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Post by Ralph on May 9, 2008 15:04:41 GMT -5
Well it finally comes down to this……..having your license scanned when you want something in the “over 18” bracket. Fastrac now has instituted its new policy for purchasing alcohol, cigarettes, or lottery tickets.
In order to complete the transaction they have to scan your drivers license. No one seems to have a clue if it is used just for verifying your age or if the information goes somewhere.
I’ve quit and started smoking again on and off over the last few years, but they just raised the price of generics to $3.60 a pack. With the new tax being implemented shortly it will soon be almost $5.00…..for generics!!!
I’m tired of paying too much for crap and certainly tired of having to show my ID for everything from beer to MATCHES & LIGHTER FLUID.
It’s getting to be really nuts out there!!!
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Post by Clipper on May 9, 2008 15:30:32 GMT -5
Before Kathy quit smoking, I used to buy her cigarettes on occasion. One place in particular was a stickler for ID. I told the girl one day, that with gray thinning hair and a goatee that is mostly snow white, I thought maybe she could tell that I was over 18.
She said I should be flattered. I told her that I was not only not flattered, I was in doubt of her ability to reason, or judge. I told her if she can't tell the difference between 61 and 18, she probably can't tell the difference between a $5 bill and a $20 bill, and that I would count my change carefully.
After all of that, I asked for a lotto ticket, and she said she had to see my ID AGAIN!! I just laughed and told her I would buy my lotto when I stopped for gas. She was serious. A separate sale required my ID to be scanned again. How stupid.
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Post by Ralph on May 9, 2008 15:34:09 GMT -5
LOL!!!! That was exactly what happened to me today! While we were talking abou the new scanner I asked the girl to give me a couple "scratch offs" so I could give them to Betty. Had to be scanner again for that! Just plain stupid.
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Post by Clipper on May 9, 2008 15:41:38 GMT -5
Haha! I kid with the girl everytime I stop there now for lotto. I told her I wanted her to scan her license, so I would know that she was old enough to be SELLING me lotto tickets. She is a sweetheart and got a kick out of it. She is the niece of one of my neighbors and we have known her ever since we moved here. We used to invite her along when we had the pontoon boat, and went out about every night to cook supper on the boat and cruise around the lake. She always went along for the swimming opportunity when I stopped to cook supper on the gas grill on the boat.
Ya just gotta get grayer Ralph, and wrinkled looking. A white beard helps too! haha.
I hope you and Betty get to go to farmfest, and meet countrygal. It sounds like it would be alot of fun for both you and Betty. Fresh air, animals, good people, and countrygal as frosting on the cake? You can't beat that for a day of fun and entertainment. See if she is riding her new "cowasaki" when ya see her, haha!
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Post by concerned on May 11, 2008 9:55:45 GMT -5
I get my cigs at the Indian Nation. Carneval only $ 21.50 a carton.
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Post by Clipper on May 11, 2008 10:16:36 GMT -5
Oh dear! You can buy name-brand cigarettes here in NE Tennessee, and SW Virginia, such as Marlboro or Winston for 21.50 a carton and generics for as little as 12 or 13 bucks a carton on sale. That includes the applicable taxes at a regular tobacco outlet.
When Kathy quit a couple of months ago, I could still buy her Dorals by the pack at a convenience store for $2.50 a pack.
I can't believe the difference between here and there. I bought gas yesterday for $3.47, and milk for $3.08 a gallon. I still am intent on moving back to NY when my dad passes on, but boy, will it be a shock to the old wallet, haha!
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Post by Ralph on May 11, 2008 10:27:35 GMT -5
The worse shock will be when you get your National Grid bills.
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Post by Clipper on May 11, 2008 11:01:11 GMT -5
Oh yeah! That too!!! We pay our power company a budget plan payment of $128 a month for power. The power is purchased from TVA by Bristol Utilities, and our bill includes our heat and air conditioning, as we have a heat pump for heat and AC.
We also have an 80 gallon hot water heater, because of the Jacuzzi tub I installed for our back problems. There is a program here, that has our hot water heater connected to the power company with some sort of radio controlled device that is controlled by TVA in Nashville,and they turn our heater off for a period of time early in the morning, or late at night, and only for about an hour or so. I guess the program really conserves a lot of energy without having any effect at all on our hot water temperature, as the insulated tank doesn't cool hardly at all in that time. We receive a discount for participating in that program.
Whatever the costs of living in upstate NY, I will be back there as soon as my dad is gone and we can sell this place. I want to spend the remainder of my years fishing the West Canada, and upstate NY lakes and streams. I want to hunt deer in the southerntier, and the Adirondacks. I want to park our 5th wheel under the pines at Lake Durant State Park, and enjoy the song of the loons in the evening. I want to take our annual pilgrimage up the Northway to Lake George and beyond, and back down Route 28, through Blue Mountain Lake, and Old Forge, enjoying the colors, and the clear waters of the Adirondack lakes.
