I am an idiot

Yesterday afternoon at about 2:15 I took a break from work so that I could run a few errands.  Some bills were due, so I was going to walk to the nearest mailbox and drop them in.  The posted collection time was 2:30.  Then I was going to continue on to the library to return a book.  Both of these places were an easy walk from my office, and it was a nice day, so off I went.  Unfortunately, I was daydreaming, which I tend to do (I have a rich fantasy life).  When I got to the mailbox I opened it up, deposited my bills, and dropped my library book in along with them!  Doh!

I ran to the library and told them what I’d done. They said there was nothing they could do, aside from renew the book in order to give me time to get it back.  I thought about waiting at the mailbox for the postman to come by, but unfortunately I had a meeting back in my office at 2:30.  So I raced back there and of course the person I was meeting arrived early and was waiting for me.  I’d have to deal with the lost library book later.

Finally, my meeting was over and I called the local post office.  After the postal clerk stopped laughing, he told me they had nothing to do with the mail carriers and to call “term ops.”  The “term ops” clerk told me that the book would eventually find its way into Lost & Found, and to check back in a few days.  In the mean time, she would try to reach the mail carrier on that route, but it was a long shot.  Five minutes later she called me back and said he was on his way RIGHT NOW to pick up the mail from that box.  I ran over there and soon the mail carrier arrived, unlocked the mailbox and handed me my library book.  Which I immediately returned to the library.  Phew!

In other news, The Descendants movie was released and the NY Times gave it a great review.