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In the verdant, sun-basked wine country north of San Francisco, comedian Tommy Smothers talks seriously over the phone about his life, his career and the peace he has discovered in the vineyards of Sonoma Valley.

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Brimfield and Old Sturbridge Village host hundreds of Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactors in the largest military encampment in New England. Video by David Molnar/The Republican

It's not exactly 'art' or even 'photography', it falls more into the category of 'snapshot' but I can't help myself. I've got a rant building up and it's the best way I know to illustrate it.

I got home to my mailbox the other day to find this little note from my local postal service:

© Laura L. Merwin 2008 - all rights reservedNo mail for you!

Gah. It's just another insult on top of injury that my drive to work every day is suffering from.

Read more after the jump.

You see, about a week and a half ago they stripped every inch of lumpy, bumpy, pothole infested asphalt from about a half a mile or so of the road that runs in front of my house. Well, actually they took about a mile of tar away, but living right in the middle of the new construction zone, either way I go, left or right, there is a half mile of teeth chattering dirt. They also dropped off a dozen or so giant cement pipes here and there along the edge of the new dirt lane. They then promptly disappeared. I've not seen a single solitary sole down there working for over a week. They just ripped it all up and left. Great. Thanks so much.

Now this letter arrives. You know, I thought that Mailmen had a creed that goes something like this:

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

Apparently the absence of the line "nor presence of construction equipment" was a giant loophole that the Post Office decided they needed to leap through.

I also notice that the bottom of the letter states "Please contact me or the Postmaster if you have any questions."

Questions?

You bet I have questions.

Like.

"How am I supposed to get my mail, you close at 5pm!"

And "If I have to drive in that construction zone everyday how come you can't?"

And "You already won't bring my packages to my door. You just leave one of those 'We re-deliver for you!" notifications, which actually is pretty funny considering you didn't DELIVER in the first freakin' place, how can you possibly "RE-Deliver", and now your saying your not going to bring my REGULAR mail either? Well, don't you just totally suck at your job!"

And "What's the phone number for the Postmaster General? Does he realize what a bunch of big babies you guys are?"

Geez.