Visit With Friends

(Ellendale, MN)  Hi 86 Lo 69 -- Storms and rain. This afternoon we met up with our friends Chuck and Linda who live in Albert Lea, about 15 miles south of us. Chuck and Jim were in the Air Force together back in the early 70's. They both served a tour of duty together in Thailand during the Viet Nam war. 


Chuck and  Linda

Chuck owns a trophy shop in downtown Albert Lea. We dropped in to check it out.

It's a nice shop, with plaques, trophies, clothes, and various other items that can be personalized with company, team, or individual names. Chuck had to get back to work on some jobs for the upcoming county fair, so we left and drove across Albert Lea to look at the Freeborn County Fairgrounds. They have a small RV park with water and electric hookups. We were considering trying to get in there, but we probably wouldn't have been able to get a site as they're setting up for the fair next week. We then went to the house to see Linda. She was off work today so we visited with her till Chuck came home.


Linda prepared an excellent dinner of hamburgers, baked beans (her special recipe, which was very tasty!), fruit salad and veggie hors d'oeuvres. Afterwards we relaxed and watched America's Got Talent together. Thank you Chuck and Linda for a wonderful visit.


It was dark when we left for home. On the way home we drove through some pretty thick ground fog. It was so muggy our glasses steamed up when we went outside, and the mosquitoes were swarming. If we didn't know better we'd swear we were in Florida!


One quick correction to our blog from two days ago. I said that the Family Motor Coach Association now allows memberships for owners of trailers and fifth wheels. That isn't exactly true. We found out that FMCA membership is still only for motorcoach owners, but if you own a towable you can subscribe to their magazine "if you intend to purchase a motorcoach in the future." The local chapter president I spoke with said their chapter welcomes towable owners. But he didn't say how you can belong to his chapter and not be a member of the national club. Oh well...
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Since the blog is kind of short today I thought I'd include this list of senior discounts for those over 55. It would be handy to have for reference. Thanks Donna W. for sending it.


108 Stores with Senior Discounts. Gone are the days of your grandmother's "early bird special" at the local diner. As our baby boomers reach retirement age, hundreds of retailers are featuring new and improved discounts exclusively for the 55-and-older crowd. We have composed a list of senior savings that will help you keep more cash in your pocket. Whoever said getting older was a bad thing, obviously didn't know about these fantastic senior discounts!


Restaurants

  * Applebee's: 15% off  with Golden Apple Card (60+)
  * Arby's: 10% off (55+)
  * Ben & Jerry's: 10% off (60+)
  * Bennigan's: discount varies by location
  * Bob's Big Boy: discount varies by location (60+)
  * Boston Market: 10% off (65+)
  * Burger King: 10% off (60+)
  * Captain D's Seafood: discount varies on location (62+)
  * Chick-Fil-A: 10% off or free small drink or coffee (55+)
  * Chili's: 10% off (55+)
  * CiCi's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
  * Culver's: 10% off (60+)
  * Denny's: 10% off, 20% off for AARP members (55+)
  * Dunkin' Donuts: 10% off or free coffee (55+)
  * Einstein's Bagels: 10% off baker's dozen of bagels (60+)
  * Fuddrucker's: 10% off any senior platter (55+)
  * Gatti's Pizza: 10% off (60+)
  * Golden Corral: 10% off (60+)
  * Hardee's: $0.33 beverages everyday  (65+)
  * IHOP: 10% off (55+)
  * Jack in the Box: up to 20% off (55+)
  * KFC: free small drink with any meal (55+)
  * Krispy Kreme: 10% off (50+)
  * Long John Silver's: various discounts at participating locations (55+)
  * McDonald's: discounts on coffee everyday (55+)
  * Mrs. Fields: 10% off at participating locations (60+)
  * Shoney's: 10% off
  * Sonic: 10% off or free beverage (60+)
  * Steak 'n Shake: 10% off every Monday & Tuesday (50+)
  * Subway: 10% off (60+)
  * Sweet Tomatoes 10% off (62+)
  * Taco Bell: 5% off; free beverages for seniors (65+)
  * TCBY: 10% off (55+)
  * Tea Room Cafe: 10% off (50+)
  * Village Inn: 10% off (60+)
  * Waffle House: 10% off every Monday (60+)
  * Wendy's: 10% off (55+)
  * White Castle: 10% off (62+)

