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July 24, 2012:

THE POSTAL THIEF

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, what a kooky day was yesterday. Kooky was the word – in fact, it was so kooky that I wanted someone to lend me a comb. Oh, a 77 Sunset Strip reference. Most of the kooky happened early on and the day did get less kooky as it progressed into evening. But here’s the kookiest from yesterday. You’ll remember my little screed about the USPS in the previous day’s notes, about the postal thief who was arrested for stealing thousands of packages and selling their contents for close to 85K – and also how one of our packages sat in the Studio City post office for six days before being sent to the sort facility. Well, that package and one other that also sat for six days before going to the sort facility, both arrived at their destinations. Guess what? Both packages were empty. They’d been opened; the contents (about thirty to fifty CDs in each box) were removed with only the bubble wrap left. So, it would seem without question that we have a little thief in the Studio City post office. I immediately called a supervisor at the 800 number and filed a claim for both packages. I should hear today from a supervisor at the Studio City branch. At one point I was asked if I had insured these two packages and I kind of exploded and said insurance was not relevant when there’s a thief under their own roof. When there’s a thief then they are responsible and believe you me they do not want to travel this road with me – they’d better just pay up for the contents. We sent out new packages that were insured and taken to a different post office. This is what the USPS has devolved to, this is what all the constant rate hikes have given us – we can’t even trust them to deliver a package without an employee thief taking the contents. I will not rest until this jerk is caught. If there were any other way to ship, I would do it. UPS isn’t viable and there’s just no other service. I cannot tell you how much postage we buy from them and for that humungous cost we deserve safe and timely delivery, not theft. Makes your blood boil, well I should say. Now friends let me tell you what I mean – oh, a Music Man reference.

The other kooky thing isn’t even worth discussing, a tempest in a very small teapot. Or is it a teapot in a very small tempest. Other than that, I got a great night’s sleep, which I really needed. I got up, answered e-mails, printed orders, then did a two-mile jog. Then the helper came by with the good news that she’s getting caught up with all the printing of the labels for the Follies release, which is good because we got the very good news that the CDs will be here five weeks early, this Thursday. It will probably take two days to get all of them shipped, but if we find the helper a helper, we might just get it done in one. Then I went and had some chicken tenders, after which I picked up no packages. Then I came back home and wrote the blurb for our upcoming Kritzerland show and got all that stuff ready to post. The little interview I did for the Marilyn Beck syndicated column came out, so that was very nice. And the reaction to it has been terrific.

Then, as I promised myself, I went to the local foot massage place and had a local foot massage. I do love it there. It’s quite relaxing, and while they are soaking the feet, they rub your head, face, arms, and hands. Then they spend the majority of the time on the feet. I always hover between bliss and almost falling asleep. I am, in a word, in the zone. Well, that’s three words but you get the idea. After the feet, they have you turn over, and then they do the back, the neck, and the back of the legs for about ten minutes. At the end of it all one is relaxed and rejuvenated, not necessarily in that order. I came directly home, where I listened to the new remastered Baja Marimbas CD, which sounds quite punchy and marvelous. I had no time and no inclination to watch anything on either DVD or Blu and Ray.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get another good night’s beauty sleep.

Today, I shall do another jog, then I have a lunch meeting at Hugo’s in West Hollywood. I have no idea what said meeting is about, other than someone wanted to discuss something with me. After the meeting, I shall hopefully pick up a few packages, print more orders, write some liner notes (have to do two sets by the end of the week), and begin to actively choose the material for the September Kritzerland anniversary show, after which we’ll begin casting. Not sure what the evening will hold.

Tomorrow, I have a rehearsal with our musical director, to work on some medleys and just go through everything. The rest of the week is meetings, meals, and seeing some stuff, and, of course, shipping close to 1400 Follies CDs.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, have a lunch meeting, hopefully pick up a few packages, write, and then see what the evening holds. Today’s topic of discussion: Who amongst us has had a professional massage. For those who have, what is your favorite kind of massage? For those who haven’t, why haven’t you? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I will arise and await the telephonic call from the USPS about The Postal Thief.

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