Monday, November 14, 2005

JUNGLE JERK RETURNS; WHAT’S THAT GOT TO DO WITH THE PRICE OF MILK IN BOSTON? — by Steve Nadis

Jungle Jerk (“JJ”) stopped by on the way back from Amsterdam where the movie screening was a big success. When he arrived, I was out buying milk at–you guessed it–the 7-11, the same one that keeps popping up in this blog. Naturally we sat down for some milk and cookies, the latter being Pecan Sandies (PRODUCT PLACEMENT!) and Lemon Snaps (Midel brand, MORE PRODUCT PLACEMENT!). When grown men sit down for milk and cookies the conversation, naturally enough, gravitates to … milk and cookies. JJ submitted that the Sandies were too rich for his blood and then proceeded to down a large number of the Midels. Eventually I had to cut him off. I ate more moderately, perhaps because I had eaten dinner just a short while earlier and not spent all day on an airplane with one small bag of pretzels to tide me over.

The conversation, in any case, turned to milk, as it invariably does when people start off talking cookies. Why, we wonderred, was 1% milk so much cheaper than whole milk or skim? If it costs money to get rid of the fat, then whole milk should be cheapest, and it definitely is not. If it costs money to retain the fat, then whole milk should be significantly more expensive, and that’s not the case either. A real conundrum, if you ask me. (Is it a conundrum, in fact, or a paradox? Or just another one of those puzzling facts of life?)

Before long we were discussing the price of milk. Out where he lives, they have milk sales which is something you don’t see much of in Boston, though I’d definitely like to. (Who can resist the allure of a true milk sale?) There is one exception, I pointed out: White Hen Pantry. They have milk sales, from time to time, and it is one of their better features if you ask me. But I don’t think White Hen Pantry (WHP) is a local chain, which suggests that he (JJ) could be right, though we get a glimpse of how the rest of the country lives through the lens of the occasional WHP. One day, 7-11 is going to get the idea that milk sales can be a great “loss leader,” and when that happens, you’ll definitely be hearing about it from me.

Next JJ introduced the subject of milk container tops and how some gallons have something that goes over the round plastic lid–a wrapper or cap of some sort that neither of us were particularly fond of. The discussion continued in this vein for quite awhile until JJ’s jet lag started kicking in pretty good (5am Amsterdam time he pointed out). I let him off the hook, after he promised me we’d resume the conversation in the morning over Cheerios (more PRODUCT PLACEMENT!) and milk. I’m anxious to do that as I’m already crafting some interesting arguments on the subject of milk additives. (TO BE CONTINUED…)

Posted by Snake at 05:53:10
Comments

12 Responses to “JUNGLE JERK RETURNS; WHAT’S THAT GOT TO DO WITH THE PRICE OF MILK IN BOSTON? — by Steve Nadis”

  1. I think you’re trolling at the 7-11. I don’t know for what. Milk??? I thought convenience stores were more expensive? Don’t you have a decent 24 hr grocery store? I think YOU’RE the one with the windfall — shopping at Whole Foods, 7-11……that’s some high cotton there Snake.

  2. P.S. I need to thank someone for the changes in your word verification box. Thank heavens the slasher lines are gone. I got chills every time I squinted through those lines.

  3. Snake says:

    Hi Windfall — I wish what you said were true but the fact is 7-11 has cheaper milk prices than the big grocery store around here (Star Market/Shaws). I wish I were in a position to pay the convenience store prices without any regard to finances. As for the word verification box, I’m glad it’s going easier. The other one was a pain.

  4. Burt says:

    I don’t drink milk. I don’t like milk. And I don’t care about milk. If I hear one more time about your buying milk at the 7-11, I’ll…, I’ll…, I’ll write a sternly-worded comment, that’s what I’ll do.

  5. Snake says:

    OK Burt, I’ve been warned. Just keep in mind that I can delete comments if I choose to, though I’ve only taken this extraordinary measure once–to get rid of some pseudo-lesbian porn. Lesbian porn is OK but I cannot abide by pseudo-lesbian porn. This I believe.

  6. Lindsey says:

    I hadn’t read this for awhile. Then I saw your post about milk (something I know a lot about these days with the baby) and Burt’s angry comment, and it seemed like old times.

  7. Snake says:

    Hey Lindsey — anytime I hear from you it is like old times. And I mean that in a good sense.

  8. DrMax says:

    Boy Snake, talk about "milking" a topic. Ah HA HA HA HA, get it? "Milking" a topic because you were talking about milk and………ahhhh…….well, it seemed funny at first….

  9. Why IS low-fat milk cheaper than full-fat? Is there a legitimate answer to this brain teaser? I’m waiting for Part II, The Milk Sequel.

  10. Snake says:

    Hi Doc — That is a good one–one of your best jokes yet. Keep it up. And hi FW. I wish I had some answers. Maybe we should turn the question over to Old Roses and see what she comes up with…

  11. Anonymous says:

    zardoz says
    Why dont we ask the milk companies ,
    xmmm,
    —————————zardoz

  12. Snake says:

    Good point Z; I guess that was so obvious I didn’t even think of it…

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