tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post3144179704071640041..comments2024-02-23T10:00:32.673-06:00Comments on the happy hausfrau: Those Peoplethe_happy_hausfrauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07372773477740551839noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-86508596083582494922017-03-11T15:29:33.982-06:002017-03-11T15:29:33.982-06:00I just saw a copy of this post at the food pantry ...I just saw a copy of this post at the food pantry where I volunteer. As one on the "other side of the transaction," I share your anger. The other thing that makes me as angry as disdain is pity. We are all "those people" at some point in our lives, in one way or another.<br /><br />The quinoa comment is particularly amusing to me personally. We get it sometimes. Most of the people who come to the pantry don't know what it is - but neither do most of us volunteers. It's a running joke between me and the director that she checks with me on how to pronounce it.<br /><br />Thanks for a great post. Earblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16587585820112214652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-19340365894290515662016-12-14T17:26:42.952-06:002016-12-14T17:26:42.952-06:00I love this!!!I love this!!!Traceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04323319590464560620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-24332173876164583212014-11-12T06:24:52.326-06:002014-11-12T06:24:52.326-06:00"If a competent leader arose, would we recogn... "If a competent leader arose, would we recognize that person and elect them?"<br />No, most Americans are too well indoctrinated to recognize or elect anything but ruling party morons. Disillusioned Idealisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09646364774631427060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-15628633492848445832014-05-07T10:47:39.324-05:002014-05-07T10:47:39.324-05:00Jenny, this is a beautifully written post and wort...Jenny, this is a beautifully written post and worthy of your BlogHer honor. I have a friend who just got divorced and she, too, while waiting for late child support payments had to become one of "those people". She drove to the local government welfare office and sat in the car and cried, ashamed to have to choosing between feeding her kids and her pride. It makes me so angry when people make insensitive comments about "those people"...if only they knew.Lisa Gradess Weinsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17817748124515829877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-71757690691903150052014-01-05T05:02:45.343-06:002014-01-05T05:02:45.343-06:00I work with our church on a project called "C...I work with our church on a project called "Christmas for all" which turned into an going "Groceries for all" project. Recently I got into an argument with a friend, because she called our guests "those people", too. I said that there is only a fine line between our sitting pretty and the fight for survival. Tina Reutinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07854388841462246280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-55366719375039882742013-11-06T11:26:49.774-06:002013-11-06T11:26:49.774-06:00Hi Michelle, sorry for the late reply! Yes, you ma...Hi Michelle, sorry for the late reply! Yes, you may repost it. Hope it's not too late! <br /><br />Thanks so much for stopping by!the_happy_hausfrauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07372773477740551839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-1586996067014280392013-11-06T11:21:18.160-06:002013-11-06T11:21:18.160-06:00Awww..thank you so much. And I'm so glad I hel...Awww..thank you so much. And I'm so glad I helped you out, even if it was just to let you know that you're not alone.<br /><br />Things do get better. I promise.<br /><br />Hugs to you and Gabe (and the Craigslist dude...yay you!). Thanks for sharing your story!the_happy_hausfrauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07372773477740551839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-70359523545542600872013-11-06T10:38:34.533-06:002013-11-06T10:38:34.533-06:00Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks fo...Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for sharing your side of the story...always nice to hear from the wonderful people who work so hard for "those people".the_happy_hausfrauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07372773477740551839noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-32765909683588107212013-11-01T12:41:30.454-05:002013-11-01T12:41:30.454-05:00My comment addressed ideas that need to be discuss...My comment addressed ideas that need to be discussed, dialog that needs to be had, competency that is needed in leadership. I will never hang out behind one phrase and consider it the be-all end all of a man. I will look at the man's (or woman's) successes, failures, competences, family, values, and the people he/she associates with and chooses to employ and work with.<br /><br />I could quote many phrases uttered by our current president and those in his administration that would raise ire in or out of context. But it is more important to look at what he/they are actually doing. In just one area: Millions are finding their health insurance cancelled. Millions are finding their premiums raised, up to 300 percent. Manufacturers of medical devices (my husband's employer) must pay increased taxes on each device. Spouses and families are being removed from employees' insurance policies. The president and his administrators could not foresee this?<br /><br />These same people allowed a website that was supposed to cost $69 million swell to $97 million in cost, and it's still not working right. Who was watching? Who was assuring quality? Where was the competence? We need to wake up and give competence a chance. If we can find it. <br /><br />The majority (85%) of Americans were happy with their health care coverage. This administration unleashed a program of this magnitude, cost and destructiveness, in the middle of an economic crisis, for 15% of the population? You and I both know there are better solutions to problems in the health care system than ... this. <br /><br />And this is just one area of our current president's incompetence. The answer is not more food giveaways, but more jobs. More competence. Wouldn't it be great if food banks weren't needed? We have to turn the freight train around, and stop building hospitals at the bottom of the cliff instead of putting a fence at the top.