The post office has rules and regulations. If your postal people aren't following their own regulations there are steps you can take. You have to be strong enough to go to a supervisor, maybe even a district manager. My postal lady has a little cardboard cutout. Anything over 1/4" thick requires extra postage. She pulls out her template to see if it will slide through easily. I now know the rule so I try to make my envelopes as flat as possible, even with seeds in them. A family member worked for the post office. Here's what they taught me: 1. Print in upper case letters the name, address, zip code. Make it as plain as possible. 2. Print "Hand Cancel" directly under the stamps in permanent marker or dark pen. Underline it with 2 lines. I put as little information as possible on the return address corner. I put my address and zip code, not the town and often not my name. This means it CAN be returned to me, but the post office will have to work harder. It's my opinion many workers will look at that and prefer to try to mail it to the intended recipient. I have an opinion that colored envelopes, envelopes that look like cards, etc. get better service. Even without a card in it, I rarely get a colored envelope back. I buy them at Goodwill in plastic bags. They are always treated better than something that is the same size as junk mail. Know your envelope dimensions and costs. Non-traditional envelope sizes cost more. Plastic envelopes cost more. Buy a small postage scale. Don't worry about digital, just one of those your grandmother used to have. You'll know the size of the envelope, the thickness and the weight. If your postal worker gives you trouble go over their head. They won't like you, but they need to do their job and be fair. If they're doing it to you they're probably doing it to other people. There is a vast difference between local post offices and we're all frustrated by it when the rules are the same. Some workers act as if they are the mail police and they are the Police Chief like some of those people who lead you to a seat on a roller coaster. They act like they have the power to deport you and you're just trying to ride a ride. Post Office: Can't live with 'em. Can't live without 'em.

I answered you privately, Vegangirl, by email - I hope that explained it to your satisfaction as to how I came to make a request of a poster -- it was not personally intended and I would have addressed the request to anyone else by any other name who had particularly posted the same link which was not sufficiently identified in my mind -- or I never would have gone to it at all. You make a good point -- when in doubt as to the link (or not being able to trust the judgment of a particular poster), do not click. I sincerely regret this has become such a public event and am sorry it has consumed so many persons' time that they could better be spending enjoying the the education and pleasures of Gardenweb and its many forums and groups. I hope we can move this down and move on.

Richard Sorry about your wife but miracles still happen I am sure florida wannabe didn't think any thing about what you said he's a great guy that just offers help when he can kind of like me. Nobody here is an expert in palm trees there are sure many who know more than others.. but i feel you will always be welcome here we are all friends or try to be.. just forget it would probaly be the best thing to do Good Luck to you and your wife !

