What to Unexpect when you are Unexpecting: Nonsense and Sensibilities (Manhahahahaha!)

A mix of (labor and) delivery reference book and misguided Muppets.

Life is filled with surprises and disruptions and it's not just when elections and daylight saving day are bundled together in the same week. Although not nearly as impactful as those two events, several delivery snafus and unexpected packages arrived at BTS' doorstep within a month's time and we're beginning to wonder - just how long has there been a full moon?

Aside from the normal mix-up of Amazon packages in our neighborhood (and, to be fair, we order a LOT from on-line vendors and we live in a cluster of closeknit condos), a few unusual products were shipped to us, providing a few mysteries not immediately solvable:  specifically, a non-sensical mug and a reference book that had grossly missed its target market. 

First, the Muppet Mug:

In October, I opened a Styrofoam-packaged box that had been left on my front porch. When I opened the tightly taped container, a mug emerged. But, not only did I not remember ordering it, I couldn't readily make out its message.

Pictured on the cup is a group of familiar-looking puppets bordered by a jumble of letters. At the top, it reads:  "I don't always mahnamahna".  

Hmmmmmm? Now, I'm wondering, did I mistakenly order this, and, when I did, was their extra, extra ginger in my late night double-ginger tea? 

The second line on the mug adds, "But when I do doo doot doo do doo".

Ahhhh, okay, it finally clicked - it's an homage to the early Muppets chorus of "Mahna Mahna". A song never meant to make sense, and, quite fittingly, neither did this coffee cup's arrival at my home. 

A mix up with the seller, this unexpected mug is now a family favorite. 

But, a few minutes of sleuthing did bring me back to a recent on-line order of a cute mug I bought for a former co-worker. She had posted to all her Facebook friends, "I wish you lived next door". Whether it can be attributed to coincidence or "Big Brother", an ad for a mug with that sentiment showed up on my social media feed the next day. I decided to purchase it for my former office cube neighbor and gift it to her at our next get-together. 

Checking my order source - yes, both the cute and the crazy cup shared the same vendor. 

After reaching out to the seller, they apologized for the mistake, told me to keep the cup I had and they'd send the correct one right away.

And, they, did and it's ready for gift wrapping. 

So, while we "closed the book" on this mystery, another was on its way. . . 

Wrong (Labor and) Delivery Book:

Shortly after that mix-up, another, larger, heavier package was again waiting for me on my front porch. But the contents made less sense than the Muppet mug. A reference book entitled "The Pregnancy Bible". 

Double "Hmmm?" - and another scanning of my Double Ginger tea ingredients.

I checked all my recent on-line orders, receipts and email notifications and came up empty. The package was addressed to me, with my correct address, 

Manha-hahahahaha!  Truly an unexpected tome for the unexpecting.

I kept the book in its original shrink-wrap, set it aside and poured myself a cup of tea in my new goofy mug with plans to donate the tome should no other explanation come forth in the next few days.  

I didn't have to wait long.

A text from my sister-in-law solved the puzzle. She asked if I received a Jane Austen fan fiction book in the mail. I let her know I hadn't, but shared with her the "nonsense and sensibility" reference book I did receive. 

My sister-in-law did her own sleuthing and found her issue was similar to my mug order.  I was again, instructed to keep the wrongly sent item and the correct one would be on its way shortly.

Small stuff confusion, keep calm, drink tea and manha manha if you choose. 

In our world, uncertainty is certain and the unexpected to be expected whether on a grand scale or just the "small stuff".  While we don't profess to know how to handle all the universe throws out, for the latter, may we suggest some sage advice paraphrased from a favorite teapot and, now favorite, mug:

"Stay calm and drink tea, whether you manha manha or not"

And, may I add, I'd love if we were neighbors, but, keep in mind, if you are, you may get an abundance of my misdelivered Amazon orders.  ;)