Local Businesses

I try to patronize local businesses when I can. I'd rather give my money to a local proprietor who is trying to build something for themselves and the community than to a large corporation. I don't strictly hold that all large corporations are evil, I just choose to give local folks my money. For example, I do most of my grocery shopping at Ballard Market, head to the local cafes instead of Starbucks or Tully's, buy from local bike shops, etc.

One of my favorite local restaurants is Gordito's. I've patronized their store in Greenwood quite often, and I was pleased to see that they had opened up one in Queen Anne as well. When I went out seeking breakfast, ostensibly headed to the Five Spot, my stomach was derailed when I caught a whiff of the carne asada and pollo asado on the grill. So I crossed the street to go to Gordito's instead and was met with a sign which caused a bit of consternation. The QA location of Gordito's hasn't worked out well for them, and so will be closing before the end of the year. The Greenwood location will still be going strong, so I can continue to get my fix. But even so, it's saddening to see such good Mexican food going unloved in Queen Anne.

Frozen Food Section

Ever show up in front of the freezer section at the grocery store, battling low blood sugar to be able to pick out your favorite variety of ice cream for your quick fix? Or perhaps you've found yourself cruising for frozen peas to nurse that shiner you got from the bar fight last night.... Whatever brought you to Safeway's chill chest, you find yourself staring at the door, attempting to make out blurry detail from the window that's got nearly one inch of frost on the interior surface; it's like trying to make out detail behind the warped glass of the shower door. What causes that? you wonder. Is the freezer element behind this door somehow more powerful than the others?

I have an answer!

That frosting is actually stupidity. It emanates from indecisive people and condenses on the glass. You know the ones. They stand there for 15 minutes, wondering why they're cold, trying to work out the vagaries of their own desires. "Did she mean Vanilla Bean? Just Vanilla, French Vanilla, or Double Vanilla?" "Is this the green kind of Mint Chocolate Chip?" "The mixed vegetables with lima beans are on sale, but I don't like lima beans. Maybe I should just get peas and carrots. I wonder if one day they'll grow square carrots instead of having to cut them. Hmm, but this Asian vegetable mix looks pretty good, it says just add chicken for a balanced meal, wow, I really wish the federal government would balance the budget. I should revise my budget to include a new iPod. I hear the new iPod shuffle is pretty cool, it's so cute and tiny! Tiffany is cute, too, maybe I should ask her out. I wonder if she's got a boyfriend already. Fuck it's cold in this store, they should turn up the heat! I should get some ice cream."