Okay, not really.  More like postal employee bitten by kiting bug.  But I thought I'd chat about interesting Post Office stuff, since in real life I'm a city carrier at USPS.

First, do you know you need never pay more than current rates for your letters?  Since the Forever (liberty bell) stamp was issued when rates were 41 cents, stocking up on them has been one of the best bargains at the post office.  They will be good FOREVER as a first-class stamp for a one-ounce letter (approx 4 pages).

And did you know that semi-postal stamps such as the Breast Cancer Research stamp are also good for current rates even if purchased prior, and need no additional postage to use?  LOVE that - I'm not only making a donation to breast cancer research but won't need to add a cent to use them.

Now, as a carrier I can offer some self-serving tips to make both our lives easier:

- Check your mailbox with clean hands.  When food gets on your mailbox, birds, spiders and wasps are not far behind.  True fact.  If you wonder why your mailbox has these pests and your neighbors don't - hel-lo.

- Pick up your mail regularly or put it on hold.  It concerns us carriers to see mail in the boxes day after day...week after week (really).  We wonder if you are okay, or have moved.  And we have to clean out the box when it fills, hold it ten days and return it to sender.  Not good, if you are still there and want your mail eventually.

- Give us easy access to your box.  This includes cars, garbage, dogs - the whole gamut of stuff that tells us you don't care if you get mail!

- Thank you for all your kindnesses, compliments, patience, and friendships.  I love my job and it's all because of you, the public.

Micki Mommy Mailcarrier