Market Basket: Heaven or Hell?

I discovered Market Basket several months ago.  I discovered the good produce, low prices, clean organized store, but I also discovered the madness that is the phenomenon of Market Basket.  Lines to get parking spots, lines to get carts, lines to checkout that extend far back into the aisles.  The wait at the deli counter can be upwards of half an hour.

So I found a solution.  I go to the Burlington Market Basket at 7:00am, right when they open.  There are parking spots, and just a few elderly people there.  I have my first choice of sandwich meats, produce, breads, bagels, etc.  This is heaven.

On Sunday I experienced Hell.  I had to drive to Lynn to pick up the tickets for the Drag Show from Shawompa, and Burlington was completely out of the way home,  I desperately needed groceries and I only had $30 to spend.  I ask my friend is there a Market Basket nearby.  Turns out there's one basically on my route back to Waltham so I get directions and head there.

The Market Basket was huge.  I found a parking spot okay, but there were no shopping carts inside.  I had to go back out into the parking lot where the attendant let me take one of the carts he was bringing in.  The store is so crowded I'm trying to to have an anxiety attack.  I rush through, counting up how much each thing costs and trying to determine what we can go without for a week.  Then I see the lines.  The lines are backed up into the aisles with Market Basket Employees directing carts when and where to go.  I got stuck behind a guy who had his groceries literally in a wagon.  It was bigger than a Red Rider wagon but it was still a wagon. He opened up the can of whipped cream and sprayed some directly into his mouth.  He did this several times before switches to eating some rosat beef deli meat, following by what else, but sliced cheese.  I thought I was going to be ill.

Finally it was my turn and I paid for my items.  I pushed my cart out to my parking spot and loaded up my meager selection of groceries.  Unlike the people who literally left there carts in the middle of the parking lot, I put mine in a cart collection gate.  Then I left.  I took a wrong turn getting out of the lot and ended up lost in Chelsea.  Fortunately my good sense of direction led me back to Rt 16 and I made it home alive.

My First Drag Show

I had quite a weekend!  First the YES concert then tonight I saw my first Drag Show entitled Size Doesn't Matter with a picture of a banana on the front of the program.  It was a charity event put on by the Monday Night Bowling League to benefit Boston Living Center and Community Servings.  Boston Living Center helps out those who have HIV/AIDs.  Community Servings serves meals to people who are home-bound due to illness, originally AIDS, but has expanded to other illnesses.  There was a raffle and a silent auction as well as a couple of hours worth of performances.  It took place at Machine Nightclub in Boston on Boylston Street.

My friend, we'll call him by his stage name, Shawompa, performed two numbers. Get the Party Started, not the P!nk version but by Shelley something-or-other, and Proud Mary by Tina Turner.  She was fabulous!  How she can dance in those heels is beyond me.  The dresses were perfect, the wigs were perfect.  I'm just gobsmacked how good Shawompa was.

I loved the red tassel dress for the first number.  With the gloves and the mask...  What a way to open the show!  And that hair!  How did it stay on?!  I had a dazzling evening and am so proud of my friend who has severe stage fright.  I could never do that, perform in front of all those people much less in drag!

An Evening With YES! at Foxwoods

Last night my husband and I went to a concert at the MGM Theater in Foxwoods to see an Evening With YES!  He had a phenomenal time.  I had a good time.  I confess I'm not a YES fan but I don't dislike them either.  It was a good concert.  Not too long not too short with an encore that was just the right amount of time.  We bought the tickets a long time ago, back when I thought we could afford them.  As they were non-refundable I thought we should go.

We started off the evening with a long and traffic filled drive down to Mashantucket where we parked with relative ease at the MGM Grand.  Then we took the shuttle to Rainmaker Casino and ate at the Festival Buffet.  Since we couldn't really afford to eat there I made sure I pigged out sufficiently to justify the cost.  I hit the BBQ station first and enjoyed some steak, pulled pork, and sweet potatoes with some cornbread.  Mmm mmm good.  I next hit the "International" Stations where I had mashed potatoes, pot roast, rice pilaf, and fried chicken breast.  Then I went for the Asian and seafood counters where I got some Scezhuan String Beans, Spring Rolls, and of course fried clam strips.  For dessert I enjoyed cheesecake, Boston Creme Pie, and Coconut Cream Cake.  Ugh, I overate just a tad.

We walked the mile back to the MGM Grand Theater and picked up our tickets.  Then we went and settled into our seats in the Right Mezzanine.  They were pretty good seats being only $20.  We waited patiently for the show to start and then there they were.  YES! live on stage.  I decided the lead singer looked a little like Viggo Mortensen.  They played two albums in their entirety and then my husband's favorite song for the encore.  I confess it was past my bedtime and I couldn't help yawning through most of the show.  But it wasn't because I was bored, just tired.

We got home at midnight and actually found a parking spot.  Yay, us!  We stayed up talking for awhile until Jason fell asleep.  Then I tooled around on the computer for a bit before going to bed myself.  The most interesting part of the night however was that I was hit on by a woman.  I'm starting to regret my short haircut.  It is not attracting mean, but women.  Which wouldn't be a problem if I were single or a lesbian, however I am neither.  And I don't react well to anybody hitting on me.  I get shy and then ignore them.  Oh well, she could have thought I was a bitch and I'm okay with that.  After all, I'm not all sweetness and flowers dispite what you may think.  ;)