What it comes down to is that when it comes to groceries, I am a total
supermarket barbarian...In fact when it comes to FOOD , I think that I am a
total barbarian...( and I know that among Olives I am in the minority). I
admit it freely and openly
I have found that when it comes to time, money and the balance between them
I just have never found the Wild Oats/ Trader Joes world all that
satisfying. I need a place where I can get what I need QUICKLY and CHEAPLY
and not have to think about it too much. Because although I want to eat
healthy and all, the subject just bores me.
I hope that one day I have a significant other who cares about "ethnic
markets, farmers markets, local butchers/ bakeries and so forth-" and let
him/her worry about it. I agree that they are much classier than
supermarkets. But I don't care. I have never found that I save money at any
of these places, and there is no doubt in hell that I would NOT save time.
Even when I am rich and famous I may still reserve my class aspirations for
good theater and a good book, and still shop at Ralph's. My life is based on
a very tight schedule. These sweet little specialty shops are just not
convenient. Give me credit for not resorting to bad fast food. But my
reality for now is frozen dinners, Subway's at CSUN , and a good
breakfast...bought from a supermarket. I have even cut down Starbucks.
And for years, I have never seen what is so special about Trader Joe's. I
know, that is a crime.Maybe what it comes down to is: I like to eat, but
the SUBJECT of food just bores me. And people who are interested in food as
a subject seem to think there is something wrong with that. For example, as
much as I love John's feasts, the most that you will ever hear me say is...:
"It is very good John" . The same thing goes for my friend Margot. She makes
beautiful meals, and the most I can ever say is ...."Thank you" I never
comment on the texture of the souffle. I just don't CARE!!! ....
And thanks for the tip about Pioneer's teacher discount. But at the big bad
supermarket, I get a loaf of bread for 75 cents.
Lenny " One Step above Hostess Twinkies" Shaw
----- Original Message -----
From: toughslush <meurtre_at_earthlink.net>
To: <OliveStarlightOrchestra_at_yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 25, 2003 5:14 PM
Subject: [OliveStarlightOrchestra] Re: Strike One, Strike Two...
> Um. Lenny. How exactly am I supposed to wrap my mind around
> the idea that you are shopping at Gelson's, but "can't afford"
> Trader Joe's, which is much cheaper? Gelson's is second only
> to Bristol Farms in its high prices.
>
> Also--have you looked into the teacher discount at the Pioneer
> Bakery, which is about two feet from your front door? Twenty
> percent, Baby. They have lovely bread, rolls, and breakfast
> pastries.
>
> > Living practically next door to Pavillions, you can imagine how
> the market
> > strike has affected me...I can hear the horns honking in
> support of the
> > picketers, and the strikers cheering back.
> >
> > Based on my friendly personal relations with the people at
> Pavillions, and
> > the fact that I am a member of a union myself, there is NO WAY
> IN HELL I
> > will cross a picket line.
>
> I would if I had less sympathy for the union position, as I do with
> the MTA strike. I think they are out of line, and it kills me that they
> are punishing the working poor with what they are doing.
>
> But WRT the grocery strike, I'm with the workers. I think
> management is trying to get them to give up too much. (It's not
> simply, as I understand it, a matter of having them kick in a few
> bucks for health insurance.)
>
> > I have been doing most of my shopping at Cook's Family
> Market in Pt. Dume
> > where several of my kids work) and Gelsons in Pacific
> Palisades, neither
> > affected by the strike, and both on the way home from work.
> >
> > Sorry, but the Trader Joe's and Wild Oats places are too
> expensive. Also, it
> > seems that those specialty stores are great for exotic parties,
> but totally
> > impractical for everyday stuff...( as someone said...Have you
> ever tried to
> > buy Tide at Trader Joe's.? )
>
> Well, if you must have the Tide brand soap, then you are SOL,
> but I rarely buy the name brands of anything, and I'm not brand
> loyal anyway. Trader Joe's has its own brand of laundry
> detergent which is environmentally sound--and cheaper than the
> name brands.
>
> What I wonder is whether the Big Three supermarket chains
> realized we'd all figure out we could get along without them. They
> may think they can afford to do without us for a month, but how
> many of us are discovering even more places--ethnic markets,
> farmers markets, local butchers/ bakeries and so forth--that will
> serve our needs, often at lower prices?
>
> I think they are taking a big gamble. Though I have to admit I'm
> always re-balancing among price, convenience, and quality.
>
> --Q.M.
>
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> OliveStarlightOrchestra-unsubscribe_at_yahoogroups.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
Received on 2003-10-26 23:00:25