A Letter to Jack Clown

 Real letter Corey had written to Jack in the Box:

Dear Jack,

Oh, you cruel, cruel clown! How dare you play with my heart and taste buds so callously.

I wonder, Jack Box, if you understand the damage you have done to my psyche, tongue, and stomach by introducing the sensational menu item, your Hershey-filled Chocolate Croissant Bites only to rip them away from me like a child is snatched from his loving mother's arms. I assume you must delight in the ruthless torture of loyal customers such as myself.

These sweet little flaky delights have been my one bright spot of sunshine in this dark pandemic-saturated world we currently find ourselves in. Congratulations, Jack! Like some devious drug dealer, you have succeeded in hooking me on these scrumptious pieces of heaven only to pull them away from me with no concern for the consequences to my now-dying taste buds.

As that warm, melty, gooey, chocolatey goodness once filled those delicate flaky pastry bites, so was my soul filled with the joy that came from partaking of each warm, delicious morsel of your now-discontinued product. If you think your Mini Churros, New York Style Cheesecake, or Chocolate Overload Cake could possibly fill the void you have left my palate with, you are sadly, sadly mistaken. I am bereft, Jack. Bereft because of you!

I guess my question to you, Jack, you malevolent mountebank, is simply this: Why?

Why offer these enticing delights for a "limited time?" What were you trying to prove? That you could crush a customer's heart, appetite, and dreams just as easily as you captured them? Was this just some perverted, sadistic experiment to you?

Jack, I have been a loyal customer of your brand for some time now. I enjoy so many of your menu items. Your customer service has been beyond compare. But alas, Jack, how dolefully you have disappointed me with this latest, pitiless ruse. How empty you have left me feeling now that I can no longer sate my cravings with your mouthwatering creation.

Tonight, Jack, I only wanted one thing: these bites. When your employee told me they were no longer available, she may as well have thrust a dagger into my heart. And so, Jack, I went home—aggrieved, disconsolate, and unsatisfied.

You, Jack, have the power to rekindle the cold, dead, unlit fire in my heart. I make a heartfelt plea to you. I don't need these Chocolate Croissant Bites. My health and weight are better off without them. But for the sake of my sanity and the lack of gaiety you have left in your barbaric wake, please, Jack, I beg of you, bring back the one solace I had during these times of distress. Bring back these tantalizing treats. Grant me my Chocolate Croissant Bites once more.

Cordially yours,

An anxious, troubled soul and patron of your once-magnificent establishment,

[Corey Cannon]

Forget the Extreme Heat Warning - Don't Breath in the White Sky

 

We have another “Extreme Heat” warning.

Last time the temperature did not get as

hot as they said it would.  I don’t think it will

today either though last time I think there

really was moisture in the clouds whereas

today has been smoky and now the skies are

white and the mountains are hidden.

I can smell the smoke through my window. 

Yuch!!

Back to the Drawing Board

 

           Roland’s boss had told her staff – “whoever has vacation coming up, take it now.”

           Roland took off the last weekend in July and returned on Tuesday.  Meanwhile he received an email from the school that everyone outside of Utah will be laid off on September 6.  It’s not a big surprise for us.  We have known for some time that he could be laid off any day now.  At least now had an idea of when. 

           Roland returned and worked a day and a half when his boss asked if he had any sick leave.  Roland told her yes and she told him to take them off starting then.  Monday was his first day of sick leave and his last day of employment.  Everyone was let go.  So now what?

           To be honest, he seems a lot more worried than I.  He’s been applying for other jobs all along but felt a blow.  I wasn’t surprised.  He’s putting in for unemployment which seems to be more work as he has to report in each week and file the “paper work” each time. 

           He feels like he is applying for the same jobs over and over again and getting frustrated with lack of communication.  Welcome to my world, babe!  But God has a plan for us.  I honestly believe that.  He does not look at the situation with the same eyes of faith that I do.  We’ve survived on less.  We’ll be okay.

