Which Grocery store is the best for you buck?

 

  Working at a grocery store, I hear complaints from customers at times about what price is supposed to be what. I help them as much as I can as I too wonder.... which store is good for your buck? I guess it depends on where you live, and which store offers more.

 A ninety-year-old grocery store that has a strange name is one of the markets hasn't advertise much since well... recently. I guess because, since Lidl didn't open till 2017 in the states, it was more seen in the rest of the country I haven't shopped there, but I've heard good things about it. But is it good for your savings? At times, I guess. I guess they have some premotions and offers with their shoppers.

    Ever seen the movie, "Driving Miss Daisy"? If you have, you will know they mention the Piggly Wiggly where the main character goes to the Piggly Wiggly to get her food. The Piggly Wiggly is a vintage style of grocery store that is more seen in the South and Midwest. Don't know much about that store except in that movie. Sorry

    A 76-year-old grocery store that I'm sad to say, is going downhill. I'm not bad- mouthing a store a don't really shop at much. Shop rite does have their promotions monthly. Like their can-can sale. Where canned foods are half price or a dollar off. God knowing. This store used to be pretty cool back in the 80's but now, with the world and the economy the way it is, glad this store is still standing

     Warehouse stores are starting to become popular as well. From Sam's Club to Costco. And shopping at Costco, and being a member there, I'll talk about that store. This store is a year older than I am but didn't get up and running till about the mid to late nineties when wholesale stores started to become popular. Their pizza is supposed to be amazing. Have I had it? Yes, it's ok. But the sales are pretty good, the only downside, you would end up getting a whole case of something when you only want one of it. 

    Aldi is another store that's somewhat like Lidl. A German grocery store, it made its way to America around the 80's or 90's, forget when. There are a few of them around here, and their ads always give positive feedback from actual customers that shop there. Sometimes, they also have promotions and sales for their valued customers. My brother shops there, might give this place a try

   I work here, and I shop here. This store is mostly seen up in the Northen states, ending in Maryland. They are also known as Martin's in certain states. This company is almost 100 years old, and working there for almost thirteen years, yes that long, I know about their promotions, sales and other stuff. Like you have to spend almost 25 dollars to get the coupon of a certain item to work. We also have free ham and turnkey around holiday seasons. I know how this store works, and I'm very helpful at helping out others. This store is doing the best it can...and that's all I can say about it. I'd shop here.

   Acme is another grocery store that is like Shoprite in that the store is not doing as strong as it used to. It's still around, and it's over 130 years old. They do have some sales and promotions like Giant and Shoprite do, but it seems they are not as friendly as other grocery stores are. I have shopped here before, and I guess it depends on which Acme has friendlier service. The one I sometimes shop at, not really. 

 One of the most expensive groceries stores you would go to. Yes, this place is known for fresh produce and amazing ingredients, but with this store, you would end up burning a hole in your pocket. Their ads and promotions are fine. Sales techniques saying that when you shop here, you eat healthy. So, are they trying to say other grocery stores don't do that? I can't say anything negative at a store I don't shop at. Why? They're too expensive

    Like Giant, Wegmans is another store I would shop at. And like Giant, they have good food and friendly service. They also have a pub as well as fresh baked breads, pizza doughs are huge, and much more. This store might be expensive, but it can be worth the trip when you see how low some of their prices are. I feel that this store, a 106-year-old store, does have some of their flaws. Showing how much, you save over the other competitors. I'll agree with Acme, but Giant...I don't think so. I'd shop here, if you live near one.

    I guess the answer to the question here is.... whatever store you shop in the most, you know you're getting the best deal in savings as well as friendly service. Some of these stores aren't all over the fifty states, maybe Shoprite and Whole foods, and for us...we think that a few grocery stores might have what we are looking for.... and we're just fine with that.

Singers you don't hear from anymore

 

   There are some questions that we would like the answers to while some...well we want to know. One of them is...certain singers that we haven't heard from anymore. Where did they go? Some left the music industry while others well...why haven't we hear anything from them anymore?

  Her name is Connie Bailey Rae, and she was known for one song called "Put Your Records on". The song was a hit around the 2000's. But what happened to her? Well, she did put out other records, but none were a success. That's why we don't hear many songs from her except for that one

  This singer might be considered another one hit wonder, but he was known more in the 80's for his song "One Night in Bangkok." Murray Head (real name) wasn't heard from much since. His song was considered an earworm back in the 80's and today...he's still around, but not known much in the community.

