A Few Mini-Rants To Get Out Of My System
A few little rants that you may or may not find in the least bit interesting:
1. Why do they put soda machines in elementary schools? And if they must, why do they have to have the machines that dispense those supersized 20-ounce bottles? Does anyone there really think that the under-Bat-Mitzvah set needs 20 ounces of liquid candy with their lunch? And speaking of lunch, do the people in charge of the Yeshiva hot lunch program live in a time warp? Are they the only people in the universe who did not get the memo that hot dogs and bologna are no longer exactly considered healthful fare? I mean, I understand that carrot sticks and grilled salmon is not gonna be on the menu any time soon - but must they serve lunch meats that are first packed chock full of nitrites, food coloring, and other such goodies, and then stuffed into a casing?
2. My monthly supermarket bill has gotten astronomical. And I rarely entertain on Shabbos, so I am talking about just the food that goes directly into the Orthofamily's mouths. It is getting nigh impossible to feed a family of six (without resorting to serving macaroni every night) and pay tuition. I don't understand how people less fortunate than us manage.
3. I don't know why the people who give out parking tickets in the village of Cedarhurst are wasting their time at this lousy job. They are so unbelievably fast with the ticket pad that their reflexes must be superhuman. Someone should recruit them for some pro sport or the other. I don't know much about sports, but there must be some that require participants to be fast on the draw. (Boxing?) I could swear that these guys start filling out my license plate onto the ticket as the last few seconds are still ticking off of my quarter. There's no other way they can keep managing to get to the car just as the red flag pops up. The pile of parking tickets that I've thrown on the floor of the passenger seat has gotten larger and larger (I have to remember to shove them in the glove before Orthodad sees 'em). And out here, the fees double about five minutes after the ticket is issued. They double again five minutes later. I think my fees are in the thousands by now.
4. I don't know how Gourmet Glatt supermarket gets away with stopping delivery service at 4 PM on Thursday afternoon. Talk about catering to the stay-at-home set. Uh, hello? Guys? There are people out here who actually work during the day? Maybe you can try and understand that there is no way they are getting in to do their shopping during work hours? What kills me is that I spend the entire day working, and then a supermarket penalizes me for that by making me carry a week's worth of groceries into the car, and from the car into my house. Which is why I now mostly shop at a different supermarket, where the service is absolutely fantabulous, but whose prices are somewhat higher (reference rant #2 above).
Thanks for listening. I feel a whole lot better.
1. Why do they put soda machines in elementary schools? And if they must, why do they have to have the machines that dispense those supersized 20-ounce bottles? Does anyone there really think that the under-Bat-Mitzvah set needs 20 ounces of liquid candy with their lunch? And speaking of lunch, do the people in charge of the Yeshiva hot lunch program live in a time warp? Are they the only people in the universe who did not get the memo that hot dogs and bologna are no longer exactly considered healthful fare? I mean, I understand that carrot sticks and grilled salmon is not gonna be on the menu any time soon - but must they serve lunch meats that are first packed chock full of nitrites, food coloring, and other such goodies, and then stuffed into a casing?
2. My monthly supermarket bill has gotten astronomical. And I rarely entertain on Shabbos, so I am talking about just the food that goes directly into the Orthofamily's mouths. It is getting nigh impossible to feed a family of six (without resorting to serving macaroni every night) and pay tuition. I don't understand how people less fortunate than us manage.
3. I don't know why the people who give out parking tickets in the village of Cedarhurst are wasting their time at this lousy job. They are so unbelievably fast with the ticket pad that their reflexes must be superhuman. Someone should recruit them for some pro sport or the other. I don't know much about sports, but there must be some that require participants to be fast on the draw. (Boxing?) I could swear that these guys start filling out my license plate onto the ticket as the last few seconds are still ticking off of my quarter. There's no other way they can keep managing to get to the car just as the red flag pops up. The pile of parking tickets that I've thrown on the floor of the passenger seat has gotten larger and larger (I have to remember to shove them in the glove before Orthodad sees 'em). And out here, the fees double about five minutes after the ticket is issued. They double again five minutes later. I think my fees are in the thousands by now.
