View from the corner of our street, looking back at our house.
Here are four random things racing around my brain:
Mail Mix Up
A package arrived and it was in a locker at the community mailboxes. When we get packages, the mailman puts a key in our mailbox to a large locker. My key was for locker #3, but I noticed that locker already had a key in it. The locker was empty.
The key stuck in locker #3 was for a different locker.
I pulled out the key and discovered the lock was broken. Whoever used the wrong key to open up locker #3 forced it open and took my package! I used their key to open up the correct locker and there was a package inside that wasn’t mine. I took a picture of the name and address on that package and once home called their number in our directory.
He said, yes he had my package and wanted to know where his was. I told him it was in locker #4. I found it odd that he jammed open the wrong locker, took my package by mistake, but never bothered to return it, until I called.
CLEAR
In California, there is a proposal to ban CLEAR, a service that I use.
A new bill, the first of its kind in the U.S., would ban security screening company Clear from operating at California airports as lawmakers take aim at companies that let consumers pay to pass through security ahead of other travelers.
Sen. Josh Newman, a California Democrat and the sponsor of the legislation, said Clear effectively lets wealthier people skip in front of passengers who have been waiting to be screened by Transportation Security Administration agents. CBS News
I signed up for CLEAR a couple years ago after a visit with Mom in Seattle. At SeaTac airport, which has huge security lines, I was approached by a CLEAR salesperson. He asked if I wanted to try out the service. I agreed and I had my eyes scanned and was fingerprinted. I was able to register four people, which worked out perfectly for our family of four—pre son’s marriage to Buff. I was walked up to the front of the security line to wait to put my stuff in bins and walk into the machine with my arms raised above my head. I thought, this is pretty cool. By the time I got home, I got an email from LifeLock that CLEAR had accessed a background check on me. The cost was $189 for four people for one year. I think someone who flies all the time for work would find it worthwhile.
Reggie got his trophy back
LOS ANGELES — After nearly 14 years apart, Reggie Bush is reunited with his Heisman Trophy, ending a nearly two-decade saga that became a touchpoint for public opinion about how college athletes should benefit from their stardom.
The Heisman Trust reinstated Bush’s 2005 Heisman Trophy on Wednesday in a seismic moment for a player who was the face of a golden era for USC football. The career of Bush, who forfeited his Heisman in 2010 after the NCAA deemed he received impermissible benefits, forced fans — and now the sport’s long-established institutions — to reckon with whether NCAA penalties could actually taint a player’s on-field legacy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Reggie Bush back to the Heisman family in recognition of his collegiate accomplishments,” said Michael Comerford, President of The Heisman Trophy Trust. “We considered the enormous changes in college athletics over the last several years in deciding that now is the right time to reinstate the Trophy for Reggie. We are so happy to welcome him back.” The Athletic
This makes me happy, because I was a Reggie fan and I don’t think he should have lost the Heisman in the first place. With NIL rules changed, I think it’s time Reggie is a Heisman awardee again.
What I saw walking
In the development next to ours, the homes are huge, 5,000 to 7,500 square feet, but they are so close to together. I don’t get it.
Then I saw this:
If you couldn’t get the mail locker open, would you stop and check the tag on the key to see if you were at the correct locker?
Do you think it’s okay to pay for a service to jump ahead in line? How about paying Southwest a fee to board at the front of the line?
Any thoughts on Reggie Bush?
I remember the first time I witnessed folks “cutting in line” at SEA having no idea who the folks in uniform were guiding them right up past the rest of us to go through security. I suppose of you have the $$ to pay for the service then go for it. I don’t and it’s a bit discouraging to watch others hop on through as you are stuck in long lines. Since that time I chose to get TSA precheck which helps quite a bit and that doesn’t seem quite as line hopping perhaps. I find it great to not have to think so much about dealing with security. Maybe CLEAR needs its own security spot so all of us stuck waiting don’t have to feel bad 😉
I also fly SWA to Denver and back. I learned quickly that paying the extra amount to be in the A boarding group really backfires. The A crowd is almost always taken up with those who pay for and fly in SWA business class and the one just below that. Even paying the extra fee never got me anywhere close to A boarding and honestly I always sit in the back of the plane anyway as I’m in no hurry to get off and the restroom is so handy.
