[Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions

Mon Oct 11 15:58:23 UTC 2010

  I used to love using coffee makers, but I had trouble keeping bugs 
away.  Now I buy coffee beans and have a grinder and a French Press and 
an electric kettle.  I measure out three scoops of coffee beans into the 
grinder, plug it in, hold the button down for a twelve-fourteen count, 
unplug, pour into the press and wait while the water boils.  After that, 
pour in the water, let sit for five minutes with the top o    n and the 
plunger up, then push it down and give it a minute or two.  Then pour.  
Takes some time, because of the waiting, but still worth it.  Now, all I 
need is to learn how to make the cold coffee and chocolate drinks I like 
and I'll be content.

For all that making coffee that way takes time, it's overall less 
expensive, because you only have to go to the store once to get a large 
can of coffee beans and freeze them.  (They say freezing preserves the 
whatever it is that makes the coffee good, and leaving it out doesn't.)

Jane

On 10/11/2010 11:27 AM, Peter Donahue wrote:
> Good morning everyone,
>
>      One idea is being over-looked in this discussion. Why not do some of
> your grocery shopping online? If you like Starbuck's Coffee why not order it
> via their Web site and learn to make it yourself. You could take that cab
> fare you're paying and pay the shipping to order items in bulk. Since we no
> longer have a large grocery store within walking distance we're examining
> our shopping habits to decide which items we can order online and which
> items require a trip to the store to help save time and money.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ron Poire"<rpoire at comcast.net>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List"<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 9:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>
>
> It seems rather a waste of money for a $3 late.
> Ron
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kerri Kosten"<kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List"<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 9:28 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>
>
>> Hi Cindy and All:
>>
>> I was thinking more along the lines of Starbucks...I used to never
>> drink coffee but last week I took the plunge and tried a pumpkin spice
>> latte...mmmmm...now I'm addicted...I really want to get another one
>> soon but don't really have anyone to take me and I have no idea
>> whether the bus goes to Starbucks...I doubt it...so the only thing I
>> could think to do was to take a cab, have them drive me through
>> Starbucks, I get the pumpkin spice coffee, then they takeme home...and
>> of course I pay the fare...has anyone ever done this?
>>
>> Does Starbucks sell food or just coffee?
>>
>> Mmmmmm...pumpkin spice coffee...mmm lol...if you haven't tried it yet
>> you should lol
>>
>> Kerri!
>>
>> On 10/9/10, Cindy Handel<cindy425 at verizon.net>  wrote:
>>> Kerri,
>>>
>>> I'm sure, as long as you're willing to pay the fare, a cab would take you
>>> through a drive-through for food.
>>>
>>> Cindy
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Kerri Kosten"<kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>>> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 9:15 PM
>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List"<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>>>
>>>> Hi:
>>>>
>>>> Well, unfortunately it turns out we don't have paratransit or dial a
>>>> ride service here so that's out for me even if I wanted it.
>>>>
>>>> I'm fine with money lol...I just don't want to overspend on
>>>> transportation while everyone else gets to use buses, public
>>>> transportation, or paratransit...that's all! I asked these questions
>>>> because I want to make sure I'm not having to over-spend or spend tons
>>>> more than other people who live in small towns.
>>>>
>>>> I do have another question though I just thought of. Is it possible to
>>>> take a cab, go through a drive-through, then go back home and of
>>>> course pay the fare? What do you do when you want something real
>>>> quick...like something from say McDonalds or Sonic or Starbucks? A
>>>> sighted person just gets into their car, goes, then goes right back
>>>> home...as long as the fare is paid is it possible to do this with a
>>>> cab?
>>>>
>>>> Also...just out of pure boredom and curiosity I looked up the cost of
>>>> owning a car...obviously it varies depending on the type of car and
>>>> how much gas/insurance costs but from what I found it said a car can
>>>> cost anywhere from $8,000 a year to $15,000 a year. It also said
>>>> monthly it costs about $612...so it seems to me we get off cheap in
>>>> terms of transportation. The site also said that according to the
>>>> Department of Labor survey and statistics vehicles are the second
>>>> biggest expense for most households...I forget what the first was...so
>>>> it seems like to me we get off cheap when it comes to
>>>> transportation...even if you have to pay $5 a cab to get anywhere like
>>>> I do.
>>>>
>>>> Kerri
>>>>
>>>> On 10/9/10, Bryan Schulz<b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>  wrote:
>>>>> the reality of 70% unemployed is that money saved versus extra time
>>>>> spent
>>>>>
>>>>> is
>>>>> acceptable.
>>>>> lets see you send Kerri significant cab bucks and see if your opinion
>>>>> changes.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Bryan Schulz
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Steve P. Deeley"<stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
>>>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List"<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 5:54 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Because you spend a great deal more time on parra-transit.  Time is
>>>>>> money!
>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>> From: "Bryan Schulz"<b.schulz at sbcglobal.net>
>>>>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List"<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:37 PM
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> if a place is at least a 20 minute drive and by cab would cost about
>>>>>>> $25
>>>>>>> each way and the dor-door or para trans bus is $4, why throw away the
>>>>>>> extra
>>>>>>> money?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Bryan Schulz
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> From: "Steve P. Deeley"<stevep.deeley at insightbb.com>
>>>>>>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List"<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2010 5:02 PM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation
>>>>>>> questions
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Get a cab!
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>>> From: "Kerri Kosten"<kerrik2006 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>>> To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
>>>>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>; "Blind Talk Mailing List"<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 6:43 PM
>>>>>>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Grocery shopping, and transportation questions
