faithful grocers and east coast oddities

Catholics say they love the fact that they can go to mass in any country in the world and feel right at home. It's the exact same mass, given at any hour of the day somewhere in the world. If that were the only thing that attracted me to Catholicism, I'd never convert since I enjoy that same comfort getting my groceries at Trader Joe's. The crew at the Cambridge Trader Joe's wear the same inspiring T-shirts, have the same neighborly demeanor and always smile and thank you for bringing your own bags. Likewise, if there is a Traders in town, the inside of our refrigerator remains the same wherever we go: soy milk, mushrooms, eggs, bread, butter, beer, green onions, onions, potatoes, ground turkey, prefab leg o' lamb, bacon, cheese, salsa, cilantro, bagged greens, cabbage, and condiments. And best of all, we can afford such extravagance.

It's nice to have some consistency in your life when everything else is turned upside down. Still getting used to the East Coast experience. This week started off with us cracking 9 sets of twins out of one carton of eggs (a reason to buy organic eggs). I found a not so little plastic googly eye in E's diaper. (For those of you who did not live for arts and crafts as a child, a googly eye is a plastic shell, white and opaque on one side, clear and colorless on the other. Inside the shell is a smaller black disk that rattles around when you shake it. These can be adhered to various surfaces, instantly creating a face with just one or a pair of googly eye! And there one was, staring at me in a little brown oval shaped head after E's breakfast, about the size of two nickles stacked together. I have this story filed away if the child ever complains about having to swallow vitamins when she's older.)

But fall arrived last weekend and it is getting right pretty out. I'd upload some pictures but blogger's having some troubles with them...