Tuesday, April 20, 2010

what will the mail deliver today?

Today, I went to pick up the mail downstairs in the basement of our building, like I normally do everyday. Over the last few days, there have been different mail persons there to help me. Yesterday, was a new guy who wanted to see my ID so he'd be sure he was giving the mail to the clerks office. Not a bad idea but the other guys know who I am and we don't have to go through this procedure.

Today, the mailman was a very LARGE man. It was a sight. He was late first of all, but then his shirt was only buttoned halfway up, not what I wanted to see today. Next, I sign for the certified mail and he says, "L Christensen, you don't live over in North Park do you? I deliver mail in that area to an L Christensen." Luckily, I could truthfully say, nope I don't live in that area. And, sorry Mr. McCreepy, but why would I confirm where I live to a US postman who can't seem to fully dress himself?

The last fun event was going through the mail we received today. I found a letter that actually had been misdirected to the Clerks office, should have gone to IRS. But the sender put his address on the back of the envelope as, "I live under the bridge in La Jolla, near Genessee." It was sad to see that, but of course then I wondered how this mail would get back to the gentleman, if it had been misdirected. Maybe I should have asked the postman in the mail room what he would have done in that situation and had a good long conversation about where everyone in San Diego lives.

Monday, April 5, 2010

A whole lot of shaking goin' on!

So yesterday about a 1/2 hour after general conference, I guess nature decided to pipe in with it's own power:) A pretty good sized earthquake struck about 120 miles away from San Diego in Mexico. Luckily, here in SD all we really experiences was about 30 seconds of shaking and rolling. It was actually more like rolling, like being on a boat going over waves. It was a weird sensation. In any case, we are fine here. I came into work this morning and our lights were out, apparently the earthquake had shaken connections loose in the whole federal building, our elevators were down and out for the count and our courthouse annex in El Centro, about 30 miles from the epicenter was damaged so court from out there moves here today. Good times.

I have to say, after watching conference this weekend, I did come away with a greater sense that I need to DO more. So if the feeling wasn't enough, the earthquake was a jolt to do. I am purchasing more food storage and water this week. I have my 72 hour kit in my car and will rotate that food out this week too. I am going to purchase water for my car. Maybe it's a little extreme, but after watching my bosses and others in the federal court go into emergency mode to make sure our El Centro folks are okay and that the normal processes can go on, I am impressed by their calm and quick manner to DO something. So I will follow, don't need to shake me twice!