Had to buy groceries today.

[conuly]

Stocked up. Stocked so much up that I ended up paying $10 for a car to drive it home. The groceries and me, I mean - though if he'd known how to find my street I'd've told him it's close enough, I'd walk and meet him. It's a seven minute walk, maybe a two minute car ride. I didn't think it was that much riskier than the actual time in the store.

Also ended up screaming at somebody. She didn't actually deserve to be screamed at, but to be fair, I didn't deserve to be accused of rudeness (or "attitude") because I waited for her to move away from the eggs rather than asking her. First off, it's 50/50 which one of those two actions will get the right response in a person (and I'm not convinced that the people who complain about you not asking them to move aren't often the same people who act put-upon if you DO ask them), and secondly, there's lots of reasons somebody might not speak to you - maybe the mask impedes their speech, maybe they have a physical, psychological, or learning disability that keeps them from speaking in some or all circumstances, maybe they did speak and you didn't hear, maybe they don't speak your language, maybe they don't want to talk to you. (Maybe their capacity for coherent speech has deteriorated to the point where "SHUT UP AND GO AWAY" is the best you're gonna get. Crude, but effective. She did shut up and go away.)

Seeing empty places on the shelves was stressful even when it was for things I didn't want. Somebody on line suggested that Shop Rite is mostly stocked up in everything, the only store she's been to that consistently is, but I can't get to Shop Rite without a car, it's a 4 mile walk down Forest! (Well, I could manage a 4 mile walk easy, it's the walk back that concerns me.) And I'm not going to take the bus to the supermarket unless I have no choice.

I did mostly get everything on my list, spent all my grocery money, but I managed to forget garlic so I'll still have to go back, probably Monday or Tuesday. I can't cook without garlic, so that's a non-starter. If I get there first thing in the morning, or last thing at night I should be just in and out.

Comments

[lavendertook]

I don't blame you and I agree, it's passive aggressive to tell off someone who is waiting, and she would tell you off for asking her to move and not waiting your turn because she was looking for someone to tell off. She was deserving of a scream to break her passive aggressive log jam, so better to scream at her than someone who wasn't attacking you. Feel good you didn't punch her. *pins medal of approval on your shirt*

[conuly]

I always lose some coherency under stress (and sometimes more than "some"), and shopping is always a little stressful. I'm just glad I could make words.

[conuly]

Though in her defense, the conversation (such as it was) started with "Oh, you should've said something, I would've moved" which might not have been passive aggressive but it sure escalated fast once I responded "It's hard to talk with the mask on". (That's not really why I hadn't said anything, but it's true. Pleated masks might be easier to talk through, but I haven't quite gotten the hang of pleating yet.

[offcntr]

Did you get the ramen?

[conuly]

Ran out of bag space! (Also, money.) But it was in stock, hallelujah.

[shadowkat]

Grocery shopping is incredibly traumatizing right now - so too is getting grocery deliveries. It's akin to treasure hunting while avoiding pirates and jelly-fish.

I hate doing it now - and I used to love it. Every time I do it - I'm terrified and it takes me at least an hour after-wards to convince myself that I'm okay and have not been exposed.

Glad you got everything you needed. Forgetting stuff is the worst. I always forget something - mainly because I'm rushing through the store and trying to limit it to what I can reasonably carry home with me. They do deliveries, but I'm nervous about them and you have to spend time filling out a slip. Also, people have a tendency to stand for a long period of time staring aimlessly at an item as if they can't decide if they want it or not. I want to tell them - folks, leisure grocery shopping is a thing of the past, grab and go.

[conuly]

I always forget something - mainly because I'm rushing through the store and trying to limit it to what I can reasonably carry home with me.

That's the trouble with having to walk to the store and back! I had intended to call my sister to help lug this stuff home. We're actually looking at bulk buying through a restaurant supply company. Upside: We have room for stuff! Downside: Everything is in bulk, and you ALSO need a $250 minimum. Which, fair, is two week's shopping... but I don't bulk buy for two weeks, I regular buy. Maybe we'll split with another family or two.

[shadowkat]

Yep, that's why I can't buy in bulk - no room and I prefer to buy regular.
I'm trying this delivery service called Imperfect Foods which a co-worker recommended. It sells you the foods that a lot of restaurants don't buy. The food is fine, it's just not as pretty, I guess? (Don't know.)

My delivery was delayed - it was supposed to arrive yesterday. I'm hoping it arrives today. We'll see. I can survive if it doesn't and they don't fully charge until it is delivered. Right now it is pending.

My brother sent me a link to a restaurant produce wholesaler - naatori - but they are more expense, and not as reliable. With no definite delivery dates.

And yes, not having a car has become a problem at the moment. UGH.

[agoodwinsmith]

I find the best time (in COVID times and other times) to go to a grocery store is the local supper-prep and supper time - here that means around 4:00 pm in the afternoon. I live in a retirement town, so I'd bet more than 50% of the population qualifies for whenever the Senior's Shopping Hour might be (here 7 am to 8 am) and it is packed. On the other hand, our grocery stores have people at the doors controlling entry, and someone has to leave before another person goes in. That really helps people be faster because they aren't playing dodge'em.

[conuly]

Around here that's when people are getting off work and realizing they have nothing for dinner, and they all have their kids.

Well, not right now, but usually.

[adafrog]

Seeing empty places on the shelves was stressful even when it was for things I didn't want.
Yes.

[conuly]

Plus, they didn't have oranges, omg.

[chez_jae]

O.o

Why was anyone loitering by the eggs in the first place? And, I should think it's more polite to patiently wait for them to move away than to say something. Sigh.

[conuly]

I wasn't paying that much attention, but I'd assume, at a guess, that she was sorting through cartons looking for one that was all unbroken.