random thoughts – Day 1,305 – (Friday) – sign and relax

The advertised as velvet but actually velour jacket and the advertised as silk but actually polyester blouse arrived today. The product titles and actual fiber content were not a surprise. It's the same thing as when eBay items are listed as "vintage" when they were made last week in a style remotely similar to an actual vintage style. 

When ordered, the delivery was shown as October 13, but a day later, it was showing as the 14^th. On the 12^th, while checking emails after getting home from the after-work event, the delivery date showed as the 13^th between 2:00 and 5:00, with a signature required. Wait, what? A signature required for a generic blouse and jacket bought for chump change? For real? That feels a lot like overkill. And the earlier delivery date put it on a day I’m at the office-office and not at home to sign for it.

The UPS notification had an option to change the delivery, including to a nearby UPS pickup spot, but the link kept giving an error. It was decided to deal with it in the morning. I wasn’t sure if I was annoyed with Amazon or UPS, but I was definitely annoyed when I went to bed.

The morning delivery status update from Amazon continued to show Friday the 13^th.  Amazon’s update mentioned nothing about needing a signature. Another update from UPS again contained the signature note. Luckily, the option to sign online was available, which came with about 1,200 words of disclaimer and legalese. The delivery "instructions" were verified. Options included “Porch,” which is defined as "a covered shelter protecting the front of the entrance of a building," (yes, I looked it up) and “Deck,” which is an open, uncovered attachment. Porch, as in, the covered thing running across the entire front of the house, was confirmed as the delivery option.

Compelling proof
of delivery.

Late in the afternoon, a text arrived that the package had been delivered. It included  a photo intended to provide proof of the delivery. The compelling "proof" was a photo of the lower portion of the recycle bin and part of the steps to the open deck. Was it on top of the recycle bin? Behind it? Deliveries have found in both locations. It was anyone's guess.

Curses against UPS were uttered. Of all the delivery services that bring things to The BungaLowell, UPS is the most lackadaisical. Prime, FedEx, and US Postal are pretty mindful of protecting deliveries against weather and visibility from the street, but it seems like UPS could not possibly care less.

After the usual commute home with the usual dumb bunny drivers blocking the intersections, I pulled up to the house where there was no package in sight. It was questionable as to whether that was a good thing or not. 

Relax.

The package had been left on the open deck that runs along the side of the house. The deck, which was very deliberately not chosen as a delivery location. But it was safely delivered, and that is what was important. Later, I’ll get around to seeing if the items fit.

It was time to unwind. Supper was eaten – a sensible, comforting bowl of vegetable soup with a slice of buttered bread. The “Relax” jar candle, a gift from last Christmas, or maybe a birthday or some other event in the past five years was lit (finally). A glass of wine was poured.  Then another. The large bag of Utz chips from last week’s pizza delivery was opened. And eaten. 

The stress of the week is melting off and things are improving. Well, except for the nagging shame of demolishing an entire bag of chips and yet another night of not going to the gym.