    "I try to say Goodbye and I choke. Try to walk away and I stumble. Though I try to hide it, it's clear..." if you are familiar with those lyrics to: I Try, then you would know Macy Gray. Known for that song in the early 2000's, Macy Gray hasn't been seen much, except for the news. She has put out some records, but some of the songs are not very memorable. Or...I haven't heard them in a while

  Tracy Chapman was known for her songs like, "Talkin' about a revolution" and "Fast Car" back in the late 1980's. Since then, she hasn't been known for any huge hits since 1997 with another song of hers. Since then, she has been doing concerts as well as fundraisers during 9/11. Even though "Fast Car" will be known as her number one hit, not many people have heard of her.

  We all should be happy for Bobby McFerrin, but...what happened to him? Many people thought his song, "Don't worry, be happy" was sung by the late Bob Marley. WRONG! But...I think this is the only song by Bobby McFerrin. He might have disappeared from the music world, but he's still around, and he would be happy to perform that song anytime.

Cyndi Lauper was huge in the 80's with songs like "Girl's just wanna have fun" "Goonies are good enough" "True Colors" and much more. She hasn't been doing anything huge after the 90's ended, but she did inspire people to know that they are amazing inside and out. She suffers from psoriasis which is a skin disease and has been open about it.

    There have been many singers that you don't hear from anymore. Doesn't mean they're gone for good; it might just mean other things. There are many singers that have come back from bands to being a single singer like Sting and Phil Collins. Even if we don't hear songs from them, it doesn't mean you can enjoy the songs they gave us in the past.

  In the words of Bobby McFerrin: Don't worry, be happy....and enjoy the music they gave us

What does Memorial Day mean?

 

            Every last Monday in May we take the time to celebrate people who fought for us. The ones who sacrificed their own lives for ours, and for others that survived.

    

     So, how do we celebrate? We go to the graves of the fallen and the ones that survived and died. For me, I visited my grandfather's grave upstate. He survived WWII, but lost his life from an illness of Alzheimer's, Parkinses and others. Other people decide to take the time and escape the workday blues by going on a trip.

  Some beaches become crowded as flocks of people start to come. To some people, Memorial Day is the start of Summer Vacation. School isn't over yet, but some places, including school, banks and some businesses, count this as a day off. Some people take holidays while others remember.

  It's hard to forget about those who we lost in battles. From WWII to Korean to Vietnam and other wars, this day is in membrane of their bravery as they fought and died for what they believed in. How did the day start, and when? 

    It was observed around the end of May from the 1870's to the 1970's back before just making it on the last Monday of May. It's a day of remembrance. In the North and the South, everywhere in America, From Gettysburg, PA to Jackson, MI, they have their own way of honoring the lost soldiers.

   A lot of people take the time to enjoy the sun as well as having a cookout with family and friends. To them, sometimes Memorial Day is considered an early start to summer vacation as others stay home and celebrate with family while grilling burgers 

         Remember what Memorial Day is about. Not just a vacation off of work or school but remembering our loved ones that have passed one and some that have survived. Memorial Day is more than just a holiday, is a day of remembrance and for those who served for us. Happy Memorial Day everyone, especially to my Grandfather and Nana. 

Pizza Time- Poem

 

Everyone loves it,

enjoys the smell,

taste,

and even,

the toppings

It's time to enjoy,

a crust or two,

thin,

thick,

stuffed,

seasoned,

it doesn't matter

Every day,

is a pizza day,

it used to be on Fridays,

Now...

it can be anytime

what do you top,

on your pie?

Do you use,

mushrooms,

pepperoni,

meats of any sorts

Any time,

is pizza time,

even in the morning,

a cold pizza,

can be heated up,

for breakfast 

Do you prefer your pizza round?

or in squares,

Different sizes,

different towns,

one likes thick,

and another,

paper thin

the ooey gooey cheese,

as you pick up a slice,

the first time,

you receive,

your pie

ever tried,

a homemade pie,

a pie that's steaming hot,

once out of the oven,

or pizza stone,

anytime,

is pizza time,

it's not just for Fridays,

anymore,

enjoy the pie,

and I hope,

I didn't make you,

hungry

One hit wonders that sadly died

    I've talked about this before, so...I'll keep this short. We all know that one singer or band that is only known for one song. But I bet you didn't know some of them are no longer with us.

 

    Tommy Page was only known back in the late 1980s. Known for the song, "I'll be your everything,", he didn't have much of another hit after that. He did guest star as himself in a Full House episode where the oldest daughter starts dating him. Sadly, he was also suicidal, and we didn't even know that. He left behind a wife and three children.

