Off Topic Part Trois

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Hey all..

Thanks for cheering my up today...

Off to the Camptown races now...

Did you know that the Camptown racetrack is five miles long? Take care.

[DeadPoolX 9]

One thing different about shopping in Canada vs shopping in the US..... in the US they ask "Paper or plastic?" In Canada (Ontario) they ask "Do you need a bag?"

Yeah, I've noticed that. Lots of places CHARGE to give you flimsy plastic bags. The charge isn't much, but still... that seems a little ridiculous. The only place that actually uses paper bags (which I vastly prefer to plastic bags) is Whole Foods. Unfortunately, that's in North Van, so it's a long drive from where I am.

Something else I've noticed is that most places charge to get shopping carts! That's crazy. Sure, you get your quarter or loonie back, but it's still nuts. I've never seen that in the U.S. and I've shopped at a lot of grocery stores. Once again, Whole Foods is the only place that doesn't make you pay for a cart.

I know the philosophy behind making people pay for the carts (they'll return them in order to get their money back), but it's an inconvenience to carry change all the time. Half the time people still leave their carts in random places in parking lots. One time I actually saw a cart parked up on a curb between two trees. Oddly enough, there was also a picnic bench there. I'm not sure who wanted to have a picnic in a parking lot, but apparently someone did.

I know what a lot of people say: buy reusable bags! Sure, but those cost quite a bit. I'd pay maybe $5 for one, but I've seen them for as much as $30 per bag! Why should I have to pay for any bags when grocery shopping? It's standard in the U.S. to not only get bags for free (and have a choice between paper and plastic), but no charge to use carts and baggers are available (who'd sometimes take the cart out to the car for you and help get the bags into your trunk).

EDIT: Something else I've experienced is that hospitals charge for parking. When did this happen? I've been to a lot of hospitals before (my dad's a physician) and parking was always free for patients and staff. The crazy thing is it's pay-parking only and even the doctors and staff have to pay.

Edited October 29, 2009 by DeadPoolX

[JillA 2]

$30 for a reusable bag?! They are usually a dollar or two, where I shop. I have like a dozen reusable shopping bags in my trunk, so I never need to worry about bags. I love Trader Joe's though, because they give nice sturdy paper bags.

As for hospitals, all the ones I've been to you have to pay for parking. When I volunteered in the Oakville Hospital, they gave me a parking pass though, as of course I wouldn't pay to volunteer.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

One thing different about shopping in Canada vs shopping in the US..... in the US they ask "Paper or plastic?" In Canada (Ontario) they ask "Do you need a bag?"

Yeah, I've noticed that. Lots of places CHARGE to give you flimsy plastic bags. The charge isn't much, but still... that seems a little ridiculous. The only place that actually uses paper bags (which I vastly prefer to plastic bags) is Whole Foods. Unfortunately, that's in North Van, so it's a long drive from where I am.

Something else I've noticed is that most places charge to get shopping carts! That's crazy. Sure, you get your quarter or loonie back, but it's still nuts. I've never seen that in the U.S. and I've shopped at a lot of grocery stores. Once again, Whole Foods is the only place that doesn't make you pay for a cart.

I know the philosophy behind making people pay for the carts (they'll return them in order to get their money back), but it's an inconvenience to carry change all the time. Half the time people still leave their carts in random places in parking lots. One time I actually saw a cart parked up on a curb between two trees. Oddly enough, there was also a picnic bench there. I'm not sure who wanted to have a picnic in a parking lot, but apparently someone did.

I know what a lot of people say: buy reusable bags! Sure, but those cost quite a bit. I'd pay maybe $5 for one, but I've seen them for as much as $30 per bag! Why should I have to pay for any bags when grocery shopping? It's standard in the U.S. to not only get bags for free (and have a choice between paper and plastic), but no charge to use carts and baggers are available (who'd sometimes take the cart out to the car for you and help get the bags into your trunk).

EDIT: Something else I've experienced is that hospitals charge for parking. When did this happen? I've been to a lot of hospitals before (my dad's a physician) and parking was always free for patients and staff. The crazy thing is it's pay-parking only and even the doctors and staff have to pay.

Don't come to Toronto. Sunnybrook even charges some of the staff for parking.

[trailmix 77]

The only place here that I have seen charge for plastic bags is Superstore - but they are the discount bare bones store - they also don't pack your groceries for you.

For reusable bags, we just bought them at Sobeys, they are a generous size and sturdy - I think they were $1 each.

