UPS is, for some reason, the reliable delivery service in our neck of the woods. USPS is from hell.

I get a UPS delivery every couple days. Because I shop online a lot. Now I wonder what my neighbors think. Nah, I don't care what they think.

Not reading Buffistas will be especially hard. But if I open up the computer to do anything, I will soon be all over FB and Tumblr and it will be five hours later when I surface. Cold turkey is the only way.

Now I wonder what my neighbors think.

I am that neighbor. But I'm home all day! I notice things! (There's nothing else TO notice, really, other than delivery vehicles.)

Not reading Buffistas will be especially hard. But if I open up the computer to do anything, I will soon be all over FB and Tumblr and it will be five hours later when I surface. Cold turkey is the only way.

Are you off work next week?

When I was a UPS helper, I found out the drivers know their routes and customers, down to who gets packages inside the screen door, or around the back out of sight of the street or whatever. And some people got multiple packages nearly every day. (Note: it WAS in December, in a very expensive neighborhood in Boston, but still.)

Are you off work next week?

Yes.

I wish my UPS drivers understood that the fence blocking their way onto my porch is in fact a gate, as can be seen from the prominent latch. Mainly I wish they wouldn't fling packages over it.

We had a new (or -- I hope -- just a substitute) mail carrier today. I know because he left a package balanced on the front porch railing instead of putting it inside the screen door. (1) Dude, it could fall off and the zombie gnome will get it, or (2) this neighborhood is no stranger to packages disappearing from porches; if you put it up on the railing for everyone to see, that's just asking for it to be stolen.

Are you off work next week?

Yes.

I thought you might be -- because if you had to work, you'd have to get on the internet, and that would ruin your plan.

Exactly! It's way too easy to web-surf while these files are downloading.

Tell me about it. In theory, I'm proofreading an editorial about Ebola. IN THEORY.

if you put it up on the railing for everyone to see, that's just asking for it to be stolen.

All my delivery people are wonderful about putting my packages (and shop a lot online, so I probably do get more than average (my neighbors have PLENTY to wonder about me, I'm sure) as out of sight as they can. Sometimes to the point where I don't see them right away, but I do appreciate it.

It really annoyed me when I was home all day that they would leave packages right in front of my door that swings outward, so opening the door was hard. However, now that deliveries mostly come while I'm at work, that works out just fine; I just pick up the package before I open the door.