Pandora's Casket

Yesterday Jeremy had his first lesson in what money is. He held tight to it, hanging on for dear life to two $5 bills. He thought he was pretty cool while he was flashing his mom's cash around. Yep, he was big time pimpin! When Shay took it away he was not all that happy. haha Yep, he is a true member of the family. Hold tight to his cash!

To see a bigger picture of Jeremy, click on the thumbnail

I don't know about you but some tape that you buy is just terrible. Buying a cheap no name brand sometimes is just not the best way to go.

I have two types of tape that I use. One is the packaging tape. The wider rolls that are good for small to large packages. I have only found one type of cheap brand that I actually threw away. The name on the tape was, well, Packing Tape. Bought it once to try. It would not cut right, as it would tear in places that were hard to find later. I like to fold the tape over on the end so the next time I use I do not have this problem. This tape was shredding. I tossed it out.

I am using another off brand that I purchase at the DG. Not to bad. It has a good stick and is easy to manage. The only thing is that I noticed lately that it has an odd odor. Thank goodness it goes away being out in the open. Sturdy and only costs a dollar.

My biggest complaint is with the other tape. The smaller tape that I use for labels and other mailing needs. You purchase some of these tapes that are cheap and what do you get? Aggravation is what you get. Take for example last night. I ran out of my normal tape and had to pull out the cheap tape. It would not tear at all. You know how they have the lines for the container to cut it? Oh no, it would not do that. I finally had to get the scissors out and with a little maneuvering began cutting individual pieces. I finally lost the tape end on the roll never to find it again it seems. This tape was that 3/$1 crap that you see. Why I buy this stuff is beyond me, but I do. Hoping that maybe this time it will be good. What a joke.

I did have some other tape as a fill in but the tape is to narrow to cover what I need. Looks like a shopping trip is in todays plans

If the makers of tape want consumers to purchase their tape put a little effort into either the product or the container you place it in. Of course they got a dollar from me now didn't they????

I was going to spend the morning looking into free online auto insurance quotes for my son but thought that he should learn how to do that himself. Good practice actually.

Rather on the cold side here today that is for sure. Decided not to rush around working, so instead spent the day leisurely working. Speaking with a vendor, who is so nice it is a pleasure gabbing away. They deal in home made candles and they are absolutely lovely. The samples that I was sent a couple of months ago sold me on both the quality and the company. Giving personalized service to customers. Very unique in this day and age.

Then moving from that I began talking to staff members. Yes, Paganus you did it again This time though I am not fixing the mistake. Since I threw something new his way I realize that I need to have patience and give him time to fully learn the new system. I have been a little impatient with him but he is used to that. haha I sound off, he listens then laughs. Probably because he has been on the staff for so long he knows that at times my bark is worse than my bite. haha

The other staff member is on her last thread of patience with me. Is it so hard to meet deadlines for heavens sake? Must be.....

Looks like phone calls again this evening. Grrrr

You would think that Paypal would be able to update their shipping preferences. With the changes in Priority box sizes that have been implemented, large and the new small flat rate, these should be listed.

Is it to much to ask for this? Have the coders at Paypal all come down with Mesothelioma or what?

Put it in the drop down box to be included so we sellers do not have to go to the local branch to use the service. We have two options, flat rate envelope and flat rate boxes(normal size).

It is really exasperating when one of those two are needed and no where to be found.

As much money in fees that they receive from sellers you would think that they would do something for us. What would it take to do? An hour and then put into force over an update or regular maintenance that they perform?

Get with the now Paypal

People never cease to amaze me on the things that they do and say. I wonder if they think before they begin to talk and write while on the computer at all. Or do they simply blindly blabber on hiding behind the fact that it is anonymous basically while writing certain notes to people. No matter what it is sometimes people should just not be let loose alone with an internet connection and PC.

We all know I sell Occult items. Have for years now, so there is no big surprise there. Yet those of different religious faiths or ideals will make it their duty to write on eBay or my other store front and tell me how really evil or wrong I am in doing so. Most are funny, pushing aside the ones that are death threats, they are comical.

Here is the latest message conversation that I received just last night by a person that felt compelled to write to share their prejudice with me.

Question Sent: Saint Philomena is a sacred Catholic saint and it is appalling that you sell a WICCA SPELL with her name on it. May God bless you and forgive you as I assume you know NOT what you do.

My Response: Hello:
There is not a spell that is being sold, it is the oil that is used by those that are in need of help and assistance. There are many faiths, not just the Catholics that pray to Saints when in need of help.

Contrary to what you stated, I do know what I am doing and if you had read it is oil and not a Wiccan Spell as you stated. I do hope that you write all the other sellers that also sell Saint oils to people that need them

Thank you for your contact. I can only hope that God blesses you also for your narrow mindedness

Question 2 Sent: 1) YOU state in the very heading of your auction following Saint Philomena's name: WICCA SPELL 1 OUNCE

2) The Saints, ie. Saint Philomena IS A CATHOLIC SAINT. FYI: In the Catholic faith Saints bring prayer requests TO GOD through Christ. God grants blessings through the intercession of the Saints through Christ's name. Sacramental oils and the oils of the saints are blessed by priests for that reason.

3) Again, God bless you for you know NOT what you say/do.

4) God bless you and ALL who need help through Christ Our Lord. It's a shame you must make belittling remarks to me when YOU are the one using saints of the Catholic religion in a disrespectful way.

My Final Answer: There was no belittling remarks made to you. By what I am reading you present yourself in a narrow minded manner. This is my personal opinion only.

In the header, or title, those words are commonly known as key words that are used by sellers for the search engine for buyers to use while searching for what they are looking for. These key words are in the title, if one looked at the description they would have seen clearly it states it is an oil only.

