The Quest Continues

With two children home sick, a pot of chicken & rice soup started and two days' full of school assignments ahead of me, I realized I needed to run away from it all and blog. And since I have neglected reporting on the Quest (to not buy anything I could possibly avoid from "BIG BOX" stores like Von's, Ralph's, Albertson's and the like, and to buy as much as possible from ethnic and alternate stores) I thought this would be a good time to catch up.

(The picture doesn't have anything to do with soup and everything to do with avoiding homework. This is a gorgeous painting of the south of France done by Jennifer Young http://www.jenniferyoung.com/blog/2007/05/11/rose-garden-in-provence/ and I really love it and wanted to share it, and even more, I want to BE there. )

I find it shocking in today's economy that these stores are so mindlessly patronized! Seriously. I went to Von's this morning to get some paper products and a loaf of bread (too early to catch anything else open, and I like a chance to check out their prices). What an eye-ful. Paradise tea for $5.89 for a four bag pack! You can get it at Fresh & Easy for $1.99. Green beans for $1.99 a lb - while you can find them for 59 cents a lb at 99 Ranch Market. Leaf lettuce - $1.99 a head, and you can get it for 33 cents at 99 Ranch Market. Compari tomatoes - $4.99 for a one pound box - I got 2 pound boxes of ruby-red Comparis at 99 Ranch Market for $1 each. Boneless New York Steaks for $2.99 at 99 Ranch, $5.89 a pound at Von's. It is insane!

But wait, there's more! Chicken breasts (bone-in) for 79 cents a lb at Maxi Foods - the Hispanic store down the street, while you can get them for a mere $2.29 a pound at Von's and Ralph's. Brown cage free eggs in the $5 a dozen range at Von's and Ralph's - a steal at Fresh & Easy for $2.39. Yoplait yogurt for 59 cents each - 85 cents!!! at Ralph's. I am feeling very evangelical. Please, go to your local ethnic stores, look at their beautiful fresh produce and see the incredible prices. Why would anyone throw their good money away, and in my opinion, get much lower overall food quality? And the bonus is that you will see people from different cultures, which is something that I think is very important.

That is my rant for the day, and now unfortunately I must catch up on my school work. With 16 units this quarter I am constantly in danger of missing an assignment, so no more blogging for me for a few days.