SuperMarket Etiquette

Today at the supermarket, I had a not-quite-so-little run in with someone over in the meat department… then then moved to the check out lines.. which then lead into the parking lot.

Who knew people would get so damn territorial about the last family pack of chicken breasts on sale for 1.79 a pound?

It all started when a woman was standing in front of the as-fore-mentioned family pack of chicken breasts on sale for 1.79 a pound.. and obviously couldn’t decide if she was going to stick it up her ass in her cart or not. So I.. being the COURTEOUS shopper that I am, passed the meat section and went down a few other aisles to give her time to really REALLY mull over her decision.

I had to be away about a good 10 or 15 minutes. I know it was pretty long because I, myself, was indecisive about buying Nutrisse Garnier Hair Dye #40 or #46.

Hey.. it’s a big decision. SO big that my grey roots are probably about an inch long.

Pressed for time, I decided to deal with the hair later and went back to the meat department.

Chicken lady was still there and I didn’t have much more time to waste :: my Dunkin’ Donuts coffee was getting cold in the car :: so I went there, excused myself with the sweet, little smile I use in situations like this :: and grabbed the last family pack of chicken breasts that were on sale for 1.79.

HER: What do you think your doing?
ME: Excuse me? ( no sarcasm yet )
HER: I was buying that?
ME: What?
HER: You heard me.. I was buying that?

<< this is where the sarcasm starts >>

ME: You were WHAT?
HER: I was buying that
ME: You were not..
HER: I was so..
ME: Ma’am.. You’ve been standing here for God knows how long. If you were going to buy it, you would have put it in your cart by now
HER: How do you know what I was going to do. Do you know what I’m making for dinner tonight?
ME: Clearly not chicken.. because I’M making chicken and I INTENDED to make chicken which is why the chicken is in MY cart.
HER: ( getting really loud ) YOU! YOU OWN THAT STORE DOWN THE ROAD! WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING HERE???
ME: I don’t sell chicken.

And then I just walked away because OBVIOUSLY this woman had been tweeking with her medication.

So I go up to the check out lines and you know.. it’s a Friday.. so it’s kind of crowded.. I grab the latest edition of People Magazine and start reading it. Secretly hoping that I’ll finish it before it’s my turn so I don’t have to actually buy it.

A few minutes goes buy and out of the corner of my ear I hear:

Well, I was GOING to buy the last pack of chicken breasts but SHE almost grabbed it right out of my hands and wouldn’t give it back.

I wasn’t going to turn around.. I really wasn’t. I know my momma raised me better then that.

But you know, my father didn’t.

So I turn around and tell her that she just needs to give it up. If you can’t decide to buy that last family pack of chicken breasts at a 1.79 a pound in FIFTEEN minutes then the laws of the super market say it’s fair game. Or something like that.

She then says that she is on a fixed income.. and why the HELL should I buy chicken at 1.79 a pound when I own a store and CLEARLY can afford to pay full price.

My response?

.. because I need to afford the fuel to my private jet so that I can fly to my Hawaiian getaway and watch the sunset every other night.

While this was going on, my stuff was being checked out so it wasn’t very long before I paid my bill and started to my car.

I was literally laughing out loud at the whole thing while walking to my car.. and while loading the stuff into my car.

You can’t tell me that God doesn’t have a sense of humor because guess who was parked in the row behind me, two cars over…

Yep.

Chicken Lady..

Still calling me out about the damn chicken.

I felt like getting the chicken out of the car… ripping open the package and slathering myself with it.. but then I wouldn’t have anything to cook for dinner tonight so I appeased myself by just giving another variety of bird.

All that made me think of a post that I read a long time ago by The Jenni.

It took me hella long to find it but I’m copying it here because.. really.. it’s just too good not to read:

There should be a contract that all people of the earth should have to sign before grocery shopping. Grocery store etiquette has gotten way out of control lately people! Todays grocery shopping experience was enough to make me want to hire a personal shopper so I don’t have to deal with the madness. Here are a few things on my personal grocery store etiquette list:

-Just because you drive a Hummer, doesn’t mean your shopping cart is bigger and better than mine. I have shopping to do also, and I drive my shopping cart nicely. Drive friendly people! Its only groceries not a race to the finish!

-If you decide you need to ponder which macaroni is really the cheesiest, make sure your cart is not parked in the CENTER of the isle. No one can get around you either way, and we don’t feel like watching you slowly sprout roots where you are standing. Park to one side or the other, preferably on the same side that your roots have sprouted so other people can pass you without having to bump into your cart or your bootie.

-When shopping in the produce department and have a sudden allergy attack, please at least cover your mouth, or a great idea- flee the area. I do not feel like watching your saliva and snot fly through the air and onto the grapes I wanted to buy before you contaminated them. And please use the hand you didn’t just cover with germs to squeeze the tomatoes, Id like to go home without your DNA if at all possible.

