Home Columns Jen’s Friday Night Insights: Unsolved Mysteries
Wentz trade

Jen’s Friday Night Insights: Unsolved Mysteries

by Jen Polvogt

Everyone loves getting packages. Especially surprise packages.

My husband and I were in this situation in December 2020 when a little white package was delivered from Amazon via China. Unsure of what it was, we opened it immediately. Inside was something that we didn’t recognize. It looked like a computer part – it was white with a plug on one end and wires coming out of the plug. Now with even more questions, we looked to our Amazon account for answers. But there was nothing on our account that would indicate what this mystery part was.

So what does one do with a mystery package? Throw it in the trash. That’s what we did and moved on with our lives.

A few days later, I checked our bank account, and there was a charge of $1.12 for an international transaction fee. I assumed it was tied to the mystery object we received from China. So I called the bank, and they informed me that it was, indeed, related to an Amazon purchase. We didn’t have any other unusual charges on our account, so I let it go. I did, however, purchase a shirt through Amazon and thought that shirt could have possibly come from China and maybe that was the source of the charge, especially since we weren’t charged for the mystery part. But my mom purchased the same shirt for herself, and she didn’t have any international transaction fees after her purchase. (I’ll come back to the shirt in a minute. There’s more to it.)

After getting off the phone with the bank, I was nominally irritated, but the small fee wasn’t worth fighting with the bank and doing the research with Amazon. Moving on with our lives seemed the most appropriate action for us to take.

Until the next little white mystery package was delivered to us in January.

The Mystery package No. 2 from China lays alongside its packaging.

Again, we ripped the package open and discovered a white piece of plastic that was about the size of a playing card. It was hard and weighed about the same weight as a deck of cards. This package was different than the first, though. It had a phone number on it.

So we did what anyone would do. We called the phone number with the hopes that we’d find the person who originally ordered the plastic piece and get this whole thing straightened out. 

My husband picked up his phone, dialed the number and turned on speakerphone so that we could both be “in the know.” At the same time, my husband received a call on the other line. The number was unfamiliar, so he declined the call. Plus, we were on a mission and didn’t have time to take other calls at that moment.

We were confused and horrified when we heard the voicemail finally come on the line. It was my husband’s. The phone number we called from the package was somehow linked to my husband’s phone number. Confused yet? Us, too.

In case you also need this shirt, this is the one!

This time, we kept the package. I just felt like something else was going to come of it and wanted to keep the evidence this time. Again, I had a charge for an international transaction fee, and it was nominal, again ($1.40). We reached out to Amazon, and they had no answers for us. They recommended that we throw the item out and keep an eye on our account.

Back to the shirt. Since my mom loved her shirt from Amazon, and I loved my shirt from Amazon, it only made sense to purchase the same shirt for my sister. She lives in Napa, California, so I knew we’d never wear it at the same time and be seen together. I wrapped it up for Christmas, and she was delighted to receive the shirt. When I received the third international transaction fee, I was really confused. Was it from the shirts? Was it from the mystery packages? Is it now worth the time and energy to get the bank and Amazon talking to each other? Or do I let it go because the charges are so nominal?

We haven’t received a third package from China yet, but I’m sure it’s coming. So stay tuned. Hopefully, this unsolved mystery is solved soon!

Jen’s Friday Night Insights

Speaking of unsolved mysteries, let’s get into some of the mysteries surrounding some big names in the NFL and where they might land this offseason.

First up, Deshaun Watson.

Deshaun Watson (QB, Houston Texans)

Watson has spent his four-year career in Houston with the Texans. Over 54 games, he’s thrown 104 touchdowns and 36 interceptions and has taken the team to three playoff games. Overall, he’s a talented quarterback who has been strapped to a mediocre-at-best franchise so far in his young career. After a tumultuous season that saw the firing of Bill O’Brien followed up with the off-season release of the franchise cornerstone J.J. Watt, Watson understandably wants out. 

The Carolina Panthers have their sights set on Watson and have reached out to Houston for a possible trade. Current Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater has been lackluster at best with just 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in the 2020 season. Carolina is looking to make a change. There are many other franchises who are in need of a quarterback, including the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets, but Carolina has been the most vocal about their desire to capture the attention of the desirable QB.

Next up, Carson Wentz.

Carson Wentz (QB, Indianapolis Colts)

Carson Wentz will suit up for the 2021 season as an Indianapolis Colt.

Big news hit the airwaves and Twitterverse yesterday with the trade of Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2021 third-round draft pick and a conditional 2022 second-round pick. People have been ablaze with emotions and speculation surrounding the trade. The second-overall pick in 2016 has seen a flaccid career with the Eagles. With just 113 touchdowns and 50 interceptions and one playoff appearance, he was not the QB the Eagles had hoped for. To his credit, there was a Super Bowl appearance and championship ring in 2018; however, it was back-up QB Nick Foles’ efforts that won the big game. Wentz went 13 games that season and was in consideration for the NFL MVP, but was ultimately sidelined with a torn ACL for the remainder of the season. 

There’s a lot of hope with his move to Indianapolis and his reunion with Frank Reich, who was his offensive coordinator in Philadelphia for the 2017 season. With a better offensive line and a wider array of offensive weapons, there’s a belief that Wentz could see a career resurgence in 2021. Though his stock is rising in dynasty leagues, only time will tell if Indianapolis and Reich are the answer to the Carson Wentz mystery.

I always end my columns with a game day drink, and this one is no different. 

I’m here to join the conversation, drink in hand and watch this off-season unfold. Cheers! 


Drink Recipe for the Month:

Cherry Blossom

  • 1.5 oz tequila
  • 1 oz lime juice
  • 1 oz grapefruit juice
  • Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice 
  • Shake for about 30 seconds, then pour into a martini glass
  • Garnish with a grapefruit slice

Thanks for reading, and follow me on Twitter for more motherly and fantasy sports advice @JenPolvogt.

You may also like

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00