Can anyone explain to me why we are lacking for a decent (and competitive) health food store in this metropolitan area? Seriously?! It is at least a two hour drive for a good selection of wheat free/gluten free products. I find it hard to believe that our area (Peoria/Bloomington-Normal) cannot support a larger health food store than the one we have. The local store I currently use for wheat free/gluten free products has been out of stock on several items the last few times I've been in the store. So, I've placed specials orders, left deposits for my orders, etc. Which means phone calls to the store to follow up on orders, and extra trips to the store to pick up what I need. By the way, the local store is approximately 20 miles away.
Yes, I could probably order this stuff online, but I haven't found a vendor (yet) who allows orders for anything less than a case quantity. I don't have room to store cases of this stuff in my house. Also, I will not commit to purchasing a case of anything if I'm not sure I'll like it, ya dig?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
What is the rush?
As I was shopping today, I needed assistance at a specific full service counter. I rang the bell on the counter, to alert whomever was in the department that I needed help. While I was talking to the associate helping me, another lady interrupted me to ask the associate for help. The associate understood the rudeness of the interruption because the associate (not the other customer) apologized to me and asked if I would excuse her for a moment. This type of interruption seems to occur more frequently than it used to. Why the shift in civility, folks? What in the world is going on that makes "ME" the most important person in the room? Can I just add, also, that the other customer was an older woman? I would have expected a younger person to be impatient. I would have expected a harried mother with three kids in tow to be impatient. I would never expect the older woman shopping by herself to be impatient.
I have also seen this behavior in the mornings, as I drop the kids off at school. Each year the school gives the directive for dropping off and picking up kids at school, to prevent traffic jams and unnecessary accidents. By the 2nd week of school, drivers have taken leave of their senses...making not one single file line of cars (as directed), but two lines with some parents in such a hurry that they try to sneak in between two rows of parked cars because they are in a hurry. A hurry for what? This just doesn't make the slightest bit of sense to me. The car in the middle lane is in a hurry, which is why they sneak into the middle (and only empty) lane, but they have a van full of kids who are slow moving. So, now we have three lanes of traffic where there should only be one. And, instead of speeding things up, everyone is suddenly moving slower to make sure they aren't going to be hit by someone else's car. Sigh.
Miss Manners, is there a polite way to respond to this?
By the way, the customer who interrupted me today needed a pillow case for a travel pillow.
I have also seen this behavior in the mornings, as I drop the kids off at school. Each year the school gives the directive for dropping off and picking up kids at school, to prevent traffic jams and unnecessary accidents. By the 2nd week of school, drivers have taken leave of their senses...making not one single file line of cars (as directed), but two lines with some parents in such a hurry that they try to sneak in between two rows of parked cars because they are in a hurry. A hurry for what? This just doesn't make the slightest bit of sense to me. The car in the middle lane is in a hurry, which is why they sneak into the middle (and only empty) lane, but they have a van full of kids who are slow moving. So, now we have three lanes of traffic where there should only be one. And, instead of speeding things up, everyone is suddenly moving slower to make sure they aren't going to be hit by someone else's car. Sigh.
Miss Manners, is there a polite way to respond to this?
By the way, the customer who interrupted me today needed a pillow case for a travel pillow.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Blogging for Jackie
Jackie has cracked the whip and now I must resume my blogging duties.
The FDA has approved food produced from cloned animals, but added that this information cannot be noted on food packaging. As a consumer, I've got a pretty good grasp on why this information is not going to be added to the packaging...because customers may be hesitant to purchase it. I have to say I have a very bad feeling in my gut about cloning animals for food. At the risk of becoming a(nother) polarizing figure, I'll just be frank and say I'm afraid of where this is going. We've become a nation of overeaters, and now we have the technology to keep on keepin' on with our cloned animal food. The food quality, in theory, will be more consistent. Food costs, in theory, will decrease.
Hubby and I were discussing this last night, and he believes food from cloned animals will be a good thing because of the quality and pricing. I'm interested to know what the general consensus is from my readers. That means you, Jackie.
The FDA has approved food produced from cloned animals, but added that this information cannot be noted on food packaging. As a consumer, I've got a pretty good grasp on why this information is not going to be added to the packaging...because customers may be hesitant to purchase it. I have to say I have a very bad feeling in my gut about cloning animals for food. At the risk of becoming a(nother) polarizing figure, I'll just be frank and say I'm afraid of where this is going. We've become a nation of overeaters, and now we have the technology to keep on keepin' on with our cloned animal food. The food quality, in theory, will be more consistent. Food costs, in theory, will decrease.
