Thursday, February 26, 2009

Jesus is Just Alright With Me

Every year for the past 20 or so years i have abstained from eating meat during Lent, but this "sacrifice" has lost its luster. I have found wonderful alternatives to meat. fake meats, tofu, veggies etc. This year i needed a challenge a real sacrifice. i'm not religious, i don't get ash smeared on my forehead. i give "something" up because i want to test myself. Regardless of what you believe in, Jesus seemed like a righteous dude and if he could test himself then maybe there is something to learn from self-sacrifice? Whatever. This year, along with the meat i decided to abstain from alcohol. (GASP) In the past, St. Patrick's Day always got in the way of this little test. This year i'm ready. Over under is 2 weeks in. I took the Over. Come Easter I'll be toasting, "to alcohol the cause of and solution to all of life's problems". -Homer Simpson

Super Market

Today i went to Market: Trader Joe's and Food 4 Less. Both wonderful establishments offering different products exclusive to each location. For example, if you are in search of a 26 pack of 'the champagne of beers' for under 14 bucks then Food 4 Less is your destination. But if you are looking for edamame hummus then set your course for Trader Joe's.

Edamame Hummus aside; as delicious as it is, Trader Joe's has 2 major draw-backs. the people who shop there are all shit crusted assholes and there never seems to be any available parking. Okay, not ALL people who shop there are assholes, but my experience there is always the same leaving me feeling guilty i walked in and eager to leave. At first i thought maybe it was me. Maybe i should not have done my shopping from the carts of the other patrons. or that maybe it was because i was not Eco-cool and did not bring in my own shopping bags. But its not that. No matter what city, no matter what time of the day, the people who shop there are real jerks. (for the most part.) I get hit by carts, cut off, and rushed through aisles as i try to shop. I like Trader Joe's, correction, i LOVE; i LURFT Trader Joe's! the products are one of a kind and the prices are great, i just wish the place was friendlier.

Now Food 4 Less, there's a friendly store. Children running freely throwing produce at each other and at other shoppers, patrons eating as they stroll the aisles with the greatest of leisure leaving half eaten products and food wrappers stuffed between packages, security guards that look too old, or too drunk to actually aid in the case of any real emergency... its a very welcoming place.

Perhaps i am being too picky, like the Goldie-locks of Market Places. This place is too snobby, that place too shantytown but nothing is just right. i don't spend my whole life trolling grocery stores, but like most humans, i need to eat. And i find myself wasting time schlepping between markets to find everything i need/want. Maybe i am asking for too much: a nice, clean, cheap place with lots of variety and unique products, with a friendly atmosphere and ample parking...