    The band OMC was considered a one hit wonder band. With their hit "How Bizarre." being the only song they are known for. The lead singer, Pauly Fumana, was known for that song as he drove around in a yellow car in the music video. Nobody knew he had an illness that would end up killing him. He suffered from Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy. Dying of the illness in 2010 leaving only "How Bizarre" in our memories

   Biz Markie, the famous beat bop rapper, was known for one song: "Just a friend". He was also considered talented in hip-hop and other genera. Sadly, we would never know that since in 2020, he suffered from a diabetic coma and passed away a year later. He had some studio albums before "Just a friend" Not many of them were successful.

    Shannon Hoon was in a band called Blind Melon. In the 1990's, they came out with a hit called "No Rain". In the music video, there is a young girl (a year older than I am) dancing in a bumble bee outfit. The video is of her trying to find friends and does at the end. Sadly, there would never be another hit from this band since Shannon Hoon overdosed on cocaine at the age of 28. He left behind his girlfriend and daughter. 

   

   In the early 90's there were two boys that would dress backwards with their style of clothing and had a one hit wonder called, "Jump, Jump." Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith were their names. They were never heard from again after that song. They vanished into thin air as their song kept going on. Sadly, "Mac Daddy" was found dead at his home. The motive might have been drug related as his friend; "Daddy Mac" is still alive today.

   If you have ever seen the movie "Amadeus", the life story of Mozart, then you have heard of the song "Rock me Amadeus" by Falco. He was known for other hits, but not in America. Falco would have a strange music video that involves him wearing a cotton candy colored wig and well...the rest is history. Sadly, at the age of 40, he would end up in a car accident that killed him.

    Back in the 80's, there was a band called Dead or Alive with a song called, "You spin me right round" This was long before Flo Rida made his own version. Pete Burns ended the band and changed his image. Getting his face done as well as his image. His lifestyle was not great as he ended up downhill with being in Celebrity Big Brother 4. He ended up suffering from health issues and passed away a few years later penniless.

  Chrissy Amphlett was in a band called the Divynals. They were known for their only hit, "I touched Myself" Sounding provocative and wrong, the song was a hit. Sadly, the band didn't have any other huge hits. Chrissy soon had breast cancer and died a few years later. Now the song "I touched myself" is more of a reminder for people to get checked often for Breast Cancer Awareness. Having a mother that survived breast cancer, this is one song that can be helpful.

   If you ever heard of a song called, "Lovin' You," you can thank Minnie Riperton. That song is now known for commercials as well as having the highest tone in the song. Minnie Riperton is also known for something else, being Maya Rudolph's mother. Sadly, she would die at a young age from breast cancer found too late. Her daughter, Maya, doesn't remember much of her, but seeing her and a picture of Minnie together, there is no comparison. They are definitely mother and daughter

  If you heard of the band "Cutting Crew", then the song "I just died in your arms tonight" would be in your head over and over. The band is still together, but they haven't made a huge hit since the 80's. They have other songs, but not as memorable as "I just died in your arms tonight" Mostly sung at weddings and parties. The lead singer Kevin Macmichael was known for that song, but in 2002, he died of lung cancer. He may be gone, but the band and that song still aren't.

 

   I bet a lot of one hit wonder singers past on, but there are too many to list, and I have talked about some of them before. The songs will always be there, even if the singers aren't. RIP to all that are gone

Remember "Parental Control?"

 

 Back from the early to mid 2000's, MTV was starting to show more reality tv and specials than they did with their music. It's true. Some of the shows were created by MTV. One of them...was parental control

 

This show was very entertaining, and I knew from the first time I saw it...it was all an act. What was this show about? It seems parents are in control of a relationship of their own child. Yep, it seems that they don't like their child's boyfriend/girlfriend and find others to date their child.

 The parents would interview the new replacement and pick between two. The boyfriend/girlfriend would have to be with the parents watching the dates happening. I felt, when I saw it first...it was all true, but I could tell how forced some of the parents were when they were talking about their child's boyfriend/girlfriend

They would describe the disgusting habits the boyfriend/girlfriend does. Like farting in public, picking their nose, not being able to drive and a lot more that would irk the parents of their child. Sometimes the wife of the child would not be with her husband. Mostly her boyfriend or remarried

Some episodes, the child would choose their lover, other times...they would pick one from their parents. One time, one got dumped by his girlfriend for not choosing someone else and broke up with him. 

  I feel this show is nothing but a fake. I mean the parents could be real, but I feel they can just do something normal like have their child break up with their date instead of humiliating them on tv. This show was even accused of being fake.

This show was ok. Did get cancelled for more stupider shows on MTV. Why couldn't MTV just keep music videos? Well, nobody watches those anymore. MTV made other shows that involve teenager and romantic relationships. Like a girl trying to find love between three guys. Going through their bedroom to find out who she wants to date.

   Till then, these shows will always be remembered as stupid yet enjoyable and entertaining at times. Parental control will always be remembered as a teen show that tried too hard.