Snail Mail

I'm bad about getting things mailed in a timely fashion.  It's partially that I'm lazy, but mostly I just hate the post office.  Finding a parking space is usually a nightmare, but that's nothing to actually being inside...

The other day I went to the post office to mail a package.  Not a big deal right?  There was a really long line, and since the parking meter I found that was still green from the last person only had six minutes left, I decided to use the self-service machine.  It has a rather large touch screen that walks you through every step, and I've used it several times before, so it shouldn't have been a problem.  Unfortunately, I look like an idiot, or at least the postal employee in the lobby thinks I do.  This man is the biggest waste of my tax dollars.  Apparently he has two jobs.  To stand in the lobby and show people where the end of the line is, and to get in my way. 

I was standing at the machine, about to touch the button to begin, when he walked over and said "you need to put your package here."  Really post office man?  My package goes on the scale with the big sticker that says 'place package here to weigh?' Good thing you were here, or I wouldn't know what to do!  Then, he reached past me to push the buttons on the screen for me.  Maybe if he was working at the counter and actually helping people that need help the line wouldn't be quite as long.  I managed to get rid of him and finish the (apparently daunting) task of getting postage for my parcel.  

Then, as I turned to leave, I discovered why he has his seemingly useless job.  Another postal patron walked up behind me and asked (although I'm pretty sure there's nothing about my jeans and t-shirt that says "hi I work at the post office, ask me questions"), "how do you use this here machine, can I mail my package here?"  Yes crazy lady in the post office, you can mail your package at the big machine that says "Buy stamps and mail packages here."