyed the Newman character on Seinfeld, but I took him as an over the top parody. After my experiences of the past year with the post office I'm beginning to think Newman is all too real.

It would happen every couple of weeks. We would get mail addressed to our neighbors. Okay, that can happen once in a while. But then it started happening regularly so I called the local Post Office to bring this to the attention of the local Postmeister. I was assured that additional care would be taken and that seemed to solve the problem for a while.

Then it started happening a few weeks ago and a pattern began to emerge. We live at 433 Elm Street (the address has been changed for this narration) and on a regular basis we were getting mail for 433 Pine Street (also changed for this narration), which is one street over. We would still get random pieces of mail addressed to our neighbors on Elm Street.

I called the local Postmeister two weeks ago and explained my displeasure at the situation. He was very apologetic and explained that he would "flag" our address. We were to be sent a sticker to put on our mailbox which would remind the mail carrier to double-check the accuracy of our delivery.

It seems other neighbors have called to complain about misaddressed mail. It took two weeks but we finally received a sticker to put on our mailbox. It was addressed to the house at 433 Pine Street! That's right, a sticker that is supposed to remind the mail carrier to make sure we don't get our neighbor's mail was sent to the WRONG ADDRESS.

I called the Postmeister again this morning and explained what happened and clearly told him that I have absolutly no faith that having a sticker on our mailbox is going to solve the problem. However, based on my my most recent coversation with the Postmeister think our mail carrier is going to really get chewed out today. At least I hope so.

Snakes are out

IMG_0005, originally uploaded by edrahe.

The weather has finally warmed up for the snakes to come out. I think this might be a species of milk snake. I hear they maked good pets.

Playing with Movie Maker

Okay, so today you get three posts. I'm still four behind for the month of April.

I'm continuing to have fun with Windows Movie Maker. This afternoon I was down at the farm getting my hands dirty in the garden. My Dad got out his favorite tractor, a 1952 John Deere 720, and hooked it up to the disk and made quick work of plowing up the tomato patch.

The subject was right for aging this film clip to make it look like it could have been shot in the 1950s.

A cover shot

IMG_0028, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Since I haven't shot much this month I'm playing blogging catch-up. Today you get two posts.

This shot would be perfect for the cover of some sort of farm magazine. The mud on the subject's face can be easily removed.

A day at the farm

Today was the first really good day of spring so I was able to get to the farm and into the garden. Of course I shot some pictures and videos for everyone's enjoyment.

High Water on the Mississippi River

The Mississipp River at St. Louis is running at 31.3 feet today. According to the Corps of Engineers' forecast this is also the crest. Levels are expected to fall throughout the week. The mv. Larry Strain is seen running with the fast current under the Poplar Street Bridge in St. Louis this afternoon.

Fire Door

L1010156, originally uploaded by edrahe.

I just thought it was interesting.

UFO

UFO, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Can you spot the UFO in this photo?

More from the Library of Congress Collection

Church near Junction City, Kansas (LOC), originally uploaded by The Library of Congress.

If you thought flu season was over I'm hear to tell you that I caught the tail end of this year's virus (no pun intended). Today is the first day all week that I've had the strenghth to type, much less enough to get out and take pictures.

So today we revisit the Library of Congress' pilot Flickr collection of color slides taken by FSA or OWI agency photographers during the 1930s and 40s. This shot is of a church near Junction City, Kansas taken in 1942 or 1943.

A video clip from the river

Winter leftovers

L1010060, originally uploaded by edrahe.

In honor of our first truly spring day in April I'm posting a not so spring day shot almost exacly one month ago.

Nine Deer

ninedeer, originally uploaded by edrahe.

Unfortunately hunting season is months and months away. Yesterday, while visiting the farm, I noticed these nine, maybe 10 deer, milling about. I took this from the front porch of the ranchette with my 300 mm lens all the way out.

The things you can find on YouTube

Warren Buffet playing the ukulele with the Quebe Sisters Band. Its odd, but I like it.


I found the above number when I was looking for performances by the Quebe Sisters Band. These young women have been on the scene for a few years and I'm surprised that they don't have a wider appeal. Here's another clip sans Warren: