Favorite Things, Humor, Nonsense, Tater Tots

Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots | Episode 53

Kari

If you’re new to my blog, welcome! Here is an explanation of the tater tot post.

Expired

Anna recently went grocery shopping at Target. She was making dinner one night when she realized that most of the items she had purchased (at Target) for the meal had already expired. That is, they were already expired when she bought them.

She was telling this story to one of her friends and her friend says she always checks the expiration date on things in the store. I’ve never done this in the store.

I do this at home before I use anything. But I guess I blindly trust corporations to put things on their shelves that haven’t expired.

Do you check expiration dates on foods at the store?

It’s happening

The soul garden is starting to wake up.

They are very interested in gardening.
The other part of the soul garden is slowly taking shape. (Ignore the weeds. I do)

I’ll keep you posted as the blooms progress.

Joan

Mike and I were in Chicago on Friday for my migraine appointment. We always stop by two places after these appointments: Judy Maxwell Home for nothing in particular and Small Cheval for burgers.

If I had to tell someone who had never been to Chicago before what is a must-see, one of the first suggestions would be Judy Maxwell. It’s a lovely little shop full of unnecessary items.

Joan Cusack owns it, but we’ve never seen her in the shop in all our visits.

Until Friday.

She was lovely. She wasn’t wearing any make-up. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and she wore big white glasses and a white dress. She helped me in finding a tee-shirt in my size that says “Can I pet your dog?”

And now, whenever I wear it, I’ll be reminded of the day I met Joan Cusack. 🖤

If you read one thing this month…

It’s a podcast, so rather a listen.

I blame Suz for getting me hooked on this podcast about a woman who lied about having cancer on her blog and ended up in prison.

If you enjoy hearing about people who seem too good to be true getting into trouble, this is the podcast for you (and apparently, me).

Side note: When Nancy, the investigative journalist, used the word supposably in the podcast, my eye twitched. I actually went back and listened to it twice to make sure. It made me think of this:

We came here after meeting Joan. They were also very kind. The beef was pretty good.

If you watch one thing this month…

The Bear

It took me three viewings to finally fall in love with this show.

The soundtrack is also excellent.

Also, the Wham documentary on Netflix is really good. After watching it, I have a newfound admiration for both George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. Their friendship was beautiful.

If you listen to one thing this month…

Beat City by The Flowerpot Men

This song has been unavailable on Apple Music or Spotify for YEARS, but it is now available thanks to The Bear.

If you click on any links this month…

‘The Godfather of AI’ Quits Google and Warns of Danger Ahead

How Your House Makes You Miserable

The good china

When the Ambush Comes

If you read any quotes this month…

“I think it’s quite conceivable that humanity is just a passing phase in the evolution of intelligence.” -Geoffrey Hinton

“Nothing I accept about myself can be used against me.” -Audra Lorde

“Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.” -Naomi Shihab Nye

“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” -bell hooks

Here’s to August…

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55 thoughts on “Screw It, I’m Eating Tater Tots | Episode 53”

  3. You met Joan Cusack!!! Oh I had to use that many exclamation points. I’m over the moon for you.

    As for expiration dates, I check them on dairy products but not the rest.

    Word. “Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, you must know sorrow as the other deepest thing.” -Naomi Shihab Nye

    Liked by 2 people

  4. We check expiration dates on everything we buy. Just recently my husband went to find butter at the store and all the butter in the brand we can buy that was on the shelf outdated in August 2022. Every single one. Also, we frequently buy gluten-free foods that don’t get stocked very often and they frequently expire on the shelves. We are a bit OCD about this. I actually have NOT purchased items from Costco before because I can’t see the expiration date on things if they are stamped on the packages inside the big package.

    Yay for your garden! What a lovely place to be!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Kari, I’m like Anna’s friend, I check the expiration date before I purchase it. But not on ALL things. Things like dairy products, bags of produce (lettuce, carrots, etc.), bread, and jarred or canned tomato sauces. In fact, I’m so fanatical about it, I make sure to take the item from the back of the row because I know they place the most freshest ones there. I’m the worst with bagged lettuce because I flipped the bag back and forth to make sure every lettuce leaf is fresh and not soggy or moldy. I love Trader Joe’s. However, their produce is hit or miss. So you have to check before buying.

    Your soul garden is just BEAUTIFUL!

    And how wonderful that you met Joan Cusack. I’ve adored her in every movie I’ve ever seen!

