Thursday, November 09, 2006

Two Favorites: The Grocery Store And The Cats.

Cuz The Sheep knows what you like...

I've posted often about my trips to the grocery store. More often than one might expect. I go there a lot. I need to shop more than the average person because I am one of those tragically affected by Listo-forgettingous. I make a list. I put the list somewhere. I lose the list. I cannot be bothered to make another list. I believe that I am above the list. I attempt to shop in a list-free state. I never remember the toilet paper. I have to go back to the grocery store where I become distracted and overwhelmed by whatever seasonal item is now past said season and half off. I return home with six bags of bargain priced menorahs/candy corn/easter grass/whatever. I still have no toilet paper. It is generally then that I find the list. There are at least five other things that I also forgot. I have to go back to the grocery store.

It is a vicious cycle...

At any rate, shopping is a big part of my life. As is my choice of supermarket. Now, I shop at a certain store for many reasons: location, a well-stocked frozen pizza selection, cute little bag boys...stuff like that. But, for years, I have had a greater consideration in mind. One that will cause me to forget all the aforementioned qualities in a grocery store and drive out of my way if necessary.

I am a cat-owner.

I don't make the rules. I just play by them. As a woman in her 40s who has never married, I am required to own at least one cat. Preferably more. I must display photos of them on my desk at work and give them stockings at Christmas. Their needs must dictate my social calendar and whether or not I can take a vacation at any point. My coat must sport a fine layer of cat hair. It's like a law or something.

Thus, I have shopped at the same grocery store for years now in order that I might attain one certain thing. Say it with me fellow crazy cat ladies:

Good quality poop scooping bags.

My grocery store had the finest in plastic bags. Heavy duty, resistant to tears, easy tie handles...they had it all, baby. Sometimes, I requested that each item be bagged individually in order that I might stock up on these fine litter receptacles.

No more. They have changed bags. My grocery store has reverted to the cheap, easily torn version and I will scoop with fear in my heart from now until the end of time. I have shopped high, I have shopped low. No other grocery store has had the courage to take a stand and say, "For all the middle aged ladies out there, we give you a poop scoopin' bag that will stand up to whatever your cats can dish out."

I'm gonna have to double bag. The Sheep is displeased.

On the upside of things, today is my Friday. Which is a handy thing to have happen on a Thursday. Veteran's Day is upon us yet again and I find myself with a three day weekend on my hands. Tomorrow is really the only day I have all to my Sheepie self. Except for a drug store run, the day is mine to do with as I please. The plan is to alternate between the knitting and the spinning and see if I can't make a little headway on this whole Christmas thing that is looming ahead of me.

Saturday, I must head out for a little date with my favorite stylist and see if she can't put the twenty-something back into this forty-something hair. I never actually intended to be a blonde...but Amy has spoken on this matter and I am now unable to revert back to the mousy brown that served me so well for so long. Hence, the highlights will be tended and the stylist will be appeased. What can I say? I am weak. And she is right...

Sunday is truck day. I will be taking care of that only-slightly-overdue oil change and alignment. I always enjoy trips to the mechanic for routine maintenance since getting this truck. There is always some sort of surprise involved. The last time I went in it cost me over $900.00. Surprise!!! I can't wait to see what they find this time around. But, by then, I will be a blonde again and that always seems to help matters at the garage if I match it up with the right sweater. I dunno why...

And so, The Sheep is off to begin her three day weekend! Who knows? There might even be one of those rare and elusive Friday posts this week! What with the upcoming blondification and auto expenses, I'm feeling all devil-may-care!

I might even risk a single bagging on the poop scooping tonight! Wooooooo Hoooooooo!!!!!!!!!

SA

11 comments:

Emma said...

Oooh, blondification...sounds fun!

Sheila said...

Sounds like a weekend full of possibilities....
could be fun!
I'd better check and see if my daughter has school tomorrow-thanks for the heads up (I'm generally clueless about such things and have been known to drive children to school on student holidays).

sheep#100 said...

Our grocery store also recently decided to use generic, cheapo plastic bags. This bothers me somewhat as these are what we use for our trash container in the kitchen and bedroom and bathroom. Inasmuch as the Sheep does not wish a poop-filled bag to break en route to the trash can outside, trek also does not wish a toddler's leftovers-filled bag to suffer loss of atomic union on the trip from the kitchen to the borough-issued trash receptacle outside.

Good luck with the truck. Our minivan is back at the body shop for remedial clean up and detailing and front end alignment and a cure for the left turn squeal, and the burning rubber smell. Please wish it luck. And that the gender-card playing mechanic weenie will stop trying to insinuate that I do not understand basic physics.

catsmum said...

Hey at least you still GET plastic bags. There's a huge movement here to stop people using them and we all carry those green woven [ paid for ] environmentally correct shopping bags in our car boots. Of course when I'm only going in for 3 items and hence have only 1 bag with me, always turns out to be the day that I DO remember the toilet paper/ cat food/ Earl Grey teabags that i've been forgetting all week. I then feel like a criminal as I slink to my car with [shock horror] plastic bags.

Anonymous said...

We've been double-bagging for a long time here...

I'm pleased as anything that you posted about the grocery store tonight, because tonight I posted about your posting about the grocery store! Must be something in that New England air...and...steady yourself...dentist appointment tomorrow. I haven't read one of your posts on that yet since I'm sort of new, but anyone that has a countdown on her blog for her next appt. must have some interesting stories to tell! Wish me luck...

Mel said...

We apparently don't use the same grocery store, as we've been double-bagging from the get-go. Cute bag boys, though? Will I have to bribe you to find out where?

Anonymous said...

Suck it up!1 You are a big girl and have the brain power to figure something workable out. Should I get the cats a different kind of cat food for their Christmas gifts, such as a bottle of water? Good luck with Amy and with the Big Blue Money Eater

Anonymous said...

Never single bag the poop. It's a rule. Should be a law.
Be glad you don't shop at my grocery store. Not only do we have the extra cheapo bags that come with holes but we have cranky 70+ year old bag "boys" which go nicely with the 70+ year old cashier ladies who actually tell the bag boys how to bag things as they ring them up. I have often wondered if the store hires couples who are on the verge of divorce since the husband retired from his full-time job. N did get a smile out of the guy the other day. He asked bagger man "Is she your mother?" after the lady cashier told him not to squish the bread.
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/

Anonymous said...

Perhaps the store will reconsider their fool-hardy decision to lower their bag standards....heh, they'll only end up using twice as many bags anyways and hear that familiar refrain, 'double bag plllllleasse' over and over, until they do.

I hope you have a very nice long weekend Sheep.

Huggs, G

Anonymous said...

I've noticed the same thing going on here. The bags are getting thinner and thinner. Kroger started selling recyclable totes at the same time the bag quality went down. Hmmm....

I used to take all my leftover bags to the produce farm for them to use, but now it's closed. If I can't find bag recycling, I guess I'll have to knit some mesh grocery bags or something. Or maybe I just need to find someone with cats. :)

Anonymous said...

If your stylist can figure out how to put the twenty-something into the forty-something, let me know. Might be worth a trip to Maine!