There wasn’t any wine involved in the writing of this post like last week, but there was a trip to the Verizon store and an incident involving cooking burgers on the stove and the fire alarm going off and not knowing where the smoke detector was for a good 3 minutes. But at least the Verizon trip was a success. I really thought I would walk out of there frustrated but I was able to successfully get an upgrade with the help of a very nice employee. I also saved a ton of money by turning in 3 old phones. I would show you a picture of my new phone, but what would I take it with?
Anyway, let’s talk about what I have been thinking about this week. Now that Memorial Day has come and gone, it’s really summer clothing season. However, my school’s AC has been blasting for the past three weeks and I have been forced to wear pants and sweaters and closed toed shoes. I did attempt capris and sandals on Tuesday, but regretted it quickly. And I cut myself shaving in the process, which reminded me why I don’t really mind long pants.
I’ve sort of been enjoying listening to the radio on my ride into work in the morning. Sometimes the conversations are amusing and the other day they were talking about “Is it ok to…” and then having people call/text/etc about if they thought it was ok to do certain things. I thought it would be fun to share some of them because it got me thinking a bit.
Is it ok to eat food at the grocery store before you buy it? I didn’t know that adults did this, but I remember when I was a kid my mom used to let me eat those boxes of animal crackers while we were in the store and then of course she would pay for them with the rest of the groceries. But the discussion turned to people eating produce in the store. First of all, most of that stuff is weighed, so it’s basically stealing. Also, it hasn’t been washed! Think about all the germs on that stuff from people touching it. Gross!
Is it ok to light a candle in your cubicle at work? I thought this was a pretty weird one. It didn’t even occur to me that someone would try to do this but the first thing that comes to mind is that it’s a fire hazard. Then there’s the whole issue of how it smells. I’m sure some people would definitely be bothered by that and it’s just better to go ahead and not even try to pull this off.
-Do you eat food at the grocery store before you buy it?
-Ever put your trash in a neighbor’s bin?
-Is it acceptable to light a candle at your job?
Thanks to Amanda for allowing me to share my thoughts on those subjects!
When I used to take my kids shopping I would do what your mom did mostly and let them have a snack while I shop. But then it became that they wanted grapes or a plum and that I couldn’t stand! But I have let them do it a few times and I always felt bad. Now I don’t take them and if I do, they don’t ask for anything. I cringe when I see people eating grapes in the produce section, I see it often.
Im sure that it is tough to shop with kids and I definitely don’t blame parents for letting their kids snack on certain things! I was shocked to hear that adults do it though…apparently people like to sample grapes before buying them to make sure they haven’t gone bad. I would just never even think to do that!
I never understood the people who eat grapes in the grocery store. They are dirty, don’t you want to wash them? Of course I remember those little boxes of animal crackers! I ate them in the store too 🙂
I don’t get it either! Just thinking about what could be on grapes before washing them grosses me out. Animal crackers may not be a healthier option but at least they are in a box and therefore no one else has had their hands all over them:)
Nice new phone! New phones are so nice… I totally eat things at the grocery store — not always — but if I’m hungry I know that I shouldn’t shop on an empty stomach so eating WHILE I shop helps me from buying junk. I mostly eat a small pack of nuts or those crispy snowpea things.
I used to work with a lady who had an “altar” in her cubicle with burning candles and essential oils, and she got away with it until it triggered somebody with migraines and then it became like a huge breakroom petition that nobody cared about.
I also had an actual yoga instructor do poses facing my cubicle which really annoyed me while I was a work. I know it shouldn’t have, but I didn’t really like having to look directly at her in crab position while I was on the phone with a client. Haha! Have a great weekend, Lisa!
That altar sounds really interesting! I could see that becoming an issue at most work places.
And I don’t think I could be on the phone with a client while someone was doing yoga poses in front of my face.
I remember my mom letting me open a snack in the grocery story when I was a kid if I was being annoying, haha. As an adult I have never done that, but I have opened a bottle of water from those mini fridges while waiting in line for the cashier. That’s the extent to which I think that’s acceptable as an adult though!
I have a colleague who burns incense in her office and some people complain about it. I agree, burning candles or incense …or microwaving fish are all things that should be off limits at work!
I just think its weird to have smells like that in a small office space! And I think water in line is perfectly acceptable:)
Coincidence you’d post about it now because I never thought adults would eat food at the store before buying it – until the other day. I was admittedly a little stumped for a moment when a seemingly annoyed guy in front of me started eating a bun he hadn’t purchased yet. If I was a mum I’d understand letting your kids have some crackers or the likes because, well, they’re children But adults? Personally, I would feel uncomfortable doing that.
