Working an 8 Hour Day

     My daughter was sick this week.   As a result, I was bound to the house for 2 days.   Not knowing if she would be better the next day, I went to the supermarket as soon as my husband came home on Tuesday.   I haven’t shopped in the evening in quite a while, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Surprisingly the store wasn’t crowded at all.  Shelves aren’t as stocked, but I was able to purchase what was needed.  All was good until I got to the check out.  That is when I noticed a major difference.

     The cashier and the bagger were both under the age of 20.  With me standing right there, they did nothing but complain about how many hours they had to work, their schedule for the week, when they were going to finally get their break, and what the managers were doing to them.  I wanted to say something, but really did know what.  Mostly I wanted to know why they applied for full-time hours if they didn’t want to work 8 hours a day.  Also, what made them think it appropriate to have this type of conversation in the presence of a customer?

     I usually shop for food around 9 to 10 A.M.   Parking lots aren’t crowded, lines are shorter, and I prefer to do this early in the day.  The staff tends to be made up mostly of adult workers.  Most are kind and friendly.  There are some that are much older than me.  I often wonder if some are working to make ends meet.  Regardless, they are efficient, smile, and go about the business of serving the customer.  They might move a little slower, but they have the strong work ethic that I remember being instilled as I was growing up.  My grandparents worked much longer hours, in less desirable conditions, in order to survive.

     I am not throwing all young people under the bus.  There are many places, including this store, where the young people are incredibly polite and helpful.  There are others though who need to learn that working is not easy.  Every job can have long hours, difficulties, and a tough schedule.  Every type comes with challenges and periods of exhaustion.  The satisfaction comes from the knowledge of a job well-done, of contributing to society, and working for your pay.  Much that can be learned from people who have worked for many, many, years and still know how to smile.

A Gallon of Gasoline

   The price of gas is going up again.  It seems like every trip to the pump is experiencing a rise of 20 cents or more.  As much as I don’t like to see this happen, I can say one thing about gas.  We can judge the cost because no matter what the price, we pay for a gallon.  This is not true of many items we purchase.  Other industries have modified their sizes and quality without us readily noticing.

   My favorite brand of orange juice is Tropicana.  Last week, I saw it on sale for $2.50.  I thought this was quite the bargain and bought two.  It wasn’t until I got home that I noticed that the carton was now 59 oz. instead of 64.  They have been selling other juices at the 59 oz size for some time, but the straight orange juice has only been reduced recently.  So in other words, my great find was not really a great find after all.

   Cans of tuna are now down to 5 oz.  Sure they may be 10 for 10, but they are smaller.  I also noticed that the quality of Bumblebee has much to be desired.  The last time I opened a can, it contained more water, and the tuna itself was of a lower quality.  I now purchase another brand that I pay $1.25 to $1.50 for but it is 7 oz. and much meatier in taste and appearance.

    Coffee cans have shrunk too.   A small can is now 10.5 oz.  What happened to it being a pound?  It slowly reduced its size from 16 oz to 13 oz, then 11 oz and now 10.5 oz.   Pretty soon we will all be forced to by those little cups for individual servings.

   The list can go on and on, detergent, soap, crackers, bread, peanut butter, etc.  My sister thinks the roll of toilet paper has gotten narrower too.  I took a look the other day and realized that she is probably right.

    The makers of everyday goods have pulled a fast one on us.  I would rather have to pay more than to be fooled into thinking I am getting a bargain, and finding out that the contents is reduced or modified.  So, while I don’t like the cost of gasoline rising, at least I know that a gallon is a gallon.  Well…at least for now.

Small Cars at Costco

       I went shopping at Costco last week.  The drill is always the same.  I plan to go in for a “few” items, which should only take a “few” minutes.  Well, this never happens but I like to try and fool myself into thinking that someday it will.  The few minutes always turns into at least an hour.  The few items double or triple by the time I get to the checkout.  That is why I would really like to know what you buy when you go to Costco in a small car.

   I buy cereal,  coffee, meat, and breads on every trip.  There are other necessities that get added at times such as toilet paper, juice, cleaning products, aspirin, soap, etc…  Then there are the items that you didn’t know about before you walked into the store.  Here you can find clothing, a CD, a book (even though I already have about 10 unread at home), something for the house, or something seasonal.  I’m not an impulsive shopper, but sometimes those deals are too good to let go.    

  Most items are large, bulky, and heavy.  The toilet paper alone, all 48 rolls, can take up half the cargo space in the car.  Other items can weigh a ton.  I wonder how I got that herniated disk.  In any case, you need space in your vehicle to be a serious shopper at Costco.

   So I wonder how one manages with a small car.  Maybe they are only going in to use the pharmacy.  Maybe they live close by and go more often.  Maybe they are creative in making it all fit.  Here’s a thought.  Maybe they just buy a “few” items.  Much as I would like to believe it, I don’t think that day will ever come for me at Costco.

>Food

>     I few months ago I saw the movie Food Inc. .  It had a profound effect on how I view the food industry.  It was incredible to see the way cattle and poultry were being raised.  It was eye opening to see how many food items contained large quantities of corn.   Then I saw an episode of Dr. Oz and learned what was in farm raised salmon. That was enough to cause a great deal of concern.
      I was already reading labels and trying to buy foods that had more natural ingredients vs. artificial.  I tried to avoid high levels of sodium, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, MSG, and anything else that didn’t appear to be good for you.
      I stepped up my purchasing of organic products.  I started buying more chicken and meat from a local meat market, and I shopped the natural food aisle a little more attentively at the supermarket.  It is interesting to note that these foods are often kept separate from the other brands.  Why is that?  Shoprite stocks their store brand organic products next to the others, but still keeps the name brand organics in a different section.  If you compare the costs, they is often a minimal difference in price.  Sometimes these products are on sale so I tend to stock up when possible.  I don’t exclusively buy these products, but when the opportunity is good I go for it.
   Am I a vegetarian? No.  Do I still let my kids have junk food now and then?  Yes.  It all comes down to the old concept of moderation.  How did we get this way?  Our grandparents ate a lot better than we do.  They had their own gardens and prepared almost all their meals themselves.  Have we gotten so busy that we can’t eat right?  Does the food industry have to lure us into eating foods that are bad for us?  Why?
    The only thing that we can control is what we buy.  Everyone is entitled to purchase the type of foods they wish.  Hopefully it will be the purchasing that changes what the industry has to offer.