4. I don't know how Gourmet Glatt supermarket gets away with stopping delivery service at 4 PM on Thursday afternoon. Talk about catering to the stay-at-home set. Uh, hello? Guys? There are people out here who actually work during the day? Maybe you can try and understand that there is no way they are getting in to do their shopping during work hours? What kills me is that I spend the entire day working, and then a supermarket penalizes me for that by making me carry a week's worth of groceries into the car, and from the car into my house. Which is why I now mostly shop at a different supermarket, where the service is absolutely fantabulous, but whose prices are somewhat higher (reference rant #2 above).
Thanks for listening. I feel a whole lot better.
posted by orthomom at 8:47 AM
29 Comments:
Has RenReb taken over this blog?
LOL? I think?
You mean you shop at supersol?
You mean you shop at supersol?
You mean you shop at supersol?
Often. They offer such a superior level of customer service that it really serves to make a workking homemaker's life easier. Their deliveries come quickly, and delivery is always available. Their checkout lines move quickly, and their checkout workers are pleasant, friendly, and efficient. All of that that does, admittedly, come at a slightly higher price, though.
And if they must, why do they have to have the machines that dispense those supersized 20-ounce bottles?
I don't know why anyone would everyone want to drink 20 ounces of any liquid unless they were running in a marathon or something.
BTW, please daven for krum asa a bagel. It is currently out of commission, but I understand that a team of doctors in Palo Alto are on it. Thank you.
Orthomom- how do you get away with no guests on shabbos? In my house, no matter what the occasion, my husband brings a few stragglers home from shul, and then of course my single brothers and cousins need to eat... A funny thought--I've noticed that when hosting boys, the bill is twice as large as when hosting girls. I just don't feel the same urgent need to cook enourmous amounts of fresser food when the guys aren't coming. I also need to shop again Sunday morning because the guys just wipe my kitchen out.
Krum- I second that. Quite a few blogs are in need of a speedy refuah shelaima!
Orthomom- how do you get away with no guests on shabbos?
I didn't say none, I said rare. I do have company from time to time, but by the time shabbos rolls around, my husband and I really look forward to quality time with the kids. We love to go over what they learned in school, and just hear about their week in general. I hate giving that kind of undivided attention that they so rarely get up because I have another family to entertain.
1. Just this week, my wife had left a stack of quarters on the counter (so she can put them in the car to feed the meters you speak of) and my son, before he left to yeshiva, slithered up that pile and quickly deposited several quarters in his pocket. Mrs. Must caught the heist and upon questioning, my son admitted the money was for buying a soda. Of course, he already had a soda in his bag (we buy the smaller bottles for him to take to school) and his response was "they are cold from the machine"...
2. Unfortunately, I know of several people who hold very large tabs and owe lots of money to Supersol. Yes, it's expensive. We do almost all of our shopping at Brachs and at odd hours to avoid the crowds. I'm fearing the next few weeks as my wife begins to start stocking up on Pesach goods.
3. We load up the car with quarters and always add an extra quarter "just in case". 25 cents in advance not only is better than paying the fine, but it also gives the next person who parks in the spot a few extra "bonus" minutes (who doesn't love that?). Although I'll admit that even our plan isn't fool proof -- I can't tell you how many times I've fed the wrong meter and got a ticket because the REAL meter for my car ran out.
4. We never do the delivery thing. How else will I get my weekly exercise of unloading the groceries from the car?
What kills me is that I spend the entire day working, and then a supermarket penalizes me for that by making me carry a week's worth of groceries into the car, and from the car into my house.
Sorry, I have no sympathy for this. Delivering groceries is a luxury, and something that you rarely see in most of the country. Especially here in LA.
I routinely load up the car, unload the car and walk them into the house.
MoC:
1. That's easy to say, but many kids struggle with their weight. Maybe the MoC family never had that issue, but many kids these days do. With childhood obesity becoming more and more epidemic, isn't the soda and lunch thing more than just a Jewish mother needing to "chill out"?
2. I visit Brachs sometimes, but their delivery sucks. I once waited 13 hours from when I checked out, and they had promised it within 4.
Must:
4. I hear you, but I like to get my excercise in more enjoyable fashion. Also, if my husband would be around to help, that would be diferent, but he's usually at work when I come home with the groceries.
Jack:
That's OK, I am not asking for your sympathy. Just please understand that if I leave work at 4:00 and the kids get home roughly a half hour after that, leaving the groceries to be delivered later vs. loading and unloading a week's worth myself can sometimes mean the diference between being home when they walk in the door (priceless) and having them come home to a babysitter (something I try to avoid).
by the time shabbos rolls around, my husband and I really look forward to quality time with the kids
Valid point, but I don't relate to the issue of 'quality time' because we're still a young family. I think the best chinuch I could impart to my kids is that our home is always open. Giving to people who don't have the comforts that we do overrides other considerations (i.e. singles who don't have thier own families yet, yeshiva kids who would give anything for a homemade meal, etc), which is btw why I don't usually have other families over. Obviously I mean within reasonable limits and not at the cost of neglecting your own brood--a good balance is important. Also, it's a geographical issue. Where I live, there's a huge young pouplation--communities that are more settled and family oriented (like 5 towns) probably do less table hopping for shabbos meals.
2 & 4: What comes to mind is SPOILED! What's so terrible about carrying a few bags the short distance from the car to the house? And to avoid high prices, just avoid the frum brands & kosher markets whenever possible.
2 & 4: What comes to mind is SPOILED! What's so terrible about carrying a few bags the short distance from the car to the house? And to avoid high prices, just avoid the frum brands & kosher markets whenever possible.
Anon:
Unless, as I've explained, there are other reasons for wanting to deliver, and for wanting to not go to a separate store for all of my meats and other shabbos accoutrements - like rushing home to four kids. If that makes me spoiled, so be it.
Also, if my husband would be around to help, that would be diferent, but he's usually at work when I come home with the groceries.
Well, your husband obviously never got THIS call during the day: "hi honey! hope your day is going great. oh, by the way, I went to brachs, costco, and amazing savings today, so the car is full"...
Well, your husband obviously never got THIS call during the day: "hi honey! hope your day is going great. oh, by the way, I went to brachs, costco, and amazing savings today, so the car is full"...
Wow. No, he didn't. Never. His hours are such, that if I relied on that, it would be waaay more disappoining than waiting for a delivery from Brach's.
>>I've noticed that when hosting boys, the bill is twice as large as when hosting girls.
LOL, Me too. I have learned my lesson after one (absolutely wonderful) meal where we set everything out and ended up having nothing, nada, ziltch, zero the next day, that when hosting single guys to only put out what you want eaten.
Also, I don't think that delivery in a home with four children and two full time working parents is indicitive of being spoiled.
If you work full time, you need to find ways to be available to your children as much as possible. For most people that means shopping at one store, but it could also mean delivery.
I'm home and my job is to run a tight budget. But, to do that I go to 4-5 drug and grocery stores regularly and 1-2 kosher stores for meats and cheeses to stock and freeze. The routine is a bit grueling and unplesant and would be impossible for a full time working parent to do.
Everybody's covered food prices and delivery schedules, so I'll weigh in on school lunches:
I've served on several hot lunch committees (here in Chicago, parents have to prepare and serve the lunches). The problem is not that anyone is out of touch with what constitutes "healthful" -- we're just *in* touch with what constitutes "eaten" versus "thrown away"!
My experience is that forcing too much health during the school day does more harm than good. Overly healthful lunches just seem to encourage kids to want junk food even more. My solution as a parent has been to serve *more* healthful dinners than I might otherwise select and just give up on school hours.
And let's be honest: none of us battles the evils of bad diet because we eat badly 180 times a year. It's all the other meals and snacks that pack the wallop!
Re. the unhealthy lunches- I think the poster above makes a good point. What good is it if the kids will only throw it all away? I agree with you, OM, that the lunches should be healthier- there must be some way to tweak the menu so that the kids are getting SOMETHING healthy without it all being so healthy that it goes straight to the garbage!
I absolutely agree with you re. the soda machines in school. As far as I'm concerned, it's a crime to fill kids up with liquid sugar (even the diet stuff isn't actually healthy). Doesn't that interfere with their learning? And those huge bottles? OMG. This should be something you can actually change- I think if enough parents speak up, the soda machines could be gotten rid of.