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hi All:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have some more questions about grocery shopping and
>>>>>>>>> transportation.
>>>>>>>>> Instead of making two separate posts, I figured I'd just put all my
>>>>>>>>> questions in one post...they are somewhat related to each other.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I'll start with the grocery shopping questions.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> In the apartment building I live in, there is no elevator.
>>>>>>>>> Unfortunately I live on the third floor, which is up four flights
>>>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>>>> steps. What is the best way to carry lots of groceries up the
>>>>>>>>> steps?
>>>>>>>>> Would it be okay, when having lots of groceries to set some of the
>>>>>>>>> bags on the floor in the hallway by the door, go up with as much as
>>>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>>>> can carry, then come back for the rest? Is there any better way to
>>>>>>>>> carry groceries than in the plastic bags the grocery bagger puts
>>>>>>>>> them
>>>>>>>>> in? I've been told about burlap sacks that you can carry on your
>>>>>>>>> shoulder...does this reduce the load much? I want to make this as
>>>>>>>>> easy
>>>>>>>>> as possible.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> How often do you usually go grocery shopping? When you go, do you
>>>>>>>>> just
>>>>>>>>> get the things you absolutely need, and keep the load as little as
>>>>>>>>> possible or do you usually take advantage of the fact you are at
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> store and get lots of stuff?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> My next questions are about transportation. I live in a college
>>>>>>>>> town.
>>>>>>>>> I guess it's your typical college town. It's big enough to be
>>>>>>>>> considered a small city or large town...we have five Krogers, four
>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>> more Walmarts...tons of restaurants and bars, two malls...two movie
>>>>>>>>> theaters. It isn't a major city though.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> We do have a bus system but I've never been encouraged to use it.
>>>>>>>>> I've
>>>>>>>>> just been expected to take cabs everywhere.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> One of the problems though is that the town is not really a walking
>>>>>>>>> town...there are parts of it you can walk in but not very many.
>>>>>>>>> When
>>>>>>>>> things/places are built, often pedestrian accessibility is left
>>>>>>>>> out.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> There doesn't seem to be any blind people; there is no NFB chapter.
>>>>>>>>> So, naturally the majority of the people, including most of the
>>>>>>>>> students drive. From what I've read on their website, the bus
>>>>>>>>> covers
>>>>>>>>> many areas, but usually until only 6 o'clock, unless it's downtown
>>>>>>>>> where the students are. I don't live downtown though. Because of
>>>>>>>>> this,
>>>>>>>>> I find myself having to take cabs almost everywhere. Cabs here are
>>>>>>>>> about $5-6 each way. Is this normal for a college town? Is this
>>>>>>>>> expensive for a cab?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Are my only options to either take the bus when it is available or
>>>>>>>>> take
>>>>>>>>> cabs?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Should I just not worry about the expense and take cabs when and
>>>>>>>>> wherever?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Is learning to use the bus hard or is it as simple as calling and
>>>>>>>>> asking the right questions?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> > From what I can tell, from where I live, in order to take the bus
>>>>>>>>> again since I'm not in the downtown student area I will have to
>>>>>>>>> take
>>>>>>>>> two buses to get anywhere and it usually takes about two hours. Is
>>>>>>>>> this normal for a large town/small city?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The closest major city to me is Pittsburgh. There is a bus that
>>>>>>>>> goes
>>>>>>>>> there twice. In order to take a grayhound bus, or AM track train
>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>> have to somehow get to Pittsburgh. Is the bus going twice daily
>>>>>>>>> reasonable?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> For those of you who live in college towns similar to this how do
>>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>>> find a balance between taking cabs, using family and friends, and
>>>>>>>>> taking the bus?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What is the cost monthly of owning a vehicle compared to taking
>>>>>>>>> cabs
>>>>>>>>> all the time? I'm sorry to ask this...I've never been told.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I guess I am just asking these questions because I want to make
>>>>>>>>> sure
>>>>>>>>> I'm not getting screwed so to speak. I don't mind taking cabs, but
>>>>>>>>> sometimes I feel like I'm just automatically expected to spend the
>>>>>>>>> money just because...if you know what I mean by that! I've been
>>>>>>>>> told
>>>>>>>>> owning a vehicle is several hundreds of dollars a month when the
>>>>>>>>> cost
>>>>>>>>> of maintaenance, car payments, insurance, and gas is added up but
>>>>>>>>> again these have just been from sighted people who don't take cabs.
>>>>>>>>> It
>>>>>>>>> seems like most other blind people I know don't take cabs unless
>>>>>>>>> they
>>>>>>>>> absolutely have to and I hate having to do it all the time. In one
>>>>>>>>> sense I feel like I'm being told to go ahead, don't worry about it,
>>>>>>>>> owning a vehicle is expensive too...but then on the other hand so
>>>>>>>>> many
>>>>>>>>> blind people don't seem to like doing it. I know each town is
>>>>>>>>> different...but if I want to go somewhere and it's after 6 and the
>>>>>>>>> bus
>>>>>>>>> doesn't go are cabs or family/friends my only options? I've never
>>>>>>>>> gone
>>>>>>>>> completely broke or run out of money by taking cabs but again...I
>>>>>>>>> feel
>>>>>>>>> as if I'm getting mixed messages and I want to make sure I'm doing
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> right/best thing. From where I live you can't walk anywhere as
>>>>>>>>> there
>>>>>>>>> are several things across the street but it's not actually a street
>>>>>>>>> but a major six-lane highway...so walking is out. I'm not married
>>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>>> live alone. Do those of you who live in towns like this find
>>>>>>>>> yourselves having to also take cabs more frequently than other
>>>>>>>>> blind
>>>>>>>>> people? I know my questions seem a little crazy but I thought I'd
>>>>>>>>> ask
>>>>>>>>> them all in one post.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Thanks so much!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Kerri
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>> blindtlk mailing list
>>>>>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> blindtlk at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>
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>>>
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