The longer I work at this third-party shipping store, the more accurate my rule-set regarding the nearby population has become. Here are some of the things I’ve encountered lately.

• There are individuals who do not know how to address a letter for mailing. I’m talking about people who have lived here their whole lives and regularly complain about foreigners, and not members of the sizable immigrant population.
• The number of genuinely crazy religious nuts per square mile is far higher than casual observation would predict. Mana from heaven.
• Do not Google the regulars. You’ll end up discovering that some of them run BBW appreciation and escort sites on the side.
• Certify or register all important mail. I’m in San Diego, and our store has received bills and letters bearing out of state addresses.
• People are psychic. This is the only explanation for why some people come in to hold up a piece of paper and point at it, expecting me to just know that it’s to be photocopied, notarized, and overnighted to rural Texas.

I’m tired of talking about the store so much, but I’m here for something like 34 hours a week while pursuing real jobs. It’s only natural that one’s job becomes a point of conversation, as depressing as it might be. Maybe I should just take a few weeks off and drive to New Mexico or something.