Penny for Your Thought
Keep the penny, on second thought, toss me one or about 141 of them to be exact! What is this post about? I sent the following email to close friends and family, who might laugh. I figured someone needs to laugh. Greg told me, “If you don’t blog about this, I’ll be disappointed.” So, I’m sharing. I’m an idiot.
“I'm So incredible P.O.'d right now. Greg is laughing and it is NOT funny!
I went ahead and addressed all the invitation envelopes. I put a postage stamp on the RVSP card, put my parents address sticker on the invitation (since the original invitation had our address, I thought I was saving money with just putting a new sticker on the invitation).... addressed the outside envelopes, put postage on the outside envelope and sealed the envelope.
AND THEN... only THEN, after the last one was done.. I kid you not...... I realized that the bulk of the RVSP card postage stamps were 41 cents!!!!! That means I would have to open up all of the large envelopes, re-hand write them and lose all the pretty envelopes with our return address on it and lose the 42 stamp posted on the big envelopes, because those are sealed and I'd have to open them to add a penny stamp to the RSVP.
I'm am NOT redoing it. To heck with it... if we don't get the RVSP cards back because of stupid 1 penny, FINE. ARGGHHHH.... NOT funny - do NOT laugh at me!!!!
I can't believe I did that...”
Greg waited for me to calm down after I sent out this email and he said, “Maybe we can steam open the envelopes. I saw that on TV once.”
I replied, “I’m willing to try anything.”
He laughed with this, “But I saw it on I Love Lucy.”
Argghhh. One of my friends, Shawn, wrote back that I should send the envelopes like they are and I’d get a bill for a penny postage and that she thought it was funny. Rene (the best man at Rob and Roda’s wedding) wrote back, “So I should bring my suit on the plane for your wedding.” Well, at least I know he realizes how mistakes can be humorous.
But I wasn’t in a funny bone feeling. All those darn envelopes, all that time to write it… and those envelopes had a pretty Fleur de Lis stamp on the return on the big envelopes, all to trash them?
Greg took me outside to feel the cool air to cool me off. He said, “I’ll fix this. That’s what I’m here for. I’ll make this work.”
Have I said how much I love Greg?
He got a razor blade out and cut the tops of the big envelopes very carefully. Then, he found the RSVP cards that needed the one-penny stamp, which we’ll buy some time this week. Not all of them need the one-cent stamp, because the stupid Flag Stamp IS a forever stamp and some of them are the 41-cent stamps!
Greg said, “I could have helped you with this and made the same mistake.” But yeah, he ribbed me good as well, all along, opening the envelopes and the ones that are OK, he sealed the top of the big envelopes with tape at the top – he measured the tape to 7 inches and put it on the top with an even hand.
God, I love that man.
“I'm So incredible P.O.'d right now. Greg is laughing and it is NOT funny!
I went ahead and addressed all the invitation envelopes. I put a postage stamp on the RVSP card, put my parents address sticker on the invitation (since the original invitation had our address, I thought I was saving money with just putting a new sticker on the invitation).... addressed the outside envelopes, put postage on the outside envelope and sealed the envelope.
AND THEN... only THEN, after the last one was done.. I kid you not...... I realized that the bulk of the RVSP card postage stamps were 41 cents!!!!! That means I would have to open up all of the large envelopes, re-hand write them and lose all the pretty envelopes with our return address on it and lose the 42 stamp posted on the big envelopes, because those are sealed and I'd have to open them to add a penny stamp to the RSVP.
I'm am NOT redoing it. To heck with it... if we don't get the RVSP cards back because of stupid 1 penny, FINE. ARGGHHHH.... NOT funny - do NOT laugh at me!!!!
I can't believe I did that...”
Greg waited for me to calm down after I sent out this email and he said, “Maybe we can steam open the envelopes. I saw that on TV once.”
I replied, “I’m willing to try anything.”
He laughed with this, “But I saw it on I Love Lucy.”
Argghhh. One of my friends, Shawn, wrote back that I should send the envelopes like they are and I’d get a bill for a penny postage and that she thought it was funny. Rene (the best man at Rob and Roda’s wedding) wrote back, “So I should bring my suit on the plane for your wedding.” Well, at least I know he realizes how mistakes can be humorous.
But I wasn’t in a funny bone feeling. All those darn envelopes, all that time to write it… and those envelopes had a pretty Fleur de Lis stamp on the return on the big envelopes, all to trash them?
Greg took me outside to feel the cool air to cool me off. He said, “I’ll fix this. That’s what I’m here for. I’ll make this work.”
Have I said how much I love Greg?
He got a razor blade out and cut the tops of the big envelopes very carefully. Then, he found the RSVP cards that needed the one-penny stamp, which we’ll buy some time this week. Not all of them need the one-cent stamp, because the stupid Flag Stamp IS a forever stamp and some of them are the 41-cent stamps!
Greg said, “I could have helped you with this and made the same mistake.” But yeah, he ribbed me good as well, all along, opening the envelopes and the ones that are OK, he sealed the top of the big envelopes with tape at the top – he measured the tape to 7 inches and put it on the top with an even hand.
God, I love that man.
Comments
And you know the great thing is it shows what a great partnership you and Greg are. And Renae is right, people will not notice the envelope they will be looking for that invitation. You are no idiot and as ugich says we have all done so much worse - mine would be too long to list.
Take Care and thanks so much for all your ideas for my post - they are much appreciated!