    Love the clip from friends. Joey was my favorite character. Also, Ross! Hilarious!

    ““Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” -bell hooks”

    Absolutely true!

    Thanks for sharing, my friend! Happy Monday and week! X

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know Anna learned her lesson the hard way, and now I’ve learned mine as well. I, too, am a fan of Trader Joe’s. I trust them more than my local grocery store.

      Thank you very much, my friend! I love it as well. There are also two new blooms today! It’s starting to get exciting!

      I’ve also enjoyed every film she’s appeared in. She has excellent taste in pretty much everything.

      I believe that quote is so true because this blog has healed me in so many ways.

      Thank you for taking the time to read this, my friend. I’m lucky to have you. 😘

      Like

  6. I definitely check expiration dates before I buy things; maybe not everything when I’m at the grocery store but any sort of small store/ mini mart/ etc. I definitely do as their turnover is much slower. How cool to have met Joan Cusack!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Your soul garden is so lovely!!! We primarily buy from local farmer’s so presume things are fresh. At the grocery store, I do typically check expiration dates, but only on meat, dairy, and deeply discounted items.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Is that a white metal goat in your garden? If so, hurrah!
    I think the only thing I check for expiration dates in the store is milk and creamer.
    Yay to meeting Joan Cusack. Nice to hear she’s a mess just like us.
    👍

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is! My mom bought it for me years ago in Door County, Wisconsin. In honor of our favorite restaurant up there (Al Johnson’s) having goats that eat on the roof, she got metal goats for our gardens.❤️

      I check milk and creamer too.

      She’s a mess just like us. Love that.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. The only thing I ever check an expiration date on when buying in the store is half and half (for my coffee). And that’s only because I don’t use much and need the little carton to last as long as possible. Boo on Target!

    I am so happy that your soul garden is finally coming to life. Uncanny that my potted zinnias (the seeds of which you gave me) are forming little flower buds right now, too.

    You met Joan Cusack in person?! OMG…were you starstruck or were you able to be at ease? I’m glad you suggested Small Cheval to me, though if we’re ever there again, we’ll definitely be sharing a meal! Didn’t realize their burgers were double ones and they give you a ton of fries!

    We just started season 2 of The Bear. Took us awhile to get into it too, but now we’re really enjoying it. I think one reason we like it so much is because it’s set in Chicago.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m the same way. I, too, do not like a lot of half and half in my coffee. Boo on Target is right. 

      I also found two new blooms today! It’s slowly coming to life!

      I was a little starstruck. I also wasn’t interested in looking like a fan. It’s a strange thing I have. I wanted to respect her boundaries, especially since I was in her store. Mike, on the other hand, would have recited movie quotes if he could.🤣

      I can eat an entire burger, but Mike and I split the fries. It’s a delicious meal, and I’m glad you both enjoyed it!

      People who live in Chicago and the surrounding area, I believe, will like it more. Season two, in my opinion, is better than season one in terms of getting to know each character.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. You met Joan Cusak! That made me smile so big!

    And I tend to look at expiration dates. I have had the experience of buying something already expired. I felt so betrayed, which sounds ridiculous, but that’s the best word for it. Loved all of your links, especially AHP’s piece on houses. I could not read all of the AI one; I saw Oppenheimer yesterday, and all I could think of through the last part was AI.

    One of the things I’m looking forward to doing when I get back home is watch The Bear. Really enjoyed the first season, though it was so stressful! I like it and don’t like it at the same time. Can’t wait for Reservation Dogs, too, but sad that it’s going to be the last season. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend!

    Your garden is lovely. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It gave me a big smile for the rest of the day.

      I understand feeling betrayed and then feeling ridiculous for saying it. This scenario has nothing to do with it, but I understand how you feel.

      As a side job, I take studies for colleges all over the world. A VERY side job, which means I don’t make a living from it, but I do make side job money from it. I’ve been doing it for years and have noticed patterns in the questions they ask. There has been a lot of AI in the last few months. I came across that article after completing a recent study. I told Anna that we were worried about the wrong things. Sure Chat Gpt is making money for bloggers and writers, but we must be worried about AI destroying us all.

      The Bear is very stressful. Season two is better. Adding Reservation Dogs to the list!

