The grocery store lines are way back — like getting offsale or into that hit music club — almost to the produce aisle end, and so you keep switching, and shifting … Swerve to self-serve? Maybe need to stay put, just like choosing not to lane-hop on a backed-up freeway, as you are approaching That Last Sitting Still Car. (Or shopping cart.) And you thought Black Friday was bad? Back In Black? —– Or in Purple, after many years, but at Ziggy’s it was zeros after the first quarter, so yikes for Vikes! See Picks Of The Week.

A funny (not really) thing happened on the way to check-out the forum, at the market.

And the lines to wait in, thusly, the checkout aisle, next to all the trashy magazines, would be so lengthy, you’d think you had been their since the days and years of … the Romans. Read the latest about gladiators? Or newer celebs? They could be much the same as centuries ago.
The first line at the store was, of course, too long. So you could check out the tabloid headlines — hey we all do it — and I have admitted such to the person behind even me at times, adding that I’m (too) a writer and I know all the tricks, as you package it in such a way that there is typically a grain of truth to be found, but don’t hold your breath. (Ah would I write like that?) A typical response? I am to old and dull the be tabloid worthy. (I guess I’m not shopping at one of those trendy department stores.)

— I was not able to make in to Green Mill on Black Friday — no online sales — with their 4 for 6, as in the gift card dollar value, so 46 and 2 if you are a Tool fan, and save your dough instead and go to a concert. But so many such venues still have 4 for 5, to wit if you buy $100 in gift cards you get a free one of $25. Among those also chiming in with that is the Smilin’ Moose. And at other night spots you buy $25 and get a free five spot, such as Ziggy’s.

And so it is with the Sam’s Christmas Village. Seasonal new Christmas Cookie Lager — and alternative to eggnog — from Hop N Barrel, which is available at many area night spots including foremost the nextdoor Ziggy’s, can also be gotten at that mega-Santa-display in Somerset and you might win a (stocking stuffer?) prize that involves ugly sweaters.

Here’s a better shopping experience. It’s a free movie with Santa! With a peppery twist, not just candy canes. Offered through the “Polar Express,” the free movie and one soda and popcorn, at Hudson Cinema 12, is Saturday at 11 a.m. Meet the somewhat odd combo of the 2024 Pepper King and Santa, too. Done via the local Pepper Kings Club. One has to wonder if there is a connection to the North Hudson Pepper Fest, held each summer, but that would be a 2023 version, and this is for 2024, but hey I’ve heard Santa is capable of time travel! So maybe gather up some ideas for peppering up your holiday ham, go beyond the glaze, but be careful with sprinkling such on your free popcorn. —

But back to the cashier crisis. From a friend’s grocery experience, the heads too were dull, when she was in the line. So went to self-check. It was closed, since it would not take either cash or credit, and take your pick, as I’ve seen denial of both over time. So bolted back to the main line, and I’m not being religious, for a change. This is where I started losing track of the main story, as it was quickly and so oddly excitedly being told to me. There were two people (still) waiting way in front. And a third, with enough food being bought to feed an even starving army. The cash register (I’m Old School) had glitches, on top of it, and not just paper jams. So back to self-serve? But line-hopping is seldom rewarded. Alas, since the subject of my story had but a few items, a couple of kind souls later let her to the front, it was western I believe.
On top of it, a guy midstream, who was more distracted, maybe by a mag cover, ran a cart into the back of her ankle as she tried to bolt (for a second time?) from self-serve.
A cashier had an explanation, of sorts. People (multiple in both cases) had either called in sick or come down, otherwise, with Covid. Like a nephew, who was running a 102 fever, and could indeed be another “19 case.” His high temp persists. There are many in this new wave, reported the Milwaukee paper.
And (with the main Christmas shopping coming) at least it was not on Black Friday and its even longer lines, cyber aside. But could it be the Black Plague?
But lets be happy instead. Somewhat recently, and I waited with this post to see if any such thing would come of it, it was National (could it, maybe, be even be International?) Kindness Day. Aww. So do one act of kindness? Save just one life as a start? I am fond of saying that this number is setting the bar way too low.
Those trapped in a checkout lane — watch your ankles, both of them — could use some of this.

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