UPS just knocked on my door with a package for me. Me? Yes, me. I hadn't ordered anything, so I was really puzzled about it. The UPS man even commented on how I looked confused about receiving the package.

After I signed for it and closed the door, I started inspecting the box, looking for an identifying postmark or something. It was mailed from Trinity Industries, located in Dallas, but not a name I recognized. I looked them up on the Internet and found out that they deal in railcars, barges, and construction, among other things. Okay...

I opened the box and found, buried deep inside big sheets of bubble wrap (fun!), a red gift-wrapped box. On it was my name and address along with a return address (no name) printed across the front. I took the gift wrap off and discovered a nearly 1-lb. box of turtles. The chocolate, caramel, and nut kind. Once again, I took the Internet route and did a reverse address search to see who sent me such a wonderful surprise. The name that came up on my screen wasn't one I recognized, so I looked up all the people on that street. Again, nothing I recognized.

I have a hunch it's from my secret pal, but there was no card so I can't be sure. I've run through the board list to see where everyone lives, to see if maybe one of the board members lives in that neighborhood, but no one does. Now I'm down to trying to remember where the different board members work. Kris is a nurse, Jennifer works for a doctor's office, and Jen works for some company (possibly Trinity?) in Dallas. Martha, Blaire, and Sandy are stay-at-home moms. Stephanie will be finishing her job as a nanny in a few weeks, but the parents she works for are doctors. Carolyn is on campus frequently and would send it through campus mail. Maybe I need to figure out where the husbands work...

I'm guessing it's from Jen and that she used a co-worker's address so I wouldn't figure anything out. But why wouldn't she just send it via campus mail? Unless...her husband isn't on campus everyday. Like Kris' husband. Hmmm. Maybe it's Kris...but the handwriting on the package isn't hers. (Not that that means anything. I disguise my handwriting on the secret pal gifts I send.) Oh, I don't know. I need to polish my sleuthing skills...

I also need to get something together for my secret pal. Valentine's Day slipped up on me and I haven't done anything for her yet!

Incidentally, I figured out who my last secret pal was early on. I had guessed who it was because of the type of gifts she gave me, but I wasn't 100% sure until she reused a bag I had used to send something to her. (It was a bag I'd had for years, not something you'd find easily these days.)

Well, I'm off to inspect my turtles and see if I can figure anything else out...