what do you mean you "have to" give me one?

8:50 a.m.

we went camping in ithaca, ny, last week. that's a four or five hour drive from nyc (though it took us a good eight hours to get there this time... don't ask).

it was getting late, we were nearly to ithaca, and we stopped at a flying j to get gas around midnight. i went in to procure some [nasty horrible bad for us and the environment] things to munch on, and when i was paying i told the cashier lady that i didn't need a bag, thank you.

she gave me this baffled look.

"i... i have to give you one," she said, quickly adding "you can use it for trash..." meanwhile stuffing my goodies into a plastic bag and shoving it at me.

i gave her a baffled look.

i've never been "required" to have a plastic bag for my purchase before. dang.


also, the times this morning reported that CARE has refused $45 million in federal funding for a very good reason.