Parking in my neighborhood is a nightmare. Now I know I'm far from alone in this problem. I have heard so many people comment on parking in LA in the past, but wasn't able to relate, as I was living in New York without a car. Well, now I can relate.
On Thursdays and Fridays my street has street sweeping/cleaning/moving trash and dirt from one location on the street to another location on the street from 8-10 AM. These mornings are my worst enemy.
If I am lucky enough to get a spot on the "Thursday side" on Wednesday nights, or the "Friday side" on Thursday nights, a feeling of pure euphoria fills me up in a way that is almost frightening for a person simply obtaining a parking spot.
If I do not get a said "Thursday side" or "Friday side" spot the night before, I am forced out of my house at 7:30 AM (early for me, I work nights people!) into the zombie apocalyptic like land of sleepy faced flesh hungry, or in our case, parking spot hungry residents. We all eye each other up and down as we run-walk to our cars as "casually" as possible in hopes to be the first to start our engines in the hunt for a scared parking spot. It's wild out there folks. If I were called into a Walking Dead audition, I think I would have no trouble finding a way to relate to the character I was called in for, as all I would have to do is think on my Thursday and Friday morning battles. Battles that I have to say, I am pretty stellar at. I'd like to think of myself as that fierce black woman on Walking Dead, Michonne who walks around with the two zombies on a leash. She may be small, but people take one look at her and know that she is not to be messed with.
Anyway, what brings me to this zombie parking space rant is, believe it or not, grocery shopping. What an odd transition of thoughts, right? So, because my neighborhood is so "survivor like" when it comes to parking, I have to be very timely about when I go places in my car. I know that if I leave at certain times of the day, there is no way I am going to find a spot when I get back. The worst is when I go grocery shopping and know that I am going to be carrying way too much stuff back from my car. I do need to give a quick shout out to my boyfriend though who, whenever he is home happily meets me at my car no matter how far it may be parked to help me bring my groceries upstairs. Thank you!!
I have figured out in the past 5 or so months of living in LA that the best time to go grocery shopping and successfully obtain a prime real estate parking spot is in the morning. On mornings that I go grocery shopping and manage to eat breakfast before, I have great success. On the mornings that I go grocery shopping and don't eat breakfast, I have epic, epic fails. The problem is, I usually wait too long to go grocery shopping and don't have anything to eat for breakfast, and therefore go to the grocery store hungry. My shopping list may start as simple as, for example: Milk, yogurt, bread, turkey, granola, bananas, apples, peanut butter. And end up in my cart like this: Milk, yogurt, bread, muffins, turkey, salami, granola, frosted flakes, bananas, pop tarts, peanut butter, three different types of jelly, cookies, cheese, "less guilt" brownie mix, cheese, crackers, cheese, white wine, more cheese, pita chips, more cheese, and the list goes on and on.
Why is it that I know going to the grocery store hungry will end up in my purchasing the entirety of Traders Joe's, yet I still do it? I'll tell you why. Because it's a good excuse. "Oh shoot. I bought the whole store. Oh well, I was hungry. I guess I'll have to eat all of this now, I wouldn't want to be a waster."
Not only does this whole shopping hungry do a number on my waistline, but it does a number on my bank account as well. The other day, I challenged myself to go to the grocery store after eating. I spent $35!! This is huge as my total is usually at least $60 when I buy groceries. Not only did I only spent $35, but I didn't buy a bunch junk either. Granted, I still bought the "less guilt" brownies, but I DO feel LESS guilty!
So hopefully, lesson learned in my part. Lose a few inches, and gain a few dollars. What an awesome idea! For anyone who is out there like me, and finds that they over purchase when they're hungry, eat something, eat ANYTHING before you go shopping. You'll feel better in more ways than one.
That's all I've got for today. Until next time!
Namaste!
Ashley