Isn’t it funny how we sometimes don’t consider something – like taking a picture of your new phone with your IPad – before we post about it?!
I find that pretty strange that he just started eating a bun while in line! I definitely think its different for kids…and probably depends on the circumstance as well.
I would say that all of those things are acceptable in drastic situations. As long as you for certain know you have the money to pay, or you aren’t doing anything too scandalous in their trash, why the hell not???
Sure, I agree there are probably exceptions to all of these that would make them acceptable. I don’t think I would care if someone put stuff in my trash as long as it wasn’t in massive quantities or something!
That’s one of the things that drives me craziest about the summer — the fact that you don’t really know how to dress since it can go from being way.too.hot to way.too.cold in a matter of seconds. And I don’t usually eat anything at the store before I buy it, but I’m totally with you on it basically being stealing if you’re doing it with produce. I saw a guy do it with a banana once and just show the peel to the cashier, and I’m like… but that’s only a fraction of what it actually weighed!
Oh my goodness…how do you respond to something like that as a cashier? I’m sure working in a grocery store you see some crazy things:)
I used to eat grapes out of the bag when I was a kid, and also some of the deli meats (that were already priced out and bagged. The dlei meat-not a big deal since the price was already on it, but the grapes- GROSS and also yes stealing!! LOL funny when you think back on things now that you used to do!!!
Haha you probably didnt even think twice about it as a kid!
I personally have never eaten food at the grocery store, especially produce. Yuk! But, with that said, if I need to keep my kids in line and snacks are the only way to go, i’m not above picking out a clif bar and letting them eat it. I always save the wrapper and pay for it though when I’m going through the checkout line!
That definitely makes sense! I do think its much different with kids, and especially if its something in a wrapper thats clean and can be easily rung up!
I normally don’t eat food before I pay for it, but I remember one time getting chocolate covered coffee beans from the bulk section and eating a couple of them before I paid. But I weighed them before I ate them so I did pay for all the coffee beans. I would say generally you should prob NOT eat in the grocery store… I mean, could you imagine everyone walking around and munching on stuff? But obviously if it is a once in awhile thing it’s not that big of a deal??
Trash: If I am out on a walk and need to throw something away, I don’t feel bad throwing it in a neighbor’s. But like the stuff from my house? I just put it in my own trash cans.
Candles: I work at a school so the fire alarm would go off. NO CANDLES! But lots of air spray because kids smell.
Haha yes if everyone got into the habit of eating in the grocery store things would get pretty crazy! But once in a while or with kids its probably fine.
I have summer clothes to wear but then the AC is blasting at work. I keep a space heater and I have that thing going all year long. I want to wear the cute skirts and dresses I buy for summer, but I turn into a icicle if I don’t have my heater on.
I know, it’s so annoying! And then I walk outside in all my layers and I am immediately sweating!
My boyfriend makes so much fun of me for eating at the grocery store. Sometimes I just need a little fix! Usually I munch on granola or sometimes I will finish a seltzer/vitamin water, but then leave the empty can in my cart for when I go to pay. I don’t think it’s odd in the least! Only if the item is charged by weight do I think it’s not okay. Hope you have a great Thursday!!
Haha I am sure you are not alone! I am probably too busy rushing around and trying to get out of there to even consider eating. And granola and water sound like good options if you are going to eat/drink before you buy something!
I agree with you, I’m not a fan of people eating in the grocery store. It can be stealing, but it can also be gross: people touching their mouths and then touching stuff all over the store.
Candles at work are a big no for me as well. Fire hazard!
The trash, however, if it’s a little thing, I’m ok with it. I’d much rather someone use my trashcan than litter or leave doggie poop in my yard.
Both good points! I didnt even think about people touching their mouths and then other items in the store. And yes, Im pretty much ok with people using my trash can (occasionally, for small items) rather than littering.
I used to give my kids a bagel from the bakery in the grocery store–I would pay for them at the checkout. Our grocery store has a “kids card” that the kids get and at the deli they get a piece of cheese, and in the produce, they get a washed apple. They “check-out” with it at the register too…It is a good idea, except when you are in a rush…Thankfully, my kids are now well past that stage.
I would put recycling in the bin…no worries. Trash I wouldn’t care if someone put it in my can either.
I would think the candles are “against the rules=fire hazard”!
Thats so nice of your grocery store to have that option! I know kids get antsy and hungry in the store (that’s why my mom had to give me snacks!) so its nice that they have an easy way to do that!