Very happy to hear that your surgery went well. I have printed off your follow-up care for my husband for use say in about 2 years when he develops a cataract. FIRST, on Sept. 30 he has to undergo a Vitrectomy for repair of a Macular Hole in his left eye - this is NOT going to be pretty. We live in Toronto and he will be having procedure done at St. Michael's Hospital. He is 59 and apparently is young to be having this procedure without a related health reason (diabetes) or having been involved in an accident. His eyes are extremely myopic (his lenses cost $1,200 to get "thin" ones so that he doesn't appear to be wearing Coke bottles on his eyes). I fortunately found a lady whose mother just went through the same procedure in Ottawa and she outlined the dos and don'ts and the general horror of it all - which was exactly what was needed as my husband was searching the Internet for "easy" recovery solutions. Their aren't any. The big thing was finding the place that rents the face-down equipment needed for recovery - easy to do in U.S. or Europe, but Canada, well the usual. For those who might need to know who live in the Toronto area or London area (the company covers both areas) the company is called Care Chairs (www.care-chairs.com). They seem to be the only rental provider of the "real" chair, sleep pillow etc. There is another company but they only sell foam pieces - and they aren't nearly as effective. Basically he will have to keep his eyes looking face down - kind of at his belly button for a week. The chair has a 3 way mirror to help him see what is going on. The pillow for sleeping will be attached between the box spring and mattress - unfortunately both beds in this house have footboards so will have to move to floor. I will also have to board our dog - a very claws and Jaws American Eskimo who loves to jump up and I know he would hit my husband right in the eye - not to mention the taking my husband back and forth. He will have to return for a follow-up day after surgery - so a special neck piece for trip in car. At least he is good at putting eye drops in as he wore contacts for many years. I am dreading it - and asked if they could keep him overnight in hospital - apparently not these days - not "medically" necessary. I am sure people who have undergone this procedure would disagree. I even thought of renting a hotel room downtown for first night, but then the equipment will be at home. Ed, yesterday I bought a pair of sunglasses at Shoppers that are designed to be worn over regular prescription glasses to help with the glare. The lady whose mother had the surgery had to wear them for 2 months to help with glare and the effects of the eye drops. My husband has the custom made clip-ons to wear with his glasses but they won't do the trick. They were $24.95 and I think worth every penny. I also bought a speaker phone, a "customer service" bell to put by his hand in case of an emergency and also found by chance a laptop cart that will work perfectly to place in front of chair for taking of meals - best to keep movement to a minimum and we will have to deal with the bathroom issue. I have threatened to sneak Immodium into his food. His main focus is watching TV - this should be the least of his worries. And because he is so mypopic, without his glasses on, he won't be able to see out of his "good" eye! I am thinking books on tape. Heck I was in the hospital several years ago for a week - TV didn't work and I was stuck in the bed hooked up to a catheter and other wires so if I can do it, so can he. But then I am a good patient - he is not. Even he admits it would be a lot easier on him as a caregiver than on me, because I can be trusted. He continues to work on his IBM Thinkpad - without a larger monitor - I told him years ago to ask for one at work and to up the font size - and to stop reading books with such small print. I turned 58 last week and still have 20/20 vision and I have my font at 125 and won't read the books he buys - and I always have my sunglasses on (hazel eyes, light sensitive - I don't squint, hence fewer wrinkles). He is also worried about washing his hair - Jeez - I have a lot of hair, if I could go a week, so can he and there are those "shampoo" caps at SDM Heathcare shops - or I could just run a facecloth over his head. Forget shaving - and he can't get water near his eyes anyway. He will have to wear pajama tops - and since he absolutely cannot roll over onto his back I am going to clip Chip Clips to his top - one person told me the tennis balls didn't work for him. He won't be able to do any heavy lifting either - much as in your case and this will go on for a few months. He won't be able to fly for 6 weeks or until the gas bubble disappears. He has a business trip in Sept., returning on the 21 - and then another Dec. 5 so hopefully he won't get bumped, sick etc. or anything else will happen to delay the surgery. Originally the surgeon had thought the surgery could be posted for 2 years - by that time he will/would have developed a cataract and they would have taken care of everything. But in the past 3 months the deterioration has been far greater than anticipated so will be having the surgery to try to prevent loss of vision in his eye. The cataract will still develop though. He has his father's grey/blue eyes - and he also developed cataracts, but he was 76 and had both removed at same time in hospital. Now if only his company insurance plan will pay for the rental of his rehab equipment. I am not optimistic. They wouldn't pay anything towards his $1,000 sleep apnea mouthguard or his $150 per visit eye tests with the super surgeon (OHIP doesn't cover these tests either) - and these tests cannot be claimed on Income Tax so that you get $2 back - BUT, if anyone is interested, apparently Hair Transplant surgery can be claimed on income tax. But we will try - apparently eyes fall into a different category, but at some point your eyes have to be considered a major part of your body for heaven's sake - it isn't as if he wants a pair of glasses to match every outfit. I did call the insurance company and they didn't point out how few claims we have made for family coverage - well I am allergic to most meds and he doesn't take any and they won't pay for anything he needs! It is going to be a very unpleasant experience for sure and he won't even be able to pick up the 22 lb. dog or do anything outside (which he prefers I am sure). Forget trying to find anyone to help - already did that re snow shovelling - stood at door on Hallowe'en and asked anyone my size or bigger if they would shovel for generous rates (I am 5' 8" - so wasn't asking 6 year olds) - but no takers. Kids around here don't shavel, rake leaves - zip. Apparently the easy way to earn money is to offer to walk people's dogs - as if that is going to happen. My little terror being walked by a 10 year old with no training. We have no relatives in Toronto to help - SO ED, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY NURSEMAID! My husband just came upstairs so I will read him the account of your experience. Again, I am very happy that all turned out well for you. I sure wish this was over.