Companies (small and large) no longer seem to have quality control departments. If they do have such a department, they need to fire those people because they are not doing their job.

An example is the canned green chilies I buy. When I opened the can and dumped them into my recipe, it was that easy. The chiles in the can were green and firm, and it was rare to have to pick out skins or seeds. Now, I open a can and separate chilies from pieces of charred peel and slimy strings full of seeds. I honestly think they toss the whole chili into a chopper and can the mess that results. Yuk.

You can’t trust your grocery store anymore, either. Sometimes, the bread on the shelves is moldy, and we must check the expiration dates on everything. Maybe that’s because I live in a small town, and the bigger cities rotate the stock better. All I know is that my favorite ice cream, Malted Moo Milk, is used for a rousing game of after-hours soccer. I know this because only the malted moo cartons have crushed in sides and popped lids.

Quality control for shipping medical supplies has also gone downhill. What used to be packaged securely and without damage is now haphazardly tossed in a box, along with crumpled-up paper (not surrounding items), and mailed out to the consumer. The package arrives dirty and rumpled like it sat in the bottom of the mail truck for several days—not only occasionally but every time. Every Time. Think about the deliveries you receive. I can’t be the only one.

I would love to hear what things you have to put up with these days.

Please take the time to drop me a line. I can use a good giggle. It’s already been a tough year…