BC Mermaid Detained For Fish Food Smuggling

[Melody]

It all started with a notice that a parcel had been returned. I had sent a money order to a breeder in the States weeks ago and included some of the homemade Bottom Bites as a thank you. I've dealt with the breeder before and he doesn't take Paypal, no big, I send a money order. Anyways, I decided to go after work to pick up the box which I figured must be his. I thought it must be the wrong address or something.

So I go to pick it up, walk in with the card I found on my door and I'm told to wait. Security hauls me into a back room, none too politely I might add, and they want me to explain the 'unidentifiable substance' that I tried to send across the border! I kid you not. I realize I'm horrible, I could have been in big trouble, but it struck me funny so I started laughing. They were NOT AMUSED :eek: .

I had to sign a declaration as to what it was, agree to have it analyzed if they saw fit, and promise to never send an unidentifiable substance across the border again. I had to list ingredients (including explaining what 'Naturose' is...LOL.. try to recall the name of that algae under pressure!)... it was insane. They started getting pretty intense until I had enough and 'offered' to call my neighbour who is a lawyer, and said I could put them in touch with several family members who are RCMP officers... as character witnesses of course :wink: . Power tripping wannabe's ... :rolleyes:.

Then I remembered that my Son usually comes with me and had I not been going there on the way home from work he would have been there. He would have been very upset to see this happening and given the size he's becoming, may have got himself in trouble when they tried to get in my face.. he has the size but not the maturity to handle anyone mistreating his Mama. That thought made me more than a little angry so I let them have it about that too.:POed:Ripped a strip off them about guns and badly produced drugs killing our youth who should be their concern, not some fishkeeper trying to send fishfood. James would have been proud...ROFL.

So a word to the wise - if you want to ship your homemade food across the border, be sure to consult with customs so you know what you have to do to comply. WHICH, incidently, they never DID explain to me in spite of my asking repeatedly.

The funny thing is we've always joked about me selling little bags of green stuff and what neighbours must think. :laugh: It had better not interfere with my border dealings or they'll be meeting my neighbour real quick, but I doubt it. They changed their tune as soon as they realized they weren't going to get their power jollies at my expense. I daresay they learned as much as I did tonight:yes: .

[PPulcher]

Yikes!

You would have probably had a better time shipping real illegal stuff!

[Melody]

ROFL My point exactly! They weren't customs officials though and as soon as I got over the shock I was indignant enough to remember they're probably minimum wage security. I would have played it safer had I been confronted by customs and that's their job, but attitude from mall cops I did not need.

The younger of the two did grin a few times through it all... I suspect his senior had power tripped on him before too and he was quite enjoying a little 5'3" chick in high-heeled biz attire putting his 6-foot-something senior in his place :laugh: .

[blainep]

Me thinks I would have enjoyed watching that. :yes:


Reminds me of the pleasure I took watching a security guard squirm while we watched the video of him "finding" a "stolen" DVD in my sons backpack. Not one of the brighter bulbs I've met in my life, but he definitely gave me some good amusement.

I think that was the first time my son saw the old man redfaced and ready to beat someone to a pulp. Normally my temper is kept well in check, but every once in a while .......

[Melody]

Amazing how much we can tolerate and even amuse ourselves with... until our kid becomes a consideration :mad: .

[James]

Now the truth comes out, Melody is a smuggler, feeding everyone's MTS habit.

Beware all who enter, she will cause you to spend untold amounts of money on fish,,,fish food,,,plants,,ect ect

[DaFishMan]

That is so crazy. Good for you for tearing a strip off them idiots :yes:

"so you know what you have to do to comply. WHICH, incidently, they never DID explain to me in spite of my asking repeatedly."

I'll bet they didn't even know the answer, which is the sad part lol..

[CACAdmin]

Rather a stressful experience:eek: ... and all because you decided to generously share some 'Bottom Bites'. Weird that it was just some security guys... one would have thought that if the 'unknown substance' that you shipped was actually something of such great concern, it would have been Canada Customs or Canada Post investigating not some security guys. :rolleyes:

[Melody]

The post office is in a mall and the package couldn't be released back to me without 'investigation' & a signed declaration. I suppose the (privately owned) outlet decided it was a matter of mall security.:rolleyes:

Melody... threatening homeland security, one Bottom Bite at a time... :rolleyes:

[CACAdmin]

Melody... threatinging homeland security, one Bottom Bite at a time... :rolleyes:

:laugh:

[madattiver]

hahaha.. that was a great read fist thing in the morning!! Very funny!! I think I would have paid to be there too. :twitcy:

[Melody]

You can come to the court session :laugh:.

