Alma The Songbird Of The Texas Gulf Coast Pointed Me Towards The Right Buckets To Drop A Quarter

I was just fixin' to write a check to make a donation to UNICEF when I got an email from the Songbird of the Texas Gulf Coast, Alma, currently crooning at various venues in Port Aransas, that caused me to change my mind and decide to drop a quarter into the next Salvation Army bucket I see instead.

Below is the email from Alma....

As you open your pockets for the next natural disaster, or for Christmas donations, please keep these facts in mind:

The American Red Cross President and CEO Marsha J. Evans salary for the year was $651,957 plus expenses.

The United Way President Brian Gallagher receives a $375,000 base salary along with numerous expense benefits.

UNICEF CEO Caryl M. Stern receives $1,200,000 per year (100k per month) plus all expenses including a ROLLS ROYCE. Less than 5 cents of your donated dollar goes to the cause.

The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.

The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

No further comment is necessary. Please share this with everyone you can.

Missing Caulkers With A Drought In My Pool With Salvation Army Bell Ringers & Christmas Trees At Wal-Mart

With the passing of today, November 10, a third of November will already be history.

I went to the Beach Street Wal-Mart Supercenter yesterday after inspecting the Tandy Hills and was appalled to be greeted, not by the elderly Wal-Mart greeter, but by a Salvation Army bell ringer.

And inside Wal-Mart there was a tall Christmas tree, already totally tarted up with balls, lights and glitter.

Looking through the bars of my patio prison cell, this morning, you can see neither my pool or hot tub is being blue this morning. But I'm feeling blue, due to their being no water in either.

So, no swimming for me this morning. Which means I will be suffering endorphin and shock chill thrill withdrawal soon. I will not be able to fix that withdrawal problem til sometime in the late afternoon, due to needing to be in the north part of the D/FW Metroplex in the noon time frame.

Caulkers were supposed to show up yesterday, after pool drainage was complete, to do some caulking repairs. But, the repairers failed to appear. More urgent caulking must have been needed elsewhere.

Chicken and lasagna with tomato salad is on the lunch menu today. It will be late, a bit before 2. Show up on time or the lasagna will be all gone.

The Salvation Army Bell Ringers Accepting Credit Cards In North Richland Hills Texas

I had read somewhere that some Salvation Army Bell Ringers now accept credit cards. But I had not seen this in person til today.

That's the credit card accepting Salvation Army Bell Ringer at the North Richland Hills Wal-Mart Supercenter on Davis Boulevard.

I was a far distance away, using the zoom to take the picture. The Salvation Army Bell Ringer had no idea he was under surveillance.

It seems sort of cruel to stick the Salvation Army Bell Ringers outside during this Arctic Blast we are currently freezing with, here in North Texas.

It is currently 32 with the wind making it feel like 24.

How does the Salvation Army Bell Ringer process a credit card, I could not help but wonder.

I remember being at the Taos Pueblo in New Mexico and the native Taos tour guide telling us that the natives live the same way they did hundreds of years ago, with no modern conveniences, no electricity, no phones.

After the Taos tour you are invited to visit various shops that sell native handicraft type stuff and food, like this bread you could not help but want, after smelling it baking for an hour in a wood fired kiln type thing. After hearing the Taos Pueblo had no modern conveniences I was a bit surprised to see that credit cards were accepted. And processed over a phone line. In a room with illumination provided by light bulbs.

I'm fairly certain the Salvation Army Bell Ringer that accepted credit cards had a very efficient way to do so. I didn't whip mine out to find out how though.

I Gave A Dime To The Salvation Army Bell Ringer Today In Fort Worth

That is a Salvation Army Bell Ringer at the Eastchase Wal-Mart Supercenter in east Fort Worth, today at noon. About 5 days ago I started seeing the Salvation Army Bell Ringers in front of various Wal-Marts.

I'm probably remembering wrong, but this seems like way too early a start to the whole Christmas thing. Christmas music was playing inside Wal-Mart today. I found that totally unneccessary.

Yes, I admit to being a bit of a Scrooge. I've never much enjoyed the period of time known as "The Holidays." I am always a bit relieved when it's all over for another year.

I asked the Wal-Mart Salvation Bell Ringer if I could take her picture if I put money in her bucket. She said yes, so I dropped a dime. I'm a real big spender when it comes to Christmas.

Texas Salvation Army Bell Ringers Accept Credit Cards

I don't like how Wal-Mart lets various charities, petition purveyors or even Fort Worth Star-Telegram subscription hawkers set up at their entrances, harassing shoppers as they come and go. It's very annoying.

For about 2 weeks ago now the Salvation Army has taken up their annual bell ringing positions outside stores all over America, including Wal-Mart.

Whenever I am held up by one of these type things, be it the Salvation Army or someone seeking money to help kids play soccer, I always say "I don't have any money, do you take credit cards?" Of course the person wanting money always says no to the credit card question.

Til now.

A dozen or so D/FW Metroplex Salvation Army bell ringers are now able to answer yes to my credit card question. Since I've no idea which of the 500 or so Metroplex bell ringers are able to accept credit cards I have to find a new way to say no.

If you do come across one of the Salvation Army credit card acceptors and you want to make a donation the minimum donation if you use a credit or debit card is $5. The ruthless, uncharitable credit card companies charge the Salvation Army 25 cents per transaction, plus 2.9% of the amount donated. Heartless bastards.

If you donate by card you'll get a receipt for tax purposes, it being a tax deductible donation.