Grocery Stores

I often go to the grocery store for lunch to pick something up because it is the closest source of food to my place of employment. There are many things that fascinate me about grocery stores, and just as many things that piss me off (most of which aren't really things the grocery store itself is accountable for)

The amount of food inside of a grocery store amazes me. Seriously. Think of all the work that goes into constantly stocking that much food. Not only that, but think of all the work in organizing, shelving, straightening, and displaying that food. Grocery stores are truly a piece of art. Next time you're there pay attention to things like the design of the displays, the signs, the graphics, the fact that all the cans are spaced evenly and faced the same way.

I love grocery stores that offer something different. I love shopping at our local co op. There are so many new things to try. The whole co op operation really amazes me. Seriously, I have a membership and any profit leftover at the end of the year gets returned back to me in accordance with how much I spent. That's pretty sweet. I also love organic produce, you can laugh at me, but seriously try it. Other things there amaze me, our co op has a bakery with what may be the best bread in the world, or maybe Iowa City :). It's just refreshing to go there. Minus the amount I have to pay for food.

I also go to a grocery store that is more of a full service grocery store, would you believe that they take your groceries to your car? Even if you have just three bags they offer to load them for you. It's so awesome, something that small really makes me consistently shop there over other large grocery stores.

As much as I love grocery stores, the warm fuzzy feeling isn't always there.
Mostly what I don't like about grocery stores is the patrons of the grocery store. I wish everyone else would see the grocery store as a modern marvel, but a lot of people seem to see it as an inconvenience, you can tell by looking at them that they loathe going to the grocery store. I'm not sure the exact correlation between the aforementioned attitude and being inconsiderate, but I think it's probably close to a .75.

I hate the awkwardness when someone has a cart in the middle of a narrow aisle, where there would still be room to have two carts go through, but they are blocking the whole thing. And then you say excuse me and they huff and puff while sliding their cart over.

Express Lanes. Seriously, 12 items, means 12 items. It doesn't mean take your entire cart of items to the express lane and let that poor checker try to ring up $100 in groceries with a handheld scanner. Be considerate to both the checker and the people behind you.

The parking lot. I bought a new car, I think it is a magnet for stray carts, doors and assholes who sideswipe you and take off. Really. And there are people everywhere. It wouldn't be bad, but the people are walking down the middle of the aisle and stare at you when you try to drive past them. And there's always the the person in the SUV who seems to feel that since they pay exorbitant amounts in gas prices and drive a vehicle capable of seating seven they have the right of way regardless. Even if you're a pedestrian in a cross walk, the mighty SUV should have the privilege of going in front of you. And what's to stop them? They're huge, they would crush my tiny Toyota. And if you're a pedestrian, why wouldn't you yield?

So seriously, next time you go to a grocery store really appreciate the fact that you can buy nearly any type of food there. I mean seriously, I bought this mix to make fat free brownies with yogurt, and hamburgers with blue cheese crumbled into them, what can't you find at a grocery store?