I don’t think it’s okay to eat food at the store before buying it, UNLESS you eat something and keep the package and then scan it at the front. That’s a different story. I remember as a kid at Safeway (big grocery store) I would always eat a donut from the bakery section while my mom was shopping and then just tell them at the front that I ate it. Haha, I feel like now it would be weird as an adult to be eating a donut walking around the store!
It does seem funny to imagine an adult doing that! But I think for kids its ok, like you said as long as it can be paid for properly.
I feel it is ok to eat in a grocery store if you are going to buy it. I have been really hungry once or twice and eaten a bar so I scan the wrapper. I felt it was honest, but it drove Scott kind of crazy so I think the habit just dropped off. Lol. And yes, candles only for yoga instructors. 🙂
I do think situations like that are ok…I think if everyone did that all the time then it would become an issue but once in a while it doesn’t seem like a big deal. Especially for something like a bar that can easily be rung up! Also, its in a wrapper so you know its clean:)
Ugh I remember being constantly cold in school when I was a kid. I stopped wearing shorts & only wore sweatshirts year round. You make me appreciate where I work now, even though I use a space heater on occasion 🙂
Love this TOL theme! Eating food before buying- never! It’s never really occurred to me since I try not to shop when I’m hungry.
My roommate & I used to use our neighbors’s recycling bins since our townhouse complex didn’t recycle, but houses on the next street over did. We had to drive around at night to sneak everything in the bins o_o
I feel the same way you do about lighting a candle at work- mainly because it’s a fire hazard. Save it for zen moments at home.
I try not to shop when I am hungry either- it always leads to bad decisions:)
Your recycling story sounds like you were only trying to do the right thing by recycling, so good for you!
I’m pretty sure there’s pubic hair stuck to most of the produce at Walmart. I stick to packaged food if I ever have to shop there. The only time I consume anything before I hit the checkout is when I am DYING of thirst, but of course I pay for it when I get up to the till.
HAHA well now I will NEVER even consider eating produce at Walmart (not that I would have before).
I think I have those same sandals, but in white 🙂
Ahh I used to love those animal cracker packs :). I always think it’s so weird when I see people “sampling” things out of the bulk bins, especially when they don’t use the scoopers!…makes me almost not want to buy stuff out of them haha.
And lighting and candle at work is just weird! I had not idea people did that. It would for sure be a safety hazard with me, there’s like a 99.9% chance I would end up knocking it over 🙂
I think my sandals are from target- I wear them like every day in the summer!
I don’t think I have ever seen anyone sampling but that would definitely gross me out.
I didnt know people lit candles at work either!
those animal crackers make it into my cart a lot these days. For some reason toddlers eyes are drawn to them!
The only thing I’ve ever eaten in a grocery store is grapes… and they are probably so dirty!!
I just remember loving those animal crackers as a kid! I mean, I still think they would taste pretty good:) Grapes were the one food that was talked about the most on the radio…how they’re not clean but alot of people like to try them to make sure they haven’t gone bad!
There’s no eating in the grocery store going on here. But I have thought about putting dog poop in a neighbor’s trash. But I know that would be horrible. Yeah I agree candle burning at work is probably a no.
Haha I think as long as its wrapped up nicely and the trash will be picked up soon, then no one ever has to know:)
I have never eaten anything in a grocery store. Sometimes I have to take my 2 year old with me and yep – I have given her a cracker or a bar and paid for everything at the check out. Once my 8 year was with me and he kept asking me if we were going to pay for it! I explained that of course we would pay for the box of bars which led into a whole discussion about stealing. From the mouths of babes…
And I could never imagine eating produce – that is so yucky and it’s STEALING. Hello, people.
Candles at work are a definite no! Isn’t that a fire hazard also?
Enjoy your phone!!
Haha exactly! I do think its different with kids, and as long as you are paying for it I don’t see the problem. But it just does seem gross to eat produce that hasn’t been washed:)
I don’t eat food in a grocery store, but there have been times when I’ve had the boys with me and I was close to opening up snacks for them to keep them quiet….haven’t had to do it yet, but I’m sure it is in my future. But produce would be gross and, I agree, it’s not right if it will be weighed. A candle in a cubicle is weird. And small stuff in a trash can isn’t a big deal to me (it’s better than littering), but a whole trash bag would be odd.
I do think that kids are gonna need a snack in the grocery store from time to time. And yes, a few pieces of trash in someone else’s bin is definitely better than littering!
I worked at a Grocery store for 5 years and I never understood people eating produce!! Yes, they pay by weight so it’s stealing, I totally agree. I would just weigh one of their bananas twice or something like that. At least they are paying something for it.
Thank you for sharing from the perspective of an employee! I would imagine if would be really frustrating for you to deal with that!