Some ammo with those groceries, Mam?

There are basically three options for grocery shopping in my little town. And, as it happens, I go to each one every week for specific things. The big box store has decent deals on basic staples, but I don't buy fruits, vegetables or meat there. The big food chain store has pretty good fruits and vegetables, but they've also had a few meat recalls. The smallest of the three is a locally owned store with its own in-house butcher so this is where I buy our meat. Although this makes it sound like I have the best choices in the world, I must insert a small protest here --- I really miss Trader Joe's and all the other great food stores in Tacoma! And, we all know that Trader Joe's will never come to Utah because grocery stores can't sell wine here. I could drive ten hours to the closest one in Portland, Oregon, but everything would spoil by the time I got back. Ah, but I digress. Back to my immediate grocery situation.

Due to the same ol' same ol' in each store every week I've gotten quite complacent about cooking. Actually, I've gotten into a downright culinary rut. I'm trying to climb out, though, and today I found a delicious crock pot recipe for Mediterranean Meat Loaf. Upon reading it I knew a couple of the ingredients might be hard to find, but I set out to do it. When I pulled into the parking lot of the smallest store I started chanting to myself -- feta cheese and oil-packed sundried tomatoes over and over. Somehow I thought that chanting might make these things appear on the shelves. I didn't have much hope, but lo and behold there they were! I gathered up my treasures and triumphantly headed to the check-out line.

While I was waiting I glanced to my right to the now familiar ammo shelves. That's right - this store sells ammunition for hunting rifles, shotguns, and even handguns. Yep, it's right there on open shelves between the weekly cereal specials and the check-out line. It's not enclosed in any sort of case. If you want to, you can pack it into your cart between the milk and bread. Actually, it's part of the Utah culture of preparation. Many, many people around here have a three year supply of food in specially constructed containers kept in the specially built storage room in their basements. They religiously rotate foodstuffs and other living essentials every month. They're literally ready for anything. But, just in case they don't have everything they need they can pick up some ammo (along with their prescription and toothpaste) to snag that buck or turkey or elk for the freezer.

And there I am with my little pile of feta and sundried tomatoes. I agree, it makes for an odd picture, but this urbanite is hanging in there. I'm going to go hug my Trader Joe bags now.