           I have called dozens of companies that are withdrawing automatic payments to either change banks or cancel altogether.  No more TV entertainment but we will keep the internet.  How else will we be able to apply for jobs? I changed phone carriers – again – although for the most part I think I would do okay without a phone.  But that’s another post.  Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

           Job hunting is frustrating.  They say there is not discrimination with hiring seniors or someone with a masters.  But there is.  We’re getting up there in years.  We’re not as spry as we were when we were 20 but we have grown in ways that the younger generation has yet to experience.    We’ll see up ahead eventually.  The pandemic is not over.  I think we may be better off if we are not working.

The Skies Are Filled With Smoke and Helicopters

The airport is within walking distance. 

Each year we can hear the helicopters . 

Some are looking out. 

Most appear carry buckets that appear

to be half the size of the helicopter. 

Each year the chopper noise increases –

or seems to anyway.   

 

More than it did in 2019 when

the fires were so close and in

2017 when the entire state

was on fire.  We were surrounded

by smoke from every direction and

wouldn’t have been able to safely

evacuate as every direction had

fires burning.  Even last year. 

 

Smokey skies can sometimes make for

amazing sunsets.  I would rather not have

the amazing sunset and have no smoke. 

Bless the firefighters who risk their lives

to keep us safe.

Here is one that Jenna took

Unbelievable – Let’s Talk Numbers

           Would you believe that I finally joined the world of touch screen phone?  I changed my plan – or rather my carrier who does not support flip phones.  I went with them on a whim.  It will save us almost 10 dollars a month – which isn’t huge.  But if I can save 5 dollars here and 10 dollars there, it adds up.  Before you know I have save us 45 dollars not to mention the subscriptions to various things which adds up as well and before you know it I have removed over 100 dollars of unnecessary luxury spending. 

           So I now have a touch screen but have learned that the automatic machines at the other end of the line don’t recognize my pushing numbers.  Oh, that is so not cool.  I am already annoyed with automatic machines as it is.  So impersonal.  How many jobs have been replaced by machines?  A company does not have to pay wages to a machine. 

`I like when the machine appears to be as frustrated as I am and connects me to customer service.  But this machine did not give me customer service.  It said that I would have to try again.  I can’t yell at the machine.  Well, I can, but it doesn’t have voice recognition.  That is why I’m punching numbers.  My touch screen gives me exactly two seconds to tap on something or the screen disappears.  AHHHHHHHH

Overwhelmed With Thoughts

  

https://www.happify.com/hd/5-things-
you-can-do-if-feeling-overwhelmed/

           I have had many ideas – some which I have jotted down but no complete thought.  It doesn’t seem to be a priority.  Whatever Roland is doing takes priority over anything that Jenna and I may have planned.  Right now it’s the back room – which is important.  But I also believe know that he needs to take breaks. 

           He’s taken Jenna to Roseburg a few times which has given me opportunity to blog and either a nap takes priority or else I just haven’t been motivated to write.  He gave me the assignment to paint the trim while they’re gone, but I can’t find a paintbrush.  Nor do I wish to spend my time looking for one the entire time they are gone.  I did put up some masking tape around the door trim – at least I put in some effort, right?  They are going to Lowes and I did put in a request for more paint brushes.  Disposable ones would be nice. 

           Anyway the room is coming along.  Perhaps it will be ready for Christmas?  That would be cool.  I will be sure to post some progress pictures later on.

A Smile in Each Picture

 I have been able to locate 3 cameras and 5 chargers.  Unfortunately  only one of the chargers will accept on of the batteries.  Thus I have been using a camera that Roland had purchased for Jenna during her sophomore year.  I have noticed the streak found across many of the pictures I've taken.  I tried to clean the lens but have learned that there are three scratches on the lens.  I took a picture of a white napkin and discovered the three scratches make a smile face.  How weird is that?