Shipping. I shipped stuff at work this week too.

[flexagon]

I've been angsty this week, and mostly dealt with that by saying "self, if you're just staring mopily at the computer screen, then you must now reply to or act on one of your starred emails." Now I again have fewer than 10 of those, and that's counting the ones that are just keeping airline itineraries handy. I finally even said "screw off, I'll try someone else" to the lawyer who's been stringing me along for ~4 months now about getting a will written. It didn't make me feel any better, but it was productive.

I thought my angst was random until I realized how many emails I've been swapping with both parents, thanks to the holiday season. ("I sent you a box." "And I sent YOU a box." "Is your Amazon wish list up to date?") Somehow they're emotionally exhausting to deal with, each in their own way, even when all is well.

The good news, though: all my Christmas presents that required shipping are shipped. Ha. I will not be that person standing in the really long line with my boxes, hoping they get where they're going in a timespan more often associated with teleportation than with the US Postal Service.

Comments

[a-kosmos.livejournal.com]

Sorry you're feeling moody. That's not much fun. I'm impressed with your having your packages out. You are waaaayyy ahead of us.

Your holiday malaise is interesting.... I've been considering possibly celebrating solstice this year, less as a pagan thing and more as a veneration of the struggle between dark and light, both seasonally and metaphorically. I'm not really sure how to go about it.

[flexagon]

I'm pretty sure it's a dealing-with-parents malaise, and there won't be much of that on any actual holidays.

We're sticking with the usual holidays (I'll be working on the solstice) but I like the idea of venerating the struggle between dark and light. Maybe something with candles would be appropriate.

[silentq.livejournal.com]

It's been an angsty week for me too, and lawyerly (green card aaagh!) and familial emails didn't help either (and now I'm getting emails from my partner's family as I try to figure out what they didn't get him already). I decided I was fed up with the USPS and shipped my final package via UPS. $3 more for peace of mind via insurance and a tracking number? Worth it. :) I also found out that they'll pack things for you for $10-$15 more. Next shipping season is going to be a titch more expensive but a whole lot less stressful. :)
*deep breath* Here's to a better week for both of us. :) Enjoy your weekend!

[flexagon]

Ouch, sorry to hear of those things. Here's to that better week! *clink*

And it's good to know about the UPS packing option, thanks. I like wrapping the actual presents, but finding a suitable box and packing material is sometimes difficult. So, maybe next year. :)

[silentq.livejournal.com]

quick update: don't use UPS for shipping stuff to Canada, they hit my sister for $40 in brokerage fees. :/ The driver who delivered the package strongly advised using USPS instead. Ah well, lesson learned!

[flexagon]

Shipping companies and brokerage fees? It's a strange world. o_O

[silentq.livejournal.com]

The impression that I got was that if the package recipient was willing to go to the main UPS facility in Richmond, BC and do the customs/duty/import stuff in person, the brokerage fee would be waived, but otherwise it's a percentage of the total value of the package. The driver was saying that some people have been charged over $1000, I think for high end bikes. cris shipped his custom bike to BC for the ride he did there in the summer, but he was luckily able to go and do the import stuff in person, and assure them that the bike was leaving the country again with him.
But, in general, this makes no sense to me, since I provided the same information as I do when I ship stuff to Canada via USPS and there are no extra charges (beyond maybe duty if you go over a certain gift value), so I have no idea what's going on beyond a profitable business model.