I used to get TSA precheck randomly. I don’t even know how to apply for it. I can’t believe how big the security lines are at SeaTac. Phoenix airport is huge and really busy, but the security lines aren’t that bad.
I think it has a lot to do with poor layout and the Alaska monopoly at SEA. Western WA has outgrown that airport exponentially to what they are able to do in the space they have and yet they continue to renovate/add/change and it only gets worse. There was a huge push for another airport to be created down this way in Pierce/north Thurston county. They had 5 sites earmarked and people in the communities shot it down dramatically given the impacts an airport would have caused. Most that were proposed would have been within 20-30 minutes of where I am right now. I am already under the flight path of SEA so I was pushing FOR one of those sites. They tabled everything.
Precheck is easy to do and you can either look for links on your local airport site or just Google something like TSA.gov. I’ve noticed a lot more people have opted for it and airports are responding by adding to their TSA only lanes at security- at least here and in DIA. Once you know the expectations it’s so easy and fast.
I didn’t know they were thinking about another airport, but it does make sense. I remember SeaTac when I was growing up. It was so huge and seemed empty! Thanks for the info on TSA. I’ll look into it! We were spoiled living in Palm Springs. It’s a tiny airport and was only one and a half miles from our home.
There is the newer regional airport up in Everett, but again like SEA, Alaska has a monopoly on that one but people do use it. I think it was easier to convince folks about that one since Everett has naval base ties and is sort of industrial to begin with. The one down this way was going to take farm land/ or untouched forest and I am all about protecting natural lands but at the same time SEA just doesn’t cut it as the only major airport in western WA anymore. I think folks were thinking that what would go in here was going to start right off as another international airport and that wasn’t the case. It would have been regional like Everett is with the ability to grow as needed. People just heard “airport” and panicked.
I grew up in Snohomish and didn’t realize a commercial airport is in Everett!
The new passenger commercial service was started in 2019. They are mostly west coast into AZ, Alaska and Hawaii I think https://www.flypainefield.com/
Thanks for the link. I’ll have to remember that when I visit my hometown.
I agree with Deb. When vacation is already so expensive and you’re pushing your budget, it feels very discriminating to have the wealthy passengers paraded in front of you to the head of the line. If they had their own line in their own area, it wouldn’t bother me as much. Then, it wouldn’t feel like my wait was longer because I had to let people with more money cut in front of those with less. And for what? We’re all going to go sit at our gate together anyway. It’s just a money grab from the airport. I have seen TSA agents grab families with lots of children and bring them to the front. That doesn’t bother me at all! But typically, with this pay for play thing, those families are the ones who have to wait longer. And getting a large family with all their bags through TSA is very stressful! Unfortunately, people who can pay for privilege often don’t care who suffers from it.
As far as the locker, yes! I would absolutely try to figure out why my key wouldn’t fit in the lock. I was trying to open. That seems fishy to me. I’m shaking my head on that one! Was your package valuable?
Flying is so expensive now. The last time we flew we did curbside check-in and now they charge for that service, too. The person checking us in said it hurts him, because it cuts into his tips. I don’t see someone paying for CLEAR, which amounts to less than $50 a year as being wealthy. Especially, if they have to fly all the time for their jobs. The CA lawmakers have discussed CLEAR getting their own line. I don’t see it as much different than First Class or Business Class boarding first at the gate. As for the key, I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t double check to see if they were at the right locker, opposed to forcing the lock.
Yeah, great post because I didn’t realize I had such strong feelings about this until I read your post, lol! There are all kinds of privileges and services, I think, where I would rather see priority based on need instead of ability to pay.
I think they need to prioritize need as in small children, infants, elderly, in wheel chairs, etc.
