Repackaging the "Mart"

The Walmart in Riverdale is undergoing its repackaging to fit the new corporate image. You've probably seen the commercials on TV stating that you can still be happy and buy the things rich people do...Or something close to it produced in China and sold for a fraction of the price. BUT anyway that doesn't bother me as much as the actual physical remodel of the store.

We never shop at the Riverdale Walmart, because it isn't the closest, but we were in that part of town and it was late in the evening so we stopped in. Now any good, law abiding, normal minded, American knows that most Walmarts have the same general layout. You know that the soap is here, the toys there, and frozen pizzas on the other side. Well this night left the wife and I confused (mostly me).

Everything you can think of was out of place. There was flour next to the pharmacy and I think we counted six aisles of candy. (I think I notice unmentionables in the freezer aisle.) Even with that, the magic of food placement didn't stop there. As we came around the corner we noticed that all but one aisle sign was blank. Now we were in an unfamiliar Walmart layout and we had no map, signs, or magic lamp to guide us.

Luckily the wife is pretty smart and as I complained, took pictures, and pushed the cart she rounded up everything we had on the list except for Vodka sauce.(If you've never tried it I suggest you give it a shot...no pun intended) So the repacking of Walmart didn't kill us but next time I would like to at least see a sign begging us to "Pardon Their Dust".

All carrots are not created Equally

I like baby carrots. I can't help it. The wife buys them and I eat them. I'm also a visual eater. If I find something in my food that doesn't look right it generally turns me off to that item of food.

Today I found a not so "baby carrot" in my bag of baby carrots. This carrot was double the size and almost looked like it was the genetic freak sibling of its other baby carrot brothers and sisters. Now there was probably nothing wrong with this one but it prompted me to do a little research into the origination of the "baby carrot."

According to a USA Today Article from 2004 the baby carrots come from regular sized carrots that are deformed or misshaped. They are cut in two in pieces and shaved twice to give them that nice skinless round look. Cleaned and then packaged.

So the next time I find a freak baby carrot I won't worry about its size but I still don't think I'll eat it.

Here's the link to the USA Today Article for your reading pleasure:
USA Today Baby Carrots

Water Tower- Education

A view from a window.


Is this water tower still in use? Is it just a fading relic in the industrial side of town?

Sitting in a class listening to special education law, and I'm wondering how education has come so far in the last 200 years. At the same time it faces even more problems than it did in the old school house days.

There are so many laws protecting students in the education system. On the other side there are so many educators breaking laws with students... 

Work

My work space.

You should make the space you spend most of your week at as enjoyable as possible. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I have yet to add any of my own personal flavor to my office. I don't think I have any real reason other than I don't think about my office when I'm home.

How do you find the medium between professional and funny?

Commuting

Today I awoke slightly late. This means I was in a hurry to get to work on time. (I did get to kiss my wife before I left which made being in a hurry ok.) My interstate journey is about 45 miles and the journey was accomplished in 45 minutes. It was as if the commuting Fates had aligned my threads and made traffic flow beautifully and in the end I was proud of myself.

How is it that some days it's like every car on the road is in sync with you and your driving needs? Is it a naturally occurring phenomenon? Or is it just chance?Is it possible that I am the first one to ever witness this event? (I doubt it.)  All that matters is that it happened and it could happen again.