<br /><br />As we know from our own experiences and see over and over here on Jenny's blog, we need better husbands and fathers. We need real leaders. We need competence. You can't legislate competence, integrity, commitment and hard work, but the government can bleed them to death in one or two generations, and destroy our nation, by pretending they don't matter. If a competent leader arose, would we recognize that person and elect them?Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542352732125805441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-71081545872756969572013-11-01T10:53:38.211-05:002013-11-01T10:53:38.211-05:00Thank you for sharing your story. I work in one o...Thank you for sharing your story. I work in one of "those" food closets. The outside world has no idea, they are clueless. The ideas that they have regarding "those people" are so screwed up. Only 15% of who we help are homeless. The rest "of us" are working poor. In the past 2 years, we have seen a 52% increase in people that can not put enough healthy nutritious food on our tables. They are seniors, on fixed incomes that sometimes have to choose between eating, or getting their medications. 1 in 4 people. who come to our food closet, are children. The greatest gift for me, who helps people feel like human beings, who deserve respect and compassion, is the gratitude that 99.9% of "those people" that we serve. It's the uneducated minions that are clueless, who create this incorrect perception that food closets are for "those people". God bless you, and thanks again for sharing your story!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-29863793982815117432013-10-30T19:41:43.149-05:002013-10-30T19:41:43.149-05:00Hi! I was pointed in your direction/blog so I coul...Hi! I was pointed in your direction/blog so I could see things DO get better. I love your writing and your family as I seem to have read about 2 years worth of writing in a matter of days. I swear I'm not a stalker!<br /><br />I'm one of THOSE people. I'm a divorcing mother of a 6.5 year old named Gabe. My husband got kicked out of the military and sort of lost his mind. Refused to get a job and became abusive. I took my little and loaded the car with what would fit and fled. Little never experienced the physically abusive stuff and it only happened to me once but that was enough. The emotional abuse is still hard but luckily I took the brunt of that too. We came to heal in CT where my mom is and at 30 I moved back in with my mom. I'm on food stamps and medicaid and going back to college while the little is in school. <br /><br />We are settled here and happy. I have an amazing hetero-life mate (I met him on craigslist...no I'm not kidding) who loves and supports us and is a better father than anyone could ask for. I'm not sure if it was the snarky attitude or plentiful boobage (front AND back) that one him over but I'm luckier than most. I still struggle and have to watch Gabe struggle as well and trying to explain why we can't buy this or that or why we don't live with daddy and why he doesn't call is still heart breaking. The comments from people about "welfare babies" or how they have to pay for our healthcare is hard to hear but I'm doing the best I can and have to hope that's enough.<br /><br />You really do give me hope that things get better and this time around I have a Plan B, C,D,E,F,G and H. So basically, Thank you for writing and sharing your story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-74415636351504997982013-10-30T12:29:13.186-05:002013-10-30T12:29:13.186-05:00There's a youtube guy with a church in North c...There's a youtube guy with a church in North central Tennessee by the name of Pastor Dowell.<br />Dowell has some videos up about his church. Apparently they have fairly extensive property with gardens and some sort of communal living arrangement (I think).<br />Pastor Dowell is advising everyone who can to start gardening as the poor economic situation could get dire for everyone shortly.<br />I'm 71 and have never seen as many closed store fronts in my home town.<br />There's also a Dimitri Orlov in Canada. <br />He left the Soviet Union in the late 70's but went back visiting family every few years.<br />Orlov wrote a book, and was interviewed on Russia Today a year or more back.<br />He feels the U.S. could go through a collapse like Russia did.<br />For getting through a collapse (the average life expectancy for Russian males dropped to 57 at one point) is communal living and sharing. He for instance shared a car with friends. It takes some planning and discipline but was a big help.<br />Better yet if available live near public transport like a bus system.<br />Also living in large apartment blocks helped a lot with heating.<br />Grandparents living with families provided no cost baby sitting as opposed to professional day care.<br />I think he also mentioned gardening. At any rate I know the Russians did a lot of it.<br />I remember seeing to Russian women in one news clip who ended up fighting with shovels over a discarded cabbage. They were gleaning in a field that had been harvested. The Russians are tough. <br />Anyway if you are in biking distance of unused land a garden could be a bit of a cure for some tension plus provide an occasional potato.<br />Here in Florida during the depression mom ate so many mangos off the trees for free that she developed an allergy to them. <br />And anybody who is not totally strapped, try to stock up a months canned goods. strelnikovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07163219488752862963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-90822916659941896422013-10-29T14:40:36.923-05:002013-10-29T14:40:36.923-05:00Would it be alright if I posted this, with copyrig...Would it be alright if I posted this, with copyright and full credit, on my blog, My Life After Loss? It is absolutely raw and I would love to share it with my readers.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17681333723382119281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-20466478909151284482013-10-29T12:15:19.719-05:002013-10-29T12:15:19.719-05:00Really?? Because I remember him running on the str...Really?? Because I remember him running on the strength & promise of "those people" - remember the 47% comment?