I had to go to the regular grocery store today. This means any grocery store that is not Westborn Market, Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. See, we were nearly out of TP and that requires a trip to the regular store. Of which, I am rather afraid.
Usually I just run in and grab the TP and get out fast (often with ice cream, strange how that happens). Usually, I make it out before the panic sets in. This time, I decided to just grab a few other things since I didn't really need to make a trip all the way out to Westborn due to the still stuffed Thanksgiving fridge.
Inside the regular store, it is just so big and there is so much food that no one really needs to be eating, ever. Scary things. In really bright packages that have lies printed on them. There is a whole frozen case devoted to weird things to microwave for breakfast. And none of them look as tasty as what I usually eat - an apple and a piece of cheese. Also Gorilla Munch, which does come in a rather brightly colored package, but I immediately dump it into a nice glass jar so all is well there.
So I end up walking around this place with my mouth hanging open in wonder and terror. I am sure the employees must think I am nuts.
Here is what I managed to buy:
12 pears in a multi-colored selection (separated by variety so there was no fight with the cashier this time)
A bag of oranges for MV ( which I consider too difficult to eat due to the white stuff but he doesn't seem bothered by it)
Lunch meat for MV (did you know there is something called olive loaf? Seriously, there is. But you can be sure I have no idea what it tastes like)
Laura's ground beef (for the shepherds pie to use up the left over Thanksgiving mashed potatoes)
Beef broth (see beef above)
Hummus (MI made from Garden Fresh - yum!)
Quilted Northern TP (but not the mega rolls which are just weird)
You will note that there is no ice cream included in this list. Sadly, it was not on sale which I had to take as a sign.
So, am I weird? Is anyone else scared of the regular grocery store? I have this feeling it is just me...
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Shout Out to the Tofurky Women in Trader Joe's
Awesomeness is sometimes quite obvious. There are people who do something and the world is changed for the better because of their actions. As a result, they may become famous, get on TV or receive a big award and everyone talks about it. Sometimes even after their passing, on into time for new generations to ponder and emulate. What we choose to honor as these acts of greatness defines us as a society.
Then there is a much smaller version of awesomeness. Everyday in nature and easy to overlook. No one is going to talk about these acts on into time or usually even at all. It is the greatness of the small acts we do with each and every choice we make. This is what defines us as a community and as individuals.
From time to time, I like to celebrate small acts of awesomeness that have stuck with me. Shall we share one together?
I overheard the following conversation in Trader Joe's this weekend as I was pondering the cheese selection. It was between two regular, average, nothing-jumping-out-at-me-to-remember middle aged women standing in front of the Tofurky display.
Woman 1: So that's it?
Woman 2: Yep, it is. It even comes with it's own gravy.
W 1: And that is what she eats?
W 2: That's what she said.
W 1: Well, that's what you need then.
And the box went into the cart.
When you are saying this conversation in your head, make sure to say it like I heard it. With a bit of doubt maybe, but pretty much just checking the situation out. I am pretty sure neither of them had ever heard of Tofurky before.
Ok, you are thinking, this little story is getting a bit boring. But that's kind of the point. Nothing big was happening, just two women shopping. But the simple action of buying something that they had never heard of, and probably found a bit weird, for one of them to prepare for someone she cared about struck me as being one of the most important things I might hear all day. I was hearing pure tolerance and love for someone who was different from them.
Go back to the conversation and say it in your head with a negative attitude in your voice. That is what she eats? like you think she is weird and bothersome and just trying to cause trouble. All too often, it goes like that.
So, big shout out to that Tofurky buying woman and her supportive friend. I think it is super awesome that you cared enough about this person coming to your Thanksgiving feast to take into consideration her preferences.
I totally wanted to tap you on the shoulder and tell you. But that might have been just a little bit too weird.
Then there is a much smaller version of awesomeness. Everyday in nature and easy to overlook. No one is going to talk about these acts on into time or usually even at all. It is the greatness of the small acts we do with each and every choice we make. This is what defines us as a community and as individuals.
From time to time, I like to celebrate small acts of awesomeness that have stuck with me. Shall we share one together?
I overheard the following conversation in Trader Joe's this weekend as I was pondering the cheese selection. It was between two regular, average, nothing-jumping-out-at-me-to-remember middle aged women standing in front of the Tofurky display.
Woman 1: So that's it?
Woman 2: Yep, it is. It even comes with it's own gravy.
W 1: And that is what she eats?
W 2: That's what she said.
W 1: Well, that's what you need then.
And the box went into the cart.
When you are saying this conversation in your head, make sure to say it like I heard it. With a bit of doubt maybe, but pretty much just checking the situation out. I am pretty sure neither of them had ever heard of Tofurky before.
Ok, you are thinking, this little story is getting a bit boring. But that's kind of the point. Nothing big was happening, just two women shopping. But the simple action of buying something that they had never heard of, and probably found a bit weird, for one of them to prepare for someone she cared about struck me as being one of the most important things I might hear all day. I was hearing pure tolerance and love for someone who was different from them.
Go back to the conversation and say it in your head with a negative attitude in your voice. That is what she eats? like you think she is weird and bothersome and just trying to cause trouble. All too often, it goes like that.
So, big shout out to that Tofurky buying woman and her supportive friend. I think it is super awesome that you cared enough about this person coming to your Thanksgiving feast to take into consideration her preferences.
I totally wanted to tap you on the shoulder and tell you. But that might have been just a little bit too weird.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
I Love Words
Everything about them. How they can be placed into a basic sentence to serve your immediate communication need or how they can be spun into a tale that completely absorbs your very existence and requires you to awake from a dream when you are finished reading.
