The Scams of Our Lives

This morning, while sitting eating breakfast and sifting through yesterday's mail, I came to the conclusion that I am going to be DONE with all of the scams out there. Well, almost.

Okay, a little background: After all the direct mail pieces came flowing through our mailbox, into our home and into my hands, about 99% of them have been directly shredded and recycled at that point. The lucky 1% that missed the shredder initially went on to be opened, and either then shredded and recycled or "pondered." The Cooking Club of America was one of the 1% that was pondered and then accepted. I sent in the forms and enrolled in the basic membership, but oh no, that was not enough for them. I was promptly enrolled in the Lifetime Membership Program. At first, the offer was so shiny and sparkly with its promises of free gifts, trial cookwear and test products. Now all it appears that this club is - is a tarnished hope of what it could have meant for me. Don't get me wrong, of the few "free" gifts I have received, I have enjoyed the personalized apron, assorted microfiber towel set and the collapsible strainer (this is probably my favorite). Derick told me this morning that his mom (who was/is also a member and has paid all her dues and has gotten the cookwear set) said that I will be very disappointed when I get it. Apparently the handles from her set broke off within a very short time of her receiving and using said cookwear. Great.

So, after thinking about it for a few seconds, and seeing a notice in the mail that I owed some $71 dollars for a knife (preview) that I had sent back weeks ago - it was time for me to drop out of this "club." I think the "club" part refers to the group of people whose job it is to constantly harass you for money. *sigh.*

The initial reason I said that I will be done almost with scams, is that I am still currently in the long-running endurance race that is Publisher's Clearing House.  Earlier this year, I decided to actually open one of the envelopes that came my way and send in the paperwork. I have lost track of the number of them that I have actually sent into that contest. Derick jokes that it must be some sort of endurance contest, like, after you send in 400 of the reply envelopes, you are the big winner. I am having my doubts, but keep sending it in anyway. Something to do, I guess. I like keeping that dream out there - as I am sure that everyone entertains at some point - about becoming suddenly richer than you have ever imagined. I mean, I know that money won't solve all the problems, but all I am asking is the chance to try to prove that theory wrong...HA!

Here's hoping!
-L