What's wrong with good old-fashioned drinking fountains? I realize you live in a nicer area- so how about replacing the soda machines with bottled-water machines?
I'm sure you've already thought of this, but I'll throw it out anyway-how about driving to Brooklyn or Queens on Sundays to shop? Much cheaper, even the kosher grocery stores.
I don't think you're spoiled for getting your groceries delivered, and I, too, wonder why a kosher grocery would stop delivering so early on Thursdays. Here in Israel, most (if not all) supermarkets deliver- even on Fridays (though of course on Fridays the delivery hours are shorter).
All right, this may come off as repetitive of stuff I've said before here, but...
1) Only in NY. I've never heard of *elementary* schools having soda machines before. 20oz bottles is simply a bad idea.
2) Again, only in NY. Cost of living in Queens is 1.6x the national average; I'm sure the 5T is over double, like Manhattan - and that's if you're not paying Jewish tuitions. It's mind-boggling that I can have about 3 Shabbosos in other cities for the price of one in NY... and I don't understand how tuition-paying parents could pay the amounts they do for elementary school, particularly in NY, only to have their kids not eat and then spend even more $$ on soda and snack machines.
4) As a few people above said, delivery is unheard of outside of New York, so it's hard to be sympathetic on this one, even though it's frustrated me as well in some stores in Queens when they stop before I get there (or worse, while I'm there). The difference is, we don't own a car, so no delivery from KeyFood means a 10-block walk with $75 worth of groceries - no fun, but part of life.
Of course, out of NY, you'd have more hours in general, which means that the minutes of loading/unloading wouldn't affect the ability to see your kids, but I digress... :)
Go into Gourmet Glatt .Korn's bakery has opened a store there.Write down the prices of each item.Next time you're in BP go to korn's bakery Compare the prices and you may understand why you should boycott them.
Having taught in a Yeshiva, I have to say that I am amazed at the amount of junk food available. It is not just the sodas, ice creams, and whatever else is being sold for fundraisers, but it is also the Pizza lunches (with french fries) and other lunches that serve as fundraisers.
Topped with the lack of exercise and long school hours (P.E. once a week) plus the fact that the schools are not located in the community and kids have to be driven, is a health disaster.
This is not just a New York thing, although it is probably worse in New York.
BTW--I personally believe that behavior would improve tremendously if a serious DAILY exercise program was enacted. Don't ask me where the time would come from? But, I'd be willing to guess that even if you took 5 minutes away from all 8 classes and made the program very serious, that you would get 10-15 minutes more learning in each of those classes.
I'll probably be repeating a few things here, but I wanted to add my two cents anyway.
First of all, as far as the soda machines in elementary schools, yes, that is excessive.
Secondly, I think that as long as the food's processed, it's not going to be healthy.
And there's probably no way to get non-processed foods for school lunches unless you hire a full kitchen staff, and that includes menu planners and shoppers, although with the high tuition costs, it could be argued that that should be something that comes out.
As far as not having groceries delivered, that's something I really don't simpathize with.
I leave the house for work around 8:30 in the morning, and often don't get back home until after 7 at night.
I end up taking a cab to the store in order to get grocers, and then haul them in, so that means paying the cab fair, plus whatever extra for the wait time.
>>>And there's probably no way to get non-processed foods for school lunches unless you hire a full kitchen staff, and that includes menu planners and shoppers, although with the high tuition costs, it could be argued that that should be something that comes out.
Actually, school lunches is an area that schools actually come out ahead. I have seen the budget at one local school that serves decently healthy lunches and if that school were to eliminate lunches, tuition would rise by a good $200 per student.
Just shop at Brach's - best prices - most parking. But I totally hear you about the grocery bill thing - it is scary.
For informational purposes, how much are you spending (and of course how many mouths are you feeding)?
Hi ;)
heh... what unhinged newz!
what do you consider about it?
To Orthomom March 17/06 comments:
I am unable to find the Gourmet Glatt Supermarket you mentioned. Would you mind telling me where it is located?
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