COEUR d'ALENE - After today, you're pushing your luck.

Monday marked the busiest mailing day of the year across the country, volume-wise, but rest assured, those planning on sending Christmas gifts through the post office today, there's still plenty of time for timely arrival.

By Wednesday, the options start to shrink.

"After that, you need to starting looking at express," said Guy Humphries, Coeur d'Alene postmaster.

Still, no time to panic.

Sunday, for those living under a rock, is Christmas. Christmas, for said rock dwellers, can mean long lines at the post office. But by Monday, Humphries said the downtown office was meeting its waiting time goal for customers at five minutes or less.

"Gotta like that," said Gary Johnson, a Coeur d'Alene resident who went through the line Monday afternoon in only a few minutes.

Johnson mailed off a beer sign and beer poster to Alabama and San Francisco, respectively. He finished his own Christmas mailing last week. He knows better. What he shipped Monday is what he had sold on eBay, likely for last-minute shoppers across the country.

"This is the time of year you expect it to be a little slower, but they're pretty efficient," he said of the post office.

Generally, figuring the cost and time of mail is based on weight and distance.

Flat rate for boxes range from $5.20 for small, to $14.94 for large boxes, carrying up to 70 pounds. Drop them off today and they'll get anywhere in time for the holiday. After that, it's possible, but not a guarantee, so far-away places might not make the cut.

Even for those who do their mailing Friday, it's possible to get it there by Sunday.

Express rate would be the only timely option at that point. Those prices are weight dependent and start at $13.25 for local deliveries.

Kim, who didn't want to give her last name but was shipping two big boxes to Canada, doesn't think her gifts will make it to her family on time.

"Because I'm sending them late," she said, skeptical that Monday drop-off meant sure arrival. "But everyone likes surprises."

The week before Mother's Day is the busiest mailing week, while Christmas' rush typically spreads out over December. The Monday before Christmas is the busiest day because a lot of people use the final weekend before the 25th to Christmas shop, Humphries said.

"I'm scared to even go in," said one man with an armful of packages as he headed inside the post office.

But five minutes will be the post office's waiting time goal.

"You can't let this get you down," said Jan Lanahan, at the back of the line Monday. "If this is the biggest stress you have in your life, you've got it made."