What are you doing?

[Kalevala]

Listening to some Billy Joel.  Enjoyed reintroducing a friend to some of his music (who said that they hated it previously).  He did enjoy this video (trying to figure out where to go from here).  Do watch the video; it's brilliant.  It's from a concert.

Any ideas?

K

[LKB]

Feeling hungry, but I'm still on the job for a while yet. Eggs will have to wait... 

[Kalevala]

Feeling hungry, but I'm still on the job for a while yet. Eggs will have to wait... 

Have you seen prices in your local restaurant go up?  Avian bird flu is causing big egg shortages in grocery stores.

K

[Number Six]

Just ordered Instacart groceries.

So much more expensive than going myself, but I can't go out today. And I am out of food. Haha.

Starting in early 2020, I began ordering grocery delivery. (gee, I wonder why?) Even after that obvious concern had faded, I was in the habit of ordering my groceries. But a little over a year ago, I decided NO MORE. Since then, I have only used it a couple of times, when I was having vehicle issues. Or today, when I have to stay home for other stuff.

I am so thankful I don't have to/choose to use it every time anymore.

[Kalevala]

Just ordered Instacart groceries.

So much more expensive than going myself, but I can't go out today. And I am out of food. Haha.

Starting in early 2020, I began ordering grocery delivery. (gee, I wonder why?) Even after that obvious concern had faded, I was in the habit of ordering my groceries. But a little over a year ago, I decided NO MORE. Since then, I have only used it a couple of times, when I was having vehicle issues. Or today, when I have to stay home for other stuff.

I am so thankful I don't have to/choose to use it every time anymore.

I haven't tried using them before.  In the past (during the peak of Covid), I'd just put on a mask, use hand sanitizer at times, did my best to avoid touching my mouth/eyes/nose and wash my hands well when I came home [Not a bad idea me thinks still to do in the wintertime re flu and colds--at least the latter parts].  Did/do you find that the quality of the items was/is agreeable to your standards?

K

[Number Six]

I haven't tried using them before.  In the past (during the peak of Covid), I'd just put on a mask, use hand sanitizer at times, did my best to avoid touching my mouth/eyes/nose and wash my hands well when I came home [Not a bad idea me thinks still to do in the wintertime re flu and colds--at least the latter parts].  Did/do you find that the quality of the items was/is agreeable to your standards?

K

Occasionally you will get some crappier produce or a steak you might have avoided choosing. But for the most part, I have been happy. It's very convenient, obviously. But the prices are higher, even before the tips and fees.

During COVID, when my groceries arrived, I would clear off my kitchen counters - even moving things like the coffee maker and blender into the bathroom - and lay out towels. Then while putting away, I would wash my hands about every 60 seconds. And non-perishables went into a pile in the corner of the living room because at the time I understood that the germs might stay active for 48 hours on paper/cardboard/etc. The towels went straight into the washing machine after.

[Spotted Horses]

Occasionally you will get some crappier produce or a steak you might have avoided choosing. But for the most part, I have been happy. It's very convenient, obviously. But the prices are higher, even before the tips and fees.

I have seen people in the supermarket reach out and pick up the box of strawberries nearest to them without even looking at it. In my family I am required to inspect every package of strawberries in the store and attempt to pick the best. If I buy a box of cereal, I am required to look at every box of cereal on the shelf and pick the one with the most favorable expiration date. Wouldn't work for me...

[Number Six]

I have seen people in the supermarket reach out and pick up the box of strawberries nearest to them without even looking at it. In my family I am required to inspect every package of strawberries in the store and attempt to pick the best. If I buy a box of cereal, I am required to look at every box of cereal on the shelf and pick the one with the most favorable expiration date. Wouldn't work for me...

Haha! Fair, especially with strawberries. Nothing like getting home and finding that the ones in the bottom of the box are fuzzy molded. 

Cereal expiration is not an issue for me. I only buy one container at a time - or two, at most, if I want variety. So I go through them quickly enough.

[Kalevala]

Occasionally you will get some crappier produce or a steak you might have avoided choosing. But for the most part, I have been happy. It's very convenient, obviously. But the prices are higher, even before the tips and fees.

During COVID, when my groceries arrived, I would clear off my kitchen counters - even moving things like the coffee maker and blender into the bathroom - and lay out towels. Then while putting away, I would wash my hands about every 60 seconds. And non-perishables went into a pile in the corner of the living room because at the time I understood that the germs might stay active for 48 hours on paper/cardboard/etc. The towels went straight into the washing machine after.

Boy, I didn't go to those extremes (though I do know some around me who did so), but I do get it; we weren't certain what we were dealing with particularly in the early days.

Do they raise the prices of items or is it a case of where they are purchasing your groceries at?  I imagine that the delivery costs would have to do with the mileage/time in terms of where they have to deliver to?

