Two Elderly Chinese Ladies Picking Carrots

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

At first, I just went over to get some Brussels sprouts, hoping they would be done by the time I
got back to the carrots. No such luck. They had taken at least five minutes (maybe more time
before I got there) to pick FIVE carrots! That's a WHOLE MINUTE per carrot!

So I stood behind them holding an empty bag hoping they'd get the message and hurry up or move
aside or something. They were polite and smiled and moved aside while continuing to discuss the
fine points of carrots (I assume) in Chinese.

I take very little time picking carrots, though I check for several features. I like small
diameter, so I mostly pull carrots from the front of the stack where I can view them end-on. I
also like the shape of my carrots to be more cylindrical, rather than turnip-like. I also like a
deep color, though I usually don't have much choice on that. Even though I HATE Safeway because of
their card system, I go there for carrots and Brussels sprouts because they're better there than
in other stores.

I also do a brief bending test on each carrot to make sure it's rigid, not rubbery. I also rotate
the carrot to inspect it for defects. I do this all very fast. Even though I'm filling my bag
pretty quick, if you watch, you can see I'm doing a lot of inspecting.

Well, these Chinese ladies seemed to be impressed. They started putting BACK some of the carrots
they had already picked, at enormous cost of their time and mine. They began pulling out carrots
from lower in the stack -- I guess they somehow had the idea that was not permitted, that you
could only take carrots lying on top, but then they saw me pulling carrots out from there.

They were looking at the carrots in my bag. I'm sure by now those were the ones they wanted. NOT A
CHANCE! You ladies have already cost me enough -- you're not getting my carrots! The last time I
saw them, they were still at the stack of carrots tediously scrutinizing and discussing each one.

Now imagine you are at some ethnic market or another and are trying to pick out some weird kind of
produce you're never seen before...

Been there, Bob

Mark Schizophrenic Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

At first, I just went over to get some Brussels sprouts, hoping they would be done by the time I
got back to the carrots. No such luck. They had taken at least five minutes (maybe more time before
I got there) to pick FIVE carrots! That's a WHOLE MINUTE per carrot!

So I stood behind them holding an empty bag hoping they'd get the message and hurry up or move
aside or something. They were polite and smiled and moved aside while continuing to discuss the
fine points of carrots (I assume) in Chinese.

I take very little time picking carrots, though I check for several features. I like small
diameter, so I mostly pull carrots from the front of the stack where I can view them end-on. I
also like the shape of my carrots to be more cylindrical, rather than turnip-like. I also like a
deep color, though I usually don't have much choice on that. Even though I HATE Safeway because of
their card system, I go there for carrots and Brussels sprouts because they're better there than
in other stores.

I also do a brief bending test on each carrot to make sure it's rigid, not rubbery. I also rotate
the carrot to inspect it for defects. I do this all very fast. Even though I'm filling my bag
pretty quick, if you watch, you can see I'm doing a lot of inspecting.

Well, these Chinese ladies seemed to be impressed. They started putting BACK some of the carrots
they had already picked, at enormous cost of their time and mine. They began pulling out carrots
from lower in the stack -- I guess they somehow had the idea that was not permitted, that you could
only take carrots lying on top, but then they saw me pulling carrots out from there.

They were looking at the carrots in my bag. I'm sure by now those were the ones they wanted. NOT A
CHANCE! You ladies have already cost me enough -- you're not getting my carrots! The last time I
saw them, they were still at the stack of carrots tediously scrutinizing and discussing each one.

You and those two wimen would put your efforts to best use choosing a vibrator and a few D cells
from the Triple X emporium down the road

