my daddy.

Two years ago on June 30th we put my daddy in the hospital for the last time.  Instead of coming home, he went Home on July 2, 2010.  I adored my dad and he continues to live large in my life.  I tell myself I want to learn all the things my daddy taught me and strive to be more like him.  This will keep me busy until I meet up with him in eternity again one day.

I keep this photo of my daddy on my desk.  When I made this photo panel, and put things I always heard him say in each corner.  Now when I look at it, it calms me and guides me.

Thy Will Be Done.


Keep It Simple.


First Things First.


One Day at a Time.

At this particular juncture of my life we are moving, anticipating a new baby and having a wedding - all within the next 7 weeks.  Believe me, I need my dad's counsel right now and am thankful he is still helping me.

http://www.bandbvideo.com/Jerry
If you would like, please enjoy this 10 minute video dad made for us just weeks before he went Home. He was truly one of a kind.

beware of flat rate boxes.

You have heard me say a jillion times that I am a huge fan of the USPS Priority Mail Boxes.  The envelopes and boxes are "free" with a mailing - and you can take a supply home to keep in your office.  You can even order specialty sizes from usps.com and they will deliver them to your door.

But buyer beware.  Be careful which boxes you choose! DO NOT use a flat-rate box if you are not mailing something HEAVY because you are being charged a "flat-rate" no matter what you put in the box.  For example, my sister just sent me three rather small bottles of my favorite Mary Kay eye makeup remover. She put them in the above "large flat rate" priority mail box.  Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. It cost her a "flat-rate" of $15.45 to mail this lightweight package.  If she would have used the flat-rate ENVELOPE it would have cost her $5.15!  If she would have used a regular non-flat-rate box, I am guessing she would have paid about $7.

The bottom line is:

ONLY use the flat-rate boxes if you are mailing a stack of books or jars of jelly.

Whenever possible, see if what you are mailing fits in the Flat-rate ENVELOPE because you can mail anything you can fit inside of it for $5.15.  And it does not have to stay "flat". It can be as bumpy or lumpy as you want, and long as you can get it sealed.

Make it a priority to make thoughtful decisions next time you are mailing a package at the USPS.