I’m not sure the penalty for identity fraud connected to financial representation, so I’m not necessarily admitting to anything; so, the following story is completely hypothetical. In our early years of marriage we used to get Traveler’s Cheques for vacation. Even when we finally got a credit card, which we did so we could rent a car one year, we still took most of our vacation money as Traveler’s Cheques. Now that everyplace takes credit and bank cards, we haven’t bothered with Traveler’s Cheques for a few years. But, have some travel money tied up in a few of those VISA gift cards you can pick up at grocery and big box department stores. Here’s the thing with those gift cards – they’re not attached to your actual bank account or actual identity, so if you lose one on vacation you don’t have to worry about someone draining your bank account. You’d only be out the money you sunk into that actual card. Since no one asks for ID when you’re using those cards, I take advantage of their lack of procedure with some absurdity of my own. (Again, in “theory”.)
They process just like a credit card and print out a receipt for signature. Since the card isn’t officially in my name, I may have signed some other names on those receipts. Names like Mickey Mouse, John Hancock, John Wayne, Han Solo, Calvin & Hobbes, Moweaqua Illinois, and McDonalds (at a McDonalds). Not once did any employee even look at those signatures. If they’d have asked for ID I might have been in trouble. Oh well, they still got their money, and just maybe, an accountant somewhere will balance credit card receipts and get a chuckle (in my theoretical world).
I wanted to post some vacation pictures for your enjoyment. Here are a few of the people we got to spend time with (never enough).

We started in Central Illinois with our families. JJ got a new pocket knife from grandpa. (So did I.) He's sitting on the swing at Gram & Pa's working on his whittling.

Father's Day evening with Deana's family. The grandkids with Gram & Pa, except new baby Austin in Florida.

And here's the "guilty look". Learning how to work the bar WAY to early! They were ordering cokes and water.

This is after I'd preached at Grace Church Sunday morning. With our dear friend Linda Van Natta, who also served as our hostess in Elgin.
Notice the Texas tie!

Linda hosted a wonderful lunch cookout for us with several Grace Church friends. Deana at a table with some of the choir ladies - Pam, Lois, Marilyn & Carolyn.

A little more time with grandparents (and nephew Michael) on the way back through central Illinois. Our favorite place to eat when back home - MONICAL'S PIZZA!
Many miles. Great fun! Wonderful time with friends and family that is never enough. What a great vacation.
Maybe I’ll get one more vacation post up about our Six Flags visits during vacation.
Still recuperating,
Jeff
Posted: July 7, 2010
Filed under: Amelia, Deana, Denton Family, Eating, Elgin IL, Food, Grace Evangelical Church, Grandparents, JJ, Jeff, Money, Pastor Jeff, Pictures
Tagged: Family, Jeff, vacation
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