Foggy Memories

Lately, I’m beginning to think that some of the organizations we’ve made donations to have a problem with their memory. Don’t get me wrong, they know who we are, where we live, our email addresses and our phone numbers. I’m pretty sure they know we’ve made a donation. However, our donations seem to be triggers for more requests for money.

It seems to go like this:

Charity: “Can you give us some money?”

Dan: “Yes, yes I can.”

Charity: “Thank you for your recent gift. Can you give us some more money?”

I have come to expect this behavior from Sammy the Squirrel, but he’s a squirrel. He’s living outside and he was orphaned when his mother was hit by a car. “Yes, Sammy, we have more nuts for you.” But, “No, college-from-which-I-graduated I don’t have more money for you!” And, “NO! college from which our daughter graduated, we don’t have more money for you. We gave you enough. Remember, you called it tuition.”

While it’s not the most recent example, a clear candidate to win the 2017 ‘worst Thank You ever’ award came from a college I did attend:

“Thank you for your overwhelming support of the (some famous guy I never heard of) Endowed Fund! We are grateful for your generosity and are excited to share that we reached our goal of $10,000 within the first month of our campaign. These funds will help future students through scholarships, access to professional development opportunities, study abroad support, and much more.

We are increasing our goal to $15,000, however, the campaign closes at midnight on Friday, December 8.”

How about simply ending with: “thanks for helping us reach our goal, you’re awesome!”

The candidates for the 2018 award are flowing in early. Over the New Year’s weekend, I started hacking away at my cable bill. Little by little, I plan to get that thing down to a reasonable amount. I could write an entire post about that, but not today. Later, maybe, if I’m successful. Today, it’s merely a way to further illustrate a sore subject.

More sore than a cable bill?

Yes!

One of the things I cut was the DVR option. It was almost $20 a month, and most of what I DVRed I can find online. I’ll explain in that future post, but one of the ways I can find stuff online is through PBS Passport. “Give us $60, become a member and get access to Passport.”

I did that. I gave them $60, but they still keep asking for money. They didn’t send me a “Thank you, here’s how to get Passport” email, but they’ve sent multiple emails and a real piece-of-paper-in-an-envelope request for more money. After the fourth email request for more money, I replied to their Membership Department. I pointed out two things: 1) I gave $60 almost a month ago and I’m still waiting for access to Passport, and 2) I live almost equal-distance between two PBS stations, and I’m considering seeing if I have better luck with the other one.

That got their attention.

We woke to a nice foggy day today. Maybe that’s the problem with these groups. Maybe it’s foggy where they are.

The entrance to Maddie’s park.

I was fascinated by the clarity of the reflections compared to the fuzziness of the direct images.

Another reflection.

Not many people in the park today. The basketball is waiting.

Reflection – it made me think I was looking through a window.

This time, even the reflection looks foggy.

After our walk, Maddie decided to warm her feet.

I’m not saying she’s lazy, but that’s her food dish, and she’s eating.

“Um, are you going to finish that toast?”

“You again? Some of us are trying to sleep.”

The fog is rising off the CT River and engulfing the railroad bridge.

Tobacco barn in a foggy field.

I could barely see the light of the train as it heads away over the trestle.

The railroad trestle is almost hidden.

One of our squirrels looking for a handout.

Empty playground