Truly Musing Today

Haven't thought much about what I'd say today, so I'm truly just musing "aloud", so to speak. First of all, it's Valentine's Day. The origins of this holiday are a bit sketchy. One version is a Roman citizen named Valentine was scheduled to go into the coliseum with hungry lions because of his beliefs as a Christian. Before going, he tore pieces of paper into heart shapes and gave them to his Christian friends and supporters as an encouragement. I don't know if that is true or not, but I like the story.

I buy small gifts for my family on Valentine's Day, but I actually send cards to a few friends just to encourage them and let them know that I think about them even when I don't see them for awhile or get to talk to them. I usually don't send cards to the same people each year - and I'm not doing it for anything in return - only to encourage someone and say they are special to me.

I've had a cold this week. I hate feeling like this. I have no energy and no desire to do anything. My family has to deal with weird meals - many of them provided by them or if I cook anything, it is extra spicy because I'm longing to taste something. We had a good soup last night, and it was pretty spicy which felt great on my throat, but was probably more spice than they actually wanted. Today is an old-fashioned roast because it is easy and can cook while I'm gone to see the King Tut exhibit with my son this afternoon.

Anyway, it isn't fair that a "simple cold" makes one feel so rotten.

Meanwhile, the weather in Texas is warm and pleasant. We had one storm this past week, but apparently, I slept through the worst of it since people were talking about it the next day and I have no clear recollection of it at all. The power didn't go off, and for us, that's a miracle, so how bad could it have been? Our power goes off even when there is nothing going on.

A momentary rant: The post office is preparing to raise rates again. I am not happy about this. Our service is abominable. It is way too hard for one of my carriers to lower the flag when he picks up the mail. One day this week, I had four pieces of mail in my box addressed to my neighbor. If I put outgoing mail in the box, it may or may not be picked up - even if I get mail. All these things that are "courtesies" and not requirements, you know. It is also impossible to predict when my mail will arrive. Anytime between 10:30 and 7, apparently. In short, they cannot find a way to do their jobs better, so they'll just cut back on what they do. I propose a boycott of the postal service. Use UPS, DHL or FedEx instead. I understand letters will still need to go by postal service because so far, the other carriers are not geared to deliver those economically, but for everything else.

And don't waste money on USPS tracking. I recently sent something to the major city near here to save myself a trip of driving up there to take it. I used tracking because it was more valuable that most things I send. Checked online a couple of days later and got the confirmation it had been delivered. Good. Imagine my surprise then four days later, when the item was in my own mailbox again stamped "Undeliverable as addressed." What? I won't make that mistake again. I can tell the instant something is delivered, especially with UPS. They know how to track their items.

Well, maybe musings is a misnomer. I think this was rambling. So much for what is on my mind today. Have a great Valentine's Day and make someone happy today.