Home for the Holiday

Having decided not to pack up and hit the road for Thanksgiving with the dysfunctional family, I was thankful for having made that decision when the commentator on country station KFrog said that nearly 80 million Americans are expected to travel over Thanksgiving.

It’s been vewy vewy quiet here on the complex. I’ve not seen or spoken to anyone while out and about, so I don’t know if yesterday’s rescheduled Thanksgiving Luncheon took place or how thing went if it did, i.e., what was served, who went, did Manager comport herself appropriately.

Inasmuch as the patio decorations are already up, and I made enough chicken tamales on Tuesday to get me through to Christmas, Stolen Land Day is free to work on that never ending needlepoint project and perhaps work on this year’s gingerbread build.

Catching up on Creative Memory Scrapbooking is on hold until supplies come in.

That rainstorm we’d been threatened with last week, was a sprinkle. However, looking at the dark clouds overhead, that could change as early as tomorrow.

When the storm didn’t hit Friday night or Saturday morning, I made a quick trip to stock up on supplies at Sprouts, with a plan to stop by Starbucks, get Trainer a gift card for Thanksgiving.

However, seeing a Dutch Bros (DB) across from Sprouts, and remembering how excited Trainer was to tell me a DB has opened up in our area, I trotted on over to see if they have gift cards …… save myself having to drive to Starbucks — which is where I usually purchase gift cards.

They do …… have gift cards at DB that is, as I was told by the young man taking orders in the parking lot.

Opting for a $50 card, I pulled out a $100 bill and was told they don’t take $100’s, I’d have to use my card.

Inasmuch as the ATM on the same lot is giving out hundred dollar bills, that's just silly.

Dawn, over at Bohemianvalhalla recently did a post on how it’s getting harder and harder to pay cash, that shops and stores are pushing for our using cards.

Having had my card hacked three times, necessitating closing out accounts, I’m leery of cards, prefer cash, so I eked out $50 from my fanny pack in small bills.

The young man then tells me he can’t accept cash. I’d have to get in line, pay the cashier.

There was only one couple in front of me in the cashier's line and, of course, they were taking forever.

When I finally made it to the register, held cash out to the young cashier, she seemed thrown — froze for a bit, looked me in the eyes, looked at the cash I was holding out, looked me in the eyes again. It was like she didn't know what to do, then said, "Oh! You’re paying with cash?".

Duh!

A woman standing off to the side, who'd been observing since I had to dig out $50 in small bills when the young man said he couldn't take a $100 bill, started laughing and remarked on how complicated it was for me to get a simple gift card.

If this is the way it’s going to go — a cashless society, I may have to do all my shopping, groceries and otherwise, online. Though online has not been completely safe. I’ve ordered and paid for items that never arrived, and a small Etsy purchase from Missouri ended up with my card being hacked for $1500 from a metal manufacturing company and a second attempt at more when the first charge wasn’t immediately flagged.

So it’s six on one half a dozen on the other, still I prefer cash.

So, anyway, Trainer seemed excited this morning when I handed him a DB card, instead of the usual Starbucks and wished him a nice holiday tomorrow; but DB being a bit of a hassle, it will be back to his getting Starbucks for Christmas.