Retail and Apparel

  * Banana Republic: 10% off (50+)
  * Bealls: 20% off first Tuesday of each month (50+)
  * Belk's: 15% off first Tuesday of every month (55+)
  * Big Lots: 10% off
  * Bon-Ton Department Stores: 15% off on senior discount days (55+)
  * C.J. Banks: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
  * Clarks : 10% off (62+)
  * Dress Barn: 10% off (55+)
  * Goodwill: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
  * Hallmark: 10% off one day a week (date varies by location)
  * Kmart: 20% off (50+)
  * Kohl's: 15% off  (60+)
  * Modell's Sporting Goods: 10% off
  * Rite Aid: 10% off on Tuesdays & 10% off prescriptions
  * Ross Stores: 10% off every Tuesday (55+)
  * The Salvation Army Thrift Stores: up to 50% off (55+)
  * Stein Mart: 20% off red dot/clearance items first Monday of every month (55+)

Grocery

  * Albertson's: 10% off first Wednesday of each month (55+)
  * American Discount Stores: 10% off every Monday (50+)
  * Compare Foods Supermarket: 10% off every Wednesday (60+)
  * DeCicco Family Markets: 5% off every Wednesday (60+)
  * Food Lion: 6% off every Monday (60+)
  * Fry's Supermarket: free Fry's VIP Club Membership & 10% off every Monday (55+)
  * Great Valu Food Store: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
  * Gristedes Supermarket: 10% off every Tuesday (60+)
  * Harris Teeter: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
  * Hy-Vee: 5% off one day a week (date varies by location)
  * Kroger: 10% off (date varies by location)
  * Morton Williams Supermarket: 5% off every Tuesday (60+)
  * The Plant Shed: 10% off every Tuesday (50+)
  * Publix: 5% off every Wednesday (55+)
  * Rogers  Marketplace: 5% off every Thursday (60+)
  * Uncle Guiseppe's Marketplace: 5% off (62+)

Travel

  * Alaska Airlines: 10% off (65+)
  * Alamo: up to 25% off for AARP members
  * American Airlines: various discounts for 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
  * Amtrak: 15% off (62+)
  * Avis: up to 25% off for AARP members
  * Best Western: 10% off (55+)
  * Budget Rental Cars: 10% off; up to 20% off for AARP members (50+)
  * Cambria  Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Clarion: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Comfort Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Comfort Suites: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Continental Airlines: no initiation fee for Continental Presidents Club & special fares for select destinations
  * Dollar Rent-A-Car: 10% off (50+)
  * Econo Lodge: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 5% off for AARP members
  * Greyhound: 5% off (62+)
  * Hampton Inns & Suites: 10% off when booked 72 hours in advance
  * Hertz: up t0 25% off for AARP members
  * Holiday Inn: 10%-30% off depending on location (62+)
  * Hyatt Hotels: 25%-50% off (62+)
  * InterContinental Hotels Group: various discounts at all hotels (65+)
  * Mainstay Suites: 10% off with Mature Traveler's Discount (50+); 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Marriott Hotels: 15% off (62+)
  * Motel 6: 10% off (60+)
  * Myrtle Beach  Resort: 10% off (55+)
  * National Rent-A-Car: up to 30% off for AARP members
  * Quality Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Rodeway Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Sleep Inn: 20%-30% off (60+)
  * Southwest Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
  * Trailways Transportation System: various discounts for ages 50 and up
  * United Airlines: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before booking for discount)
  * U.S.  Airways: various discounts for ages 65 and up (call before
booking for discount)

Activities and Entertainment

  * AMC Theaters: up to 30% off (55+)
  * Bally Total Fitness: up to $100 off memberships (62+)
  * Busch  Gardens Tampa: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)
  * Carmike Cinemas: 35% off (65+)
  * Cinemark/Century Theaters: up to 35% off
  * U.S.  National Parks: $10 lifetime pass; 50% off additional services
including camping (62+)
  * Regal Cinemas: 30% off
  * Ripley's Believe it or Not: @ off one-day ticket (55+)
  * SeaWorld Orlando: $3 off one-day tickets (50+)

Cell Phone Discounts

  * AT&T: Special Senior Nation 200 Plan $29.99/month (65+)
  * Jitterbug: $10/month cell phone service (50+)
  * Verizon Wireless: Verizon Nationwide 65 Plus Plan $29.99/month (65+)

Hair Care

  * Great Clips: $3 off hair cuts (60+)
  * Super Cuts: $2 off haircuts (60+)

Since many senior discounts are not advertised to the public, our advice to men and women over 55 is to ALWAYS ask a sales associate if that store provides a senior discount. That way, you can be sure to get the most bang for your buck.