THIS WEEK'S DEAR JOHN LETTER
Dear John,
I'm always the one stuck hosting Christmas at our house. I love to entertain, but my husband's family is not very respectful. His sister has two little twin boys who destroy things. Last year they broke a vase that I absolutely loved. It was not a family heirloom or anything, just something I liked and bought it because I liked it. When they broke the vase, my sister-in-law chuckled and said “they're just that age, you can't have breakable things down low”. This year I'm planning ahead and I want to go on vacation that week. We can go somewhere warm and we can get home just in time to go somewhere else to their house for Christmas. I'm not hosting, and this is the best way to make sure I'm not hosting. My husband doesn't like the idea. He thinks we should just host everyone like we usually do. I'm going on vacation with or without him. If he decides to stay home, I can be gone for a few weeks and miss the whole big mess. Is it wrong of me to want a break from this family? We have hosted this for years. I even considered starting a renovation to make sure our home was not available. I probably sound like a horrible person, but I'm not. I just can't handle this ungrateful family destroying my stuff anymore. I'm booking my vacation this week... I hope my husband comes along, but I'm going either way. Any advice?
Signed – Fed Up With Family
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TODAY'S REASON TO PARTY! (special thanks to ListOfNationalDays.com)
Candy Corn Day
https://theshortordercook.com/candy-corn-martini/
SURVEYS, STUDIES & SUCH
Half of us are dreading the holidays this year…and it’s not because of family drama, but finances. A new survey of 2,000 adults in the US found that 54% fear the financial strain of the festive season, while 69% say it’s the most stressful time of year for their wallets. To cope, 76% plan to change how they celebrate, cutting back on gifts, travel, and big meals. One in 7 even has plans for a “gift-free” holiday (as if…). For many, seasonal jobs are a lifeline, helping them make ends meet, amid inflation and rising costs. 76% of us say the holidays wouldn’t happen without seasonal workers — and 42% plan to tip them. Here’s a rundown of how respondents said they plan to save money this holiday season…
• Putting a strict limit on gift budgets: 36%
• Not purchasing any new decorations: 36%
• Skipping a big, expensive holiday meal: 21%
• Not purchasing a Christmas tree: 17%
• Doing a spend-free holiday: 14%
BIG SCREEN-LITTLE SCREEN
Ken Jennings has revealed that he is quitting one of his jobs. Don’t worry…the “Jeopardy!” host is staying on the game show, but is leaving the “Omnibus Podcast”. Why? He wrote on Instagram: “I’m so proud of the 8 years @johnroderick and I spent unearthing weird oddities of the past…But my travel schedule is making it harder and harder to keep up with the show, so we’re bringing in a cavalcade of guest hosts to help out.” His final show as weekly co-host will be a “live extravaganza” in Seattle on November 8. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/2pv9rer8
The upcoming Sundance film festival will feature multiple tributes to its late co-founder Robert Redford, including a screening of his first independent movie “Downhill Racer”. Redford, who starred in hits like “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” before becoming an Oscar-winning director, died last month at age 89. In a statement, the festival said Redford’s “dedication to the power of storytelling shaped independent cinema”, and announced several other celebratory events to be held throughout the festival, which starts January 22.
The Jim Henson Company and Julien’s Auctions have announced the first-ever official auction of the company’s most treasured archives, giving fans the chance to own a piece of that wondrous, imaginative world. The auction, including historic puppets from “Fraggle Rock”, “Labyrinth”, “The Dark Crystal”, and more, will be held at The Jim Henson Company’s Hollywood headquarters and online on November 25. The collection of over 400 rare and important items will offer fans, institutions, and collectors the chance to own a piece of the visionary worlds that Jim Henson built. LINK: https://www.juliensauctions.com/en
DID YA KNOW!?