There is absolutely no disrespectful actions being presented by myself with this or any of my other products. I am sad to say it is you who is disrespecting my products, myself and the countless of others that pray to the saints and follow different paths. Please keep your prejudice to yourself as any other communication will be sent to ebay as this is harassing a seller by what you are doing. Kindly save your sacramonous preaching for others such as yourself.

Thank you again for your kind words and blessings.

Updated: I received this final answer from the person this morning.

Contrar. You have insulted and harrassed me with your insulting "opinions" prejudice and misuse of my religion and religious figures; They would not be saints if not "CATHOLIC SAINTS". They are saints because they withstood abuse and were martyrs ALL for Catholicism, PERIOD. THAT is what made them saints therefore you indeed have belittled me and my religion with your disrespectful, ignorant "opinions", practices and items in both selling and communications to me. I did not insult you I stated facts. YOU ARE THE NARROW MINDED ONE AND DISRESPECTFUL ONE I notified Ebay.

WOW! Are we not getting enough fiber????

Now, I understand that there are those of you out there that have beliefs that are so strong that they take over every aspect of your thoughts and lives. I think that is wonderful for you and you alone. Is it necessary to push this on anyone else?

I realize that I could have easily ignored this person, which 8 out of 10 times I do but I get tired of the religious zealot's that feel the need to tell me that any other religion is wrong and theirs is the only one that is right. Is there really one single religion that is the only one? As long as what you believe in makes you happy then it must be the right religious path-For YOU.

Some people are ignorant, petty and have way to much time on their hands. It goes back to if you see something that offends you, do not look at it. Plain and simple. Respect others rights to believe any way they wish to. Using any and all methods they wish to. It is not your business, so keep your opinion to yourself, PLEASE!

If this person writes again will I turn them in? Yes, I will in a heart beat.

My lap top light arrived the other day. I am so impressed with this item it is unbelievable. It puts out much more light than I had anticipated. I thought it would be a low key light, but it is very bright and seeing the keys now is a breeze.

I was impressed with the shipping time. Since I purchased this from a seller that is in China, my rule for international buying is:
Buy it and forget about it for 20 days

This came within 7 days which let me tell you is a record time. Usually China is 15 plus days and that is speedy shipping. Imagine my surprise seeing this so soon.

It is light weight, fits nicely in my laptop briefcase and while you have it on it does not get hot to the touch. It has a small adjustment on the light part so you can aim it where you want to. Hooking it up to your USB port, bending it where ever you want the light to be at and that is that.

I am so glad that I made this purchase. I rarely promote other sellers on eBay but I am going to break my rule here this one time If you are looking for a light like this go over to Alpine Top Line to see what they have. Now, they say they are based in Canada, but the products ship from Hong Kong.

I would really suggest anyone that needs a light for their laptop to get one!

When you are selling on the web you run into all kinds of people. Each with their own little oddities about things that they see. Now, usually I can shrug them off but every once in awhile a person will write something that just floors.

In my stores are the basic Occult items but I do have other things in order to try to appeal to others as well. Glassware, books, jewelry you name it. People ask questions which is a good thing. But then you get a question like this one that I am going to post.

The item in question is a salt and pepper set. Set back in the deep south depicting clothing of that era for the African American house workers, those that worked in homes cooking and cleaning. You have all seen these in stores since I believe the 80's. They are in no way degrading and are collectible.

Person asking question: That is an awful decription of the product, and it in itself is a horrible thing to sell. You should be ashamed that you think it is ok to handle with such products. Slavery is not a novelty item.

My response: Hello:
I am so sorry that you find this an offensive item. Yet these are in fact very popular and have been since the late 80's to 90's. It is not slavery being sold or depicted it is a material item

Persons Response Again: And again we must ask ourselves WHAT makes an item like this POPULAR? What is sellable, or popular about an item that depicts a truly awful time in American history? Those are the questions we should ask ourselves!

I did not answer again. I felt it would go on and on and on with this person.

Slavery is not the issue with the shakers. I did not make the items, in fact previous to this writing to me I saw these same reproductions in a store front in a town that we were shopping at. Should they also stop selling them?

If you are appalled at something, be appalled but do not go off sounding like a nut to a person or company that is selling the item. You will get yourself all worked up over something that is really not worth it. You will stress and soon need to acne treatment for the break outs that you will get.

Don't shoot the messenger!

Starting May 11, 2009 our postage rate will yet again go up another two cents. Instead of the rate of 42 cents we will pay 44 cents. The reason for the increase was stated as inflation.

Just seems a month ago the Priority rates changed now this. It was also stated that May is the month that the USPS raises the rates. Wow, has a year gone by that quickly? It's probably just me but it seems that they are always raising something more than just in May.

Now two cents is not that much to send a letter. But it is getting to a point where you will weigh your choices in using the postal service to mail a letter. Mailing a First Class letter is pretty close to 50 cents and is it really worth the time, energy and cost to use the mail?

With the services that we have available to use more people will start utilizing what is easily out there. Such as the bill paying, email, you name it. Even paying bills at a pay station might look better to some as it is instant and it does not get lost.

Those people that use the postal service to ship will have to weigh the new rate hike to see if changing their prices should reflect this cost. Although it is First Class Parcel that they would be using, I am sure that is up as well. I saw that for the first ounce for parcels is $1.22 and 17 cents each additional ounce thereafter. It was not clear if this is for Parcel Post or First Class Parcel. I think there is some digging around for that I will have to do as it was not clear.

For each raise in postal rates we just roll with the flow of it all. Just think in 3 years the rate will be 50 cents per letter to mail.

Since it is one of those services that we rely upon we nearly have to pay the price.