---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =--- ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =--- Sheldon
```````````` "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

story?... Not that I care of course... but some ladies here (and I'm not mentioning any names -
Curly Sue) obviously have a *major* problem with it...

~john!

--
Say hello to the rug's topography...It holds quite a lot of interest with your face down on it...

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

Those old Chinese gals can get *real* pushy in the food markets (as can Koreans)....

--
Best Greg

Quoted message said:

They were taking forever to decide which ones they wanted.

I detect zen mantra. Ohmmmmmm.....

Becca

Three elderly Irish ladies were taking forever to pick out a handful of carrots in front of me, in
the market. So I moved up close behind them, holding an opened empty plastic produce bag, hoping
they'd get the hint.

Of course they didn't even notice me, but I now could hear their conversation better. The old lady
in the center was dissolve in tears, sobbing and overwhelmed with despair. Her friends on either
side tried to question her as to the cause of her sudden upset.

"Ah, tell us now Mary, what has upset ye so?", one asked.

"Twas these carrots, Kathleen," she sobbed. "They have reminded me so much of me late husband, Pat."

The two friends exchanged raised eyebrow glances at each other, as they huddled around their
stricken friend that they each supported by an arm.

"Was it the length of them, that brought poor Pat to your thoughts?" asked the one on her left.

"Ah, no..., twas not that.", she sighed.

"Was it the thickness of them, then?", suggested the other friend.

Another volley of sobs erupted from the stricken woman in the middle.

"Twas all the dirt on them!"

An Old joke from the West of Ireland Retrofitted a bit, for this thread.

Paul (Formerly from Galway)

"Mark Thorson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

At first, I just went over to get some Brussels sprouts, hoping they would be done by the time I
got back to the carrots. No such luck. They had taken at least five minutes (maybe more time
before I got there) to pick FIVE carrots! That's a WHOLE MINUTE per carrot!

So I stood behind them holding an empty bag hoping they'd get the message and hurry up or move
aside or something. They were polite and smiled and moved aside while continuing to discuss the
fine points of carrots (I assume) in Chinese.

I take very little time picking carrots, though I check for several features. I like small
diameter, so I mostly pull carrots from the front of the stack where I can view them end-on. I
also like the shape of my carrots to be more cylindrical, rather than turnip-like. I also like a
deep color, though I usually don't have much choice on that. Even though I HATE Safeway because of
their card system, I go there for carrots and Brussels sprouts because they're better there than
in other stores.

I also do a brief bending test on each carrot to make sure it's rigid, not rubbery. I also rotate
the carrot to inspect it for defects. I do this all very fast. Even though I'm filling my bag
pretty quick, if you watch, you can see I'm doing a lot of inspecting.

Well, these Chinese ladies seemed to be impressed. They started putting BACK some of the carrots
they had already picked, at enormous cost of their time and mine. They began pulling out carrots
from lower in the stack -- I guess they somehow had the idea that was not permitted, that you
could only take carrots lying on top, but then they saw me pulling carrots out from there.

They were looking at the carrots in my bag. I'm sure by now those were the ones they wanted. NOT A
CHANCE! You ladies have already cost me enough -- you're not getting my carrots! The last time I
saw them, they were still at the stack of carrots tediously scrutinizing and discussing each one.

zxcvbob said:

Now imagine you are at some ethnic market or another and are trying to pick out some weird kind of
produce you're never seen before...

They don't have carrots in China?

levelwave said:

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

Quoted message said:

story?... Not that I care of course... but some ladies here (and I'm not mentioning any names -
Curly Sue) obviously have a *major* problem with it...

~john!

It provides some details to the characters, and a context. It could have

story bothers you, substitute "two persons" for for two elderly Chinese women. (But then what does
*two* have to do with it? Why couldn't it have been 3?)

Best regards, Bob

I figured youz would say dat Sheldong. Surprised youz didn't mention cucumbers though.

PENFART01 said:

Mark Schizophrenic Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

At first, I just went over to get some Brussels sprouts, hoping they would be done by the time I
got back to the carrots. No such luck. They had taken at least five minutes (maybe more time
before I got there) to pick FIVE carrots! That's a WHOLE MINUTE per carrot!

So I stood behind them holding an empty bag hoping they'd get the message and hurry up or move
aside or something. They were polite and smiled and moved aside while continuing to discuss the
fine points of carrots (I assume) in Chinese.

I take very little time picking carrots, though I check for several features. I like small
diameter, so I mostly pull carrots from the front of the stack where I can view them end-on. I
also like the shape of my carrots to be more cylindrical, rather than turnip-like. I also like a
deep color, though I usually don't have much choice on that. Even though I HATE Safeway because
of their card system, I go there for carrots and Brussels sprouts because they're better there
than in other stores.

I also do a brief bending test on each carrot to make sure it's rigid, not rubbery. I also rotate
the carrot to inspect it for defects. I do this all very fast. Even though I'm filling my bag
pretty quick, if you watch, you can see I'm doing a lot of inspecting.

Well, these Chinese ladies seemed to be impressed. They started putting BACK some of the carrots
they had already picked, at enormous cost of their time and mine. They began pulling out carrots
from lower in the stack -- I guess they somehow had the idea that was not permitted, that you
could only take carrots lying on top, but then they saw me pulling carrots out from there.

They were looking at the carrots in my bag. I'm sure by now those were the ones they wanted.
NOT A CHANCE! You ladies have already cost me enough -- you're not getting my carrots! The last
time I saw them, they were still at the stack of carrots tediously scrutinizing and discussing
each one.

You and those two wimen would put your efforts to best use choosing a vibrator and a few D cells
from the Triple X emporium down the road

---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =--- ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =--- Sheldon
```````````` "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 23:46:31 -0500, levelwave <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

Quoted message said:

story?... Not that I care of course... but some ladies here (and I'm not mentioning any names -
Curly Sue) obviously have a *major* problem with it...

