kritter
Mod Squad
When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
Posts: 19,883
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Post by kritter on Jan 5, 2022 20:29:36 GMT
I hadn't been in HEB since last week so I was interested in what the produce section looked like at my store. Was a nice surprise to find it business as usual and didn't see any glaring outages in that department. I think it could relate to HEB having contracts with a lot of growers to supply their produce to HEB only. I know they have been very agressive in contracting with both growers in Mexico as well as Texas. They do bring in some items from produce distributors but I think that is mostly in speciality items.
Now the cat food aisle is another story. That aisle has been decimated on and off for quite some time. Started with canned items but now it looks like the bag side is pretty depleted too.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on Jan 5, 2022 21:04:29 GMT
Today was a shop day, was hoping it would be fruitful but it wasn't. I miss the days when all of the stores were ripe this time of the year because of all the end of the year donations
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 5, 2022 21:38:32 GMT
Now the cat food aisle is another story. That aisle has been decimated on and off for quite some time. Started with canned items but now it looks like the bag side is pretty depleted too. I had to switch my kitties to a different dry food. The Friskies dry that they like has been out of stock since early October, no one has had it in stock.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 5, 2022 22:20:22 GMT
Toby is sleeping on the cushy spot on the desk and talking while he sleeps. Simon is asleep in the raised cat be on the other side of the desk and chattering at something as he sleeps. Trixie is snoozing nearby and snoring. It's most amusing
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Post by staytuned on Jan 5, 2022 22:51:07 GMT
Toby is sleeping on the cushy spot on the desk and talking while he sleeps. Simon is asleep in the raised cat be on the other side of the desk and chattering at something as he sleeps. Trixie is snoozing nearby and snoring. It's most amusing
You need to record them and share these moments. I confess I never heard a cat snore, let alone talk in his/her sleep.
Looks like the newest downstairs neighbor (who I haven't seen) has 2 cats. The blinds are always drawn, but last week there was a black cat peeking out that just looked at me like, "so what?". Came home today and there was a gray with black stripes one in the same spot. Our eyes met, I smiled and said, "Hi, kitty kitty kitty" and got a big meow in return.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 5, 2022 22:55:02 GMT
I'm not sure they're loud enough to record. OK, so technically Toby wasn't "talking", he was just making assorted noises - growls, mews, a chatter here and there.
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Post by staytuned on Jan 5, 2022 23:28:07 GMT
I'm not sure they're loud enough to record. OK, so technically Toby wasn't "talking", he was just making assorted noises - growls, mews, a chatter here and there. Isn't that considered talking for a cat?
How about a "cuteness" pic of the three of them? Haven't seen Trixie in awhile.
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Post by staytuned on Jan 5, 2022 23:28:42 GMT
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 5, 2022 23:49:03 GMT
Today was a shop day, was hoping it would be fruitful but it wasn't. I miss the days when all of the stores were ripe this time of the year because of all the end of the year donations I went to the GW for monthly senior day - left with four items. I didn't bother going into town this time because pickings have been so poor lately. The DH said supply chain issues with the snow, etc., could have something to do with it, but usually December itself is good and it starts a bit tailing off in the next two weeks. But, maybe - I'll go to tag day sale on Monday and see what's up unless we get snowed and iced in again. Sales have been crap, anyway. Cassie used to snore in her sleep - it was a "Phew...phew...phew...phew" that you could hear across a quiet room. She also had vivid dreams, and every once in a while would yowl, hiss and explode out of her bed and thump against the wall behind her, then sit glaring balefully around herself before curling up again. She did that once when she was under the covers with me and I ended up not only being startled awake, but with a scratch along my face (not a very bad one).
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Post by Desire on Jan 6, 2022 0:39:52 GMT
We had a big mess here on Interstate-84 this morning. All black ice and several car crashes, thank God my appointment in Danbury was changed to Friday. I would have been in the middle of it this morning. We're in for snow on Friday but not till late afternoon. Hoping it's not too much of an accumulation, but they are never right on any of the snow predictions lately. Two more months! May it pass quickly.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 6, 2022 2:27:31 GMT
How about a "cuteness" pic of the three of them? Haven't seen Trixie in awhile.
They don't like each other enough for a cute group pic. Next time they all pile up on the bed with me I'll see if I can get a group shot. It might be tough, they often don't sit close enough for me to get all 3 in one pic. Here's Trixie on Christmas Day checking out the Simon-looking bed that Kritter and the Missy Family gave us:
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Jan 6, 2022 2:44:37 GMT
Toby on Christmas Day after playing with some of his new toys.
