[300winmag]

I just got back from the post office, and mailed out the radios. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

I also tried to file a claim on the missing knife shipment. The clerk was pleasant and helpful, but I got hit with a whole bunch of "didn't-you-knows".

Didn't you know that you must wait a minimum of 75 days before filing an insurance claim against something sent to an APO?

Didn't you know that there's a new postal high-security alert, and everything is being inspected?

Didn't you know that the post office is handling the most APO/FPO mail since World War 2?

I sheepishly admitted my ignorance, took an insurance claims form, and slunk away. Looking at a calendar, it seems the knives have to wait until about the third week in February before I can file a claim (looking at the claims form, there's a lot of hoops that have to be jumped through). The 75-day clock for the radios starts today.

Sorry if I made things sound like a downer. There's still some slim hope for the knives, and I'll have enough on hand to ship another batch at the end of February. And it's heartening to hear that Americans are mailing stuff to their troops. Now if only the post office and its military/contractor counterparts could get its act together...

[HairOfTheDog]

I hope there is good resolution of the knives shipment... Maybe they'll be found. Even if replacing the money won't replace the heart that went into them.

[smaagee]

I wonder if you could just get a letter from my dad and have him sign my name, it might be a lot faster, and no one can read my signature anyway. He could even have my wife sign it, she has POA while I am gone. Either way, if you need me to write a letter just let me know. I think part of the problem may have been on our end as we were at three different camps in just over a month, and the postal detachment was shut down for most of it. THey are working again, and say that they are caught up, so I am still watching for the knives everyday. (a little faith never hurts) Catch ya later, got some liquid gold to go deliver.
Steve