[ChrissyFishy]

:hugs: I can't believe they picked on you like that!!! If that happens again you call me and I'll send that big oaf of a brother of mine down to teach them how to treat a lady!!! :mad: Bullies!!!!

[Melody]

Well thank you Chris, but I was ok. He probably would have had to defend security...lol.."Now Melody, I understand that you're upset but you don't have to make the man CRY!" :laugh:

[ChrissyFishy]

:laugh:

[Katalyst]

Hmmm does this mean you have batches of bottom bites for sale? LOL OMG I can't even imagine that scenario. I'd even pay the extortion fee's my cable company charges for Melody vs. Rent-a-Cop's on demand.

[Melody]

I fully intend to get into a Bottom Bites schedule. I tried to only make them for me but they smell so bad people sniffed them out and I still ended up selling 3/4 of the last batch without saying one word about them in public :laugh: .

The wannabe's weren't exactly a challenge so its nothing to brag about...lol. Now punching the cayote out when it tried to grab my cat off the fence when I was watering my flowers in the backyard, that was worth showing scars off for... until I cleaned the blood off and realized it was the paniced cat that did the damage. So much for fighting off gnashing teeth....ROFL. :rolleyes:Looks good on paper anyway and its still my favorite story.

[Katalyst]

Jeeze! Coyotes? I'm jealous! All we have here are racoons! And they are so large I'm waiting to see one dragging its knuckles behind it on the floor with a cigarette in his mouth lol. Please put me on the waiting ist for a big ole bag of bottom bites! No matter how I try and make em, I'm still doing something wrong. Yours and Pam they scarf down, mine I swear they give me a look that says 'Hey lady we're not stupid! Where's the good stuff!?!'

[CACAdmin]

Coyotes? I'm amazed they actually ventured into your yard. Oh, I know we have lots around here. I've seen them running across Lougheed Hwy late at night and they do warn you to carry a stick when going for walks on urban trails... but your backyard? They're getting really bold! :wideeyed:

As for the Bottom Bites, Kat, I'm just across the bridge, and I didn't get any.:realmad: I had no idea Ms. Melody was brewing a batch... the wind must have been blowing in the wrong direction. Good luck scoring some.

[Melody]

LOL Its easy, its just expensive and stinky. No sense cutting corners though or I might as well feed cheap staple food and get it over with. My fish & snails like Pam's too :yes: .

Well I grew up in the country - Cayotes are just big dogs and I didn't think about it. That cat is my kid's sibling and it annoyed me more than anything. He had her leg and punching him was the first thing that came to mind. Luckily he was tangled in raspberry bushes so he didn't get a good grip. She'd have been gone before I could do anything otherwise.

I kept telling her if it was up to me I would have fed her to him and I swear by the dirty look she knows what I'm saying. Seriously - if I talk to her SHE WASHES. I kid you not. Its a very annoyed manner too - turns her head and does half a dozen quick licks like "EW EW EW THE FEMALE HUMAN TALKED TO ME! I'M SOILED!":rolleyes:

[CACAdmin]

Having had cats of my own, I can relate. However, do be careful when taking on coyotes... we don't want to have to be rushing you off for rabies shots. :wideeyed:

[Melody]

They tried to get me to do that when they saw blood running down my arm. Since I had to fish her leg out of his mouth while I punched, I didn't know if it was him or the cat. I went around the complex telling people to get their kids & pets in because Cayotes aren't usually roaming that early in the evening, so they saw me bleeding. Early roaming means they're possibly way too hungry to be scared. :wideeyed: I figured because of the water his nose didn't pick me up and that's why he was brave, but you can't be too careful with little ones out playing. Regardless, after I saw it was the cat who did the damage, I didn't go get a shot.

I'm foaming because I just brushed my teeth, honest!

[ChrissyFishy]

I read in the paper this morning that cayotes are brave in the spring because they have to feed their puppies!!! I don't think they should allow them in the city because it isn't good for us or them.:no:

[Namor]

Since I had to fish her leg out of his mouth while I punched,

:eek: (gulp)

-About that ladder i wasn't using-


-it's yours.

[Melody]

:rofl: There was a solid fence between us - I'm not quite Xena status yet!:laugh: I'm sure she was more than 5'3" for starters.

I grew up around big dogs so I didn't think about it. If I'd had time to think, I may have thought twice.

