Volume 1, Number 2

Things have been happening more and more in my life that cause me to think "when did that happen?" I don't believe I'm alone in that observation. I think lots and lots of people can relate to thoughts like, "Wow, they are hiring police officers right out of high school, nowadays". The same kind of reaction happens when visiting a place of my childhood. "Boy, was my room really that small?" and "I don't know how I ever fit into this classroom or desk?". I'm sure there are many more situations like those just mentioned. The common thread that binds these experiences together is the fact that, things change. That's something I have come to accept. Of course I don't have any control over them so my choices are kind of limited.

Some of the changes that I have been noticing are really starting to bother me, big time. I think the first time I remember that annoying feeling was when first noticed that something had happened to the size of the toilet paper roll in my bathroom. At first I thought it had to with the possibility that I was just using more(no jokes :-) ). It took me a while to realize that, when I wasn't looking, the company had reduced the size of the roll. Upon investigating this phenomenon, I found out that they had kept the prices the same and in some instances, raised them.

I am a real addict when it comes to drinking coffee and like the price of toilet paper, I really can't bother much with what it costs since I have to have it. Well, needless to say they did the same to my favorite one(1) pound can of coffee. Again, while I wasn't looking they reduced the amount of coffee in that one(1) pound can to thirteen(13) ounces. I think they kept the can the same physical size. I'm not sure of that. After questioning this with my local retailers I was informed that it has been that way for a long time. What do you mean? A pound of coffee has been thirteen(13) ounces. I can't believe that I had been so blind.

Now we get to the biggest annoying changes that are really effecting the comfort levels of my life. I think you know what I'm referring to. When did they start using packaging that is impossible to open by an ordinary human being? Any attempts to do so cause the ultimate destruction of the product that the packaging was designed to protect. They were really deceptive with this one. At first glance it looks like the ordinary cellophane that I have always been used to. I would attempt to open the package as I always did and thats when the trouble started. Invariably, my teeth, pocket knife, kitchen scissors or laser knife had to be brought in to do the job. I started to feel like a real incompetent. You know, not being able to do something that I had always done before.

The incident that has caused all this 'soap box oratory' happened when I recently tried to open a sleeve of one of my favorite crackers. I like them in one piece as they were prepared and packaged. I can not open a sleeve of Ritz crackers anymore without ending up with a handful of crumbs, a nasty cut or the contents all over the floor.

All I ask is that they give me a warning that there are going to be changes or that things have changed and my old ways won't work anymore. They just brought about all these changes without telling me.... How Come?