Mail Call!

In today’s mail:

  1. a check for $18.04 from the Foreign Currency Fee Litigation Settlement Fund. My first thought was that it was a scam, but an internet search led me to the BBB and to Reuters’ saying otherwise.
  2. a mailer from Kroger chock full of coupons.
  3. a statement from Hyundai Finance reminding me of my next Purple Whale payment, including a handy payment coupon even though they know I have it set up as an automatic payment from my bank.
  4. and a couple of Christmas cards. One of which included a bunch of old photos of Donna’s family.

The above photo, circa mid 80’s*, was taken in New Orleans. I immediately recognized Donna, but it took me a while to figure out who she was holding on to. Yikes, it’s me! Donna looks just about like she does now, but that person she is standing next to looks nothing like the old guy I see in the mirror every morning.

Try as I might, I couldn’t conclusively make out what is embroidered on the shirt, best guess is Louisiana State University.

*Photo dating clues were Donna’s big glasses, my positive amount of hair, the bicycle helmet I am holding onto and the shortness of my shorts.

Now That’s Insulting

In the past I have unknowingly gotten a senior discount and I haven’t ever called them on it to turn it down, the 5% off is a nice bonus. I have never asked for one that I’m not eligible for nor lied to the unattended self check out at Kroger on Wednesday. But, being 56 I do actually qualify at a few places and I’m not upset by the fact that the only reason they are cutting me some slack is because I am old or just look that way. I just didn’t think I looked that old.

Tonight we made a run to the dollar store for a few items that you can only get at a place like that. We bought 19 of them and the total came to $20.12. Nineteen bucks for the items. A nineteen cent discount. Plus one dollar thirty one cents for tax.

The nineteen cents represents 1% of our purchases and that discount is available in the State of South Carolina everyday on anything you buy…if you are older than 85!

I Got My Wish, Sorta

Back in November I posted:

Terry Francona, the ex-Red Sox manager, announced today that he was not going to try to manage in 2012. Cool, maybe FOX will hire him to replace Tim McCarver.

Tim McCarver is still announcing on FOX, but Mr. Francona has basically swapped jobs with Bobby Valentine and he now will be broadcasting on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball and will also serve as an analyst on their Baseball Tonight show too.

10,000 Miles To Egypt

Somewhere a little south of Egypt, GA the Sonata passed the 10,000 mile plateau. I was hoping for a Welcome To sign to add to my Travels With Brian gallery, but there was none and really the only thing to distinguish Egypt from any other stretch of south Georgia road was that I had to slow to 45MPH for about a 1/4 mile as we passed a crossroads.

The photo is of a M3A1 Stuart Tank used in WWII from Thursday’s stop at the Georgia Veterans State Park.

Downtown Christmas Shopping

We walked the main downtown shopping street in Melbourne twice. Once when we went for lunch and a second time because went back when the “candle light” thing was going on between 5 & 9 PM. There were a fun assortment of stores and restaurants to keep us entertained and fed both trips.

Outside one of the funky little shops there was a colorful flashing, rotating light that danced on the sidewalk that prompted passers-by to dance on the spots.