John,
 
I think the lost in the mail bit is very specific to certain areas (i.e.
certain post offices).  I remember an e-mail from Mark Bethke about
three or four of his lost packages.  I have only had one that I can
remember and I keep thinking I should start insuring or registering
every package.  You and I also had one of the supper delays when you
mailed me a package that took almost a month and a half to get her.
Somewhere between when it got post marked and when it arrived was a
black hole where it sat for 42 days!  So maybe there is a problem in
your area?  Who knows?
 
Tom Eichhorst in New Mexico, USA