Oh, how quaint

I left something at my sister's place the other week, and she's shipping it back to me via Greyhound.

Memo to self: Greyhound has it here overnight, Friday morning, while Fedex Next Day First Thing Just-Get-It-There promised Monday at the earliest. Same for DHL and UPS, so I'm a bit more impressed at Greyhound for small inconsequential packages out of remote areas than Fedex. Remind me to write up, one time, why I dislike Greyhound in general.

Anyway, they phoned to let me know that it was available for pick-up at the local bus terminal. That's fine. Thing is, I can't get out to get it easily so my room-mate - yes I have one and she hasn't killed my grouchy ass yet - has agreed to get it. Here's the kicker: the procedure for her picking up a package on my behalf is

She asks for it

No, really:

• no ID
• no ticket/claim number
• no proof of habitation at my address
• no signing authority
• no Power of Attorney
• no proof of citizenship or landed immigrant status
• no proof of life other than the ability to ask for my package.

The Manhattan in me screams about security and abuse of the system, but I guess it still works for them.