A Message to the Post Office

I'd like to take a moment, and say hello to the angry lady working the counter at the downtown Cuyahoga Falls post office branch today.

Yes, I'm sure your job is very crazy this time of year, with long lines of folks rushing in to mail out their last-minutes gifts and Christmas cards.

But honestly, you can't even return a "hello" when I walk up to the counter? Or even ask me what level of shipping I'd like on my packages? You didn't even try to sell me stamps, which I'm pretty sure is part of your responsibilities.

Seriously, your first words to me were "93 cents, and here's your receipt." Frowning all the while.

Maybe it's the job. Maybe dealing with people is too much for you. Maybe you got pulled up front from the sorting area, where you're more comfortable.

Maybe it was your co-worker the next counter over, happy and smiling, giving lollipops to kids, and working quickly and efficiently.

Maybe I caught you on a bad day. Or maybe every day is a bad day with you.

All I know is, it's the holidays, and you work in a service industry. It's your job to at least FAKE being nice.

Remember, in this poor economy, yours is a job that can be performed by machines, and they can do it pretty well. So perhaps, a smile or two wouldn't hurt.

All I know is, I felt much better responding to you with a "Happy Holidays to you too!", before walking away.

Sheesh.

Glaring at rockets

Happy 4th of July to everyone ... hope you enjoy your holiday.

I'll confess, it's one of my least favorite ones. But, I have my reasons.

It's a good day to get together with friends and family, enjoy a barbecue, and generally have fun, don't get me wrong.

However, I'm just not that big of a fan of fireworks. Sure, the professional shows have their merits, but I have too many memories of being caught in post-work traffic jams to really enjoy the pyro.

But, that's not really my beef with the 4th. What really gets me mad is folks who decide to set off fireworks in their backyards.

I'm not talking bottle rockets or sparklers ... those are fine ... I'm speaking of the super-duper, mega-professional rockets, that somehow, Joe Sixpack gets his hands on, and decides to do a show for the neighbors.

See, my neighborhood is an old one, cookie-cutter homes built in the early 1950's, all pretty close to one another. But, without fail, each and every year, the guy on the corner shoots off a massive display.

Fireworks that launch over the homes of other people.

My neighbor laughed the first year they moved in, which was a particularly dry June. Why? I was outside hosing down my roof. He asked why ... I said ... "You'll see."

I saw him the next day, and all he could say was "Holy Crap ... you were right. It sounded like Baghdad out there."

So, my message to all you amateur pyrotechnicians on this holiday is ... leave the big stuff to the pros ... and let your neighbors live in peace.