Unbelievably Poor Service (UPS)

Does anyone want to do more than a half-assed job? Last week the UPS (Unbelievably Poor Service) guy delivers a package. When I answer the door I see that the package is a bit soaked. The guy, whose name is Angel, is next door with more wet packages and a hand truck. I asked him how the package got wet and he said that it was raining just a little while ago. I asked him where the truck was and he told me that it was across the boulevard. When I finally get to speak with a supervisor John Cruz, at the UPS that dispatches in the area, he says "What's the difference if the truck was in front of your house and it rained?" When I tell him that it wouldn't have gotten that soaked, he doesn't seem to have an answer.

Now this gets better. The other day I get a package. I see that someone is approaching my stoop and can detect that it's UPS. I'm on the phone, excuse myself, get to the door and he is gone. The package is on the top of my stoop and the truck is just down the block. HOWEVER...the package is crushed! I stand out there not wanting to call to the guy and hoping that he may be looking out of the side mirror to notice me.

Nothing. Now, what stopped him from leaving a note about this? When I track the package I notice that it was sent out just the day before and there is no memo in regards to the package being damaged, so I must conclude that it was the fault of when it was dispatched from the local UPS.

Earlier that day, I was on my way shopping, saw a UPS truck and two guys getting out. It looked as if one guy was the driver and one was the guy delivering. I could see the back of the truck when he opened it. Boxes were simply thrown about without caution.

My package contained items from Rowena's including two cakes, both crushed. When I speak with John Cruz, he simply tells me to file a complaint and that the sender will get reimbursed and able to ship the contents again. "Will she have to pay for shipping again?" "Yes", says Cruz. In addition, the package will have to be picked up and brought in for inspection. WHAT!!!!!!!?????? With this kind of service and attitude, how many people do you think will want to file a complaint rather than "just forget about it".

Now I asked to have Sergio, another supervisor that I have dealt with in the past for complaints, call me as well as the manager, Willy Grey. Suffice to say that neither called me as I'm sure that they don't want to be confronted or delve into why the package was crushed in the first place.

I'm sending these photos to Rowena.

ROWENAS

I hosted my radio show last night and had two wonderful guests, one of which was Rowena Fullinwider who is the president of Rowenas Jams and Jellies...and sauces, and cakes, and books... I did a tasting of some of her goodies using my own chicken salad. I had cooked the fresh young chicken in a NuWave oven so that it would come out perfect. I sliced up some fresh ginger and threw it into the cavity. Then I coated the chicken with Rowenas spicy peanut sauce. I ate the dark meat and then saved the breast meat for the chicken salad. The peanut sauce on the wings and legs were just enough to give it a great flavor with only a slight kick on the spicy. Keep in mind that regardless of what you do with a chicken it only tastes as good as its freshness.

Okay so the next day I made the chicken salad by simply adding some mayo to the almost-mashed pieces. I divided the salad into four parts and placed more of the Spicy Peanut Sauce on one, Carrot Jam on another, Devilish Mustard Sauce and after mashing in a bit of fresh avocado, I added Lemon Curd to the last. I haven't tried the Curry Sauce as yet but will do so today when I'm making short ribs.

NORFOLK VIRGINIA FINAL DAY

Hand shape a yeasted wheat dough in a small ring, boil it for a short time, then bake it until it results in a soft chewy inside, browned and sometimes crispy outside. What you have is the New York kosher bagel. I was brought to a place called Yorgo's on Colonial Blvd. and 21st to taste test their bagel to see if it compared to NYC bagels. This is the first bagel that I have had outside of New York City, let alone New York State that replicated a true bagel. Too bad they didn't sell a bialy: a chewy yeast roll similar to a bagel, but unlike a bagel, which is boiled before baking, a bialy is simply baked, and instead of a hole in the middle it has a depression, which before baking is filled with diced onions. I ordered a honey wheat bagel with a smoked salmon and cream cheese spread on one half and an olive and cream cheese spread on the other.

Staying in the world of food it was just down the block on W.22nd that Rowena's sat. Creators and producers of gourmet food, Rowena Fullinwider's emphasis is on jams, jellies, curds, bundt cakes and scones. Rowena met Esther and Eunice and fell in love with them immediately. That's because she has some special bunnies.

You can taste just about any of the products on crackers or even on a sample of the bundt cake. Favorite of everyone is the carrot jam. I do understand. The bundt cakes that I sampled were: chocolate, lemon, orange and almond. Will be testing out the lemon curd and a few others to combine for cooking.

A loved the Tea Room on the premises. You can have a group of adults or even kids partake in a great menu that features tea sandwiches, scones and her regular goodies. Then there were the books that she has written. Cute children type books with recipes. www.rowenas.com

Time to walk off the food at the Virgina Zoological Park. There are sprouting fountains coming from the ground past the entranceway. Kids love to bring their bathing suits and take advantage on those hot days.

The Virginia Zoo is home to 350 animals, on 53 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. I entered the African area to see: elephants, red pandas, lions, giraffes, mandrills, bongos, kangaroos and a whole lot more. There is a no-smoking policy at the zoo. Great for me and the animals as well.

Although Norfolk does have a separate botanical garden, the landscape encompasses the feel of being in one. The zoo is in a process of building an Asian area. www.virginiazoo.org

Last stop was the Chrysler Museum of Art on West Olney Street and just a few blocks from the Residence Inn. The museum is large but not as vast as one like the Met or MOMA. There are two floors and lots of galleries to explore. The museum describes themselves as, "Housed in an Italianate-style structure facing the picturesque Hague Inlet of the Elizabeth River, the Chrysler Museum of Art is home to an encyclopedic collection of nearly 40,000 objects spanning nearly 5,000 years of history. Highlights include an impressive and comprehensive survey of European and American painting and sculpture, a world-renowned glass collection, a rich photography program, Art Nouveau furniture, as well as African, Asian, Egyptian, Pre-Columbian and Islamic art." And it's free, too. www.chrysler.org

Information on Norfolk can be found on www.visitnorfolktoday.com