General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnother Saturday Morning at the Supermarket
Once again, I made my weekly visit to my nearby Cub Foods here in Minnesota at 9 AM. As usual, the parking lot was mostly empty, as was the store. Finally, everyone is in masks, as the sign on the entry door demands. Well, almost. There was one guy in his late 30s and his wife walking two steps behind him. They were rushing through the store at top speed, but not wearing masks. I noticed them as I entered the store and took a different route through the store to avoid them.
But then, I as I stopped my cart to grab a large bottle of Schweppe's Tonic Water, unmasked man pushed his cart in front of mine and walked off go buy a six-pack of something. I got my tonic and put it in my cart just as he was returning. "Where's your mask, dude?" I asked. He sneered and said, "I have asthma." I replied with a quiet "Bullshit!" He started to escalate, until I told him, "If you have asthma, like I do, you would be wearing a mask to protect yourself." He looked angrily at me, but didn't say anything, because I gave him my best cold, dead eyes stare. They took off and continued their high energy shopping. As I continued on my way, a woman nearby said, "He's probably a Trumper." I laughed.
That minor amusement behind me, I checked out, then stopped at the gas station to fill up my car, and at the liquor store to buy some gin to go with that tonic water. I'll need it for the next debate, if it happens.
Please vote!
I deleted. Realized that I was completely insensitive, and I'm offering my sincere apology.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)"Bullshit" is quicker.
I'm not going to say either. After my daughter's experience after asking a King Soopers employee why she wasn't wearing a mask, I just keep even more distance and later report them to the county health department.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I guess I was in a mood this morning or something.
birdographer
(1,218 posts)Our giant grocery store has the most mask-wearers of any in town, so we go there. They have their aisles marked one-way. which is a bit tedious since they are so big, it's a hike down the adjacent aisle to get to where you need to be. And then factor in the morons with no mask. Our shopping trips take twice as long since we try to not pass them in an aisle, and every time we turn around they are right there. But we might only see three or four there, in contrast with seeing three or four masks in the other stores. Or the ones who wear their masks below their noses. Some day I am going to point out to one of them that if COVID cells or molecules or whatever they are land on the outside of their masks, they are snorting them up their noses just like trump's daily cocaine and Adderall.
AZ8theist
(5,339 posts)BBG
(2,476 posts)Not sticking, but dicking out.
And then the ones who arent wearing at all I try to share with them how complicated it is to wear them. Yeah, these masks are hard to wear, real complicated. Fucking idiots.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,147 posts)Rorey
(8,445 posts)WhiskeyGrinder
(22,147 posts)Rorey
(8,445 posts)I've learned a lot in my life, but I still mess up now and then.
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,147 posts)Rorey
(8,445 posts)I deleted the body of my post. Thank you for setting me straight.
appleannie1
(5,044 posts)waiting room looking annoyed he had to wear a mask at all. She went up to the window to check in. They asked the new pre visit question. Are you running a temp. Have you been in contact with someone that is positive. She raised her voice and said "I am an ICU nurse and come in contact with at least 10 positive cases a day." He pulled his mask up and almost crawled into the wall on the other side of the office.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)underpants
(182,279 posts)Is there any other use for tonic water other than drinking?
Hitting a liquor store here in Georgia so Im sure I have something after the drive back to Virginia tomorrow. Loooong drive.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Not enough quinine in it to be of medicinal value, though.
Vodka, Gin, Aquavit...whatever. Fill a tall tumbler with ice, add a shot of your booze of choice, and fill the rest with Tonic. Add a twist of lime, if you wish.
underpants
(182,279 posts)Very interesting week down here. Apparently Ossoff took money from Chinese communists AND terrorist sympathizers (3rd party radio ad). Id heard nothing about the second Senate race Loeffler and Warnock
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)Fill a short glass with ice. Squeeze lime over the ice -- this is very important. Add one jigger of gin, two jiggers of tonic. Stir. Drink. Repeat as needed.
Several years ago on a visit to my sister, she had several other friends over and gin & tonics were to be served. I volunteered to make them, and I did as above. Everyone exclaimed how good they were. Hopefully they weren't just being polite. My sister continues to make them using the above way.
Using a tall tumbler and only one shot of the alcohol and filling up with tonic, you'll have a very diluted drink. Of course, that may well be what you like best.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I don't drink much alcohol, so I tend to make tall, weaker drinks. They last longer, and I don't take in too much alcohol. I used to go to a lot of trade show parties, where open bars were the order of the day. I'd start off with a Gin and tonic, and then switch to straight tonic without the gin. That way, I kept my wits about me while others were slipping into the usual cocktail party fog.
