Right On Target. And Starbucks

(See yesterday's post).

     Yesterday in protest of the now over a million pledges by Christians with The American Family Association to boycott Target,

...I promised to go shopping today at Target even though I didn't really need anything.  
    Of course, once I started roaming the aisles of the store I came across quite a few things that I realized I needed.
     Does that ever happen to you, too?   
     But I digress.  I was planning on also stopping by Starbucks and Barnes & Noble as well, since, though they haven't been marked by the religious self-righteous crowd for boycott like Target has been - I expect it would be too much to ask even the most fiery zealots to give up their morning  Grande Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino and, well, I don't know, maybe that crowd just doesn't go to Barnes & Noble all that much -  those two stores also stood up for transgender rights.
     Anyway, despite my best intentions, I made it to only two of my three destinations.  Long story short, a week ago I busted up my pinky toe good (I won't even go into the dumb though quite creative way I did it).

     Here is my black-and-blue little toe and foot  shortly after the event, swelled up to approximately three times normal.

     I neglected seeing a doctor, figuring my toe would heal on its own, until this morning when I realized that  one week after the event my foot was still feeling not great.
      So I called the foot doc this morning, he said come to his office posthaste, which I did, posthaste, and he wrapped up my ailing toe, assuring me that I'd merely ripped holy heck out of a ligament and that my little piggy would most likely be right as rain in a few weeks,
      Still, I spent most of the morning into the afternoon at the doctor's office, and though my foot was feeling hundreds of percents better when I left his office, I was now crimped for time before I had to get to work

teaching little hands to make beautiful music,

...and besides, by the time I'd finished my Target shopping  my bad foot was begging for mercy.  
     Subsequently I never made it to Barnes And Noble, but I promise I will give that stores its due in the, hopefully, not too distant future.
     Anyway, during my drive over I was wondering if the million-person boycott was coming home to roost at my local Target at Easton Town Center. 

     Judging from the crowded parking lot, 

...and the busy check-out area,

 ...I guessed not.
      Since I'd arrived at Target directly from the doctor's office I figured I'd start my afternoon of Shopping For Justice with some lunch from the Target snack bar,

...from whence I was able to snag a  Hot & Tasty mini-pizza and a diet Coke,

...killing two birds with one stone:  1) lunch and 2) dropping some coin at Target.
      I  actually ended up killing three birds since, as luck would have it, there was a Starbucks in this Target.

      Not a coffee drinker, I opted for a dessert.  There were quite a few nice-looking dessert choices,

...with quite a few calories.

     So I went for my originally intended choice, a 140-calorie cake pop.

    You know, for its small size that little ball has got to be one of the most concentrated calorific units on the planet.
   But, boy, was it good!  I could easily have scarfed down two or three more of those fattening little pink bad boys,

...but I resisted and got on  about the business I'd come here for.
    Spending money.
    Which I ended up having no problem doing.
  

     I bought a new watch.  (Actually I bought two.  I must have a watch on at all times while teaching lessons, otherwise I won't know when to stop, and as I lose watches left and right, I always like to have a spare in my purse and a couple spares at home).

     I also purchased some new socks,

...some new curtains,

... new stickers with which to  reward my hard-working little piano students,

...and, in a burst of inspiration,

a cute blouse as a gift for a transgender gal pal.

    Then, feeling satisfied that I'd spent a righteous amount of money, I  sought out the check-out counter with the shortest line and waited my turn.

   As I piled my merchandise onto the belt I asked the young sales clerk how business was.

    The clerk pulled in a deep breath. "Really busy," she sighed. 
    I told her I'd been wondering whether business would be down today because of the boycott.
    The girl didn't know what I was talking about.  Just as well.  I didn't tell her.
     Why disturb calm waters?