~john!

"Major problem"? Wow you are sensitive! How do you get through the day without being reduced to a
quivering mass of insecurity, brought to tears whenever anyone questions you? In the thread to
which you refer, I merely asked what the fact that the subject was an elderly black handicapped
woman have to do with the story which was under the ranting topic of "customers are idiots" (or
whatever). The implication that it bothered me was added by you, who clearly was bothered by my
question. Get over it.

Sue(tm) Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

in article [email hidden], levelwave at
[email hidden] wrote on 12/6/03 11:46 PM:

Quoted message said:

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

Quoted message said:

story?... Not that I care of course... but some ladies here (and I'm not mentioning any names -
Curly Sue) obviously have a *major* problem with it...

~john!

He's telling a story. We weren't there, he was. He is describing the scene. A good story teller
provides details so that you can visualize it the way he witnessed it. Ever read Hemingway?
Faulkner? It takes them 3 paragraphs to describe the evening air. But when you finish reading those
3 paragraphs, you can almost SMELL it, they described it so vividly.

By providing the detail that they were elderly, chinese ladies, you immediately get a visual in your
mind. If he had just said "two people", the story wouldn't have been as interesting to read.

I don't really choose carrots, they come in bags of 1, 2 or 5 lbs around here. When I buy 1 or 2
from a loose bin, there aren't many to choose from, and I actually usually go for really thick ones,
i find they are sweeter, or at least, they taste better to me.

Mark Thorson said:

zxcvbob said:

Now imagine you are at some ethnic market or another and are trying to pick out some weird kind of
produce you're never seen before...

They don't have carrots in China?

I don't know. But I remember how long it took me to pick out just the right baby coconut, when I
didn't have the slightest idea how to pick a good one. And the "green tunas" (cactus fruits.)

Best regards, Bob

Mark Thorson said:

zxcvbob said:

Now imagine you are at some ethnic market or another and are trying to pick out some weird kind
of produce you're never seen before...

They don't have carrots in China?

I've heard of Chinese cabbage, bok choy, bean sprouts, spring onions, snap beans, snow peas,
squashes... had many different vegetables in Thailand. I don't recall carrots being in the markets
over there. So perhaps they really aren't used to carrots.

Jill

Prolly 'cause it'd make him feel inferior:

lalaland.cl.msu.edu0563.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

I figured youz would say dat Sheldong. Surprised youz didn't mention cucumbers though.

PENFART01 said:

Mark Schizophrenic Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

At first, I just went over to get some Brussels sprouts, hoping they would be done by the time
I got back to the carrots. No such luck. They had taken at least five minutes (maybe more time
before I got there) to pick FIVE carrots! That's a WHOLE MINUTE per carrot!

So I stood behind them holding an empty bag hoping they'd get the message and hurry up or move
aside or something. They were polite and smiled and moved aside while continuing to discuss the
fine points of carrots (I assume) in Chinese.

I take very little time picking carrots, though I check for several features. I like small
diameter, so I mostly pull carrots from the front of the stack where I can view them end-on. I
also like the shape of my carrots to be more cylindrical, rather than turnip-like. I also like
a deep color, though I usually don't have much choice on that. Even though I HATE Safeway
because of their card system, I go there for carrots and Brussels sprouts because they're
better there than in other stores.

I also do a brief bending test on each carrot to make sure it's rigid, not rubbery. I also
rotate the carrot to inspect it for defects. I do this all very fast. Even though I'm filling
my bag pretty quick, if you watch, you can see I'm doing a lot of inspecting.

Well, these Chinese ladies seemed to be impressed. They started putting BACK some of the
carrots they had already picked, at enormous cost of their time and mine. They began pulling
out carrots from lower in the stack -- I guess they somehow had the idea that was not
permitted, that you could only take carrots lying on top, but then they saw me pulling carrots
out from there.