Believe me when I tell you there is no place prettier than the area that is called "upstate NY". I have traveled the world and always find my way back to NY, and I am there now in my dreams and in my heart.
So when you are all feeling the pinch and paying the price, be happy in the fact that you are getting the privilege of living in the most beautiful place in the world for those high taxes and high cost of living. At least you are getting something for your money and I can't wait to rejoin you, regardless of the costs.
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Post by corner on May 12, 2008 6:26:23 GMT -5
Clip why wuld u need to heat hot water? LOL
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Post by wilum47 on May 12, 2008 7:06:53 GMT -5
You hass your papers?
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Post by dgriffin on May 12, 2008 7:21:16 GMT -5
>>No one seems to have a clue if it is used just for verifying your age or if the information goes somewhere.<< If your license has a recording strip on it, they could record information AND read it. Sort of like a traveling cookie to keep track of where you shop, etc. They would justify this by saying the DMV will sell that info to reduce the cost of licensing. They DO sell your name and address and I can prove it. Five years ago, just before I gave up smoking, a kid in a convenience store told me he was supposed to use the lotto machine to proof for cigarettes. That surprised me, that a lotto machine could read a driver's license. Also, the real and only reason the girl wants to ID you for age is because she will be fired if she doesn't. That's how the management enforces their wishes. I have a friend who works in such a store. She's been "fired" three times in the past five years for not IDing a company inspector. She's forced to take a 6 week sabbatical without insurance coverage and, of course, without pay.
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Post by Clipper on May 12, 2008 7:44:05 GMT -5
I stand corrected Corner! LOL! Water heater is sufficient by itself although "cold water heater" would better describe the funtion!
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Post by kim on May 12, 2008 8:01:41 GMT -5
I don't smoke, but I do drink. Nobody ever asks me for ID anymore! I KNOW I don't look older than Clipper! :-o
That's it. I'm going to go to NY so I can be asked for ID and feel young again.
A few years ago my husband and I went to Cavalo's. We wanted to sit on the deck, so we got in the line of people who were waiting to go onto the deck. The guy at that door was checking EVERYONES ID. Without fail. 8 people in front of us, he checked them all. Then he got to us. He not only DID NOT ask us for ID, but he held the door open for us and said 'have a good time ma'am and sir.'.
Shit. Sigh.
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Post by concerned on May 12, 2008 10:25:45 GMT -5
Oh dear! You can buy name-brand cigarettes here in NE Tennessee, and SW Virginia, such as Marlboro or Winston for 21.50 a carton and generics for as little as 12 or 13 bucks a carton on sale. That includes the applicable taxes at a regular tobacco outlet. When Kathy quit a couple of months ago, I could still buy her Dorals by the pack at a convenience store for $2.50 a pack. I can't believe the difference between here and there. I bought gas yesterday for $3.47, and milk for $3.08 a gallon. I still am intent on moving back to NY when my dad passes on, but boy, will it be a shock to the old wallet, haha! The name brands are around $ 4.50/pk and more. I should guit and tried many time I gues I don't have that much determination.
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Post by concerned on May 12, 2008 10:33:40 GMT -5
I don't smoke, but I do drink. Nobody ever asks me for ID anymore! I KNOW I don't look older than Clipper! :-o That's it. I'm going to go to NY so I can be asked for ID and feel young again. A few years ago my husband and I went to Cavalo's. We wanted to sit on the deck, so we got in the line of people who were waiting to go onto the deck. The guy at that door was checking EVERYONES ID. Without fail. 8 people in front of us, he checked them all. Then he got to us. He not only DID NOT ask us for ID, but he held the door open for us and said 'have a good time ma'am and sir.'. Shit. Sigh. Price Chopper in South Utica has a policy that everyone is ID'd who buys beer, etc. I think they dropped it though. Last October I stopped there to pick up a few items including a six pack. At the register this clerk asked for my ID. I said to her now do I look anywhere near younger that 30. She said sorry I have to see your ID. Well I thought I would have a little fun with her and said call the front end manager I don't have any ID with me. That got a few people in line upset so she rang up my sale but in the course of the argument with her I walked out of the store forgetting to pay for my groceries. Next thing ya know I have the police stopping me in the parking lot. What a mess over acrazy six pack. Luckly the cops got a big laugh over it and I went back into the store and paid the front end manager who appologised for all the mess. LOL This is sort of typical of my life, hehe
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