Hubby and I were discussing this last night, and he believes food from cloned animals will be a good thing because of the quality and pricing. I'm interested to know what the general consensus is from my readers. That means you, Jackie.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Theater at it's best
For the whole story behind this year's production, please go to www.penguinproject.org. I've been trying to find the right words to describe the group and the mission since our involvement in last year's production. Words fail me. All I can say is it makes me want to sign my paychecks over to them.
The plan is to get more communities involved to create more local theater groups like this one.
Carol, I think you'll find this interesting, given your connection to the arts and curiosity for a compelling story. I'm mailing a program from the musical to you so you can read about the artists for yourself.
If you live in central Illinois, you just have to go see it for yourself. The program grows each year. Jackie, take your kids to this. Mish, move your date with Sweeney Todd to a matinee so you can see the Penguins perform High School Musical.
The plan is to get more communities involved to create more local theater groups like this one.
Carol, I think you'll find this interesting, given your connection to the arts and curiosity for a compelling story. I'm mailing a program from the musical to you so you can read about the artists for yourself.
If you live in central Illinois, you just have to go see it for yourself. The program grows each year. Jackie, take your kids to this. Mish, move your date with Sweeney Todd to a matinee so you can see the Penguins perform High School Musical.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
New year tradition...thank you, Bonnie!
The most horrible part of working retail(which I no longer do) in my (now) home state of Illinois is missing holidays with extended family living too far away. It really meant a new opportunity to forge our own immediate family traditions. I was always looking for something meaningful and compelling enough to call "tradition" that the kids would be excited about each year.
A couple of year ago, Bonnie was telling me about the new year burning bowl tradition she had. It was perfect for us.
I had tried feeding the family black eyed peas. I was the only one at the table not gagging on them. Maybe the Rose Parade would work. Maybe...if we remembered to switch the channel to something other than cartoons. As a young child, I can remember being absolutely captivated by any kind of televised parade. What gives with today's youth?
The burning bowl, turned out to be just the ticket for everyone. Last year was the first year for us. Instead of coming up with resolutions everyone would forget or grow weary listening to me preach about, we wrote down the negative things we wanted to get out of our lives. Last year, everyone came up with a couple of ideas, wrote them down on a piece of paper and took turns throwing them in a thick, deep, candle burning crock.
This year, the kids were excited about it for weeks in advance. Rachel and I seem to have given our negative habits the most consideration. Apparently, she had given everyone else's negative habits her consideration as well. Before the family new year dinner (with black eyed peas) was cleared from the table, she had already gotten out her paper and pen. She was going to write down something for herself, and everyone else at the table. Hrmph, that sounds like something I would have done.
After almost laughing out loud at her, I explained the purpose of the tradition was for everyone to consider THEIR OWN negatives.
Let the burning begin!
We took turns going around the table, reading what we had written and watching the bad habit burn away. We pledged to support each other, instead of get preachy when someone had a weak moment. We are only five days into the new year, but the kids seem to be making more of an effort to get along, Todd is working on carving out more couple time, and I'm down to 24 oz. of Diet Mtn. Dew a day. I'll take that for as long as I can.
A couple of year ago, Bonnie was telling me about the new year burning bowl tradition she had. It was perfect for us.
I had tried feeding the family black eyed peas. I was the only one at the table not gagging on them. Maybe the Rose Parade would work. Maybe...if we remembered to switch the channel to something other than cartoons. As a young child, I can remember being absolutely captivated by any kind of televised parade. What gives with today's youth?
The burning bowl, turned out to be just the ticket for everyone. Last year was the first year for us. Instead of coming up with resolutions everyone would forget or grow weary listening to me preach about, we wrote down the negative things we wanted to get out of our lives. Last year, everyone came up with a couple of ideas, wrote them down on a piece of paper and took turns throwing them in a thick, deep, candle burning crock.
This year, the kids were excited about it for weeks in advance. Rachel and I seem to have given our negative habits the most consideration. Apparently, she had given everyone else's negative habits her consideration as well. Before the family new year dinner (with black eyed peas) was cleared from the table, she had already gotten out her paper and pen. She was going to write down something for herself, and everyone else at the table. Hrmph, that sounds like something I would have done.
After almost laughing out loud at her, I explained the purpose of the tradition was for everyone to consider THEIR OWN negatives.
Let the burning begin!
We took turns going around the table, reading what we had written and watching the bad habit burn away. We pledged to support each other, instead of get preachy when someone had a weak moment. We are only five days into the new year, but the kids seem to be making more of an effort to get along, Todd is working on carving out more couple time, and I'm down to 24 oz. of Diet Mtn. Dew a day. I'll take that for as long as I can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)