I found out today that there could be a possibility that the regular on one of my matrix routes could be retiring soon.   It's mainly just speculation at this point but it brought up some questions that I had about such things.....

If the reg were to retire and I'm the only one with that route on my matrix....what would happen??  Would that route go  up for bidding soon afterwards?  If so, how long would that take?   And how do they do the bidding process exactly? 

When I went to Rural Carrier Academy, they told us to ALWAYS bid on an open route, even if you think there's absolutely no possibility in getting it.  (Don't know exactly why they said that)  Would they post the open routes somewhere or notify you when the bidding is supposed to happen, etc.?

 

Thanks.... 

During our office Christmas party today, I got a visit from the post office manager.  She comes over to me while I'm working (and everyone else is eating, mind you) and asks me if the Sup had talked to me about my delivery confirmations.  I had no idea what she was talking about.  So she begins to tell me that I missed SIX delivery confirmations on Saturday.  So I stand there trying to recall what route I worked and what exactly could have occurred to warrant my missing 6 delivery confirmations.

On Saturday I was on a totally new route.  That morning there was about 5-6 inches of snow already on the ground and it snowed the entire day.  We ended up with about 10 inches of snow altogether.  I drove one of the most RURAL routes in the office in LLV SLED which was my first LLV snow driving/sliding experience as of yet.  

Somebody came and helped me case mail for about 30 minutes before I left and I decided to ask her to put everything in the case that she could.  I asked her to put the items that needed to be scanned in front of the mail.  Whether or not that actually happened....I don't know.  I remember thinking that it would be much safer for me to carry less on the side and to try to concentrate on my driving that day.  My main priority was to run the route SAFELY.  Did that get me a pat on the back? Uh....NO!  As far as I know, I've always been pretty good about scanning the delivery confirmations in the past.  This is the first instance that has been brought to my attention.  If this is what you get at the office Christmas parties, I think I'm going to change religions or something.  I read somewhere else that the carriers in that office got Letters Of Warning at their Christmas party.  

Merry Christmas!!

The Who's down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot,

But the Post Office said, "Holiday Cheer? I think NOT"

They said, "Work FASTER and HARDER and BETTER",

so I raced and I sweated and delivered the letter.

 

When I returned a million more were there,

So I mumbled and grumbled and began to swear!

I used to sing carols and wrap presents 'til late,

But now 16 trays of DPS are my fate.

 

While Santa delivers the Christmas toys,

to all of the good little girls and boys,

The sup will be watching my every move,

As an RCA, I have something to prove.

 

That I will donate my time for free,

Will make them happy and sing with glee.

And next year when they put up the tree,

The kids can ask Santy Claus for ME!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, today was my first REAL taste of Christmas mail.  I wanted to curl up in the fetal position and hide under my case, sucking my thumb.  Since that didn't seem like much of a possibility, I faced the music....and it was SCARY MUSIC.  I have to go back tomorrow.  Hope you guys are having a better time with the Christmas rush!

I heard that it could happen in Rural Carrier Academy.  The instructor said that retired old men would wait by their mailboxes until you drove up, then find any excuse to touch your legs.  I had no CLUE that it would happen so friggin' fast! 

The other day I drove up to this mailbox where this very elderly man (around 75 or more) was waiting with his dog.  I pull up and I'm ready for a short, friendly "Hi" and maybe even a comment about the weather.  The dude hands me a little baggy of Christmas candy and then rubs his hand on my thigh!!   He made some comment about me wearing jeans and keeping warm in the very cold weather.  Unbelievable.  I wanted to puke.  If that wasn't enough, later I looked at the Christmas (before I threw it away) and sure enough there was something printed on one of the wrappers.  Surely a "secret message" from him to me.  It said "I've been a little naughty".  Let's just say I'll be driving like a maniac past that box from now on. 

I just gave myself chill bumps by thinking about it again.  What is proper "postal procedure" for molestation?? lol