Years ago, I picked up a book in Heathrow airport. I cannot survive a flight without having enough reading material to leave no possibility that I will run out. I think I actually grabbed three off the 'buy two, get one' table. This specific book was by an Irish author and told the story of a carpenter who had become deaf as a child in a bombing by the IRA. It didn't fixate on the bombing, but was a novel of his life as an adult. I can't remember the plot beyond what I just told you, but what sticks in my mind is the artistry of the prose. I was mesmerized. Completely taken in by the words, how they formed together and flowed from one to the other was a thing of beauty. I loaned the book to my mother when she was recovering from a surgery and she cannot now find it. I long for that book. She assumes it is somewhere in her house still. All of her books were packed into boxes during a remodeling project and have not yet come back out. So someday we may be reunited. Maybe. Until then, it lives in my memory like a lost love. I do hope that the metaphor stops there and doesn't include it coming back into my life sporting long-forgotten terrible habits and a beer belly (or the literary equivalent - choppy sentences and often repeated dull words).
Here are a few ways to learn more words for yourself. (So when you talk to me, I will swoon.)
Save the Words - just heard about this the other day on NPR. You adopt a fading word and pledge to use it as often as possible. Haven't picked my word yet, but had to close the window while writing this because the little voices were kind of freaking me out.
Free Rice - terribly addictive game, designed by a father to help his son on a standardized vocab test. You just choose the word that means the same as the word you are given (the synonym - but you knew that word right?) and for each time you play, rice is donated to feed the hungry. As you advance levels, the words get harder. I popped on to make sure I got the link right and I am up to level 36. The words are getting rather difficult. Or should I say formidable?
Thesaurus.com - really I don't know half the words you think I know. Or rather, I know them but cannot always recall the perfect one at the moment that it is needed. So I cheat. Or I am quite ingenious. You pick. I just know that I hate to read something that uses the same old word over and over and over.
Now your task is to pick a word and start using it. Or play a round of free rice. And let me know what you picked or how you did. It will be music to my ears.
And if anyone ever finds out what the title of that book is, you will be my literary hero!
Years ago, I picked up a book in Heathrow airport. I cannot survive a flight without having enough reading material to leave no possibility that I will run out. I think I actually grabbed three off the 'buy two, get one' table. This specific book was by an Irish author and told the story of a carpenter who had become deaf as a child in a bombing by the IRA. It didn't fixate on the bombing, but was a novel of his life as an adult. I can't remember the plot beyond what I just told you, but what sticks in my mind is the artistry of the prose. I was mesmerized. Completely taken in by the words, how they formed together and flowed from one to the other was a thing of beauty. I loaned the book to my mother when she was recovering from a surgery and she cannot now find it. I long for that book. She assumes it is somewhere in her house still. All of her books were packed into boxes during a remodeling project and have not yet come back out. So someday we may be reunited. Maybe. Until then, it lives in my memory like a lost love. I do hope that the metaphor stops there and doesn't include it coming back into my life sporting long-forgotten terrible habits and a beer belly (or the literary equivalent - choppy sentences and often repeated dull words).
Here are a few ways to learn more words for yourself. (So when you talk to me, I will swoon.)
Save the Words - just heard about this the other day on NPR. You adopt a fading word and pledge to use it as often as possible. Haven't picked my word yet, but had to close the window while writing this because the little voices were kind of freaking me out.
Free Rice - terribly addictive game, designed by a father to help his son on a standardized vocab test. You just choose the word that means the same as the word you are given (the synonym - but you knew that word right?) and for each time you play, rice is donated to feed the hungry. As you advance levels, the words get harder. I popped on to make sure I got the link right and I am up to level 36. The words are getting rather difficult. Or should I say formidable?
Thesaurus.com - really I don't know half the words you think I know. Or rather, I know them but cannot always recall the perfect one at the moment that it is needed. So I cheat. Or I am quite ingenious. You pick. I just know that I hate to read something that uses the same old word over and over and over.
Now your task is to pick a word and start using it. Or play a round of free rice. And let me know what you picked or how you did. It will be music to my ears.
And if anyone ever finds out what the title of that book is, you will be my literary hero!
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Grade Report
You know that open book test with no book? Apparently I set the curve. We got our tests back in class on Monday and I managed to pull off a 94% - perfect short answer and 4 multiple choice wrong. Two of those, I'm not so sure I couldn't argue my way into being right if I needed. The third was from the one "additional reading" article I didn't manage to read. And the fourth - well for that one I was just plain wrong. The professor let us know that the highest score in the class was 94%. I sat quietly at my desk, biting my tongue and holding in an overwhelming desire to announce that it was me (me, me, me!) See, the parking lot is big and dark and I am not sure I want to make any enemies.
So enough whining already.
I celebrated by stopping by Scoops Ice Cream on Orchard Lake on the way home. Ice cream when it is freezing out? Oh yes. Stick with me and your taste buds will be in heaven.
Order two baby scoops in the same bowl. The chocolate almond and the pumpkin. Pumpkin is a softer ice cream, so have it on top or the chocolate will squish it. Then dig in and get a bit of both on your spoon.
It was so fabulous I went back again today. I took a picture so you could see how it works.
Goes quite well with coffee if you are so inclined. There's a Starbucks right up the street...
So enough whining already.
I celebrated by stopping by Scoops Ice Cream on Orchard Lake on the way home. Ice cream when it is freezing out? Oh yes. Stick with me and your taste buds will be in heaven.
Order two baby scoops in the same bowl. The chocolate almond and the pumpkin. Pumpkin is a softer ice cream, so have it on top or the chocolate will squish it. Then dig in and get a bit of both on your spoon.
It was so fabulous I went back again today. I took a picture so you could see how it works.
Oops, I kind of ate it in the car. But here it is with visual aids so you won't forget.
Goes quite well with coffee if you are so inclined. There's a Starbucks right up the street...
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