PACKAGE THIEF

There is a Facebook group for people who live in my building and two recent posts were from people asking if other had seen their FedEx packages that had been delivered to their door. FedEx had sent them pictures of the package in front of their door but when the resident checked, both packages were gone.

I found one of the packages in one of the stairwells. The box had been opened and the contents were gone. It was clear that both their packages were stolen. This isn’t the first time packages have been stolen in my building and it won’t be the last. What is interesting is that these packages were taken from directly in front of a resident’s door. First, it’s alarming that whoever is taking these packages has access to certain floors. Every floor is supposed to be secure and can only be accessed via fob in the elevator. The only exception are the crossover floors which can be access via the stairwells. One of the packages was not located on a crossover floor, so how they got access is a mystery. Second, this thief appears to have realized that the mailroom has cameras and is much busier than say a typical residential floor is. There unfortunately no cameras in the residential hallway floors like there are in the common areas.

This is just a reminder that it is much safer and secure to have your packages sent to a drop-off point. Depending on who you are buying from or what shipping company they use, this can be a Canada Post outlet, UPS Store, or some authorized shipping outlet. These places require an ID, which thieves won’t have. Personally, there isn’t really any excuse for me. Amazon packages can be sent to a Canada Post outlet, which is just downstairs for me. I also have a UPS Store located just five minutes away by foot.

I know it’s tempting to have it conveniently delivered to your door or the mailroom downstairs but unless you can pick up your package immediately, it tempts fate.

QUARTER POUNDER

I had a McDonald’s quarter pounder burger for dinner last night. Yes, I know, that’s not a great choice for dinner. I didn’t get any fries nor did I get a sugary drink though to be clear, I just got the burger.

I have never been a big fan of the quarter pounder burger product from McDonald’s. It’s just so bland compared to their other offerings and burgers from other competitors are easily more appealing than the quarter pounder. A Big Mac, a Teen Burger from A&W, or a Whopper from BK are all superior choices compared to a quarter pounder.

I think the only reason I chose the 1/4 lb burger last evening was that I hadn’t had one in years. After consuming one last night, my opinion has not changed, it remains a very pedestrian and average product at McDonald’s. I think it’ll be many, many years before I’m tempted to try one again.

HOLIDAYS?

It’s now less than three weeks until Christmas and I can’t wait for the holiday break to arrive. This year, we get a full week off, plus a day for New Year’s. It’s not a whole lot of time off but I don’t want to use any extra vacation time. I’m relying on a lot of other people taking extra time off so that the days before and after the break are easy, quiet, and allow me to get lots of work done. If I have to work, at least it can be really productive days.

CAST IRON

I am in the market for a new cast iron skillet. The current one in my kitchen has been in my possession for probably over twenty years now. I’ve cooked a lot of meat in that skillet but it’s showing its age now. The bottom of it is flaking off for some reason. Flakes of cast iron come off the bottom so easily now that the drawer I keep it in looks like it has black snow in it constantly. Luckily, the actual cooking surface remains in good shape but the skillet is literally losing mass every time I handle it and it makes a mess.

Cast iron skillets can now come pre-seasoned from the factory, so that’s quite convenient. I remember seasoning my skillet and over the years, that thing has become naturally non-stick. It’s quite amazing. One thing I still haven’t figured out is what do to with this skillet once I get a new one? I don’t think my local recycling program takes cast iron. I also don’t have a smelter where I can melt it down. It’s in a condition where it can’t be donated either. I need to figure this out.

NO INTERNET

Well, I lost internet access about five minutes ago which means I can’t write a real post tonight. I’m typing this out on my phone and it’s slow. I wonder if my internet dropped because of the snow. It didn’t snow again today but did the existing snow on the ground cause this somehow? Who knows. I’m going to bed.