Groceries and Dumb
I can't believe I missed Sunday. And Monday. Sunday I took a good 4 hours out of the day to finish my book for book club: Monsters of Templeton. It was an amazing book so it was well worth it, and the Pokemon of The Week being delayed was worth it too.
What kind of grocery shopper are you? More importantly, how do you bad your groceries? Now that I'm living on my own, I really think I'd fare well in a place like New York City. When it boils down to it, I'm pretty much a "get it done fast" with no frills kind of person. I run in the store, go directly for what I want, and get annoyed at the person strolling along leaning on their buggy for support. The lines are too long as well. I'm like this with any place really. I want to get in, and get out. I don't want to make a big event out of it. Unless it's something like car shopping, I can take my time then (for a little bit).
Back to bagging. I think how I bag my groceries goes along the lines of the "get it done" attitude. Tonight I bought my usual: apples, 2 1/2 gallons of OJ, 1 gallon of milk, 3 frozen dinners, 5 Lunchables, granola bars, 2 greeting cards (not so usual), and 2 bottles of green tea. Do you know how many bags I used? 3. Yes, just 3. Mind you I was limping from my car to my door, the bag handles became sharp from the weight and were digging into my hands, and by the time I got upstairs my arms were shaking. But you know what, I only had to make 1 trip, and that's wonderful.
A person at work got wind that I was going to buy a "foreign" *GASP* car! She lectured me (or tried to) on how I'm putting Americans out of work, how Japanese car companies pay their workers less so American car companies can't compete, and how what I'm going to do is unpatriotic. She also got another person to huddle in and hackle me more.
I don't even argue with these people anymore because they are downright ignorant and proof of why I don't feel bad buying a Honda (which is American by the way).
Case in point: 2008 Honda Civic vs. 2008 Ford Fusion
Honda Civic
Engine Origin: USA
Transmission Origin: Japan
Assembly: USA
The Civic's VIN# begins with "1" which means the car is produced in America
The Civic's part content is > 70% American
Ford Fusion
Engine Origin: Mexico
Transmission Origin: Japan
Assembly: Mexico
The Fusion's VIN# begins with "3" which means the car is produced in Mexico
The Fusion's part content is 35% American
And I don't even want to hear whining about "well American car companies have to go to 3rd world countries now because nobody supported them". Bull. I'm sure their executives are still making plenty. Maybe you say "well David, where does the money go back to"? Good question. For Honda, the profit will go back to Japan. For Ford it will go back to the US. You know what, profit doesn't stimulate the economy as much as the smaller people will. Who do you think stimulates the economy more, 1 executive who has country club memberships and shops at high end places, or 2,000 assembly line workers who are out everyday shopping and supporting their communities.
I'm so sick of the domestic vs. foreign argument. I'm going to be proud to drive my Honda Civic. The argument is dumb, for lack of a better term.
6 comments:
Well, you're dumb. I don't have a problem with you buying a foreign car. I have a problem with you buying a car that looks like it was put through the front-impact test, then was made available for sale to the public. Haha! That little atrophied hood. At least the Astro Blue will make it look a little more cool. Well, as cool as that car's ever going to look, that is.
I wish someone had something nice to say about my car to be. I've only heard negative things so far.
I will teach Brigitta one of the best lessons of life early on - remember the compliments you recieve, forget the insults. Brigitta, my love for you will conquer the negative.
Aww, geez David. I like that you're buying a foreign car. I'm all for Hondas and Toyotas. :) They're great! And you're absolutely right that so many of them are made (or have parts made) here in the U.S., so people who have problems with that can just shove it.
As for grocery shopping, sometimes I wander through and find things I like, but other times I make it a quick trip. But it's a happy place, David, no reason to get impatient. :P
I can tell what song you've been listening to lately. Maybe the real lesson you should teach Brigitta is that if everyone tells you the same thing, you should probably listen. And don't you think those people that insist on only buying foreign cars are just as ignorant as the other side of the coin? How about buy what you like from either side. It's called a global market, right? Right.
And I agree w/ you, Keek. I like to use my time at the grocery store to just slow down and be with nature (produce). Seriously, I do like to stroll in the aisles.
I'm all for people buying what they want. Don't call me unpatriotic though for buying a Honda or try to guilt me by saying I'm putting people out of work, because that's not the case.
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