Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom….

Apparently….the United Parcel Service (UPS) has no creed or motto! (I thought everyone has a creed!  I know I do! 😉

I just found out that the United States Postal Service has no official creed or motto,…

However, an inscription on the James Farley Post Office in New York City reads:

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”

So if the Post Office is not using their unofficial creed or motto, …..and we certainly know they are not!!!  Perhaps UPS can adopt the unofficial creed of the Post Office.

Somebody should be using it right? 🙂

I shop on-line as I have stated previously in other posts.

I planned a Valentine’s Day gift to arrive in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day.  I ordered the item on Jan 19th, 2014.

29 Days, or in the real world…three weeks and 5 working days…(20 Days) The package has not arrived and today is four days after the scheduled delivery and Valentine’s Day is well past!

I originally received an email notice on the 12th, saying the package would arrive on Thursday, the 13th of February between the hours of 9:45 am and 1:45 pm and that UPS was pleased to provide me with home delivery that fits my life!  Hmmmmm?? just what does that mean?

Then I received an email on the 14th (too late) that said my package was delayed in Nashville due to adverse weather conditions.  

 

OK, so they had a snow storm in that area….however, the big Brown trucks must have gotten through the “adverse weather conditions”  in Nashville, because my next notice showed the package in Chattanooga, arriving at 3:41 am on February 12th. 

   OK,…now we are cookin’….My Valentine package is on it’s way!

 

 

 Not so fast, “Miss Assuming that all is well with the package”.…As you will note from the above notice, the package stayed in Chattanooga for 36 hours!  

The package finally left Chattanooga, Tennessee and arrived in Orlando, Florida at 3:25 am on the 15th of February….missing the delivery date and Valentines Day! (Thank you very much)

Now, an email arrives on the 15th with a new declaration… and I am told that the package will be delivered by Monday, the 17th of February….even though the package is only 150 miles away (as the crow flies), in Orlando! (Carrier Pigeons carry packages don’t they?)

Apparently the “rest or down time” the truck driver (or pilot)  had during his 36 hour stay in Chattanooga…(during regular week-day work hours, I might add) ….wasn’t enough, so he or she is allowed to “rest” on Saturday and Sunday! 

Now, my Valentine package languishes in the back of the Brown UPS Truck…. or worse yet….tossed carelessly to the side of a pool at some hotel in Orlando, while the driver is drinking Pina Coladas and enjoying the wonderfully warm Florida Weather. (some might say he deserves the rest…but I won’t say that!)

Meanwhile back at the ranch…I mean at the house…the Valentine Surprise is spoiled and is now a non-event, leaving me to gasp sputtering words like…

• “they promised the package would arrive in plenty of time for Valentine’s Day” OR
• “OK, I should have ordered it sooner and taken into account the adverse weather conditions this time of year in Chattanooga” OR
• “What is so special about Valentine’s Day anyway?”….”it is just a Holiday made up by Greeting Card Companies!”

At the UPS website I found the following … “Enjoy these fun UPS Airline facts for Valentine’s Day”.  (Fun? Really???)

Enjoy these fun UPS Airlines facts for #ValentinesDay and #floralfriday : 
–UPS has flown 118 million flowers from the Americas to the U.S. for Valentine’s Day. (But I can’t get a little package from Chattanooga to Florida!)
–To meet demand during rush of flower imports, UPS adds approx. 44 flights between Miami and Latin America. (what about Southwest Florida International Airport… RSW?  It is close to Miami and in the same Country!)
–UPS is the largest air cargo carrier at Miami International Airport. (Then why couldn’t a Brown truck drive 150 miles from Miami to my house?) 
–UPS has a 27k sq. ft. refrigerated warehouse at our Miami hub where we stage flower imports. (The Captain bought me yellow roses for Valentine’s Day and we don’t need your refrigerated warehouse…just deliver my package please)
–UPS can’t use flower power to transport 118 million stems. We prefer 767s. (I used to work for Boeing….we need to talk)
–The average 767 flight into Miami w/flowers carries 135K stems. (Soooo why wasn’t there room for a small Valentine package?)

Thank goodness the Captain is a patient and understanding man…(he has to be after being married to me for so long. :))

Meanwhile, I am still waiting…and waiting…..AND Today (Monday) is President’s Day and a Holiday!!!!

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”

Who writes this stuff anyway?

Me

In honor of all those UPS, FEDEx, Postal Carriers and all people whose jobs require braving the elements…. there are printable recipes for the below soups and a chowder….plus a drink! And a big thank you… for what you do! 🙂 

• Meatless Black Bean Chili
• Shrimp and Corn Chowder  
• Old Fashioned Chili Recipe
• (as well as a Cherry Sidecar Drink Recipe)..

Cherry SideCar

2014-02-17 11:24:41

Serves 2

String 3 or 4 marinated cherries on small skewers and serve each SideCar drink ice cold.

