It could be a backbreaking day for the Post Office

This is expected to be the busiest day of the holiday shopping season for postal workers. Some 280-million items will be postmarked nationwide today. Mason City postmaster Alan Steckman says people sending Christmas cards need to make sure they use the correct sending -and- return addresses.Steckman says Iowans need to make sure they have the proper postage placed on a card to make sure it arrives at its destination on time. If the card is extra heavy or large, it will cost more than the standard 33 cents.As for packages, Steckman says you need to properly pack your parcel so it does not get damaged enroute.Post offices nationwide handle an average of 150-million pieces of mail -daily- during the holiday season.