Thursdays Thoughts

This is one those blogs with a little news, a few thoughts and some gripes.

Temperatures have been in the upper 90’s where our little cabin is hiding.  It’s been hot and our air conditioner hasn’t been working.  We hope it’s the thermostat because we bought a new one even though it hasn't been installed yet.  However, with the weather cooling down we may not need it for a while.  Temperatures  are finally dropping and should be down to low 80's and upper 70’s soon.  Now that sounds perfect to me. 

Yesterday we made a trip to town with Duchess.  She gets so excited when she discovers she gets to go.   We didn’t tell her it was time to visit the vet and get her nails trimmed.    At the vets we were a little surprised when we were asked to sign a form promising not to take her medicine ourselves.  Evidently, people use their dogs as an excuse to get pain medication for themselves.  Who would have thought!  

I don’t know about you but I certainly get tired of being asked at every store I visit to donate to their current charity.  The concept isn't new but has become so commonplace at grocery stores, drug stores and even restaurants that I bet most shoppers also get tired of it.   This week we were asked to buy school items that would be given to local military families.  Since there is no military base, we were wondering what military families and where.  That’s not to say we don’t donate occasionally because we do but there has to be a stopping point because we can't continually give.  

Charities collect lots of money in this way but before I donate I make sure I'm familiar with that charity. Besides that if we give today, how soon does the money actually get to the charity.  Also, does the store keep a cut? Stores can collect large dollar amounts at checkout as it’s easier to get money out of someone when their wallet is already open.  As an example, JC Penney raised $10.4 million in six months by just asking customers to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar.  Regardless, I still get tired of being asked with every purchase I make.

Here’s another one of my grips – commercials.  We try to record most of the shows but can’t do them all.  If we could we’d skip through the commercials. Marie Osmond and the discovery of gaining 50 pounds is really getting old.  You’d think by now she’d just accept the fact that she gained the weight and be done with it! 

Tear jerkers aren’t fun to watch either. Whether or not the person on the screen is someone who has been helped or not, you know that person has been told to cry so they can film it.  The idea is to get YOU to dig in your pocket and send money.  Whatever tactic works best, they’ll try.  I’m not saying these are bad organizations.  They aren’t.  They’re wonderful organizations and it’s just the commercial I hate.    Some report that  about 80% of received donations go to fund their programs. 

What I have never been able to understand though is why they ask you to donate and then spend money on supplying blankets or magazines to the donors and not the animals or the people.  If I’m going to donate, I want the money to be used for what I intend it for.   If I want a blanket, I’ll buy my own blanket.  Why not give those blankets to organizations that take care of the homeless pets or people that could use them?

We recently discovered a no-kill organization in our current area.  There are many homeless animals and having a local organization to feed and care for them is a real plus.  However, there is a downside to some of these organizations.  We know many RVers who have tried to “adopt” homeless pets and been refused.  Why are they refused?  They’re refused because they have no fence and travel around the country in their RV.  Many of these people would be the best “parents” ever.  They spend 24 hours a day with their pets and take many long walks with them each day.  The pets are pampered and loved.  Never are they left alone and without companionship in fenced back yards.  Due to restrictions and even background checks (yes, background checks), many homeless animals are not allowed to become adopted by loving “parents”.  How sad is that?

Something new to us was having a recent restaurant server  use a credit card reader at our table.  We were given a choice of 22%, 20% or “other” for the tip?  Hmm .. Sometimes our tip may be in that range but not all the time.  The “other” requires yet another screen and a few more questions.  Interesting for sure and the credit card didn’t leave our sight.

‘Tis life on the road.

If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater, suggest that he wear a tail.