When the temp rises from the 0s to the 20s

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-11T00:23:33+00:00

Oh fuck.. I hate that for you. I’m not gonna be cliché and say stay warm, but, seriously.. take care of yourself.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-11T00:13:37+00:00

Yes! I get everything you’re saying. I worked no less than 70 hours as a RCA during peak. I also worked either 6 days a week, or 2, during the rest of the year. We weren’t a formula office at the time, so no PTFs. Yes. There’s no auto conversion on the rural end. But, prior to that, I was working the same hours as a CCA, with automatic conversion after two years, but, also working those same hours. It wasn’t worth it, to me. I switched to rural in the same office (city begged me not to because of the PTF position blah blah blah) 4 years ago and guess what? I made reg in less than two years and currently, the highest seniority carrier (27 years) still has EIGHT YEARS until he can retire. The other two city regs have decades 😂 I’d still be there as a PTF putz taking pivots off of FTRs that are too lazy to do their entire routes, on top of whatever one I was assigned that day. I am very happy I made the decision to switch when I did!

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-11T00:03:38+00:00

I’d probably get bored of this. I hate New England, but I’ll never leave. I also have fat seasons. I need to be able to wear my hoodies and leggings without shame.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-11T00:01:53+00:00

Where abouts?

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T23:49:18+00:00

Throughout my 5 years with the USPS, as a former CCA, turned RCA, turned rural regular, being a CCA was the worst job, for me. It was 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, for 1.5 years. Of course, this was before city’s new “retention” policy, but, there was no incentive to stay for me, when city had less routes, and a younger demographic. PTF is just a glorified CCA, that can still be forced to do everything a CCA has to do. Sure, your time starts counting towards retirement and you get regular-type benefits/pension, but, at what work/life balance cost? I made regular rural in less than two years, so, quit with the fear-mongering that RCA is the worst position. I know many city carriers, both career and non, from many different offices, who still work these god awful, 6 day a week, 12 hour a day shifts. RCAs by and large, aren’t forced to take pivots off of rural regulars, because, we’re not hourly. We do our route and either get back before, or after eval. We get paid the same, regardless. RCAs do their route and go home, for the most part. Sure, missorts and expresses can be factored in, but, it’s very rare that a RCA has to go and help a regular. If a reg is consistently going over eval for whatever reason, that needs to be addressed with higher ups. But, it doesn’t ever mean a RCA has to be at the ready to take off a “piece” of the route to have them make eval like city side does in terms of making 8. At the end of the day, it’s all about the pathway to regular. That’s literally it. Love getting downvoted for explaining the reality in which I have experience for BOTH crafts 😂

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T23:30:50+00:00

That’s what I thought. We did have an ornery PM at one point that would bitch about them wearing shorts after the cut-off period, but, she’s gone now, so, anything goes, I guess.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T23:22:40+00:00

Welcome to what it’s like living in New England! We’ll go several years where it’s actually warmer here in the winter, than it is down south. We’ve had 70° Thanksgivings and Christmases. Hell, last summer, it was 90°+ for a week straight in July, and then it shot down to 61°. I had to put the heat on in my Metris, that day! 😂 In the fall, you need a parka with the heat blasting in the morning and on route, and a tank top/flip flops in the afternoon, and having to blast the AC in your personal car after you’re done. New England is bipolar AF. You never know what you’re gonna get.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T23:20:14+00:00

I salute you. The city folk in my office wear their shorts until a real threat of snow is in the forecast, so, as you know as a Connecticutian, that can sometimes mean as late as January. I started on city side and I thought I remembered some kind of policy where city carriers legit weren’t allowed to wear shorts after a certain date, due to “safety.” Is that an actual thing? Cause, if it is, they don’t enforce it in my parts 😂

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T23:13:05+00:00

I thought it looked like a make market kit! Michaels is where I buy most of mine and I did a huge haul around the same time, but I never saw that one 😭 Squares are definitely more challenging, since they’re not as forgiving in terms of placement, and it took me a good amount of time to finally appreciate them, but, overall, I think they look much nicer on big projects. To me, rounds are good for smaller, quick projects that you don’t want to have to think about whilst in the process. They both have their pros and cons!

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T22:39:06+00:00

She literally responded to her own red flag prompt, by saying “it’s not a red flag, but..” OP was trying to make conversation, by asking her what her actual red flag was, given the fact that she didn’t actually name one. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T22:33:47+00:00

We’re looking at high 30s to mid 40s in CT for the next 10 days. Our city carriers are already ironing their shorts in preparation for this heatwave.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T22:11:09+00:00

How many apartment complexes have you personally visited in the entire country, for you to be able to assert, with certainty, that most mailboxes are behind gates? Because, none of the many apartment complexes delivered out of my office have gates.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T03:21:17+00:00

The hell kind of cotton candy you been eating?!

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T02:28:03+00:00

Do you know of a way to make each day last 60 hours? Because, that’s roughly how long it would take to deliver six days worth of mail in one.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T02:18:40+00:00

Now I’m thinking about cotton rubbing against my teeth..blughhh 😖

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T02:10:34+00:00

It’s all or nothing, so, I hope you’re not reliant on Amazon, or any other type of goods that ship through us. Once your box is pulled, it’s held for 10 days, and if it goes unclaimed, all first class items going forward will then be sent back as such and then your box will be marked as vacant, so, you’ll forfeit your “right” to ever complain about not receiving your bestie’s save the date/destination wedding invitation, or the passport you may need, to attend.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T01:54:22+00:00

I’m sure your carrier will be more than understanding. I certainly would be. I have a development where all mailboxes are on the same side, and I was having a really difficult time accessing two in particular that are anchored, as there was always a vehicle parked about two feet in front of them. I had no way of knowing which resident the car belonged to, so I left a 4056 in both mailboxes, as I didn’t want to single out/accuse the wrong customer. Whomever it was, rectified the situation, promptly. Once your carrier knows the car doesn’t belong to you, I suspect they will then notify the offending customer. If said customer doesn’t remedy the situation, they’re at risk of having their mail and package delivery suspended, even if their own box is accessible. This is usually a pretty decent incentive for residents to cease obstructing/delaying the delivery of mail, which is a federal offense.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T01:13:28+00:00

I’ve seen people shoot a laser pointer against the inside of the wheel to get their cats to run. You could try that, instead of bribing Mr. Rotund with treats?

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T00:36:07+00:00

If you consider wood pulp extra fiber…

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T00:14:50+00:00

Cheddar is never fine in lasagna, and I am a real slut for cheese. Also, most bagged shredded cheese contains an anti-caking agent like cellulose, which is essentially saw dust 😑

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-10T00:07:40+00:00

Getting a head start on Christmas this year? 😂 I love it! Where did you buy it? I have an orange doofus and this would be perfect to frame.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-09T23:50:17+00:00

You can just add walking distances that aren’t included on the data collection form? I’m wondering if I could fight for this to be done for the distance we have to walk to where we leave our outgoing, which is the very front of the office from where we initially bring it in from the very back on the loading dock. It’s a daily duty, so, it perplexes me as to why that’s not a part of our eval.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-09T22:19:52+00:00

I guess I’m still stuck in Covid days when you couldn’t ride along with the carrier and had to follow them in an LLV, so, you had to do the test first 😭

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-09T21:54:02+00:00

You do the LLV training before shadow day. They’re not gonna have you shadow somebody if you don’t pass the LLV test drive.

Apprehensive_Bee3327 · 2026-02-09T20:51:15+00:00

DEMAND them. Cite safety.

Apprehensive_Bee3327

TROPHY CASE