Wow! I knew I was frustrated with the Post Office, but I wasn't expecting quite the amount of comments and stories I heard after my column last week.

I did get my RTR on Saturday along with The Watch. I didn't get the Northland Trading Post until Tuesday, but it was A LOT better service overall! It sounds like the Trading Post chose to deliver their own after the news came out of where their papers were ending up.

Thank you, to my hopefully permanent mail carrier. I do hope others received theirs, as well.

My mission isn't for anyone to get fired, I just want the paper to be delivered on time and not thrown in the recycling bin.

Advertisers pay hard earned money for their ads. Printing and postage aren't cheap either! We do put a lot of hard work into each paper, too!

I just hope we can all get our mail in a timely manner and nothing ends up in the recycling bin ever again! I do know the situation is under investigation and I will update you when I know more.

I will say again we do have a few great mail carriers that take pride in their jobs and they are appreciated!

I do hope the mail delivery is back on track permanently!

Saturday we took Cyn back to Brandon after his week with Grandma and Grandpa.

I'm not sure why, but they never give me any personal space, especially when I'm in the kitchen.

The kitchen is for obvious reasons. They hope I will drop crumbs on the floor. But it's everywhere I go...even the bathroom!

Blu got a taste of how I feel. On the ride to Grand Forks Cyn decide to jump up in the seat with him. Not only was it crowded in the seat, but Cyn decided he needed to go on top of Blu so he could see out the window, too. Furbabies!

Chicken, Broccoli,

Macaroni and Cheese

with Bacon

Ingredients

6 ounces of uncooked pasta of your choice

3 cups fresh pre-chopped broccoli florets

3 slices bacon, coarsely chopped

12 ounces skinless chicken breasts, cut into, 1/2 inch thick

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. garlic powder or minced garlic

1 1/4 cups milk

1 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup all purpose flour

5 ounces of cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions

Start by cooking your pasta as directed.

During the last two minutes of the pasta being done, add broccoli to same pan, so it can boil. Drain pasta mixture. Set aside.

Cook bacon in a skillet 4 to 6 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside.

In the same skillet, use the bacon grease and cook your chicken. Season your chicken with garlic and 1/4 tsp. of salt and then cook in pan with the bacon grease. Cook chicken for about 6 to 8 minutes.

Combine remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt, milk, stock, and flour, stirring with a whisk.

Add milk mixture to pan; bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook 2 minutes or until thickened.

Add pasta mixture and 2 ounces cheese; toss to coat. Sprinkle with remaining 3 ounces cheese and bacon. Broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts.

Joke of the Week

One day, Einstein has to speak at an important science conference.

On the way there, he tells his driver that looks a bit like him:

"I'm sick of all these conferences. I always say the same things over and over!"

The driver agrees: "You're right. As your driver, I attended all of them, and even though I don't know anything about science, I could give the conference in your place."

"That's a great idea!" says Einstein. "Let's switch places then!"

So they switch clothes and as soon as they arrive, the driver dressed as Einstein goes on stage and starts giving the usual speech, while the real Einstein, dressed as the car driver, attends it.

But in the crowd, there is one scientist who wants to impress everyone and thinks of a very difficult question to ask Einstein, hoping he won't be able to respond. So this guy stands up and interrupts the conference by posing his very difficult question. The whole room goes silent, holding their breath, waiting for the response.

The driver looks at him, dead in the eye, and says :

"Sir, your question is so easy to answer that I'm going to let my driver reply to it for me."