      Thank you! I’m looking forward to seeing it bloom even more. ❤️

      Like

      1. Can you tell me more about how you take studies for colleges? I am interested in side jobs. And yes, I’m with you on AI. I didn’t finish the article because it was stressing me out. I’ve got enough stress right now! :-)

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Prolific is the name of the company. I just signed up on their website, and I log in every morning to be notified when a new study comes out. The more studies I take, the more opportunities I have. So, at first, I didn’t get much, and the pay wasn’t great. But now I make significantly more money. To be honest, I just enjoy doing it. Because they are based in England, they pay in pounds, but I convert them to dollars using PayPal. (I promise it’s legit.)

        Here is the link:

        https://www.prolific.co/participants

        Finish the article after you return to Portland. 😘

        Like

    1. I do check milk, but I don’t check much else. I also do a lot of grocery pickup, which relies on another person. That’s something I should’ve mentioned; it makes a difference. But when I go shopping in-store, I rarely check the expiration dates.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. JOAN CUSACK OMGGGGGGG! I would die!!! As it is I’m half dead just from your story.
    I do check expiration dates because I have had that exact thing happen! Some places, like Costco, I don’t because they are so busy they always have long dates, but in smaller groceries or Superstore I definitely do.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I know. It was exciting but I didn’t know what to do, where to look, or what to say. I just pretended I didn’t know who she was, but I was polite. 🤣

      I can’t believe I never considered doing something like this before.

      Like

  13. YOU MET JOAN CUSACK. JOHN’S SISTER. THE GIRL FROM SIXTEEN CANDLES!
    I know this sounds so cheesy—but I LOVE THIS FOR YOU!

    Girl, I spend so much time checking expiration dates in the grocery store and about 30% of the things I pick up are expired. Usually, stuff like salsa (the cold stuff from the produce section), juices, sandwich meat, or yogurt.) I’ve thought about blogging my complaints; not just that things are old, but it takes me forever to find the dates as everydamn one is in a different spot on each product.
    This has slowed down my shopping tremendously.

    Supposably. I died. Yes, when Nancy said it, I cringed!!
    I’d forgotten about that Friends episode–thanks for the giggles.

    I gave up on Bear after maybe four episodes…it was hard for me. Did it get better after that?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I WAS SO EXCITED ON THE INSIDE, BUT IN PERSON I FROZE. She radiated such a positive energy. I figured she’d be pretty amazing based on the items she had in stock and the employees who work there. It’s a lovely little haven in the middle of the city.

      Why is this breaking news to me? When it comes to trusting businesses, I am extremely gullible. Grr…

      But seriously, I loved that podcast, so please let me know if you find another one. We have the same taste, methinks…

      I initially gave up after three episodes, but so many people kept raving about it. There is a one-hour episode where it is just CHRISTMAS at the home of a certain dysfunctional family, and Jamie Lee Curtis plays the mother. It was SO.REAL. I also think that people who live in the Chicago area will enjoy it more because it is very relatable. But it was the family aspect (both real and employee family) that drew us in.

      Liked by 2 people

  14. I check every expiration date in the store because I’ve been burned too many times by them putting something on sale to get rid of it because it expires tomorrow! My oldest daughter has had a 6 month battle with a grocer where she does instacart and they keep giving her expired food! She’s emailed the manager multiple times because even though they refund her money, she has to go IN with 3 little kids to return the item, defeating the purpose of doing instacart!

    I’m excited to see your soul garden grow. How fantastic that you met Joan and that she owns one of your favorite destinations. I perused the site and cracked up over the mugshot coasters.

    Scamanda sounds like the woman who conned me and a bunch of other people on a Christian forum around 2008 (I think I already commented about it recently – she had Munchausen Syndrome). I’ll have to give it a listen.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I can’t believe I’ve never thought of doing this before! At home, I always check expiration dates. It makes me wonder why we need expiration dates on anything other than items that need to be refrigerated.

      My husband LOVES the mugshot coasters. 🤣

      WHAT??? Umm, I need more information about this please…

      Like

      1. I could have sworn I told you about it already? It’s the reason I started blogging. I was on a forum for 2 years, became friends with a handful of them through private messages. One was a woman in CA who, unbeknownst to rest of us, signed in as multiple people, one who ‘died’ in a car accident, as the ‘husband’ she then posed as told us. She also told me that she had suspicious mammograms, after I confided in her that I was having issues along that line. When I questioned her about it, I got suspicious as her answers didn’t add up, I backed off but a lot of others were doing prayer vigils and collecting money for the family of the supposedly dead woman. It was a mess. I got really turned off after it all blew up. Another friend from the site started blogging and I decided to do the same. That’s the short version.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. WOW. Have you ever written about it on your blog? I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Why are some people so horrible?

