Wow! Food service has really changed

The fast food soda machines look like this

I don’t go out to eat very much so it surprised me to find all this new equipment in restaurants today.  I’m talking about fast food as well as sit-down restaurants.  We only get fast food a couple of times a year.  Hubby won two meals at Wendy’s from the radio station so we went there about a month ago.  It took us a minute to figure out how to use the soda machine.  We’re used to the old fashioned ones with a slot for each beverage.  This one was all press buttons.  Once I selected a beverage a whole new screen popped up with more selections.  We finally got our drinks.  This sure is high tech for fast food.

 A tabletop tablet

All you do is sign with your finger after putting in the tip  Very space age, huh?

A couple of weeks after that, we met some friends at Olive Garden for an early dinner.  I was surprised to find a pay center right at the table.  It even spits out a receipt for you.  When were those installed?  Now there’s no need to wait for a waitress to take care of the bill.  I can see this would be good because it frees up the staff and they also don’t have to leave with your credit card.  Everything is becoming so high-tech.  I’m not sure I like it.

How much is it worth?

Okay guys, I shouldn’t even admit this, but I bought this dress using my change.  A lot of my change. 

I stumbled upon this dress a month ago when I was out looking for black pants for my upcoming job.  I was having no luck at all.  As I was driving down the street contemplating what to do on the pants issue, I spotted my friend’s car across the street from one of the thrift stores in town.  This gal loves to shop at the thrift stores and seems to find the nicest stuff in those places.  Sometimes she turns the items by putting them on consignment at another store in town and actually making a decent profit.

It’s no wonder she knows so many people all over town.  I don’t have the time to do this sort of thing, but I stopped to run in and surprise her.  I think I was the last person she was expecting to see because she looked shocked when I came in the door.

She suggested I look in the thrift store for pants and had even called me a few days earlier wanting me to meet her at a different thrift store because she found some black pants for me.  That didn’t work out, but I looked around anyway and didn’t find anything.  She suggested I go down the street to a newer consignment place that opened up a few months ago.

I didn’t find any black pants there in my size either, but I did spot this dress hanging up on the back wall.  I couldn’t pass up trying it on.  Of course, it fit perfect because I had little cash on me.  I ended up giving the older woman behind the counter a few dollar bills and counted out about $10 in change.  She grinned the whole time.  I doubt she ever had a sale like that one.

The dress was displayed with a necklace that matched it perfectly. I couldn’t afford that and was hoping it would still be there in a month after I had more cash. 

I guess it was meant to be because I went in there last Wednesday and the necklace was waiting for me.  I called her beforehand to make sure it was still there.  Yes, she remembered me from all that change I gave her last month.  She was happy to see me and we had a quite a chat about several different subjects.

I’ve done a few crazy things in my life lately, so I’m unforgettable in a couple of places in town.  So far, that’s been a good thing.