The Shop Rite Saga

As I do almost every Friday around noon, I do the shopping for the weekend at the local Shop-Rite. Now we are getting close to both the Easter and Passover holidays and the store was a bit more crowded than usual. Add in a shuttle bus of senior citizens and getting through the aisles gets to be a bit challenging.

Usually this store has sufficient cashiers, so the lines aren't too long. This is a large store with probably close to twenty check-out lanes. Yesterday, they had about half opened, a few more would have been nice. But the problem was not in the volume of people, but rather the stupidity of the cashier protocol.

With one woman already 3/4 through checking out and another with a small order in front of me, I thought I had picked a decent line. Not unusual for me, I was mistaken. There was an error in the first woman's order which caused a void. Damn. In this store the cashier cannot just say 'oops, my bad', make the correction and everyone goes on with their lives. No, he needs to call over the roving floor attendant to put her key into the machine, push a couple of buttons and walk away. Not too bad if she isn't busy or if she is in freakin' earshot of the cashier.

This happens so often it's not even funny. The check-out area is the length of a runway at JFK and this cashier with the voice of a mouse is calling from the far end "need the key on 17." Ok, but Miss I-Have-The-Key is on register 1 and can't hear you. So we wait, and we all look in the same direction for this magical woman to appear. Now if it was me, I would be screaming every 20 seconds "bring the damn key"...but they never do. They call once, and wait a good 5 minutes to call again. Last time this happened, a woman left the line, ran over to the courtesy desk and had them announce it on the intercom...else we would still be waiting there.

And when this woman arrives with the key, does she ask what the problem is...no. She just sticks the key in, punches in a code and walks away. So if it doesn't matter what the issue is, why does she need to do this?

The same thing happens when they need change. "Need change on 12"...and did ya not think about that before you ran out of singles, fives and tens?

I don't get it. I worked in a store as a cashier a hundred years ago, before the register told you how much change to give. Back when you actually needed to know how to add and subtract. And you kept track of what was in your drawer so the line never stopped. Seems to me the easier things become, the stupider people become.

Next Friday really starts the holiday grocery store insanity. Will things go any smoother, I doubt it. But this week instead of checking out which line to pick, I'm going to look at which cashier might have the biggest mouth.

Can you hear me now?

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Tales From The Island: Part 1

A couple of things brought me to the subject of today's blog.

Sunday in the music blog, I did a post about Loggins & Messina's "Sittin' In" album. On that album, is the song "Vahevela". The line...and when we stayed off the coast of Jamaica brought back some memories of a long time ago. Then today, my fellow blogger Jim Wood posted a story about a not quite near death experience.

Getting the picture?

The story of Jamaica has several tales to tell...all in good time. Today's story is the one where we thought we would not get out alive.

Six of us had gone down there to attend the Reggae Sunsplash festival. Three days of music from dusk til dawn. You bring a small tent if you want, so if the fun and neighboring aromas overtake you, there's somewhere to take a nap. Everyone at the show would relax on Reggae beds AKA pieces of cardboard the locals would sell you, so you weren't on the ground. A fun time to be sure. Everyone friendly, great music, a grand party.

I think it was the first night we attended when it was time to leave, not quite sunrise...we got a cab. Not a real cab, those don't really exist. Just someone who owned a car and made money by shuttling tourists around. Don't quite remember how many of us got into the car, probably five of the six. As we told the driver where we were going, he said he needed to get gas. Ok, no problem mon.

As we drove forever...nothing is close and where the hell are we anyway...the area began to take on a slightly unwelcoming look. Closer now to the shanty towns, we pull down into an area surrounded by live chicken coops and a few frightening looking people. oh oh, this is not good. A car full of spaced out tourists with nowhere to run, no phones to call for help and no one between us who could even put up a fight.

As we looked at each other with sheer terror in our eyes, a man came over to the car...talked to the driver and walked away. Coming back, we could see something in his hand. A bottle of gas. Yes indeed, a freakin bottle of gas. He proceeds to put it in the gas tank, the driver pays and we leave without incident.

As we all breathed a sigh of relief, I think we realized just how easily a moment in your life can change things. That night we did what hundreds of other tourists did...got into a car with the expectation of a ride to the hotel...and that's what we got.

Just with a large taste of fear and a gut full of panic. Didn't stop us from doing it again the next night.

