Food Stamps
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If it’s Tuesday, it must be meatloaf
Did you have one of those mothers who served a specific food on a certain weeknight? I didn’t, but I knew other people who did. One friend’s mom made up her entire month’s menu, and you could go look and see what they’d be eating two weeks from now. The attention to detail was most impressive. The closest I get to that level of predictability is perhaps a “Soup Monday” for a couple of weeks — say, in Lent or Advent, as a way to bring some simplicity to the table. And Thursday tends to be leftover night at Chez Tracey. By then, we have Sunday through Wednesday night dinners…
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mice on wheels
Ever notice how you learn a new word, then hear it everywhere you go? When you’re pregnant, all you see is pregnant women walking the streets or moms pushing strollers? You’re thinking of going to Paris, and suddenly every newspaper, TV station and poster has something to do with France? In recent weeks, it seems that poverty, welfare and hunger have permeated my brain. And I keep overhearing snatches of conversations. Yesterday the clock radio went off really early — maybe 5 a.m. From a dead sleep, I heard a man say, “Well, those deadbeats on welfare don’t want to get their hands dirty when they can stay home drinking…
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BBQ and the Beast
Did you ever see such a happy hostess? No? I didn’t think so. Speaking to you live from Party HQ, where the Father’s Day BBQ adventure is winding down. Well, it’s done, actually. All guests gone, all dishes washed, and all food accounted for. Well, there I am in my pink flamingo apron, clutching my bar stool for dear life as I wonder if there will be enough food or too much, and if people will come, chat, behave, and then leave before bedtime. The answer to all of the above was, I’m glad to report, a resounding yes. Yes, folks came, had fun and left, and there was enough…
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Pie and Prejudice
Yes, those are bugs in the photo. Disgusting? Bear with me. I just returned from food shopping, done with great caution (more on that in a minute). As I was swiping my ATM card at the grocery store, I noticed that there are options such as debit, credit, or EBT. The EBT card is the food stamp card. I had never noticed that option before. So I asked the cashier, “If I swipe my EBT card, does it (the computer) know if what I’m buying is OK?” (qualifies for a FS purchase, I meant). I don’t know how to express how her face changed. Her smile changed a little, definitely less smiley.…
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the halfway mark
Just past the halfway mark in the month of June, and halfway through the June Food Stamp Challenge. Yesterday was our payday, so I paid bills and wrangled with a couple of items. If I was a food stamp recipient, I would be glad of the extra money coming in, but either way, I’m really annoyed about the money going out, too. To wit: Our health insurance company sent me a letter saying that if I switched to their mail-order prescription service, my co-pay would decrease by 1/3. I would pay $20 for a three-month supply of Medicine A. At pharmacies, I pay $10 a month. OK, sounds good. I signed up, sent…