K

[Number Six]

Boy, I didn't go to those extremes (though I do know some around me who did so), but I do get it; we weren't certain what we were dealing with particularly in the early days.

Do they raise the prices of items or is it a case of where they are purchasing your groceries at?  I imagine that the delivery costs would have to do with the mileage/time in terms of where they have to deliver to?

K

You can choose the store, so all my usual local grocery shops are an option. But yes, they raise the prices on things. (same as Doordash does) The fees are flat rate, I think. But then there is a tip on top of it, which you of course would not pay if you shopped yourself.

[Kalevala]

I have seen people in the supermarket reach out and pick up the box of strawberries nearest to them without even looking at it. In my family I am required to inspect every package of strawberries in the store and attempt to pick the best. If I buy a box of cereal, I am required to look at every box of cereal on the shelf and pick the one with the most favorable expiration date. Wouldn't work for me...

I must admit to being a bit of a food nerd.  I rarely buy things like strawberries or asparagus out of season (locally).  It normally tastes like crap--to me anyway.  I did, however try some strawberries which, from what I recall, were probably grown in a greenhouse and were pretty good (and somewhat local).

K

[Kalevala]

You can choose the store, so all my usual local grocery shops are an option. But yes, they raise the prices on things. (same as Doordash does) The fees are flat rate, I think. But then there is a tip on top of it, which you of course would not pay if you shopped yourself.

Hmmm...sounds like it could get rather expensive.  I have seen a (from what I can tell) a fairly brisk business probably using apps in which one can order ahead and I suspect prepay for the items and then go and pick them up in special holding areas.  That, or arrange to have the items brought out to your car.

K

[Number Six]

Hmmm...sounds like it could get rather expensive.  I have seen a (from what I can tell) a fairly brisk business probably using apps in which one can order ahead and I suspect prepay for the items and then go and pick them up in special holding areas.  That, or arrange to have the items brought out to your car.

K

Yep! That's a great service. You usually get it on the store's website/app, and they don't have extra fees. Also a good way to make sure you stay within a budgeted price, since you're not wandering the store around being tempted by snacks and such.

But I don't do it that way often. I figure, if I am going to drive to the store, I might as well get the exercise from walking around shopping myself. Heaven knows I could use any excuse to walk more. 

[Kalevala]

Yep! That's a great service. You usually get it on the store's website/app, and they don't have extra fees. Also a good way to make sure you stay within a budgeted price, since you're not wandering the store around being tempted by snacks and such.

But I don't do it that way often. I figure, if I am going to drive to the store, I might as well get the exercise from walking around shopping myself. Heaven knows I could use any excuse to walk more. 

The dangers of shopping--particularly when you're hungry ["A little bit of pre-made sushi from my co-op would make a lovely snack when I get home".]

K

[brewski]

Elgar: The Dream of Gerontius (Boult / LPO / Janet Baker / Peter Pears / John Shirley-Quirk, recorded in 1968 in Canterbury Cathedral). My first encounter with this piece, and so far (as an Elgar fan), liking it. The audio and video are excellent for the time period.

[Spotted Horses]

I must admit to being a bit of a food nerd.  I rarely buy things like strawberries or asparagus out of season (locally).  It normally tastes like crap--to me anyway.  I did, however try some strawberries which, from what I recall, were probably grown in a greenhouse and were pretty good (and somewhat local).

K

We are lucky in that regard, we pass farmers fields as we drive around town and can get organic strawberries from the farmer's markets that were picked that morning. Nothing beats that. But we will get off season fruits and vegetables when we have to.

[Kalevala]

We are lucky in that regard, we pass farmers fields as we drive around town and can get organic strawberries from the farmer's markets that were picked that morning. Nothing beats that. But we will get off season fruits and vegetables when we have to.

Nice!  Yes, I will buy some non-local fruits and veggies too [It's cold here.].  I do try and think--particularly re fruits as to what's in season and where [like grapefruits = wintertime/Florida and Texas for instance].  And, like you, I'm fortunate that there are a number of farmers' markets, etc. around me. 

K

[hopefullytrusting]

Doing the bureaucratic aspects of my job, so much paperwork, although, thankfully, all that paperwork is now digital, but, ironically, its digitalness has somehow increased the redundancy!

[hopefullytrusting]

Getting excited at Aaron Vehling's recent Instagram story where he showed a page from his Electric Youth book. If you don't know who Aaron is, he is the interviewer/news source for the retrowave/synthwave music subculture, and he has had almost exclusive access to the reclusive Electric Youth, so for fans of theirs (this guy) this is pretty exciting.

[drogulus]

     I'm monitoring the market upsie downsies to see if I can detect signs of the Big Market Event that is predicted to happen Some Day. Why I do this?

     

     Goin' down, down,down, down......