Our grocery store has a self-checkout. I never thought I'd use one. I agreed that if I did, I probably should get a percentage off of my purchase. I love it, though. It's especially great for buying things like rat traps and adult diapers--neither of which I buy but you get the idea. They really did seem to think up everything; the produce gets weighed and it accepts coupons. I hate when employees hover, though. I feel like telling them that if I'm using the self-checkout, I don't expect special help bagging a houseplant or whatever. I don't mind that they monitor because they have a right to protect themselves, but that's done close circuit. I also feel like telling them that people who use the self-checkout may do so because they are in a bad mood or have a lot on their mind; they don't need to be interupted to interact with people. I think Silver Wind would like self-checkouts too come to think of it.

One time for fun (see how boring my life is?) me and my kids chose selected the Spanish language option. We loved when it said 'gracias'.  But then I tried to ring up an unusual type of produce; I don't even remember what it was but it probably wasn't a type of chili pepper or cilantro; doubtful those would be the problem. I couldn't tell which variety to select and I didn't want to pick just anyone and get charged an exorbatant amount for something exotic. My wonderful kids bailed on me and fled to the front of the store. I was so embarrassed. I just stood there while the machine kept asking me questions and giving me orders in Spanish.

OK, that was a pretty boring story. But fear not: NaBloPoMo is in it's last week!