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-86192618210411386712013-10-29T09:00:47.720-05:002013-10-29T09:00:47.720-05:00I think people need to think in those terms (those...I think people need to think in those terms (those people/people like me) because it helps assuage that feeling everyone gets that somehow, it could be you who needs that help. Read any story online about someone who faces hardship because of a lost job, or gets some disease. The comments will always be something along the lines of "Well, yeah, sure, that happened because of X, if you didn't do X, you wouldn't be in that situation" And thus we can lie to ourselves that we'll never be desperate, scared or vulnerable. <br /><br />Well written. Thanks for sharing this perspective. Dana Cruikshankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14081064405153118734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-3634678655798550212013-10-28T16:22:36.210-05:002013-10-28T16:22:36.210-05:00I posted this on my Facebook page, https://www.fac...I posted this on my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Preppy-Pink-Crocodile/360654440713610 today. A really beautiful post!<br /><br />KK @ www.preppypinkcrocodile.com<br /><br />Preppy Pink Crocodilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01396889798988617272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-21932314445211137402013-10-28T08:14:27.539-05:002013-10-28T08:14:27.539-05:00There is a difference between saying that these ar...There is a difference between saying that these are items that aren't useful versus "those people" will not know how to use them. And at the very end, where the author states that she likes quinoa and the woman replies that she is not one of "those people", I think we get the message loud and clear. And it is rather snobby to think that quinoa is not "regular" food. Just because someone needs assistance doesn't mean that they can't be a foodie who appreciates artichoke hearts. Sure, boxed mac 'n cheese may appeal to more people, but these "odd" ingredients may be just as appealing to some people. Especially those who never thought that they'd end up as one of "those people".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-51590917012331368682013-10-28T01:28:30.976-05:002013-10-28T01:28:30.976-05:00Yes well said.Yes well said.carmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-55653623486016098852013-10-27T22:02:23.865-05:002013-10-27T22:02:23.865-05:00A large portion of people who visit food banks are...A large portion of people who visit food banks are poor (in my area). A lot don't have exposure to "designer foods" because they can't afford it, can't afford the internet access to explore it and work too many hours to practice cooking it. It's also an expense if it turn out bad because you have nothing else to eat. I know my family would not know what to do with quinoa or know how to pronounce it. I can only name one family member that ever bought artichoke hearts. Most don't have internet to find a recipe and or the disposable income to buy a cook book that would have it. When I read the list of foods, I would have considered a lot of it the types of things left in the back of a pantry that you use donation as an excuse to get rid of. The comment she said did stereotype but some of it rings true. Dallas Studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668647383265528872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-712988608762005932013-10-27T20:37:36.023-05:002013-10-27T20:37:36.023-05:00Though I have never used a food shelf to date, I c...Though I have never used a food shelf to date, I can state that if I did, I would pass on the quinoa and go straight fod the Minute Rice and pasta. Yes, I am one of "those people" - the cooking challenged, that is.Mary Rempalski Ohmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06071290311402787006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-66313455721079208142013-10-27T20:12:32.106-05:002013-10-27T20:12:32.106-05:00Jenny...you are amazing.Jenny...you are amazing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03123804242206347252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-27908194926592188142013-10-27T19:35:10.040-05:002013-10-27T19:35:10.040-05:00This is a fantastic post. I like to write about si...This is a fantastic post. I like to write about similar stuff on my blog. I think it's important to discuss/bring attention to these sorts of comments so perhaps people start thinking about what they say before it flies out of their mouths. Grazonahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18147019502221385912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-72581025728842455892013-10-27T19:34:20.692-05:002013-10-27T19:34:20.692-05:00When I was a young college student many years ago ...When I was a young college student many years ago I volunteered at the local food bank. Often a struggling family would come in and trying to make a box that would give their kids full meals WAS a struggle because many of the donated items were odd items such as artichoke hearts or canned anchovies.... things that people bought for whatever reason but didn't use themselves because its not "standard" fare... so they were quite happy to donate them. Unless there is more to the story... could it be that the lady was just remarking on that? If I had looked into those bins I would have thought EXACTLY the same thing.. "what are they supposed to do with this stuff? They need "regular" food... pastas, veggies, etc!" Couldn't "those people" possibly mean nothing more than a way of referring to those who will be receiving the items? Or was there more to this? Why the assumption that she was a snob and meant something ugly? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-17015761557402452692013-10-27T18:27:14.006-05:002013-10-27T18:27:14.006-05:00You know what? I just checked the list of request...You know what? I just checked the list of requested items at our local food pantry, and quinoa is on the list!<br /><br />Suburban Correspondenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11488916572135296650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7377914227915645124.post-3863753655746623492013-10-27T14:34:59.616-05:002013-10-27T14:34:59.616-05:00Jennifer, This is such a powerful post. As a sin...Jennifer, This is such a powerful post. As a single mother to three children under the age of 10, and with an ex spouse whose financial support is minimal, the only thing that has kept me from the food shelf is luck and timing. I could easily be one of "those people" despite my knowledge of how to cook quinoa and familiarity with rice pasta. Thank you for opening the eyes of many with this post. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01569566206375226838noreply@blogger.com