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val2525
Chaos Manager
Posts: 30,750
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Post by val2525 on Jan 6, 2022 2:45:31 GMT
Simon on Christmas Eve, trying to stay awake for Santa Claus (he fell asleep and missed Santa, LOL):
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 6, 2022 2:54:09 GMT
LOL - if Simon ever got into that bed you'd NEVER be able to find him!
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val2525
Chaos Manager
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Post by val2525 on Jan 6, 2022 3:02:41 GMT
He actually got to lay in it this afternoon. Trixie has been hogging it, and when she's not in it, Toby is. Simon finally got his turn but by the time I got my phone to take a pic, he was stepping out of it.
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Post by staytuned on Jan 6, 2022 4:31:34 GMT
Today was a shop day, was hoping it would be fruitful but it wasn't. I miss the days when all of the stores were ripe this time of the year because of all the end of the year donations I think it started during the shutdown back in 2020. So many people were home and decided to clean out homes that donations skyrocketed during that time (at least it did around here when I worked at GW. The managers and one donor door guy had to come back a few days after we closed because people kept dropping stuff off and it was all over the front and back of the store and parking lot), I was the first one to get called back along with a coworker and every day a semi truck was filled because we were running out of room in the back and we had a huge back room. I retired at the end of 2020 and seemed like we never recovered in amount of donations. Apparently other thrifts had the same thing happen. There were packed sales floors until that ran out and pickings have been slim ever since. When I've stopped at my former GW since then, I've only seen a few cars dropping off a few items vs. cars lined out to the road and bins filling up after one or two cars.
Also seems retail stores weren't getting as much product as they used to and hung on to their clearance a lot longer for stuff to sell because people were shopping online instead. Then the P.O. had the fiasco well before Christmas and well after so people started going back to brick & mortar stores. Now, we've got the backups at the docks distributing merchandise.
Personally, I was donating a lot regularly until prices started climbing, so I'm more inclined to hang on to things longer because if I decided I needed it it will cost a lot more to replace.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 6, 2022 8:21:00 GMT
I was able to find everything I needed at another grocery store today - prices were a little higher, but that was OK, I checked off all my items. The only shelves empty were bagged salads, and I think that's the recall as much as anything. Fresh veg was all stocked up and people were briskly purchasing it. Shortages may have to do with the purchasing power and logistics of some markets versus others.
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Post by staytuned on Jan 6, 2022 14:55:35 GMT
In contrast to those who are having weather in the 70s for highs, it is currently 18 with windchill making it feel like 5 degrees. Thank goodness the sun is out to make it look warmer than it feels.
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Post by sunsetpainter on Jan 6, 2022 15:01:15 GMT
Yep! The sun makes all the difference. Woke up to 5 degrees here with below zero windchill, but sitting in the house with the sun shining made it seem not quite so bad.
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Post by somany on Jan 6, 2022 16:26:43 GMT
Corporate profits are at an all-time high - I don't think "inflation" is causing the price hikes. Manufacturers and retailers are using it as an excuse to raise prices that in many cases, don't need to be raised. Good article about it from Robert Reich, who is a finance/economics expert and really knows his stuff: www.salon.com/2021/12/01/whats-really-driving-inflation-corporate-greed_partner/A good example of recent price increase due to "inflation": if Dollar Tree had cut the multi-million dollar salary of their CEO, they wouldn't have needed to raise their prices to $1.25. I don't know, Dollar Tree is doing something right! I found Gold Toe socks there 3 or so months ago that I sold pretty quickly so I started looking at other Dollar Trees as I passed them on my way to wherever, and I am stunned at how many there are! I know I stopped at at least 10 of them, and I have seen more since I quit looking (since I was no longer finding the socks).
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Post by labbypaws on Jan 6, 2022 16:56:08 GMT
Snow coming. Hit the stores a day early. On the way home I stopped at Great Clips and got a quick hair cut. I am going to dye it tomorrow or Saturday. I usually go to a salon but wanted to get in and out quickly and no one was there.
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Post by blissfullymiserable on Jan 6, 2022 17:01:46 GMT
Seems like more and more resellers are trolling stores and infringing on my niche. There's so many bolo fb groups now. Not really worried, luckily I cover more ground than most of them. Usually I can make most shop days come together by getting creative with my routes.
