Fun at the post office

Thankfully, the predicted ice storm didn't hit our area, and I hope no one else was severely affected by it. They had forecast significant ice, power outages, etc. I don't think our area was ever in the eye of that storm. 

Oh, the TV and surround sound system are gone! The guy came a little late but was happy to get the TV and thought it was a good deal. I'm not sure about the other stuff, but that's not my problem. That TV is heavy, but the guy picked it up from the front step like it weighed nothing and shoved it into the back seat of his car! 

The official week is almost over; I have one presentation later today. But there are no classes this weekend. The final day of the Etobicoke Quilt Show is today, but I've decided not to go. It's not that I don't want to support the guild, and I always looked forward to that first show of the year. 

I've decided that some downtime for ME is more important. My brain just needs a break from talking, and I have to be back by 1:30, so I'd feel rushed. I need to be selfish with my time; having most of the day free is a luxury, and I need to learn not to fill every moment with something.  

So, I will spend the day puttering, tidying, and putting things away since I can put almost everything away now. 

I had a small sewing job and was in a rush, so I didn't even add the extension table. I had a small item that needed topstitching! It's done. More on that in a second. 

My sewing machine is back in place

This is my main sewing area. The serger hides under that cover on one side and the sewing machine on the other. The amount of crap on the tables isn't so bad, but they are supposed to be empty except for the machines! My goal is to attempt to deal with the mess. I don't want to set things on another table. My preference would be to deal with it and then put it away. The cutting table and the ironing board are the same! It's time to make some changes; today feels like that day. Then I also have all day tomorrow. It will take a little while to make all that happen, but slow and steady! 

The main work tables are a mess

I also need to do some computer work, so I'll do that. I have two urgent things to accomplish. 

I did a lot of work using the Singer Momento (digital cutter). It's so easy to use, and now I feel like I've unleashed a tornado! Yes - one more toy to play with. I love that you can put the pen and a cutter in the two holders, and it'll write and then cut. I had a little "issue" with that and had to recut since I forgot to put the cutter in! But I learned how to recover from that little error, and all is good! 

Writing and cutting with the digital cutter

But I was able to make exactly what I wanted, and it all looks amazing. Unfortunately, it's a gift, so I can't share it yet. 

Then I grabbed the small item I had sewn, everything I created with the digital cutter, plus a few things in the Pony Express staging area, and I was off to the post office. I love how we no longer need to find boxes to mail things. You just select the appropriate size box from the post office, fill it, and pay for it. 

What I also love about this one post office is the manager LOVES to fill those boxes. I now just ask her what size she thinks will work, and she's pretty amazing. She even offered to help shove everything in! It's hilarious - I wish I could film what she does! But she is like a Tetris queen. Everything but one item fit in the box, and the next size up would have been way too large. That one item will have to wait for the next box. This one is expected to arrive on Thursday. 

Mailing the box

On my way home, I decided to stop at Indigo to check things out. They moved the quilting magazines to the front side of the magazine rack in front of the craft books. I did not buy anything, but on my way home, my brain got to thinking. 

The magazine section

I know some people refuse to use self-checkouts at any store because it's the loss of a cashier's job. And they are right. But how do you deal with some of the other areas where automation has taken away jobs, although they are less noticeable. Do people refuse to download digital media (books, whether purchased or from the library) because fewer cashiers and shelf stockers are needed to deal with the physical versions? 

A programmer or data entry person is required to deal with that stuff, and much of it becomes automated. I think if we look at many other instances, we'll find that the jobs are shifting—not necessarily going away—just shifting. 

However, I will not criticize you if you choose to use the cashier rather than the self-checkout. We live in a free country, and you can do what you wish within the long arm of the law. Did you know that that expression was started MANY years ago—in the 18th century! 

I have to post this because I'm stunned. I won't put the context because I don't want to make a big deal out of it, but this is a comment (in response to a repost I made) from someone I met many years ago. WOW—that's all I can say.  

Should I feel glad or sad? It truly is a strange world in which we live these days. 

Well, I'm off to have a wonderfully quiet day, except for two hours this afternoon! I feel blessed, happy, and giddy that I have "nothing" to do! 

Have a super day! 

Ciao!!!