Two groups of people that make me go "hmmmm."

Group One: Okay, so today, I was roaming about like a Christmas zombie, trying to think of what to buy not only for the people on my list but for my father-in-law who always ropes me into doing his Christmas shopping for him. I went to lunch with said father-in-law at Luby's, a cafeteria style place we have here in Texas. It's not bad food-- not fabulous, but not bad. They've gone recently to an "all you can eat buffet" concept-- sort of-- it's still where you go through the cafeteria style line and the servers give you your plate of stuff, but you can get anything and everything you want. I got a little ground sirloin patty, some corn and some squash. I was totally full on my three tiny little things. Most people, though, got three or four "meat" items, PLUS three or four veggie items (including fattening things like mac & cheese and mashed potatoes loaded with gravy). Those trays places like that have, large ones, were totally full. It was really disgusting. I guess I didn't notice it as much before I went on my fitness kick, but it AMAZES me how much food people think is appropriate to eat in one sitting. The amount of food people were having FOR LUNCH on a regular workday is enough to feed me at least for say, three meals. Maybe more. And I'm not saying this in a "see how conservative I am at eating" but in a "see here, folks, is why you can't lose that weight" and why Atkins diet is so frickin' popular. Never eat more than you can carry yourself!

Group Two: At the mall, I passed by one of those knife stores. I peeked in, and there were some very elaborate, fancy daggers (what do people use those for? You don't cut your steak with them... but theoretically, there's not much call for stabbing and throat slitting in modern society). There were about ten people milling about in the store, including: a person who looked like the stereotypical teen computer nerd-- complete with a few bright spots of acne. A young-ish couple-- he "typical redneck guy" and her "bleached blond" still-carrying-around-the-baby-weight. And an older hippy type who looked a bit like Jerry Garcia. In other words-- your basic, normal, typical folks. I don't get it. Is there really much call in today's society for a ceremonial 12 inch jewel encrusted dagger? Maybe they need knives like that to fight off the competition for all that food at the buffet.

Just a couple of observations. I don't have any firm pronouncements on either group-- I just don't know what it is about them that makes me feel like commenting. What do these small microcosms have to say about the world in which we live?