How much is a stamp?

10.13.2009

I mail off bill payments about twice per month. I don't know why, but I can never remember off the top of my head how much postage to put on the envelope.

I know, I should be all high tech and modern and pay my bills online, but there's something I just prefer about writing out a check and mailing the little bastards off. I think it's one of those things that makes me feel like I'm paying bills. Buying things online is fun! Point, click, done. No more thinking about it. Writing out that check is my way of saying "this isn't a fun thing I'm buying, so don't get carried away."

Over the past few years when it came time to buy stamps, I would get a roll of 100 first-class stamps. Soon after I started doing this the postal service decided to change the price of first class stamps every third Tuesday. As such, I still have around 3 variations of first-class stamps. Instead of saving them up, I purchased a variety of 1¢ & 2¢ stamps so that I could use those historical stamps.

Here are my steps to bill paying:

• Open bills
• Write check
• Stuff check and receipt in envelope
• Close envelope
• Apply custom printed return address sticker featuring me in a wrestling mask
• Google price of first class postage
• Apply postage
• Drop off bills at post office since mailing them from home didn't get there twice, stupid boonies mail people.

I can usually find the first class postage price on the first page of the Google results, and I always say "Oh yeah, I knew it was 44¢.", but I check every time since I would feel stupid for being late paying a bill because I skimped on a penny. Today Google presented me with a shortcut for finding the price of that stamp: http://www.priceofastamp.com/.

The utter simplicity of it amazes me. I look forward to visiting the site two times each month.

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Me 'n' Fleh

10.01.2009

A few weeks back I twisted Jerry's arm and made him start to play World of the Warcraft. I believe he's enjoying it, as the subject is our main topic when avoiding work. I could go on and on about how it's more than a hack-n-slash game or a repetitive button-masher, but that's a post for another time. As it is, it's become something Jer and I enjoy that totally takes us away from whatever crap's going on during the day.

And for the record, Jer's the girly one on the left side of the picture.

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One of those updates for no real reason

09.24.2009

I've about rode the crest of acing my Accounting test to where the realization that I'm going to have to continue to study has set in.

I've been trying to make some headway on the revamped Spiritus employee website. is it really revamped if it hasn't existed before? The graphics and layout are to match the new look for the website. Ironically, the new look has been ready since May, it's just waiting on some proper content. And maybe some cool header graphics.

Along with the above 2 things, Westar/QinetiQ has been keeping me busy on the part-time front. Lord Ford has officially come on board to help me out. It looks like the project may be wrapping up in March, and depending on how myself and his Lordship tackle what's left my (or our) part may be finished in January. Although I'll miss the extra income, having some free time to do all kinds of things I've been putting off would be nice. Well, to do those things and not feel guilty about the work I should be doing instead :)

Thanks to an Amazon Blu-Ray sale, I've stocked up on some old movies that I either never got on DVD (Under Siege, Con Air) or never saw in the first place (Reign of Fire, Freddy Vs Jason, Postman). I'll probably get kidded for getting Postman, but I actually like Kevin Costner. Waterworld comes out next month on the sweet Blu-Ray, and I've never seen it, due mainly to all the bad reviews it received. But that was 12 years ago, tastes change! Plus, I liked Super Mario Bros, so how hard can I be to please?

This past Saturday I went to the bike shop in Madison and told them to start putting together the monstrosity of a bike that won't crumble beneath me. The parts were supposed to start arriving today, so I'm going to try and check in on them next week and see how it all is going. I need to order some big boy bike shorts to protect the unmentionables, too.

Enough of this blogging. Time to get back to some free time web development that I was talking about at the start of this.

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Stoodent in Scoo

09.21.2009

I just got my grade for my first Accounting test I took last Tuesday. I made 100! I haven't forgotten how to take a test!

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Charlie (not Chas)

09.18.2009

There's a guy at work, probably in his late 50's, who, at least once per week, is bitching at somebody on the phone.

He reminds me of L.H. Puttgrass, self ascribed Pundit of the People from Bloom County. Charlie isn't just calling to complain to people on the phone, he's calling to make sure they know all the intricate reasons he's pissed off.

Today he's calling someone concerning annoying phone calls and mail from somewhere in Virginia received concerning a car his wife drives. His wife is living in Texas, and Charlie is working here in Huntsville. I'm not sure what the problem really is, but I can hear Charlie (who is about 50 feet away) telling the person on the phone that the car has always been for personal use only and that if continues to be bothered they will receive a bill for his time. He then quotes some federal case and a year, which probably has nothing to do with cars in Virginia. Next I hear from Charlie "I'm not going to give you her phone number, you're only going to harass her. She's taking care of a needs dependent child." 2 breath's alter he's rattling off 4 different phone numbers followed by "Do you want my cell phone number? I'll give it to you."

A month or two ago Charlie was talking to, I assume, someone at the Redstone Arsenal PX. The part of the conversation I paid attention to was around "..attitude was abrupt and disrespectful and I won't stand for that. I demand a reduction in rank and at the very least pay-grade." It seems Charlie had gone to pay for his purchase with a credit card which had been declined, and along the way didn't care for the manner in which his declined card was handled.

These are the types of conversations Charlie has. You can't help but listen to parts because (1) he talks so blasted loud, and (2) you feel sorry for the poor sap on the other end of the phone.

I hope I never have to call Charlie....

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