Now you're story is so ironic to me. I just filled out a Win Mets Tickets contest from the paper, and found ONE stamp left and put it on the envelope. I was almost ready to mail it, got in the elevator and saw it was 41 and couldnt remember if the price went up. A neighbor got in and I asked him and he confirmed for me. UGH. I never ever question the price and here I did and here you messed up with it too. Hmmm :-D
Can't wait to hear more. Sorry to hog your comment section.
Sounds like you've got a wonderful partner..in more ways than one!
~K
So nice that Greg was so helpful! :)
"you can always e-mail everyone and tell them you're good for the penny if they will front you the stamp and then have a penny jar available at the wedding :-)"
I might just do that. Lol.
Tavia wrote: I am so sorry! I laughed.... It is kind of funny, especially since I've done things like that before and Carl has put the electric bill check in the credit card bill place and visa versa! It will be ok though.
My Aunt Didi: "Oh no, I'm so sorry for you.........what a terrible thing to happen........it would have been better to not be aware of the mistake, then suffer over it." (I agree, I wish I hadn't noticed!!)
Jessica sent me this helpful suggestion and link: "You could also try sticking the envelopes in the freezer to see if the glue on the back of the envelopes will come unstuck. I've never actually gotten this to work, but apparently it's supposed to. Here's some additional tips I found: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070115021847AAz635z
Just thought I'd share the family/friends comments. I think I will put out a penny jaw and put a sign up about what happened, just for the fun of it. Hey, could be an ice-breaker between new friends at the wedding.
Thank you, Renae ~ I'm hoping they tear open the envelope and don't see the tape. Keep your fingers crossed! *smiles* (Then again, I have to hope they don't read my blog too. Lol)
Hi Ugich Konitari ~ Oh goodness! Now you're going to have me scrambling around making sure I don't put the postage in an envelope, which oddly is how I received it from the post office!
Hi Lilly ~ Ohhh, I wasn't smiling last night. My blood pressure was up and I kept telling myself, "This is SO foolish to get upset over." Greg laughing didn't help at first and I was fit to be tied considering I'd have to rewrite those envelopes again! But you're right, it does show the partnership. When Greg said that he'd find a way to fix it, I just knew that he would.
Hi Gypsy ~ So good to see you again! And you're right, that's all that counts. Still counting blessings.
Hi Lauren ~ I wonder if it's a Post Office Strategy? I mean, one penny? ONE penny? I could did in my purse and find that and do people use stamps nowadays to warrant a penny increase? I remember thinking while I was addressing those envelopes, "Man, I haven't done this in a LONG time." My letters to friends are emails. Bills are paid online. So, why the penny hike? Just to confuse us. Arrghh. (One friend said, "Aleta, I have to ask.... those 41 cents went up a penny a while ago, how long have you had them?" Lol)
Hi Kel ~ I was ready to say, "To heck with it." Greg was the one to say, "What if we don't get the RSVP." Yeah, he's a great guy and I'm glad he understood after he got over laughing about it.
Hi Laurel ~ I'm glad I'm not the only one! At least I can smile about it now (with knowing we can do something about it)
Hi A Buns Life ~ Oh! I was Incredibly thankful. I was stressed and he came up with a creative idea to make it work. Who would have thought that addressing envelopes could bring that stress on?
Hi Jessica ~ Thanks! I'm feeling much better today, though a little on the foolish side.
you are a lucky lady!
Hi Caroline ~ I’m starting to wonder how many penny bills the postage office has sent out??
It's hard when you try to make something so pretty and then something snafu's it like that !
Glad that you caught it in time, Aleta - and that Greg had a good solution, even if he did tease you !
The freaking stamps put us JUST over the limit and we had to buy NEW stamps to go on the outside. It was so ugly!! But we were worried the invitations wouldn't get there if we didn't!!
Greg had the right idea. That's what I would have done also- actually should say 'what I've actually done also.' (many times)
I don't think the post office will deliver them if it's the wrong postal amount. I think they return them to the sender with a big nasty stamp that says, 'Insuffient Postage.' That would have been a real drag, huh?
To funny. Great post. We all do things like that.
Vikki
I bought hundreds of stamps in bulk before my wedding. But in between mailing the invites and the thankyous, the post office raised the price by 5 cents, so I had to buy heaps of little stamps to add on! Grrr. At least I didn't have to re-open any envelopes...
Hi Annie ~ "snafu's" I'll have to remember that, because it sure felt like something snafued! I have to give Greg credit; he really is good at fixing things.
Hi Lindsey ~ OMG ~ the stamps put it over the limit? That's criminal! I would have been so upset.
Hi Vikki ~ See, I didn't know if the post office would or wouldn't and though I said I didn't want to redo any of it, Greg knew there was a chance we would get the RVSP. Glad you enjoyed the post
:-)
Hi Crazy Sister ~ Thanks for stopping by! My blog is based on whatever is going on, so who knows what will be next! Life is like that. I'd love to know how the Post Office figures out the reason and timing for increases.
Hi Kavi ~ Lol, he's for real! Should I write negative things about Greg? Hmmm.... he snores (but now that he uses the CPAP machine, not anymore). He gets grumpy when he's in pain (I have to cut him some slack for that, I mean if I were in a car accident and my body ached, I'd be grumpy too..) Every now and then he teases a little too much, but I find that correlates with me and PMS. But yeah, he's for real! I have a saying, "Everybody loves Greg!"
Hi Jennifer ~ Thanks for saying that. It really does help to know these things happen.
anyhow, cheers from canada
HB