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Ingredients

1. Juice of 1 lemon for sugaring the glasses
2. 1/4 cup of sugar
3. 1/4 cup of dried cherries
4. 6 ounces cognac
5. 2 lemons juiced
6. 3 ounces of Grand Marnier liqueur
7. ice

Instructions

1. Put the lemon juice on a saucer and the sugar on another saucer, Dip the 2 glasses' rims in the lemon juice and then in the sugar and set aside to dry
2. To marinate the cherries, microwave on high (microwave save bowl) the cherries and 2 ounces of cognac for 60 seconds and set aside
3. Combine 3 ounces of lemon juice with the remaining 4 ounces cognac, the Grand Marnier and 1 teaspoon of the marinated cherry liquid
4. Fill a shaker 3/4 full with ice and add the cocktail mixture
5. Shake for 30 seconds
6. Strain into the prepared glasses either straight up or over ice.

Notes

1. String 3 or 4 marinated cherries on small skewers and serve each SideCar drink ice cold.

By Kari

Me and My Captain https://meandmycaptain.com/

Old Fashioned Chili

2014-02-17 11:02:25

Serves 8

A hearty old fashioned chili which warms you all over!

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Ingredients

1. 2 pounds ground chuck
2. 1 large chopped onion
3. 4 cloves chopped garlic
4. 1/2 cup finely diced green pepper
5. 1 chopped jalapeno pepper
6. 2 teaspoons chipotle powder
7. 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
8. 2 teaspoons cumin
9. 2 cans tomato paste (6 ounce)
10. 1 bottle dark beer (12 ounce)
11. 2 cans pinto beans or Ranch style beans
12. 1 can chopped green chiles (4.5 ounce)
13. 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
14. 1 large can of diced tomatoes
15. salt and pepper

Instructions

1. In heavy dutch oven, place the ground chuck, the onions, green and jalapeno pepper, green chiles and garlic
2. Cook until no longer pink
3. Drain excess oil if necessary
4. Add the spices, chipotle powder, paprika, cumin
5. Stir well
6. Add the liquids, Worcestershire sauce, beer, tomato paste, tomatoes, and beans
7. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Notes

1. I really like the flavor of Ranch Style Beans but I am not sure if they are available in all areas. I prefer to cook my pinto beans from the dry state, but canned pinto beans will certainly work well in this recipe.
2. Toppings: grated cheddar cheese, sliced green scallions, sliced red (or green) jalapenos. (I always have a jar of sliced jalapenos, red or green or both in my fridge)

By Kari

Me and My Captain https://meandmycaptain.com/

Shrimp and Corn Chowder

2014-02-17 10:18:31

Serves 8

A chowder for special occasions or for a week night supper

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Ingredients

1. 1 large diced onion
2. 2 tablespoons olive oil
3. 2 chopped garlic cloves
4. 3 large chopped yukon gold potatoes
5. 1 medium chopped sweet potato
6. 2 cups whole kernal corn (can use frozen)
7. 2 cups chicken broth
8. 1 can evaporated milk (12 oz)
9. 1 teaspoon salt
10. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11. 1 pound peeled large raw shrimp

Instructions

1. Saute the onion and garlic in hot oil in heavy dutch oven
2. Add potatoes, corn, chicken broth, evaporated milk, salt and pepper
3. Bring to a boil, stirring to keep from sticking
4. Reduce heat and simmer chowder for 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
5. Add the shrimp and cook until pink (about 4 minutes)

Notes

1. Toppings can include coconut and unsalted peanuts for crunch

By Kari

Me and My Captain https://meandmycaptain.com/

Black Bean Chili

2014-02-17 08:54:15

A hearty Chili for anytime of the year!

Write a review

Save Recipe

Print

Ingredients

1. 3 cans black beans (15.5 oz)
2. 1 large chopped onion
3. 4 minced garlic cloves
4. 2 tablespoon olive oil
5. 4 teaspoons chili powder (use chipotle for more spice)
6. 1 teaspoon cumin
7. 1/4 teaspoon salt
8. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
9. 3 cans diced tomatoes with green chiles (I like Rotel)
10. 2 cups water
11. 1 teaspoon beef base

Instructions

1. Drain 2 of the 3 cans of black beans and set aside
2. In heavy pot or dutch oven, saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil that has been heated on medium high heat
3. Stir onions and garlic to keep from scorching (about 5-7 minutes) until tender
4. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper
5. Add the tomatoes and green chiles
6. Stir in the beef base and the black beans
7. Add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil
8. Lower heat and simmer for about 30 minutes

Toppings

1. Sliced Jalapeno peppers, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese (I keep a jar of sliced jalapenos in the fridge...I sometimes add a teaspoon of the juice to chili.)
2. If you want to add soy burger crumbles, you can add about 12 oz.

By Kari

Me and My Captain https://meandmycaptain.com/