-If you bring your children, please pay attention to them. I don’t feel like chasing your four year old because he is threatening to eat the raw meat he snagged from my cart. I am not Captain Salmonella, but that can’t be healthy. If you decide to drive them around in the giant green car shaped cart, please be aware that people have ankles, and they do not enjoy having them run over. Once again, just because your cart is bigger and greener and shaped like a race car or a truck, doesn’t mean it is better than mine. See rule #1.

-If I am walking in the isles and you are following behind me, make sure you have ample room in case I decide to actually stop my cart and grab something. I do not enjoy being rear ended. Please pass to the left if you feel I am walking too slowly. Do not tailgate, it’s just not nice, and it makes me feel rushed.

-If I have ten items or less I use the checkout that is labeled quite clearly “10 items of less”. If you have 45 items, you need to go to a different checkout. I will be happy to help you count, but if I’m in that lane, I only count to ten sorry.

-Tapping me in the butt with your cart will not speed up the checkout line. Plainly there are other people in front of us, and it is not your turn yet. Be patient, or things could start to get ugly. Your warning will be a dirty look, after that I can’t promise there won’t be condiments thrown at you.

-If I am loading my items onto the conveyer belt, please wait until I have emptied my cart before loading your items in behind mine. I will signal you when I am finished by politely placing a plastic divider on the conveyer after my last item. If I have not placed the plastic divider yet, and I am still bending to grab items from my cart- that means I am NOT DONE YET. Please wait for me to empty my cart.

-If you are in front of me at checkout, and are about to sign your check, you are not allowed to go grab “just one more thing” before you pay. I don’t feel like waiting for you to find the panty liners you forgot. That is not my fault and I shouldn’t be punished for it. If you forgot something- too bad, go back to start, do not pass go-do not collect $200.

-And finally, just because you are a soccer mom and drive a Hummer does not mean that driving through the parking lot against the arrows is permissible. I don’t care how many kids you have and how many stickers you have for their teams on the back window of your SUV, the arrows are there for a reason.

It’s all about patience and politeness people! What happened to being polite and following the rules?

Dammit I forgot to buy Midol.

Read This And THEN Try To Convince Me That Our Justice System Is Fair…

… ok. So considering everything that happened to Chief and me last January with his being arrested :: read the TRAVESTY category :: .. there were a lot of people who told me that I was too close to the situation to see it fairly. That the police department, judge, DA’s Office is my town are “.. only doing their jobs” and acting on tips from “reliable” sources.

Yeah.

Ok.

Whatever.

I’m not going to rehash everything here. Just read those posts OR if enough people want, I’ll just post the crib note version.

At any rate… THIS is what I wanted to post about. And mind you, this happened in the town I live in where there’s only 1 judge and 4 police officers.

About a month ago, a 17 year old was riding his bike through the park. He was approached by a 19 year old who, with a bunch of friends, tried to steal the 17 year old’s bike. There was a confrontation and the 17 year old stabbed the 19 year old with a pen knife. The 19 year old suffered a collapsed lung and was in the hospital for a week.

The 17 year old was arrested for attempted murder and aggravated assault. Don’t remember how much the bail was.. but it was high.

Fast foward and what comes to light? The fact that this 19 year old’s posse video taped the whole thing and put it up on YouTube :: it’s since been taken down ::

The video tape CLEARLY shows what transpired and how the 17 year old’s last resort was to stab the 19 year old.

The attempted murder charge was dropped but the aggravated assault charge isn’t.. so basically, this kid is facing 20 years in jail and a felony tag for clearly defending himself.

The 19 year old wasn’t charged with anything.

The family of the 17 year old doesn’t want to talk to the press because they’re afraid it would have an adverse reaction for the 17 year old. Because, like, we all KNOW that that doesn’t happen, right??

When questioned by the well respected reported writing the story, the Chief of Police :: who’s a real dick, btw :: admitted that the pen knife was just that.. a pen knife. Not a switchblade.. Not a hunting knife.. not even ILLEGAL to carry. In fact, the 19 year old only got away with a collapsed lung because he was stuck with a pen knife.

He also said that the 19 year old hasn’t been charged with anything and won’t be charged with anything.

The ADA.. when questioned about the situation.. said:

the law says you cannot use deadly force unless deadly force is used against you

Um.. yea.. that’s not what that state law allows for the use of lethal force any time a faultless victim reasonably believes that unlawful force which will cause death or grievous bodily harm is about to be used on him

State law allows for the use of lethal force any time a faultless victim reasonably believes that unlawful force which will cause death or grievous bodily harm is about to be used on him

The ADA said that that was true but that the 17 year old had no reason to believe that force was going to be used.

Are you SERIOUS? This man is actually getting PAID to defend our laws and prosecute those who break them??

The 19 year old even said that he was being aggressive and confrontational.. he was with a bunch of his friends.. the 17 year old was by himself.. wouldn’t YOU feel threatened? Especially considering everything else that is going on in and around this town and county?

This isn’t a case of speculation… THERE IS A VIDEO TAPE OF THE WHOLE THING.. so instead following the law.. instead of protecting our justice system.. these Barney Fife’s are trying doing the complete opposite.

Now tell me.. after everything with Chief and the case above, do you wonder why I have complete distrust?

Comments MORE then welcome!