After all, it's Jamaica...no worries. Irie.
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Soup...Is It Really?

Not feeling 100% today. Woke up at 3 with a sore throat couldn't fall back to sleep so at 4, I took a shower. Welcome to the life of an insomniac. After the shower, I was able to get another hour of sleep...better than nothing.

Several cups of tea always helps. Funny when you don't feel well your cravings get weird. Soup of course heads the list of "make me feel better" foods. But I never end up with nice homemade soup (who really has it just waiting for the day you really need it?) No, I go with the cheap shit...Cup 'o Noodles. Though in looking at the cup, there is no "o"...just Cup Noodles. You know the dehydrated crap in a styrofoam cup...yum.

It's probably the massive amount of sodium (1060mg to be exact) that does it. It makes you so thirsty you end up drinking gallons of water and poof...your body start to kick ass again. But have you ever looked at the ingredients in it...seriously not a good idea. Chicken soup right?  Well number eight on the ingredient list is powdered chicken...WTF is that? Powdered...as in talcum, pampered chicken; I think not. And quite frankly, I don't think I want to know. I gotta tell you that is one ugly ingredient list.

Now that I have consumed a host of ates, iums and things that are yzed...yes I am beginning to feel better. A cure for what ails me... all it cost was 44 cents and with all the chemicals I've just consumed...a year off my life.

I live in Jersey, you think a little cup of toxic brew is gonna scare me?

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Going To Hell Along With The Rest Of You

"tonight the sweet devil, the sweet devil's got my soul."

Indeed, he has.
The temptation began a few months ago. Seriously got back into writing, and as I have been told by most everyone I know...I have a big mouth...so I began to tweet. And almost 1400 tweets later, I have been sucked in by the other social networking vacuum... Facebook.

You cannot imagine the total disdain I have for it, yet the apparently weak woman that I am, now has a FB page. Why you ask? The devil made me do it.

Everyone I know has one, did I want to keep up with them...no. But there are certain things that have become a giant pain in the ass if you don't have one. Like seeing friends photos, or when you also have a music blog...following news on musical groups you are interested in, or are researching. So, I made the pact with the Prince of Darkness..and we're not talkin' Ozzie.

I am now everywhere...for all the world to see. It's funny, because what I do love about tweeting is that it is kind of anonymous. Sure you have a name, but unless you are famous, does anyone really pay attention to who you are? No, because it doesn't matter who you are... just what you say. But facebook is all about who you are. Who you like, what you do and when you do it. Trust me, it ain't that interesting.

Now I am new to this FB crap, so the page is a definite work in progress. Don't be expecting to see family vacation pictures there, it's mainly a vehicle for the Kat's Theory brand. Though knowing how I can be tempted so easily, at some point there may be revelations not usually expected. But will anyone really care? God I hope not.

So today, if you have nothing better to do..check out the Kat's Theory page. And like it (what the hell does that even mean?) if you want. You know my attitude.

I personally don't give a...

Have a nice day.

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Cooking With Kat: Cook Today, Eat All Week

I like to cook. I just don't like to cook during the week. Even though I work at home, I hate walking away from my computer to do any cooking during the week. So, time permitting I try to get a few dishes prepared on the weekend. Leftovers...the gift that keeps on giving.

Some people hate leftovers...my brother is one. Like feeding him something that the dog threw up. Some meals taste better after they have sat a day or so and the flavors blend...some don't taste quite as good. Luck of the draw, but if I don't need to stand in front of the stove M-F...I'm all in.

Last weekend was the big road trip, so no cooking. Pizza, take out and something already cooked from the freezer got me through. So yesterday, the corned beef that didn't get cooked for St. Patty's was on the menu. Enough for an extra meal during the week, as well as a meal-on-wheels to my parents. nice.

Today,with tunes inspiring me, already rockin' some breaded boneless chicken thighs in the oven, some veggies, and just finished sauteing some peppers and onions to go with the chicken pieces now browning. Add a little fresh tomato sauce...yeah baby, eating good all week.

Besides food, got a lot cooking this week. Heavy research, lots of correspondence to get through and as always, hanging out in tweetville.

Feeling good about the next few days. Will I have six numbers in the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday...probably not. But I will have had a decent weekend in the rear view mirror...and some food on the table. Throw on some music, add a glass of wine and a quiet night at home..it makes it all worthwhile.

Six numbers would make it epic. Just saying.

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