pira

You go for a walk through ankle deep fluff that's covering as of yet unshovelled sidewalks ~ the hiss of snow accompaning the squeeking rhythm of your footsteps as they press the lower layers against the ground.

You make your way downtown for coffee and the New York Times on a sunny, Sunday morning ~ trailing warm steamy wisps as the temperature hangs low at -17C/1F (windchill -23C/-9.4F)....and all you can think of is:

*^___^* what a nice morning!

TORONTO - Canada Post is raising its mailing rates on Monday.

The cost of mailing a first-class letter within Canada will increase to 54 cents from 52.

Letters to the United States increase by two cents to 98 cents, while letters to all other foreign countries rise by a nickel to $1.65.

The Crown corporation had also proposed cashing in on online shopping with a 100 per cent increase in postal rates for thick envelopes that are widely used to ship Internet purchases.

But in a statement, Canada Post says changes for irregular oversize lettermail that would have seen the price jump to $5.50 from $2.25 for packages weighing between 200 grams and 500 grams were not introduced.

The increases have drawn criticism from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which says it opposes "arbitrary prices increases" for what it calls undependable service.

*0__0!!!!

HONEST TO FREAKING GOODNESS this is NUTS! Our postage has gone up 2 cents domestically EVERY YEAR for the past few years (lets not talk about to the US or internationally) and they are wondering why people are finding alternative ways to shipping their stuff...or NOT BOTHERING AT ALL!

IF you start charging FEDEX prices for postal delivery I can assure you that most people will be choosing the former since at least THAT is trackable!

Besides ~ as the economy has down-shifted into reverse, you'd think they'd hold the prices steady for a year.

Did I mention that stamps are TAXED TOO!

*KICKS POST OFFICE which has misplaced no less than 4 items in the past 6 months for me*