Over here they deliver the parcels at our address so there aren’t any mixups. Though we don’t have any service equivalent to Clear, we do have a VIP culture that lets important people, politicians and government officials to jump the queue. That creates heart burning in the ordinary people.
We usually get packages delivered to our front door. But the past two weeks they are showing up in the locker. Must be easier for the delivery people. That would be frustrating to have people deemed important jump to the front of the line.
Very true. They do get dirty looks from other people for jumping the queue
I can only imagine.
Yup!
What a beautiful cactus garden on the corner of your street! ❤️
The HOA just added corner landscaping throughout the neighborhood. It looked so beautiful in the morning light.
I’m not sure I understand the difference between Clear and TSA precheck — they sound very similar. The guy with the package. C’mon show a little care for the next person. Geesh, try a little to straighten things out. Ugh. And, your snake friend is another reason that I’m convinced your house is a game preserve. Snakes, bobcats, birds of every feather … very cool.
Brian, I think- at least from what I’ve witnessed and experienced at my own airport- is that CLEAR is the concierge version of TSA precheck. You get bells and whistles and guidance and escorts that make it seem as if you are “special” for lack of a better word. Once you have been cleared for TSA you just do your thing in a speedier line but it’s all on you. The fee for precheck is $70 and good for 3 years I think. CLEAR has that annual fee…
All I can say is I am glad I live in Tennessee.
I’ve never been to Tennessee, friends have visited, niece was born there. Everyone I’ve heard from loves. it.
I used to get TSA Precheck randomly, but then it stopped. I didn’t know a thing about CLEAR until the salesperson gave me a free trial. I do think they’re about the same. I can’t believe my neighbor. Every time I go to the community mailbox I check locker #3 and it’s still broken.
If it don’t fit, force it – right? How dumb can you be! As for CLEAR, it is a cluster at DIA. I view it as the same thing as TSA precheck. I don’t fly enough to care. BUT, if CLEAR or Precheck fails, don’t put those people in front of me in the standard TSA line BECAUSE they paid extra.
I remember going to DIA about 20 years ago and it was busy and confusing. I can only imagine what it is like now. I don’t like flying and I worry about getting through security and to my gate. TSA or CLEAR at least helps my anxiety.
I hate DIA. I was there in Sept at 3:45 am and 4,000 people in front of me. There were a couple thousand more in TSA and the CLEAR line went out and around the corner outta sight.
That early is bad enough! Wow that’s a crazy amount of people.
Just announced they are closing TSA for 2 hours early in the morning
I didn’t know that. That will make some people unhappy!
BTW was your snake alive or dead?
It was alive but it was early in the morning and cold. It wasn’t moving.
I would only take a picture of that snake with a zoom lens.
It was early morning and cold. It couldn’t move thankfully! I’m glad I wasn’t there when it warmed up.
I know some people pay extra to get in the fast track line at Disneyland. I don’t travel enough to make it worth it to me. The mailbox…I don’t know what’s wrong with some people.
That’s true at Disneyland. I forgot about that. I usually don’t travel enough to make it worthwhile either. Then after I tried it out I ended flying into Oakland to take care of my son post three surgeries and then taking care of my daughter when she was sick, plus visiting Mom. That was in one year, so I used it! I’m wondering if I should let the HOA know about the broken mail lock. But I don’t want to be a tattle tale.
You don’t have to say you know who broke it, just that it’s broken.
That’s true! I figured USPS would figure it out and fix it. But it it’s still broken, I’ll report it. I have to go to a board meeting Tuesday to take notes for our newsletter. I can mention it then.
That’s so bizarre that your neighbor didn’t think twice when the key didn’t turn easily.
I don’t think I want to get to know him better!
I’m not familiar with Clear. I have a Known Traveler Number which gets me into the shorter “keep your shoes on” TSA lines, but that’s not exactly cutting in line. As for your neighbor and the mailbox, that’s weirder than weird.
