Crazy thing this chip collecting...

Since beginning this new hobby in the last year, I never realized I would develop this affection for our mail carrier. Unbeknownst to him, when drops off these little packets of joy from across the US, my day gets just a bit brighter.

Like Mr. Pavlov's dog, I am now a creature of cause and effect. It takes merely a hint of the postal vehicle acceleration/deceleration whine to snap my eyes toward the window, in anticipation of what might be nestled within the day's snarl of junk mail.

All this week I had been a bit disappointed that the CCGTCC club auction treasure chest of my won chips had not arrived yet. But... today had a special feel to it! And the weekend was coming with the extra hours needed to properly welcome the new arrivals.

Imagine the letdown when I saw the carrier drive up, then pull away without coming to the door with the telltale Registered Mail sticker on the package. So, I finished what I was doing, then went out to clear the mailbox, hoping for the arrival of one or two of the single chip purchases I had made recently. Two small envelopes were indeed there. Not bad!

Yikes! Imagine my horror when I saw the slip of paper notifying me that I was not home to receive my REGISTERED MAIL PACKAGE!! SCOUNDREL!! I guess 92 and humid made him do it.

Through clenched teeth, I pondered the absurdity of waiting until Monday to pick it up. No way. Into my car I went to chase him down, having no idea which of the 14 different routes out of my neighborhood he might be heading for. After about 5 minutes of driving (stalking?!?), I ran into another carrier. She was great.

She made two cell phone calls to the home post office, and determined that he had finished the route and returned, and that I could go there and pick it up.

So here I sit, back in my home office, finishing my last few hours of work, secure in knowing that a very nice weekend will begin soon with 2 small envelopes, a hefty box, and a couple of cold and tasty beers.

Happy weekend to all!

Mark