        You may have told me about it, but my menopause brain fog/migraine medications sometimes prevents me from remembering things.

        Like

  15. How fun to meet Joan Cusack! I wouldn’t know how to act and would probably go hide in a corner! 😂Her shop sounds fun. Your soul garden is gorgeous…and that goat is awesome! I love garden statues. That last photo of your happy dog made me smile!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Michelle, you and I are so alike. I had the same reaction! I wanted to crawl into a corner and yet, stare at her for hours. 🤣

      Her shop is a dream come true. I wish I could take you all there on a field trip. I’m sure you’d all love it.

      Biscuits loves those treats, but he can’t chew them because they are too hard. So he carries them around the house until he gets tired of carrying them. Buddy then swoops in and steals them! But that photo was taken right after he got one. His joy was pure and sweet.💕

      Like

  16. I read an article that said expiration dates were invented by the manufactures to sell more products and they are just suggestions designed to get you to throw out good food. I read this article after Larry dumped everything that had expired in the garbage. Isn’t that always the way? Great post, I’m interested in the podcast, sound intriguing. Love, love, love your soul garden and your soul. Pretty damn sweet. Here’s to August. Hugs, C

    Liked by 1 person

    2. I LOVE Joan. So jealous that you met her. I think the girls and I are gonna spend a day shopping or something before school. Maybe we will check out her store. It sounds super fun. We just watched Say Anything. They knew her from School Rock or whatever that Jack Black movie is. Now they experienced another layer to her career.

      I have no plans to move from my home but that article about thinking about how choices we make in our houses for someone we haven’t even met yet resonated with me. It is weird to think about.

      What is up with Target selling expired food?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You should definitely go to her shop. I had forgotten she was in Say Anything!!

        For many years, I “decorated” my house for someone other than myself. 2020 changed my perspective on life and my home.

        I guess it’s a thing everywhere, not just Target.

        Like

  17. I have unfortunately begun to check expiration dates more frequently in store because I have had some similar experiences! It usually happens with yogurt, but sometimes milk or half and half or sour cream. The dairy stuff, I guess.

    Hahaha – love the photo of the gardener dogs.

    That podcast sounds deliciously fascinating.

    Happy August to you, too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I keep getting the same answer with dairy, so I’m going to double-check that from now on.

      The dogs constantly go into my soul garden. I’m interested as to what’s in there. (I hope little garden fairies)

      It was fascinating! I like things that take my mind far away. This one did just that.

      Happy August to you, Suzanne! 😘

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Oh, you have to check expiration dates on foods at the grocery store. They always shift their older items to the front, restocking newer stuff behind it. I guess I can’t say I blame them, but there is no way I’m walking into a store today and buying English muffins that expire on 8/3 when there is another package that expires on 8/12 right behind it.

    I just downloaded Scamanda. Sounds interesting; thank you in advance for the suggestion! I will also make it a point to listen to the Flowerpot Men song (are we sure this isn’t secretly Devo?). I see it was also featured prominently in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I love The Bear so much!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad I wrote about it because I’ll definitely check expiration dates now. I’ve noticed this exact thing with bakery items in the store too.

      Let me know what you think of Scamanda. My friend Kristen started listening to it this week and couldn’t believe she didn’t have cancer because she knew so much about it. Her husband did have cancer last year, and they had no idea about half of what Amanda was talking about. 🤣

      The Flowerpot Men DO sound like Devo! It was in one of my favorite scenes from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! I am happy that it can now be added to playlists. I’ve been listening to it in the car every day.

      We also love The Bear! I really hope there will be a third season.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Oh, for what it’s worth, I once opened a bottle of salad dressing seven years past its expiration date. It was perfectly fine and I finished the whole thing over a period of maybe two months. This was the last bottle of a beloved salad dressing that had long since been discontinued (Seven Seas Creamy Italian, if you’re keeping track). Shelf-stable items like that can last indefinitely; it’s the fresh stuff, like bread and dairy (and obviously meat), that you need to be careful with.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. SEVEN SEAS CREAMY ITALIAN! That was my favorite salad dressing when I was a kid! I had completely forgotten about it. Wow. I googled it and found plenty of imitation recipes, but I’m sure none of them taste anything like the original.

      I agree with you. I get the impression that expiration dates were created in a boardroom to persuade us to buy more things.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Pingback: Expiration dates aren’t expiration dates, but woodchucks ARE groundhogs. – Mark My Words

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