So at bar time last night I was heading home and decided I needed something crunchy. I hasten to the nearest supermarket (and yes, I know driving after drinking is incredibly stupid and irresponsible so I don’t need to hear it, but thanks anyway) to pick up some chips or something. I go in for chips and come out with:
a 12-pack of diet Cherry Coke
a package of Boca burger (ground beef substitute)
3 boxes of Boca Chick’n patties
a large box of instant rice
a tub of cream cheese
a jar of peanut butter
a package of Keebler fudge lover cookies
a bag of Cheetos (crunchy)
a bag of Sun Chips (french onion)
a bag of Milky Way miniatures
a bottle of soy sauce
a can of vegetarian baked beans
a whole triple-layer Boston cream pie
Not a vegetarian here, but I love the Boca Burgers (got a couple of boxes in the freezer right now). Perfect for when I want dinner NOW!!! Okay, in one minute and 30 second via the microwave. A nice piece of PACFS (processed american cheese foodish substance), and yeehaw! it’s dinner.
SWT (shopping while tired) can be just as bad as SWI. I get tired and cranky after work, and I just want to get home but my shooping list is at home so I guesstimate what I need and try to remember what I already have six jars of so of course I always end up with extra cans of tuna and mayonnaise and do I already have bread hmmm better grab a loaf so I do not have to run back to the store later on and am I running out of american cheese a half pound ought to suffice and ooooh rice-a-roni the san francisco treat is on sale ten for ten dollars can’t argue with that and maybe I can make a nice meal with rice-a-roni the san francisco treat and the hamburger sitting in the fridge but maybe I’d better get another pound of hamburger since I can’t remember when the ‘use before’ date is on the package and wow pringles I haven’t had pringles since what last week sometime…
You get the idea. This was my stop at the grocery store on the way home.
And actually, I am have wild mushroom and herb couscous for dinner. Didn’t feel like a Boca Burger tonight.
Long ago I categorized the best and worst ways to shop:
BAD
SWT (shopping while tired)
SWI (shopping while intoxicated - no I’ve never done this but I’ve watched people do it.)
SWS (shopping while stoned - never done this either but I’m not that naive)
SWH (shopping while hungry)
SWB (shopping while bored)
SWM (shopping while mad)
SWPMSing (shopping while PMSing)
GOOD
SFMBTSC (shoping fifteen minutes before the store closes - must be done with a helper and a list)
Mmmmm. Melted crunchy peanut butter on an English muffin. Damn, I didn’t pick up either when I was SWT, so now I have to go SWB (shopping wearing bathrobe).
I think food shopping at all is bad for me. Relentless hoarding instinct plus spontaneous buying. And then being unable to figure out anything to make with the random stuff I’ve bought.
Ethnic food stores are particularly bad for me. “Ooh, look! This is a can of something! It’s only $5! Let’s get it! It’s got labels in Arabic!”
Oh, I go crazy in ethnic food stores. I just grab all kinda of crazy stuff that looks appetizing or just… interesting… and usually rack up quite a bill by the time I’m done. We have a fantastic Middle Eastern market nearby where I usually go in for a great falafel sandwich on pita, and I end up buying spinakopita and halloumi cheese (grills without melting!) and rolled grape leaves and all sorts of bizarre jars of hot peppers and snacks. I do similar damage at the Asian grocery store, and I just discovered a local Indian market! I know very little about Indian food, but if I show up hungry, I’ll just give myself a crash course in everything.
