Curiouser and Curiouser

[judecorp]

We received a very odd sort of package in the mail this afternoon. Well, it's not that the packaging itself is in any way out of the ordinary - standard "pillow pack" type mail envelope, priority mail. But we haven't ordered anything.

The first odd thing I noticed was that the sender placed our address on both the "To:" and "From:" lines, effectively us sending the package to ourselves, J. A______ and J. G______ at address. I noticed then that the padded envelope was mailed with $3.20 in stamps - one $3 stamp and two wee 10-centers - instead of the usual printed label thinger that you get when you use the post office scale.

My thought pattern went from, "Oh, a surprise!" to "Maybe they used our address as the return address in case they were worried about having enough postage," to "someone is concealing the origin of this package." And that's when I got a little nervous. I mean, I'm not a big conspiracy theorist type, but it was a little creepy. What was it? Where did it come from? Why are there no distinguishing features? Is there any conspicuous powder? (Okay, I made that last part up.)

I ripped it open anyway and found a brand-new hardcover self-help type book with some printed out material sticking out. The printed material was about 6 pages on "Accepting Personal Responsibility," including helpful diagnostic scales! Sarcasm intentional.

I have strong suspicions where it came from, and I have to admit I don't have much love. If someone has something they think would be helpful to Jen and me, we'd love to hear it personally and discuss it. You know, as friends.

What's funny is that the home address was listed as # _______ Street, 3rd floor, which is a fairly unusual way to address something to us. Jen might give the address out that way (not sure) but it's not my standard. Most of our mail comes to "#3" or occasionally "Apt. 3" but "3rd floor" is quite rare.

On a whim, I pulled out our received holiday cards to see if my suspicions would be confirmed. HA! One card addressed to "3rd floor," one person I suspected of this "friendly tip." Passive-aggression does not good friends make. If you're reading and you have something you'd like to say to either one of us, hit me. I'm all ears.

Comments

[eight.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, that's ridiculous ... I can't believe someone you know would really do that.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Oh, I believe it.

I've known a lot of people over a span of a lot of years. Many of us have simply gone in different philosophical directions, and I suppose it's time to let some friendships go when the distance is too great to span.

I'm not a very good friend-letter-go-er, because really, I like to keep in touch with people and stay connected to them - heck, I liked them for a reason, yanno? But I guess we learned a pretty valuable lesson today: some people are just not your friends.

Or, as Jen said, "That's messed up."

[laserkitty.livejournal.com]

Odd.

You really ARE Nancy Drew

[gimmeapony.livejournal.com]

"The printed material was about 6 pages on 'Accepting Personal Responsibility...'"

This is really funny, coming from someone who sent you a package anonymously. But seriously, how incredibly lame.

Dear third floor

[(Anonymous)]

Come visit meeeee.

Yeah, that's about all I got. Though I would be the kind of person to write the suspected people back something jerky that let them know I know who they are.

I find it extremely ironic that they sent material about personal responsibility anonymously.

Re: Dear third floor

[cappucinogrrl.livejournal.com]

P.S. I guess I logged out. That was my comment.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Well, it weren't me, and I don't address things that way anyway.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_epiphany_girl_/]

That's weird. If it were friendly, you might expect, you know, a friendly card inside.

And good detective work, Jude!

[siercia]

Damn. You caught me.


Okay, maybe not. That is weird fucked up. People can be so dumb, can't they?

Re: You really ARE Nancy Drew

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

HA HA HA HA HA, I hadn't even thought of that!! :)

I'm a little slow sometimes.

[vorpalbla.livejournal.com]

In the good old days, people would just key your car and be done with it.

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

Well, you knew it wasn't me, as it wasn't Ann Coultier's "How to Talk to Liberals" book and the address was written as "3rd floor", instead of "really cool attic with mood lighting and huge bathroom where nuns used to live."

Have you heard anything about this book (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/books/review/22kamp.html) yet? It's been getting a lot of buzz among the circles I read.

Re: You really ARE Nancy Drew

[00solstice.livejournal.com]

heheh!

indeed.

[estrange.livejournal.com]

That is really, really weird. I would be very freaked out.

[indigodove.livejournal.com]

I can't say it any better than Jen: that's messed up.

Well, that's fucked up comes to mind too.

It's hard to let go of friends. Some people then go and make it easier for you...

[whirledpeas.livejournal.com]

HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!
Nikki called me while I was getting my hairs cut and told me about this. Our mouths were both agape.

Of course I might be the first to say it (but I'm not the first to think it:)....PULL MINE OUT AND LOOK AT MY CHRISTMAS CARD - DID I PUT 3RD FLOOR? YOU HAVE TO TELL ME!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I got home and pulled out all of my address books. One of course has 3rd Floor...the other has just 3. Of course, as a Hall Director for 6 years...floor is a common address for me.

Shoot, I'm so caught up in my own carp to seekritly send some book. BUT I do have a good book if you DO want to read it - a few. I have WICKED...Angry Housewives Eating BonBons...Little Earthquakes...

Now - what address did I use???!!

Re: You really ARE Nancy Drew

[rebasayre.livejournal.com]

ok, that is hysterical! i want to know what the book was. i bet it says something rather hypocritical too!

we need to think up something good and sneaky for you guys to send back. or is this person still reading your lj? if so, i'm feeling creative, let's make a plan! :)

how about tp'ing their house? that's about as mature! :)

[kieron.livejournal.com]

You didn't put 3rd floor.

Not sure what you did put, but only one card had it as 3rd floor.

[kieron.livejournal.com]

If it were you you would have singed it in BIG BOLD LETTERS.....because I know you and you don't go for that passive agressive crap that would come across as total stalker weirdness an dmake us feel all oogey inside....

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

True. It's kind of weird.

[happy2beso.livejournal.com]

There *are* some good things about not having sent Christmas cards at all. :)

[whirledpeas.livejournal.com]

Well yay.
But then again, as soon as I hit "post reply" or whatever it is...I realized:

Hello - could there be one person who is MORE personally upfront than ME? I mean, jeeze - I have an inkling of an issue and the therapist in me has to OUT WITH IT AND BEAT IT TO A PULP BEFORE I'M EVEN SATISFIED.

(I just really hoped that yall wouldn't ever think that I would do that...that I'd thought up some issue and sent a book...or whatever.) That's weird. And while I'm weird...I don't feel that way.

[rebasayre.livejournal.com]

you are upfront cause you address things head on with your voice and face attached. so, no. you are the only one this up front in a mature and caring manner. :)

this other fool is the /least/ personally upfront, hiding behind weird anonymous packages and what not. good lord.

i don't get it what the whole thing is about. what does it mean anyway? i can't imagine how confused you guys are!

[anitsirk.livejournal.com]

it seems to me that if you are sure about the sender, the only thing to do is address it back to

"mrs passive aggro"

from "mrs passive aggro"

with a post-it note on the cover of the book saying "i thought you might need this more than me".

[anitsirk.livejournal.com]

ps

i'm not saying that you would be the return "mrs passive aggro", but i'm supposing it's the only way for the package to get there with no identifying return address.