If you like sour candy more than other flavors, it might mean you’re an extrovert. That’s one takeaway from a new survey of 2,000 candy lovers, which found a person’s preference for certain sweets may say a lot about their personality and lifestyle choices. In addition to being extroverted (59%), sour candy connoisseurs also identified themselves as more “eccentric” (53%), “funny” (50%), and “sarcastic” (51%). Chocolate lovers tended to describe themselves as “optimistic” (76%) and “shy” (67%). Fans of mint were most likely to say they’re “thoughtful” (78%). And those who eat candy every day were more likely to identify as “night owls” instead of “early birds”.
JOKE OF THE DAY
(FROM
HEIDI)
SCOOP
OF THE DAY
Starbucks is stirring AI into its coffee game. CEO Brian Niccol revealed at Salesforce’s Dreamforce event that the company is experimenting with artificial intelligence to boost efficiency and customer service. One of its key tools, “Green Dot Assist,” acts as a ‘digital barista helper’. It guides employees through drink prep, equipment fixes, and store management. Following a pilot project in June, it’s now expanding to more stores. Niccol says AI may soon help predict customers’ orders before they even open the app, making pickup seamless. But he insists Starbucks isn’t going robotic anytime soon. The goal, he says, is “real craft,” not android baristas. Meanwhile, in New York, an AI robot named Jarvis is already brewing lattes…and asking for tips!
Plumbers and other tradespeople across North America are increasingly turning to ChatGPT and other AI tools to streamline their work — from generating invoices and proposals, to troubleshooting tricky on-site problems. At one Wisconsin plumbing company, technicians now bring tablets alongside toolkits, using AI to draft paperwork and offer repair suggestions based on photos or notes. Similar stories are emerging nationwide as blue-collar businesses use ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and trade-specific platforms like ServiceTitan to cut costs and boost productivity. Surveys show more than 70% of tradespeople have tried AI, with plumbers leading adoption — finding that smarter tech means fewer admin headaches and faster, better service.
THE MOVIE QUOTE OF THE DAY
If you have a favorite quote.... you can send it to us at the bottom of the page at JohnAndHeidiShow.com
"I’ll never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go." -Titanic (1997), Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet)
NEWS TO ME
(FROM HEIDI)
FUN
FACT FOR YOU:
Share
this with your friends... they'll think you're really smart!
✓ Agatha Christie was a surfer.
✓ The human skeleton renews itself every 10 years. Essentially, you have different bones now than you did 10 years ago!
✓ Judging by the stripes on his uniform, Cap’n Crunch is actually a commander.
✓ Whales and dolphins can get sunburns.
✓ Humans can smell the spray of a skunk from over a mile (1.6km) away.
WEIRD NEWS
A young black bear wandered into the Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, California…looking for some bear buddies. Before the zoo opened, staff spotted the 150-pound visitor calmly interacting through the fence with Tule, Ishŭng, and Kunabulilh – the zoo’s resident bears. Described as “very polite,” the visitor stayed on paths and made no attempt to enter enclosures. Officials believe it climbed in from nearby Sequoia Park after catching the scent of the fellow bears inside. With help from police and wildlife officers, the bear was gently guided back to the forest, unharmed…and hopefully a little less lonely.
QUESTION OF THE DAY
THIS will happen to 4% of people because of Halloween. What is it?
Answer: They’ll lose a tooth filling
SOMETHING SPECIAL WITH HEIDI SMALL
(FROM HEIDI)
THE LIST
THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO TRICK-OR-TREATERS:
• Lots of decorations means good candy, because it shows they spend a lot on Halloween.
• It’s always better to choose your candy than to have someone else choose it for you.
• Old people are either very generous or give you one peanut. There is no in-between.
• The cuter the costume, the more candy you get.
• Snickers are good loot. Toothbrushes are not a ‘treat’.
• Pillowcases hold twice as much as plastic bags and 3 times as much as plastic pumpkins.
• Don’t get stuck behind little kids at the door. They take forever.
• People serve the good stuff first. The longer you stay out, the worse the candy gets.
• When parents chaperone, moms say things like “Be careful” and “Remember your manners.” Dads say “Wha’d ya get?” Dads also stay out later.
GOOD NEWS
10-Year-Old
Runs Miles To Honor Fallen Officers
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news
