They're Bombing WHAT?

17 July 2025

Story #1138

R. Linda:

I was doing a good deed, and as usual, when I do anything, it gets screwed up. Not because I purposely do anything to hinder whatever it is, but because I have NO FREAKING IRISH LUCK! That aside, and because by now, you know this to be true, the question begs why I even bother to do anything remotely helpful for anyone, and that includes meself.

I don't have to lift an unlucky finger, no, I do not. All I have to do be ring in an order for something, and the fates that be, take it over and make a mess of me efforts. A month ago, Tonya said to me, "Gabe, do you think you can do me a favour and order this for my parents' anniversary? I have the order form all filled out, all you have to do is pay for it and click the order in."

Yesss, sounds so easy, doesn't it? Why, for sure, I'll pay for the Dragon and Big's big anniversary prezzie, yesss, I will do that and click the order to send. Why, sure, what could go wrong?

Uhhh . . . Well, the order could just up and disappear along with me money, OR, it could go to some other address somewhere, OR, it could get bombed by the Russians and never see the light of day. You laugh at that last, but . . . that was a distinct possibility, let me tell you about it, why don't I?

Tonya had picked out this lovely handmade item. It was stunning, and when I saw it, I saw dollar signs. Yes, I did, big ones, but hey, it was worth the money just to congratulate Big Tony on staying married to the Dragon all these years, too many to count! 

Anyway, I looked at the order, paid the big bucks, ticked the SEND button, and off it went. About five minutes later, I got a receipt and notification that the seller would begin working on the item within the next two business days. Okay, then. I thought no more of that until I got an email a week later stating that the item was finished, the order processed, and on the way to being shipped. Very good. I told Tonya, and she was happy.

I got another notification that said, Label Created. Shipper created a label, US Delivery Service has not received the package yet. Poland.

That was interesting because the item was made in Ukraine, but the maker might have had to flee the country to Poland, maybe?

Three days later, I got: Import Scan, Kyiv, Ukraine. Hum.

Two days later, I get: We Have Your Package. At facility, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Many days after that, I get: We Have Your Package. Arrived at  Facility Warsaw, Poland.

That same day, I get Export Scan Warsaw, Poland, and later this: The package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release. Still later that same night: Departed from Facility Warsaw, Poland. And then even later, I get: Arrived at Facility Koeln, Germany. Then, it departed Germany the next day and Cleared Import Customs (your package has cleared customs and is on the way). 

A day later, I get this: On the Way Philadelphia, PA, United States.

And the best was this: Your Package Has Cleared Customs and is on its way from PL ON BEHALF OF WESTERN. BID EUROPE RE-EXPORT.

And then a day later: We have your Package Warsaw, Poland.

WTF?

Two days later: Your Package has arrived. Kyiv, Ukraine.

Is this sloppy work or what? So, I get in touch with the seller since Tonya be off the wall over this, and I get this:

My apologies. Russia bombed Kyiv. Thankfully, they weren't too accurate and missed postal service building. It's still standing. The item on its way; not to worry; it should arrive on Friday. We got your package to Poland as soon as it was all clear, and rushed it on plane. Re-export so tariffs won't effect you. 

So, the long and short of this fiasco be that the package was stuck in the Kyiv post office, waiting for the Russian bombing to let up. Since the bombs missed the post office, it was routed to Warsaw, Poland, where it was put on a plane ASAP and rushed through customs as much as they could with Trump's tariffs in place. If US Delivery doesn't lose any more drivers, it should arrive on Friday or Saturday. Hopefully, it will come in one piece, not as shrapnel or with a hole in the middle. Oi!

UPDATE: Hold on the package went to North Haven, Ct. Then it went to Chelmsford, Mass.. Then it went to Manchester, NH. Was it coming here when I sent it to New Jersey? Hold on, it turned around and returned to Philadelphia, Pa. And now it's out for delivery in New Jersey. But, I have this message: Scheduled Delivery Today by 3:00 P.M. Then it says: We've experienced a delay while delivering your package. Your driver is still on the way to make delivery today. Then, under that, it says: Not going to be home? Check your delivery options. Click here. 

HUM! Does that last mean that it won't be delivered because nobody home? And I know the Dragon is home, she told me she'd be home all day. BUT I've had it where something was to be delivered, and it doesn't because there is NO ONE AT HOME, but someone is. The driver is too lazy to make that last stop, which is usually my house. So here we are waiting for the shrapnel to arrive or not. Tonya says the travel tracking was to throw off the Russians, should they want to finish the job. Um hum.

Gabe

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