Good Morning.

Hopefully it will be a quiet "in-between" weekend for all of you out there. As for me, there's no rest - I'm at the store both days this weekend including a full 8 hours on the sales floor today. (Increasingly rare in retail.) It's not quite peak 'return' season, but today will be at least as busy as last Sunday.


I've got one of those curious nostalgia ideas in my head today. Do we all remember money? I don't mean "I remember having money before the recession" sort of thing, I mean money itself. I want you all to go and get your wallets; I'll wait.

What's in it?

I've got two debit cards, my ubiquitous Dunkin' Donuts card, and surprisingly enough, about $30 in actual paper money in there right now. But ponder those debit cards and that DD card. When was the last time you actually paid cash for anything?

I actually did yesterday...at the cafe at work; I handed over a $20 to pay for lunch. Even the cashier commented, "Wow, actual cash!" or words to that effect. I bough gas, groceries, even donuts this week, without touching as much as a penny. It's a great convenience, but like everything else there's a downside.

Did you all shop at Target during the runup to Christmas? Well, Mrs. TriSec did, and we've since gotten a love-letter from the bank. While we haven't been compromised, we have been put on notice to be vigilant. One of our friends didn't wait; she cancelled her account entirely and opened a new one with new cards and PIN.

It sure is curious. I remember the "cash" era well enough. Remember that great feeling in carrying around a fat wallet on a Saturday night? While pickpockets and other rogues would occasionally make their presence know, it seems to me that it was much easier and safer to walk into a business, hand over cash for a good or service, and walk out...all the while remaining mostly anonymous, too!

There's always some kind of backlash or another going on. We've had the local food movement, Local Saturday during the Christmas season, farmers' markets, community events, and who knows what else. Maybe it's time for a "Pay Cash Day" to go along with it.

Of course I have a story...but couldn't really work it into the blog. Enjoy!