Just got back from my neighborhood Vons. It was empty — to be expected on a day when most people are eating Thanksgiving leftovers. But there was NO ONE in line at the inside-Vons Starbucks, and this is a phenomenon I’ve only seen in the last two weeks or so. Used to be at least 10 people in line no matter what time of day.

The msnbc article gave props to CVS. I really like CVS. I used to go there when I’d visit my sister in the Wash D.C. area. I’m very glad they expanded west. They are going to be the home of the “Minute Clinic” you guys might have read about — where you can be seen by a nurse practitioner for minor ailments at a low cost. This is important to me because I am going to lose my health insurance at the end of the year.

As for Christmas shopping, I am a real cheapskate. I buy deals online or at the Sports Arena swap meet. My mall addiction was cured about two years ago.