My neighbor was very aggravating. What a way to meet someone! With Clear, it’s a service you pay for like precheck. You’re prescreened by the Clear employee who scans your eyeballs and then walks you to the TSA employee, bypassing the serpentine lines.
Snake looks cool. Is it a Rattlesnake or is it okay? You didn’t kill it, did you?
It was a small rattlesnake on our walk along the street. It was early in the morning and cold. My husband told me that snakes can’t move when they are cold, so we weren’t in any danger.
What a neighbor regarding the package, so rude. He must have called the Post office to find his package. Hopefully, he didn’t try to open yours.
It was after the post office closed. He didn’t try and contact me that he had my package. So strange.
Well, he still had to find HIS, and wouldn’t have known you had it. So, I wonder what his plan was.
Good point. He probably would have called the post office the next day. He asked if I had his package and I told him it was in locker number four, with the key he used to open the locker with my package.
LOL – So, he didn’t even pay attention to what locker he opened. Obviously was being hot headed that day. Well, glad you got your package. 👍
The keys have numbers on them. All he had to do was look 😵💫
Oh my, that’s an interesting thing to see while walking! Did you name the snake?
I’m glad Reggie Bush has his Heisman. The NCAA athlete rules seemed so unfair that colleges could benefit hugely and the athletes not at all. Glad they rectified that!
No, I didn’t name the snake. Maybe roadkill would be a good name. He was sleeping on the side of the road.
I’m thrilled for Reggie Bush and his family. His mom and dad took a gift from an agent of a home rental, if I remember correctly. That lost Reggie the Heisman. They must have felt guilty.
Oh, I didn’t know that part of the story. I just remembered that he was a gifted athlete. Thank goodness for this very late re-recognition!
An agent wanted his parents to influence Reggie Bush’s choice of signing with an agent. I asked hubby. That’s how he remembered the history too.
Big houses nearby! I agree-when houses are built looking alike or too close together, it takes away from all. Strange about the mailbox.
The houses surround a golf course, so there must not be that much space to build. But it looks strange to have them all in a row practically touching. I’m so glad I got my package even though it was odd.
I think the guy who took your package was a real jerk. If the key doesn’t work, check to make sure you have the right box. And if the package isn’t addressed to you, either don’t take it or take it to the person it IS addressed to.
Fortunately, flying out of Durango I don’t have to deal with much of a line. It’s only when coming home from a big airport that it can get tedious.
I agree with you 100 percent on how the guy acted breaking taking my package. Anyone who is civil would have done exactly what you described. We had such a small easy airport in Palm Springs, too. It was less than two miles from home. Now we have Sky Harbor in Phoenix which is huge, busy and a 45 minute drive away from home.
The mailbox incident would frustrate me, and I don’t fly that much to form an opinion. The snake, well, that would be a first for me, and a first that I’d rather not experience. 🙂 Your view is beautiful!
I checked today and the broken mailbox has been fixed. Yes, I was so frustrated to have a neighbor take my package and not let me know! I don’t like snakes and now I make sure I’m focused and paying attention during my walks! Thanks about the view. Some mornings the light is so beautiful.
Glad the mailbox was fixed, and yes, keep your eyes open for slithery serpents! 🙂 In all of our hiking and backpacking, I’ve never seen a rattlesnake, only garter snakes that are harmless. Still, any snake is creepy. My phobia is stronger of spiders. And they’re at home more than they are in the woods. I never see spiders when we camp. So funny!
When I lived in Palm Springs we went hiking in the mountains and hills. Once, I had my yellow lab with me and he flushed a rosy boa out from under a bush. The snake was scared and went through my legs (touching them) as it slithered across the trail! I was terrified. I have seen a tarantula on our driveway.
I would not force something open if the key didn’t work. I’m Leary about services that you can pay to get ahead in line. Isn’t that where many problems start with those that have the funds to expedite things?
I can’t believe the neighbor that forced the locker open and took my package. My son said the company Clear now has all my info…including retinal scans.