Kroger is Dumb

I went "Krogering" today and spent some time picking out just the right two gift cards.

I know, "they" say don't give gift cards this year because you're playing financial roulette trying to pick who might go belly up before the cards can be redeemed, but I was trying to save myself some time with my dime PLUS they have a gift card merry-go-round every few feet just begging for your patronage.

One of the cards was rather dicey because it was for a fancy French food joint, but the other was freakin' KROGER. I figure if Kroger goes under so does Walmart and we all know that ain't going to happen any time soon.

However Kroger gets my dumb shit of the year award.

I got to the checkout and while waiting for the final tally I started making out my check as is my custom. It's my custom to have everything in place so the folk(s) behind me don't have to wait any longer than necessary. That's because I'm nice.

The checker, who was not a regualr checker, but rather someone "in charge", says "OH, you can't write a check for the gift cards....you'll have to use a credit card or debit card or cash".... I say "huh?"..... He goes into this long, boring song and dance about how people would get hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards on their credit cards and then cancel them, blah, blah, blah.... they have decided to go back to honoring the credit cards, but no checks. I guess the Gov isn't bailing out the paper hangers.

Anyway I almost let fly, but instead I did my best pre-Xmas passive-aggressive bit about how I didn't see any signs saying such in the store or around the VAST displays of gift cards. He just repeated the purchase options like he was dealing with a ...... well, he probably WAS dealing with a fill-in-the-blanks, but it riled me no end. I've never written a bad check. (Okay, ONCE, back in the 70's, but that was an accident and I took care of it immediately!) I had already written out my check for an amount over so I could have some cash back (another one of my customs!). Since they are so strict about limiting overages to $50, I couldn't even say, okay just forget it. I said OKAY JUST FORGET IT, but had to write out another check to wit everyone in line had to wait.

It's no wonder that business is having a hard time with policies like that. Both the fancy French joint and Kroger lost out....I will go elsewhere and pick up two other cards and go back to being nice once more.

Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n Roll, Baby!

And what pray tell does the title have to do with ME or this post?

Nothing.

I was just baiting the hook!

I've been quiet lately. Licking my political wounds, if it were. Firmly convinced we are going to hell in a hand-basket.

Or maybe not.

I never claim to be a seer.

I do know that the accession to the throne by the one (note no capital letters to signify my utter and total disgust), was not the unification of many young folks eager for a hand in the political process at all. Rather it was New Coke version 2. If you're not remembering New Coke and the way it was thrust upon us let me refresh your memory.....

The makers of Coke wanted to change the formula and get rid of the "real deal" (sugar, Sugar) and replace it with high fructose corn syrup. They did just that with the launch of New Coke. You can read all about it if you follow the link, but the main point I'm trying to make is that New Coke was a smoke screen brilliantly designed to make the CHANGE, sell it to the public by letting the public think it had "won" the fight to restore Old Coke to the sugar regime. When, in fact, due to some powerful shell game slight of hand with a dash of underhand thrown in, New Coke was withdrawn and Classic Coke was hailed The One! (See capitals letter NOW signify extreme sarcasm, my forte!). Classic Coke didn't have the real deal, it had the "new, improved" high fructose corn syrup, that was the goal all along. You make the people think they are getting what they want by using clever catch phrases and massive brain washing. Such as....

If it doesn't fit, you must acquit.

Change you can believe in.

Etc. You do the work.

So now even before the Accession, it appears that the one is like the Wizard of Oz. He's hiding behind a screen, reading from the script that the Clinton's and THEIR handlers have devised. Only time will tell, to be sure, but smarter people than me have figured out that Hill and Company knew they couldn't win so they made a deal to gain that prize no matter what and the one wanted to move on up to that big house on the hill, so naturally he was thrilled to be high fructose corn syrup!

Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride! I hope to see you on the other side!

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About....

DIABETES.

All you really need to know is that it is an equal opportunity disease that will ravage every organ in your body if it's allowed to function out of control.

Mine seems to be in good control thanks to my gastric bypass surgery and subsequent weight loss, but the damage it has done is still with me and I don't consider myself "cured". I'd rather visualize that it is lurking in the background hoping for a rematch.

Get checked. Get educated.

Get right with the Force!