Different strokes.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)And what's nice, is you can seem to be participating in alcohol consumption without being hassled by idiots.
My brother has some kind of club soda, splash of cranberry juice, and lime concoction for when he doesn't want to consume anything stronger. Reasonably flavorful and looks interesting.
Bobstandard
(1,279 posts)Wards off scurvy. Lime and the quinine in the tonic Qualifies the G & T as a health drink
Delmette2.0
(4,143 posts)Like most most hard liquors it's an acquired taste or is it genetic? The only people I know who like Aquavit are Norwegians like me.
dhol82
(9,351 posts)And Im a Ukrainian!
Delmette2.0
(4,143 posts)I have cousins who don't like it. Wanna be my cousin?
dhol82
(9,351 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Delmette2.0
(4,143 posts)Skol !!
yellowdogintexas
(22,119 posts)I used to take it with me to parties; my first drink would be a G & T but after that I'd just have the straight tonic - in a large glass. Folks did not know I was drinking a soft drink of course and one guy couldn't believe how well I could hold my liquor! LOL
Zorro
(15,691 posts)Cranberry and cherry in particular, and occasionally grapefruit or pineapple.
Adds a refreshing zest to the drink.
Totally Tunsie
(10,885 posts)pouring tonic water on a blood or urine stain in carpeting will bubble and raise the substance so that it can be blotted up for removal.
Drinking it is more fun, though.
catchnrelease
(1,942 posts)Like club soda, tonic water can be used to remove stains. And it will glow in the dark under black light, so maybe use for Halloween deco, lol.
UpInArms
(51,252 posts)My response is usually along the lines of, if you dont like the mask, you will hate the ventilator.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)the unmasked spreaders. Today, though, that unmasked guy and his timid, unmasked wife put me in a mood. So, I asked the dude where is mask was. His response was bullshit, so I called him on it. Normally, I don't beard the bears, though. I don't see a lot of point to it, really. It doesn't change their behavior, so it's not really useful.
Once in a while, though, I speak up.
UpInArms
(51,252 posts)I am just waaay too confrontational ...
Peeps have told me that for years ...
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Saying "bullshit!" is more confrontational, and was deliberately so.
I'm normally a non-confrontational person, but sometimes slip into that mode. I used to do so more often, but at age 75, I seem to have mellowed somewhat.
pandr32
(11,447 posts)Masks are mandatory the few places I go but I see many not wearing them properly or wearing those useless neck gators or a loose bandana. Too many kids without masks altogether, as well, and they can really spread a virus around.
The virus has been spiking here.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)My solution is maintaining distance from others, which is why I shop early when the store is less crowded. Still, masks are a useful thing, so I hope to see everyone wearing them, as an indication that they understand the need for caution.
I try to limit my exposure to others as my attempt to avoid getting COVID-19.
pandr32
(11,447 posts)May you stay well, and the rest of us, too.
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)My ratios may be off.
I wear a mask to protect myself from them. I know that's not how it works, but it's all I can do.
If they choose not to protect themselves, that is ultimately going to be their problem. If they infect someone else not wearing a mask, that may in the long run be known as evolution.
If they infect someone who is otherwise protecting themselves, if that was provable in a court of law, they would be guilty of manslaughter at the least. Since it's likely not provable, they are dangerous fools, much like a drunk driver. We can legislate and we can punish, but we can't fix stupid and we can't be safe from them ever.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)who were unmasked. People in the neighborhood of the store I frequent appear to be taking precautions, at least at that hour of the day on Saturday.
Mr. Ected
(9,670 posts)As opposed to, say, Georgia, where I'm domiciled.
Here, especially in rural northeast GA, the maskers vs. non-maskers have to be close to 50/50, by my observation. I see young people protecting themselves and older folks not, not as a rule but in a general sense.
I haven't verbally assailed anyone yet, but I've really zinged some pompous jerks with sharpened mental arrows.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)However, in rural areas of Minnesota, there are plenty of right-wingers. Even in the suburbs, you'll find them as well.
SWBTATTReg
(21,859 posts)socially distancing themselves, etc. when in reality, all they are doing is making themselves look really stupid to everybody else plus they are signaling clearly to others that they don't care about anybody else. Thing is, karma has a way of biting back, and thus, if they gripe later on about something or want something, no one is going to lift a hand to help them what-so-ever. I wouldn't.