[KnaveTO]

Actually the fact that they brought some police academy rejects into the situation leaves you grounds to lodge a complaint and action against the outlet with Canada Post. Canada Post and Customs Canada are the only two entities that could have accosted you and questioned you on your purchase (well... them and the police). I would have got their names and license numbers (they have to give that over if requested). I hate power tripping security guards. i have one on my building and he has been told that one more complaint and he will be fired. And to be fired in Ontario means that you can never work as a Security Guard again as the province will not re-issue you with a new license.

[Melody]

Apparently they were supposed to make me sign the declaration and explain what was in the package, as postal representatives. It was an official form. If I didn't want the parcel back I wouldn't have had to fill it out. They didn't force me to stay or anything, they just took me into another room... which they could say was for my privacy I suppose.

Had the kid been there I would be PO'ed enough to do something about it and would probably win the point, but something tells me they won't handle it that way again so I'll leave it alone.

[KnaveTO]

I have found that when we don't speak up and lodge complaints individuals continue their trends and keep doing what they are doing. Having been on that side of the fence many many years ago I can tell you that my former coworkers would have done some pretty similiar stuff and then afterwards had some pretty desparaging things to say about the individual afterwards. Just letting you know what used to be in that field... and still is. For example I know of 3 security guards that were fired for reporting sexual harrasement when they were the ones being harassed. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

[ChrissyFishy]

I told my brother and he was SO ANGRY!!! I think he liked the idea of rescuing you :laugh: I told him he had to be careful because of your ninja xena side he might get his flirting bum in trouble!!!!:laugh: he laughed at that and didn't look very worried :laugh: Your house is the only one he likes to take me to for fish now that he has seen you that time :laugh:

[Melody]

I have found that when we don't speak up and lodge complaints individuals continue their trends and keep doing what they are doing. Having been on that side of the fence many many years ago I can tell you that my former coworkers would have done some pretty similiar stuff and then afterwards had some pretty desparaging things to say about the individual afterwards. Just letting you know what used to be in that field... and still is. For example I know of 3 security guards that were fired for reporting sexual harrasement when they were the ones being harassed. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

It would be unfortunate for his young partner to get in trouble for the senior's jerkish ways, so I'll leave it alone. They seemed genuinely nervous when I mentioned lawyers and RCMP, so I think they learned something. What they call me doesn't concern me in the least... that just amuses me more actually. If I've PO'ed them that much, chances are I made my point and they're just bitter :laugh: .

[Melody]

I told my brother and he was SO ANGRY!!! I think he liked the idea of rescuing you :laugh: I told him he had to be careful because of your ninja xena side he might get his flirting bum in trouble!!!!:laugh: he laughed at that and didn't look very worried :laugh: Your house is the only one he likes to take me to for fish now that he has seen you that time :laugh:

ROFL Sounds like he needs to get off that ranch of his more often if I made that much of an impression.

You're good for the soul young lady!

[Katalyst]

ROFL Sounds like he needs to get off that ranch of his more often if I made that much of an impression.

You're good for the soul young lady!

Ranch? How neat! I'd LOVEEE to live on a ranch! Mel you have your own personal cowboy bodyguard now!

[Melody]

LOL Methinks Ms. Chris exagerates the interest levels just a tad :laugh: ... sweet girl just likes to make my ego smile. That's what friends are for!:yes:

[AquaScaper]

LOL maybe they were spies, sent to unearth the secret Bottom Bite ingredients that could make them rich and famous!:eek:

[Melody]

You look vaguely familiar... hmmm....

Don't be such a stranger U! We need more conspiracy theories around here! Good to v-see you :smile: .

Anyone still sporting a Halloween avatar doesn't visit us enough....lol.

[AquaScaper]

Hehehe, ya I work full time nights now so really the Vampire Bat avatar suits me just great LOL.

[Melody]

True enough! We're open nights too in fact, so hopefully we see you flying around the moon sometimes.

How's the fishies?

[AquaScaper]

There, this Avatar is more like it....now picture tired old me stalking around the dark corners of a REALLY old facility, to some I might resemble a zombie come midnight lol.

Fishies r doing ok considering I have spent very little time on upkeep these days. My 80gal is in BAD need of replacement as I am sure any slight tremor or sneeze will send it crashing to the floor, the fish seem happy enough though.
Currently have an empty 16gal that I'm going to set up eventually.....

[Melody]

The bug continues to bite, even when we have no time... or so I'm finding out.

The Splendens are doing well with the Cichlids? They seemed like a perfect match but I don't know of a whole lot who have done it yet.

[CACAdmin]

Hey there, Ms. Aquascaper. Good to see you! Glad to hear the fishes are doing fine. As for the empty 16g... somehow I don't see it sitting empty for too long... too many tempting fish out there. :wink: .

[Katalyst]

I have it filled in my head for you already! Good to see you!