for something that is being shipped USPS from Minnesota to Tennessee to go through Providence, Rhode Island?

Please note that I am in no way blaming the shipper. This is USPS all the way.

Chicago I could understand. Memphis I could understand. Columbus, Ohio, I could understand, although it's a bit to the east. Heck, even Atlanta I could understand, although it's several hours south.

But RHODE ISLAND?

ETA: My package has now backtracked 85 miles to Springfield, MA.

ETA again: Okay, just to keep track.

Processed through Sort Facility, March 25, 2010, 5:52 pm, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55413
Processed through Sort Facility, March 27, 2010, 12:55 am, PROVIDENCE, RI 02904

Okay, 31 hours from Minneapolis to Providence (approximately 23 hours via Google Maps, so that's quite reasonable assuming you allow the trip to Providence as logical in the first place).

Processed through Sort Facility, March 27, 2010, 8:29 pm, SPRINGFIELD, MA 01104

21 hours from Providence to Springfield (85 miles in 21 hours. Okay, that's a bit less than twice as fast as I can walk, assuming I could walk 85 miles, which I can't).

Arrival at Post Office, March 29, 2010, 8:40 am, MARYVILLE, TN 37801

862 miles, 36 hours, of which 24 were Sunday. Excellent!