bman

I walk into the grocery store yesterday, June 2nd, 2006. The scene is somewhat chaotic, almost like a pre-9/11 or pre-Katrina atmosphere fills the air. Dozens of shopping carts racing busily along the meat counters - people grabbing things as if armageddon will happen soon. The aisles, freezers and refrigerated shelves look in total disarray - items accidentally knocked off the shelves lay on the floors - the entire meat section has been completely ravished - trash laying on the floors and throughout the aisles. People almost running me over as I traverse the aisles. What in the hell is going on? Is there an approaching major storm that I didnt hear about? Was there a union strike somewhere that may cause a shortage in the food supplies?

I am totally miffed by now. So I hit the meat aisles and couldnt even find any steaks..... none - however there was tons of hamburger...which I didnt want. I hadnt had any steak in a couple of months and damnit I was in the mood for a nice big juicy steak. I found a store employee and rushed over to him to ask just what in the hell was going on... why all the disarray, pushing, shoving and for god's sake.. wheres all the damn steaks?! He looked at me, smirked and said.. "Dont you know what day it is?" to which I replied, "No, did I miss a Holiday or something?" He looked down at his watch, pointed, and said, "Uh, its the first of the month.. the welfare recipients received their checks today." Holy shit I exclaimed! Now I was mad. I wish he wouldnt have told me this as now Im paying a lot of attention to the shoppers, their food choices and unfortunately, the vehicles they're driving - something I dont ever recall even being interested in.

Yea, I know I shouldnt be bashing those less fortunate who clammer to the grocery stores at the beginning of each month with hundreds of my tax dollars in hand happily piling their shopping carts with the only the finest meats and produce that money can buy - but its hard not to get upset when you see your local grocery store looking like a battleground, trash laying around everywhere, ravaged, mostly empty shelves in total disarray, and most importantly, I noticed some of the fine vehicles that many of them piled their dozens of grocery bags into. Get someone else to buy your groceries and I guess you can afford Lexus, Escalades and Cadillacs.

Now in all fairness I didnt see *everybody* get into a $45,000 vehicle but I did see a good number of them going away in some rather expensive vehicles. My description of the scene at the grocery store has not been exaggerated - I wish I would of had my camera to take some pics of the store, you honestly wouldnt believe it, I know I didnt.

LESSONS LEARNED:
1. Dont shop for groceries during the first few days of the month.
2. Im not smart enough to figure out how to get the State to buy my groceries.