Use of the term "e-mail"

Ok, this is one of my biggest pet peeves. It is the use of the term e-mail. I am no grammar expert or English expert, but the use of the plural form of the term e-mail absolutely drives me bonkers. That is, when someone say "I received twenty e-mails while I was out today." What upsets me is that it is accepted. Let me see if I can break down why it drives me crazy.
Let us start by breaking down the term. E-mail is derived from two words, electronic mail which were shortened to form one hyphenated word. This is evident from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary definition "a means or system for transmitting messages electronically (as between computers on a network) ... messages sent and received electronically through an e-mail system ." (*1)
This said, let us look at the second word that makes up the hyphenated word, mail. Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines mail as "material sent or carried in the postal system ... a conveyance that transports mail." (*2)
The word mail is already plural. "I received my mail" could mean I received 1 piece of mail or twenty pieces of mail. Why do we insist on saying "I recieved my e-mails"? If the word mail is both singular and plural, why would e-mail be any different? Yet we naturally accept it's use in our language. In fact, some online dictionaries such as Answers.com include e-mails as the plural form of the word. (*3)
If you want to make the statement that you received more than 1 e-mail, the proper use would be that you received multiple e-mail messages. Just like letters received through the mail, or letters received as mail, the e-mail system delivers messages. You could state "I received 20 e-mail messages today." Next time you catch yourself using this term incorrectly, think about my skin crawiling, or maybe just correct your usage.

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*1. "e-mail." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008.
Merriam-Webster Online. 29 August 2008
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/e-mail
*2. "mail." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008.
Merriam-Webster Online. 29 August 2008
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mail
*3. "e-mail." Answers.com 2008.
Answers.com. 29 August 2008
http://www.answers.com/topic/e-mail

Running, Situps & Pushups

For a while before Savannah was born I was doing well, losing weight, working out everyday, watching what I eat and starting to look good. Then as Linda got more uncomfortable and sleeping less, I started sleeping less and stopped getting up in the morning. Since then I haven't been getting up as early and therefore don't workout in the morning. Than has led me to gain the majority of the weight back, and right around the mid section. So, this past Monday, I am starting all over. I'm not going to be as anal about the food, but I'll try to choose better selections. The main part will be running, situps and pushups. The schedule is this for now; run morning and evening on Monday, morning on Tuesday, evening on Wednesday and both morning and evening on Thursday and Friday. If possible, run once Saturday and/or Sunday. Prior to each run I'll do a set of Situps and Pushups. Right now it's only a mile, which I can get through (couldn't make the whole thing on Monday morning, but made it Monday night). The goal is to get back into a bit of shape sticking to the one mile lap until I can do it without being quite as winded. Then I'll stretch it into a mile and a half. After I get that one down, I'll jump to a 3 mile route which is where I was when I stopped running a year and a half ago. Little steps. Right now I just want to get back into shape and shed the extra weight.