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Post by jesmelric on Jan 6, 2022 19:48:51 GMT
The supply chain problems are also pushing inflation. It's going to take a while to unsnarl things. I've gone hungry enough in my life to just be grateful for what I can get right now and I'll be patient, though I know it might be hard on people trying to feed families and the like. I've never had to go hungry (thank goodness) but I've been poor and eaten buttered rice and green Kool aid for meals to get through till payday, so I have the same outlook. I am really grateful that even though sometimes I can't find the things I want, I have been able to find everything we need during the pandemic. I really need to be able to get Janey's food; she has a sensitive stomach and has gotten sick when I switched her before so I make that a priority. I really love to have Charmin Ultra Soft but hey, I've had toilet paper the whole time so I can't complain. I had a deep freeze before the pandemic and that comes in handy. But the inflation; my God. I used to buy DH chicken wings, maybe 8 bucks a pack. Now they are $18!!! I found a marked down pack a few weeks ago, when that's gone he'll have to pick thighs or legs. It's crazy when wings cost more than breasts.
Well I was going to try and schedule my booster for Monday, a week earlier than I am due, but it said something about have I had exposure in the last 14 days. I don't really think I have from mom but just to be safe I'll wait and try and schedule it for the 17th.
I don't know how you guys can stand the crazy cold temperatures. We were in the 70s yesterday, in the 60s today. Colder tomorrow, but nothing like you guys get.
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Post by staytuned on Jan 6, 2022 20:11:10 GMT
I was glad I did decide to go over MIL's because my low tire pressure warning came on and FIL's heavy duty air compressor is still in the garage and works. All 4 tires were low so filled those up. Thankful it was cold but not windy and no snow yet.
I spent a lot of years scraping by paycheck to paycheck and eating whatever was left to eat until next payday, too. Probably one reason I like to have a well stocked pantry now.
jesmelric- the cold isn't that bad now, especially wearing warm clothes. I understand how geese can stand being around here in winter because down is fabulously warm in cold temps.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 6, 2022 21:50:11 GMT
One thing I do recall is that food in times past used to take up more of the paycheck than it does now - we're used to having low food prices, so whereas it's a shock (particularly if you have to feed a family), it's not new. One thing the hunger/buttered rice and koolaid - man does THAT sound familiar!/whatever we can scrape together to next payday is teach how to eat cheaply. It's a myth that one can't eat cheaply and healthfully, it just takes some planning. Most of us are pretty creative!
We were having trouble sourcing the right cat food for ailing old Jamie even before the supply chain/inflation issues. I may be able to digest just about anything, but poor Jamie couldn't and would get diarrhea on the wrong food. I was more concerned about that than feeding myself, actually.
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Post by sunsetpainter on Jan 6, 2022 22:35:30 GMT
AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!! My Keurig died!!! (Good thing DD works at Target and will pick one up for me tomorrow! This chick doesn't function well decaffeinated!!)
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Post by staytuned on Jan 6, 2022 23:46:02 GMT
AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!! My Keurig died!!! (Good thing DD works at Target and will pick one up for me tomorrow! This chick doesn't function well decaffeinated!!) I keep a couple boxes of Folgers coffee packets on hand for travel and emergency. Yeah, it's instant, but it's still coffee and better than nothing. Gotta have my morning coffee, too.
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val2525
Chaos Manager
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Post by val2525 on Jan 6, 2022 23:50:13 GMT
Stay, if you have any Discount Tire Stores near you, they'll check and inflate tires for free. Most of them have a drive up lane just for that. You don't even have to buy your tires from them, it's a free service for everyone.
Produce section and dairy sections at my regular HEB are still wiped out from New Years, although the recent winter storm might have more to do with that (trucks can't get thru).
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Post by chapeaunoir on Jan 7, 2022 0:14:52 GMT
A French press makes great coffee and it usually doesn't break (unless you drop it on the floor as I have done). I have one I use for backup in case my espresso machine goes on the blink, because no coffee? Not an option.
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Post by labbypaws on Jan 7, 2022 0:20:59 GMT
No SF Coffeemate at BJs today. I have plenty for now but after last year's shortage I try to keep 2 in reserve.
I also like to stock up on just about everything. I use his bonus for big shopping but had a list of things I needed today. We keep a dry erase board on the fridge and each of us is responsible for adding to the list when we use up an item. You would laugh if you saw my garage shelves but if something happens I have enough of whatever to get by. It is easier than shopping each week for ketchup and the like. And yes, I have run the shelves bare at times.
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