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.