Thanks for the story this Sat. a.m. I do enjoy your little stories, you do have a way w/ words, I can see why this was your field of work (I'm assuming)...the skill to write effectively is one I think that is needed more in the 'real world' as I think people get too lazy via texting and stuff, and fewer people actually write an actual letter and actually mail it.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I'm sad to see writing becoming used well less often. I did make my living from writing, and still do to some extent. I love language, and always have.
orleans
(33,987 posts)inside a wine shop that had just opened. she either worked there or owned the place.
my obviously pregnant daughter wanted to go in and look around (for future reference) and struck up a socially distant conversation with this woman. we were all wearing masks.
i was getting nervous about being inside this little store so i stepped outside for about sixty seconds (hoping to give my daughter the hint of "let's get the fuck out of here" )
when i went back inside this bitch had her mask under her chin and my daughter had moved back away from her by several steps. they were still talking!
i interrupted the conversation and said: "would you please put your mask back on"
she said: "i have asthma"
i said: "so do i. and my daughter's pregnant, so put your mask back on"
she did. grudgingly.
in retrospect i thought i should have asked her if she needed a hit from my inhaler.
i love what you said. wish i would have said that too. i was just so pissed off--i couldn't even see straight.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)vapor2
(1,215 posts)but then I saw this lady the other day. She wore a mask but then approached the pharmacist at Target and pulled her mask down below her chin. She chatted with the pharmacist for at least 10 minutes and when she turned around I motioned to her to pull her mask up. She did and rolled her eyes but not in a malicious way, just thinking she forgot.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)to talk to the pharmacist. I'm sure he or she would have heard the customer just fine. The whole point of the mask is for situations where you are interacting with someone. Pulling her mask down was a stupid move that probably indicates that she doesn't understand the reason for masks in the first place.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)For the life of me I cannot understand it. They wear it up until they are within mere feet of the cashier, pharmacist, whomever.
The they pull it down to talk.
I'm in my 60's - I guess just don't understand people.
AZ8theist
(5,339 posts)They pull their masks down to yell at the refs thus defeating the purpose of the mask.
It's infuriating sometimes. But Biden is 100% correct. We can't fix the economy until we get control of the virus.
appleannie1
(5,044 posts)byronius
(7,369 posts)More mental illness than cultual statement, I think.
wnylib
(21,146 posts)where I was had her nose uncovered, which is the same as not wearing a mask at all. I politely asked her to please cover her nose while she checked out my items. She said that she couldn't because then she can't breathe. She had a surgical mask, same as me. I said that I have asthma and I manage to breathe ok with a mask on.
Then she said it was uncomfortable. I said she would feel a lot more uncomfortable on a ventilator.
She finally pulled up the mask, but pulled it down again immediately after finishing my order. As I left, I heard the guy behind me making the same request of her that I had made. I considered suggesting that she find a job where she wouldn't deal with the public if mask wearing bothers her, but decided to just drop it and left.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)The corporate office. The workplace is not a democracy, you do what you are told and follow policy or you go home.
wnylib
(21,146 posts)depending on which manager was on duty at the time. At some stores in my community, the managers themselves are lax and indifferent about masks. I try to avoid those stores. Maybe I should let the local managers or corporate offices know that they are losing customers due to their attitudes.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)With your complaints and contact the local managers. I would also suggest using Facebook pages of the company to make your displeasure known.
panader0
(25,816 posts)It doesn't do much good except make me feel better. Jeannie says I'm going to get myself shot.
One guy, with two pistols and a large hunting knife had no mask. I asked him if he knew pistols couldn't
kill the virus. Jeannie grabbed my arm and pulled me away.
I have run out of shits to give.
bucolic_frolic
(42,676 posts)No more debates. America learned far more from separate town halls.
appleannie1
(5,044 posts)jimlup
(7,968 posts)I had a pretty smacking headache after the 1st debate. I regretted the white wine that I over indulged in and even wondered why I hadn't just waited for the debate summaries the next day.
Cheers!
Dem forever
(79 posts)We havent been in a Publix or Kroger in 8 months. We pick up and my wife hits the rear door that automatically opens . Or Publix store delivers to our home. When we travel in our motorhome we cant get delivery. But even though SC is a red state Hilton Head island has a mandatory mask policy. Every grocery store people wear mask. We stay out of restaurants and only do take out. 218,000 deaths and the cult cant think for themselves
lark
(23,003 posts)I stocked up like you did and for the same reason. The last shitshow made me so hyper and mad I had a difficult time sleeping. My relief, however, is Indica, the stronger the better. One of the local dispensaries turned up with some strong Indica Friday so I stocked up to survive the next yell fest. I wish it would be cancelled for the good of our country, but drummpf thinks it makes him look tough so he won't back out of this one and I think it will make the Wallace version look good if they don't use a mic muter.
Actually, I'm debating not watching this time or if it's the same or worse, just turning it off.