All's fair

[altivo]

Or at least county fair. That was today. Picked up a friend and fellow spinner and weaver, and we went to the fairgrounds and set up in the Home Economics building to demonstrate handspinning. The crowd was light but asked reasonable questions and some were seriously interested, including a great many more men than usual, even those unaccompanied by female companions. I was spinning cotton on the charkha, which is more uncommon and unfamiliar, and mechanically intriguing so it does tend to get more attention. We're invited to come back next year and they will put us on the schedule in the printed fair book so that more people can find us.

Got home hot and thirsty at almost five pm, so Gary took care of critter chores while I went to do the grocery shopping that I normally would do on Saturday morning. Got carded again for buying a bottle of wine, which is kinda ridiculous given my graying hair and beard and obvious other characteristics clearly not of someone under age 21. They apparently had to put my birth date into the cash register before it would allow the sale. I really wish the government would put as much zeal into enforcing speed limits and reckless driving laws.

Comments

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

You got carded o.O Hehe do you say something funny when it happens?

A spinner and weaver? You sound like a top ;)

As far as driving goes, they're limiting younguns cars to below a certain power, not to mention motorcyles.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

They told me last time that their new policy was to check every ID regardless of what the buyer looked like or if they knew the person. I've been shopping at that market every week for ten years, they all know I'm well beyond 21. The state and local police have been harrassing merchants lately about this, hence the policy change.

The reckless driving is a problem with older drivers too. In fact, the worst ones around here are probably in their 30s or 40s. And in the US there are no power limits set on vehicles. The political stink that such an idea would cause is unthinkable. Besides, powerful vehicles use more fuel, which keeps the rich Republicans who own oil companies happy.

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

A spinner and weaver? You sound like a top ;)

Odd conversation starter from a curious cashier XD

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Got carded again for buying a bottle of wine, which is kinda ridiculous given my graying hair and beard and obvious other characteristics clearly not of someone under age 21. They apparently had to put my birth date into the cash register before it would allow the sale.

I'm surprised the baggers didn't try to strongarm you into letting them take out your groceries :P

I've worked for several grocery stores and over the past decade there's been a serious push to encouraging the staff to basically card/double bag/take their cart out OR be put on notice... bad enough they discourage you from accepting tips -_- Many have ridiculous policies... I once got repremanded because I didn't bolt over the counter when someone told me a woman had just taken off with a pack of cigarettes- nevermind the person who was right next to the thief did nothing and came to me while I was helping an honest customer at my own register. On top of all that, the cashiers always get all the crap- regardless of who's responsible. Seriously, grocery stores blow. Between this crap, Walmart trying to takeover the planet & no sign of food getting cheaper, 7-11 looks more promising everyday :P

[altivo.livejournal.com]

This store used to always have baggers and always carry your stuff out for you, even if you only had one bag. There were big signs saying "No Tipping." Now they rarely have baggers, only carry your stuff out if you ask for it, and the cashiers have to do the bagging. It's the economy. They've reduced staff to a skeleton crew, with even the store manager doing cash register duty at busy times. It's the Wal-Mart way, and in order to stay in business, the little guys are all acting like Wal-Mart.

As for 7-11, they generally have the highest prices anywhere around and any time you go in there it seems you risk being caught in a robbery attempt. No thanks. Besides, they don't have what I want.

Skeleton Crew

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yeah, I was part of a chain once (no names, I'll play nice) and I watched it dwindle down to a skeleton crew and got out just a month before the whole chain went bankrupt >_> I geuss I could've felt special for not being axed by my higher-ups, but... *shrugs* Meh, the thought just petered out.

Anyhow, I've come to like 7-11 around here because they opened a new store down here and for about a week I got by on coupon specials when I was out of cash... plus they have good, cheap oatmeal cookies :P The sandwiches are pretty outlandish, but the cookies, donuts and hot dogs are worth it ^_^ Ah, healthy choices.

Re: Skeleton Crew

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That's the thing about 7-11. I buy ingredients and cook. They specialize in what amounts to cheap fast food, so they just don't have what I want.

Re: Skeleton Crew

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

*mind wanders* I dream of a day I can afford to do that again, beleive me I do... about the only thing I can afford to cook right now are scrambled eggs...

Re: Skeleton Crew

[altivo.livejournal.com]

It's difficult for me to believe that a diet of donuts and hot dogs can be cheaper than buying bread and peanut butter. ;p

Re: Skeleton Crew

[gabrielhorse.livejournal.com]

Buying? Heh, I get my bread for free- donations style. As for peanut butter, visiting family were nice enough to leave me leftovers. As of right now, the icebox is empty >_> save for three eggs and a pot of cooked spaghetti noodles... wiwhich will soon be used for fuel for a grueling walk I'll be making tomorrow.

Re: Skeleton Crew

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Actually, sugary rubbish is a lot cheaper than fresh veggies. Certainly here, and I've always heard it's the same in the US. Staple things like bread are pretty cheap, but everything's rising in price.

Re: Skeleton Crew

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Fresh produce is not yet that expensive here, provided you buy it from a place that sells reasonable volume. And you wouldn't really want to go somewhere else because what they have would be all old and wilted. ;p

Rising transportation costs are going to be an issue though, at least eventually. Forty years ago much fresh produce came from sources within a hundred miles or so, at least in season. Unfortunately, competition from huge factory farms in California who grew things in large quantities using underpaid illegal aliens as workers forced most of the small vegetable farmers out of business. Now most of the supermarket vegetables even here in the midwest come all the way from California, which is going to be very expensive transportation. I expect to see a new increase in local vegetable production again.

The other reason for rising prices in agricultural produce can be government restrictions and urban sprawl eating up the available land for growing. Those are certainly problems here.

However, all that said, I can still produce a healthy meal for less than you'd spend for prepared food of any sort at a fast food restaurant or convenience store. (And what they sell is rarely healthy.)