Unexpectedly getting things done
Dec. 28th, 2021 01:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soniaIt's been a day of getting things done, which I didn't expect on a snowy day in this usually dead time of year.
First I went out and cleared my driveway and sidewalk of an inch of soggy snow. Okay, I did expect to be doing that on a snowy day. I didn't expect the push broom I got for pushing leaves around in fall would be so handy for pushing snow around in winter. It wasn't really enough snow to use the metal snow shovel. Good tools: totally worth it!
I've been using a small worn indoor broom and a plastic-tined rake for leaves for 16 years. This fall I saw someone efficiently gathering dry leaves with a push broom and realized I too could get one of those. Also I noticed the middle tines of the rake were worn down to nubs. The local hardware store happily supplied me with a wooden-handled push broom and a wooden-handled, metal-tined rake, which should last me at least another 16 years.
Someone ordered one of my books today! So I packaged that and walked around the block to the mailbox just before its collection time. The order gave me a clue on why orders have been getting charged double shipping ("handling" is also being added, wtf) so I need to patch the estore wordpress plugin, and also write to support asking for a more permanent fix. I've been refunding the extra and put a note on the site to that effect, but Paypal still charges me fees on the higher amount, and who knows how many potential customers have been chased away by the problem.
Before I left to mail that, I wrote to the Etsy store where I bought mask straps. I thought the straps would tighten to help keep a mask on my head by holding the ear loops, but no, they were just loose lanyards. So I asked to return them. When I got back from my brief walk, I already had a reply offering me a full refund for mailing them back. Very kind. So I packaged those up.
A couple of days ago, I wrote to NiteRider about the unexpectedly short battery life on my bike light, and I heard back today that they have a repair service for $30 that includes parts, labor, and shipping it back to me. The light only cost $50 four years ago, but it would cost more than that to replace with something more powerful, which I don't want. Apparently there's ongoing escalation in bike light brightness. So I packaged that up too, and remembered to indicate that there's a lithium battery in there, so had to send it via UPS.
Walked those over to the UPS store, which I luckily caught in their short open window today, only 12-4. I had checked the website, but of course it wasn't updated with holiday hours.
By the way, I highly recommend Pirate Ship (plus a good scale) if you need to mail things.jesse_the_k kindly told me about them. The website Pirate theme is gimmicky, but they do print working shipping labels at good prices for both USPS and UPS. It's a relief not to have to stand in line at the post office, which has gotten even more fraught with omicron on the rise.
First I went out and cleared my driveway and sidewalk of an inch of soggy snow. Okay, I did expect to be doing that on a snowy day. I didn't expect the push broom I got for pushing leaves around in fall would be so handy for pushing snow around in winter. It wasn't really enough snow to use the metal snow shovel. Good tools: totally worth it!
I've been using a small worn indoor broom and a plastic-tined rake for leaves for 16 years. This fall I saw someone efficiently gathering dry leaves with a push broom and realized I too could get one of those. Also I noticed the middle tines of the rake were worn down to nubs. The local hardware store happily supplied me with a wooden-handled push broom and a wooden-handled, metal-tined rake, which should last me at least another 16 years.
Someone ordered one of my books today! So I packaged that and walked around the block to the mailbox just before its collection time. The order gave me a clue on why orders have been getting charged double shipping ("handling" is also being added, wtf) so I need to patch the estore wordpress plugin, and also write to support asking for a more permanent fix. I've been refunding the extra and put a note on the site to that effect, but Paypal still charges me fees on the higher amount, and who knows how many potential customers have been chased away by the problem.
Before I left to mail that, I wrote to the Etsy store where I bought mask straps. I thought the straps would tighten to help keep a mask on my head by holding the ear loops, but no, they were just loose lanyards. So I asked to return them. When I got back from my brief walk, I already had a reply offering me a full refund for mailing them back. Very kind. So I packaged those up.
A couple of days ago, I wrote to NiteRider about the unexpectedly short battery life on my bike light, and I heard back today that they have a repair service for $30 that includes parts, labor, and shipping it back to me. The light only cost $50 four years ago, but it would cost more than that to replace with something more powerful, which I don't want. Apparently there's ongoing escalation in bike light brightness. So I packaged that up too, and remembered to indicate that there's a lithium battery in there, so had to send it via UPS.
Walked those over to the UPS store, which I luckily caught in their short open window today, only 12-4. I had checked the website, but of course it wasn't updated with holiday hours.
By the way, I highly recommend Pirate Ship (plus a good scale) if you need to mail things.
jesse_the_k kindly told me about them. The website Pirate theme is gimmicky, but they do print working shipping labels at good prices for both USPS and UPS. It's a relief not to have to stand in line at the post office, which has gotten even more fraught with omicron on the rise.
no subject
Date: 2021-12-29 01:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-12-29 08:02 pm (UTC)