My valentine!

This morning, I came home around 1:30 PM to a half-empty mailbox with one of those wretched beige notes.

"Sorry we missed you," it said.  "We shall re-deliver tomorrow, 2/12/09."

Noooooo!  Annoyed, I rushed into my house, changed into my work-out clothes, and got back into my car.  I sat in silence for a few moments, deciding that I would call the post office after my workout to see if I can come in and pick it up.  Then, I heard this low rumbling behind me.

I looked into my rearview mirror.  A boxy, white car had pulled up.  Squinting, I realized that it was the Post Office.

I tore the seat belt out of the buckle, flung open my car door, and stumbled across the street in my half-tied running shoes over to the post man.

"SIR!" I shouted, a little too loudly.  Startling that poor, nice man.

"SIR!!!!!" even though he had already heard me the first time.

"I'VE GOT... THIS... " I frantically waved around that little piece of paper, as if I were trying to fan out a fire.

"COULD I.. PICK IT..?"

He looked calmly at me, got out of his vehicle and smiled.  "Sure," he responded, then hopped into the back of his vehicle to grab the parcel for me.

"Were you home earlier?" he asked.  He probably meant, "When did they release you?"

"Oh, no, but my brother was.  He probably just didn't answer the door."  The postman chuckled.

I grabbed my parcel, thanked him, and then got back into my car (even though it was parked on the driveway) and tore the package open with my car key.  I spotted a gorgeous red envelope with my name "Pearl" written in curvy, loopy letters, holding an adorable Valentine's card from the sweet and beautiful Nicole at Deceptively Sweet.  Thank you so much, Nicole - you made my day that much brighter :).

Among the plethora of goodies, I received yogurt-covered pretzels (which are now my brother's and mom's favorite snack), chocolate-covered espresso beans, dark chocolate orange butter from Barefoot Contessa (ohhh my goodness), exquisite V-day spatulas (encouragement for even more baking), a V-day candy heart and a heart-shaped sandwich/pancake cutter.  I am now going to be making some heart shaped sandwiches for fun, even if it's not Valentine's Day.

Thank you so much, sweetie - you are so, so generous and have completely spoiled me this Valentine's Day.

And P.S. - I'm sorry for the lack of pictures of these lovely treats.  But with two brothers and their friends, it's hard to save any before the camera comes out :).