I enter a new phase of my life.....

Yep. I hated to do it but I have had to get notes from my doctor to get a handicapped parking placard and a request to have door delivery of my mail. My hip and my knee have had it with my stubbornness in this situation. They've heard all my excuses and are ready for mutiny if I don't cooperate....so be it.

This winter has been a brutal one....here as well as in other parts of the country. I know we aren't done yet. We've gotten some pretty nasty snowstorms in April. On one of my trips to the mailbox this winter I nearly fell and I pulled a groin muscle as well as twisted my already troubled knee. This happened as a vehicle was going by and it was a near miss. Its taken 2 months to heal from that. It got me thinking. Maybe it was time for me to consider myself for a change.

I decided I'd tackle the post office first. I bought another mailbox and had my grandson install it by my front door. Today I composed a letter to go to the postmaster of my local post office. Dealing with government and all its red tape....I'm wondering just how long it will be before my request is approved or denied; that is, if they don't lose my letter in the process. Do I sound bitter? Do you think maybe.....just maybe....I've had less than positive experiences with government agencies? Hmmmm......... yes, you would be right.

I will take a little drive over to my local Secretary of State office to submit my application for the handicapped placard one day next week.....weather permitting. I, somehow, don't think I will have a problem with that. We'll see.

So now folks, I have succumbed to riding the little carts when I'm shopping, made the decision to submit for the handicapped placard and the door mail delivery. I will be put on Medicare this month. I'm feelin' mighty old. All that's left is to go to blue hair.

Oh....and my sense of humor.....I found it hiding at the back of my closet and when I went to grab it, I only got the warped side before it got away again....so bear with me. I'll get it all back eventually. Keep smilin'.

A Green Tree Hugger.....

Well, not quite that bad maybe. After Tuesday's post and my ranting about all my mail.....fiwa was nice enough to suggest a place she's thinking of trying and its called Green Dimes. For $16 total, they will eliminate 90% of your junk mail and catalogs, plus they will plant 10 trees for you. This sounds good to me. I checked it out and joined it. Thank you Fiwa!

I knew my mail was getting out of hand, but this was ridiculous. Right off the bat, I listed 13 catalogs I did not want to receive. That only covers about a third of what I get. I will have to go back in and add more as time goes on. They even eliminate the 'occupant' ones too.

When I got up this morning I was thinking that maybe paying out money to have my mail reduced was a little overkill......until I went to the mailbox. I received 11 catalogs today in addition to my regular bill type mail and personal letters. Now, I'm glad I did it and can't wait for the results, which can take 2 to 3 months, they say.

Like Jamie, I do almost all my shopping online. Its wonderful.......especially for a crabby bitch like me who hates going into stores and hates dealing with lines and cashiers. Don't get me wrong, I'm never mean, unless you try and take cuts in front of me... (grrrrr snarl).....but I often wait in line doing a 'slow burn' just cause I have to wait a long time.

Online, I wait until the store either offers Free Shipping or I have a promo code (currentcodes.com) for it. Like Soul, I hate paying for shipping and just won't do it. More and more stores are figuring this out as a lot of them are offering free shipping a lot more often. Sure, there is a catch......you may have to buy $50 or more to get it, but if you're doing your Christmas shopping, that's easily met.

In the meantime, there are just SOME things you have to venture into WackyMart to get. Invariably the four things you want are at the opposite four corners of the store. I think they do this purposely to keep you in there as long as possible so you will be tempted to pick up extra stuff. Now......let me tell ya, I hop on one of those electric carts and zoom my way through the store. Good thing they don't have speed limits in there cause I have the throttle all the way back. Not only is this fun, but its FAST. Plus that, you're not tempted to buy things you can't see.......as you're whizzing by the shelves so fast. I don't feel bad about this because I really am handicapped in a way.......I have a bad knee and also a bad hip. So it takes me a long time to walk that whole store, not to mention the PAIN! My daughter says I should apply for a handicapped sticker on my car but I can't quite do it.......I keep thinking that there are so many others more deserving of that handicapped parking spot than me. As long as I can get fairly close, I'm ok.