Welcome to the Ends of the Earth

My postman, George.

I admit that I am a bit old-fashioned.  I actually use mail (you know--the form of communication that involves pieces of paper, a stamp, and postmans...er, postpeoples).  I do so, understanding that this particular form of communication takes quite a bit longer than normal.  Or, at least, that was my "understanding" when I lived in Chicago.

Here?  Said form of communication takes anywhere from a bit longer than normal, to FOR-FREAKING-EVER.  And I'm not just talking about the government's operation.  They're actually one of the best.  I'm also talking about private courier services.  I have ordered a handful of things online, particularly diapers and a slider grill pan that was 80% off.  Anyway, previously when I placed a diaper order, I could expect to get my shipment within 2 days.  I understood that we're a bit more...well...nowhere, here, so it would likely take longer.  Try 5 times longer.  I wish I were kidding.  It's like even the couriers just wait until they get a certain number of packages going out this way before delivering, so that they can save the horses.  It's driving me nuts.

The worst part is that generally one only orders things online here when there isn't a particular store within, oh, 5,000,000 miles.  Ok, diapers are a bad example.  But, still.  Diapers at http://www.diapers.com/ are considerably less expensive than at the stores here.  Even in Iowa, they get the diapers within days.  Here, it's weeks.  So I end up paying more for a necessity, just because nobody wants to come out to the ends of the earth.  What a racket.

If anyone is looking for a sure-bet money maker, I say find a way to get stuff to people in the boondocks who need them.  Because, this is insane.  And dammit, I may have gone half a football season without a square hamburger, and THEN where would I have been??