If you are willing to pay a bit more, you can go to Co-op, where they are happy to take your groceries to your car for you (they will do that at Safeway and Sobeys as well, but at co-op it's automatic).

Edited October 29, 2009 by trailmix

[The_Dude 1,142]

All the grocery stores here ask if you need help out to your car. They are also not allowed to accept tips. I saw a kid one time arguing with an older woman who was trying to give him a $10 bill. One of the chains here actually pay you to use your own reuseable bags ($0.25 per bag I believe). I dont' know if that is a permanent thing or if it was just a promotional event, or if it is more than the two stores near me, but the Ralphs in Palos Verdes do that.

[trailmix 77]

BTW, Trailmix it's nice to see Topo Gigio back. Now say, "Good Night Eddie."

Thank you, this is his halloween outfit, good night eddie.

[DeadPoolX 9]

$30 for a reusable bag?! They are usually a dollar or two, where I shop. I have like a dozen reusable shopping bags in my trunk, so I never need to worry about bags. I love Trader Joe's though, because they give nice sturdy paper bags.

As for hospitals, all the ones I've been to you have to pay for parking. When I volunteered in the Oakville Hospital, they gave me a parking pass though, as of course I wouldn't pay to volunteer.

Yeah, that's crazy. But then again, I think BC charges more for everything. Seriously, my wife has lived her entire life in Canada and even she's been surprised by the cost differences.

I'd definitely pay $1 for a reusable bag. But I'm certainly not paying double-digits for one.

Don't come to Toronto. Sunnybrook even charges some of the staff for parking.

Well, they charge doctors and staff here too. I could MAYBE see them charging patients (although that still seems wrong to me), but doctors, nurses and staff? The charge is $2.50 for an hour, $5.00 for two hours or $7.00 for six hours. I guess they don't want patients parking there. Even the receptionist suggested I park nearby on the street.

The only place here that I have seen charge for plastic bags is Superstore - but they are the discount bare bones store - they also don't pack your groceries for you.

For reusable bags, we just bought them at Sobeys, they are a generous size and sturdy - I think they were $1 each.

If you are willing to pay a bit more, you can go to Co-op, where they are happy to take your groceries to your car for you (they will do that at Safeway and Sobeys as well, but at co-op it's automatic).

Co-Op, huh? I don't think I've seen them were I am, but I know I've seen them somewhere. Maybe it was in Nanaimo. Not sure, really.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

So after waiting 3 weeks I finally got to see my thyroid blood test results.

Everything was negative.

My hives have gone away mostly, but they seem to pop up when I take Advil liquid gels, Aleve liquid gels and Aleve caplets.

I found the common ingredient and they're all NSAIDs.

So I'm going to try Tylenol to see if it solves that little problem.

[Carlawarla 1]

Good morning!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Have fun at any Halloween party if you're going to one!

[Ban Hammer 13,282]

good morning carla and thank you for the coffee.

[Peachey 10]

Yarr,

I be dressed as a pirate today. Maybe I should talk like one too.

Since Halloween is tomorrow, we dressed up today at work

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I'll be dressed as a husband tomorrow. Or maybe undressed, given that I'll be with my beloved wife.

[Krikit 1,164]

Good morning everyone.

I love Topo Gigio's trick-or-treating outfit.

DeadPool, the next time you're on the Island, go to Coombs Country Market where they have the goats on the roof. They sell the grocery bags for 89 cents. Plus, it's a great market! lol

I hate those carts that you have to put money into. But I do appreciate the fact that there are no carts left all over the parking lot. And you are right..... BC is very much more expensive than the rest of the country. That's the paradise premium.

One of our local supermarkets credits you 5 cents for every bag you bring and they use. It's becoming more and more prevalent that Florida is going the way of Canada with the grocery bags. I'm a bit OCD with the environmental thing, so I like that.

I have no idea whether to buy Halloween candy or not this year. I've seen a few more kids in the subdivision..... but most of them appear to be beyond the trick-or-treating age. We have never had trick-or-treaters since I've been here, though. lol

Hmm. Now that I think about it.... maybe the bags were 75 cents at Coombs.

[trailmix 77]

Good morning and thanks for the spooky coffee Carla!

We did buy some halloween candy, those little things of coffee crisp, smarties etc - we have eaten a few - they are not very good really, for whatever reason

I suspect, since we are in an apartment that we will get some kids coming by this year, lucky we still have a lot left!