They were looking at the carrots in my bag. I'm sure by now those were the ones they wanted.
NOT A CHANCE! You ladies have already cost me enough -- you're not getting my carrots! The last
time I saw them, they were still at the stack of carrots tediously scrutinizing and discussing
each one.

You and those two wimen would put your efforts to best use choosing a vibrator and a few D cells
from the Triple X emporium down the road

---= BOYCOTT FRENCH--GERMAN (belgium) =--- ---= Move UNITED NATIONS To Paris =--- Sheldon
```````````` "Life would be devoid of all meaning were it without tribulation."

--

Quoted message said:

^,,^< Cats-haven Hobby Farm >^,,^< [email hidden] >^,,^<

"There are millions of intelligent species in the universe, and they are all owned by
cats" -- Asimov

Custom handcrafts, Sterling silver beaded jewelry cgi3.ebay.comawOpen ↗
cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=katra

On Sun, 07 Dec 2003 02:31:32 GMT, Mark Thorson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

zxcvbob said:

Now imagine you are at some ethnic market or another and are trying to pick out some weird kind
of produce you're never seen before...

They don't have carrots in China?

I have been told by one Chinese young lady that carrots are not used in Chinese cooking and
therefore they are not liked very much.

Of course, I always take such statements with a grain of salt, keeping in mind some of the things a
friend told his foreign-born wife about American family life and mealtime routines. Strangely
enough, the life of a typical American family ended up looking like the life of a bachelor. ;>

Sue(tm) Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!

zxcvbob <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

levelwave said:

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

story?... Not that I care of course... but some ladies here (and I'm not mentioning any names -
Curly Sue) obviously have a *major* problem with it...

~john!

It provides some details to the characters, and a context. It could have

This is pretty much the same "explanation" a poster in another group gave when he was accused of
being anti-Semitic for calling somone a "lying Jew".

Quoted message said:

If the story bothers you, substitute "two persons" for for two elderly Chinese women. (But then
what does *two* have to do with it? Why couldn't it have been 3?)

Quoted message said:

Best regards, Bob

zxcvbob said:

levelwave said:

Mark Thorson said:

Today I was annoyed by two elderly Chinese ladies picking carrots. They were taking forever to
decide which ones they wanted.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

story?... Not that I care of course... but some ladies here (and I'm not mentioning any names -
Curly Sue) obviously have a *major* problem with it...

Quoted message said:

It provides some details to the characters, and a context. It could have

I read just recently that as people age, they become more oblivious to their surroundings. I believe
it, the store I frequent is in front of senior citizen housing, so I get to shop with a lot of
elderly people. They literally do not have a clue people are waiting for them to move. I'm not being
mean, it's just a fact.

The original story reminded me of a time I wanted tomatoes. Well, this elderly man (there, I said
it) was picking through the tomatoes with deep concentration. It was a stack of cartons of stem
tomatoes. I waited. Waited. He actually starts unstacking the cartons, looking for that ONE special
tomato. Fine, I'll go find garlic, maybe he'll be gone by the time I get back. He was gone all
right, replaced by and elderly woman with similar dedication to get just the right tomato. Neither
one had any clue I was standing there waiting.

nancy

Sheryl Rosen said:

I don't really choose carrots, they come in bags of 1, 2 or 5 lbs around here.

In my corner of Texas, you can no longer buy a handful of okra. Now, the okra comes in plastic
square boxes. I can not buy 6 okra pods I now have to buy a whole pound of it. All of the stores
made this chang at the same time - all of them.

I am rebelling. No more okra for me. I will buy the frozen stuff until I can get to a
farmer's market.

Becca

Sheryl Rosen said:

He's telling a story. We weren't there, he was. He is describing the scene. A good story teller
provides details so that you can visualize it the way he witnessed it. Ever read Hemingway?
Faulkner? It takes them 3 paragraphs to describe the evening air. But when you finish reading
those 3 paragraphs, you can almost SMELL it, they described it so vividly.

By providing the detail that they were elderly, chinese ladies, you immediately get a visual in
your mind. If he had just said "two people", the story wouldn't have been as interesting to read.

Thank you Sheryl. You just proved my point. Now where were you when I was getting flamed for this
*exact* same thing? 😉

A few months ago I started my story with "An elderly black lady in a wheel chair" to "describe the
scene" just as Mark did... and I got Flamed pretty bad... I guess it's OK to mention their race if
it's Chinese and not Black... too funny...

~john!

--
What was it like to see - the face of your own stability - suddenly look away...