Angel Food

So, I know that I've been promising you for awhile now that I would tell you about Angel Food, but different things kept popping up.  So tonight's the big night (ooh, aah!).

Angel Food Ministries sells people quality food at really inexpensive prices.  It's not seconds or day-old, and it's always restaurant-grade.  Even though it's very inexpensive, and their goal is to help out low-income families, everyone can order.  You don't have to qualify, there are no applications, etc. 

Each month, they post the "menu" for the various boxes online, and you place your order.  You can either place your order online for a $2 convenience fee or go to your pick-up site and place your order there.  So you always know in advance what you're getting, although they do reserve the right to make substitutions, if necessary.

I'm always amazed at the quality and quantity of food I get for the price.  This month, my May Bread of Life box (for $35) contained:
1.5 lb NY Strip Steaks (4 x 6 oz)
2.5 lb IQF Split Chicken Breasts (in a resealable bag)
1.5 lb bone-in pork chops (4 x 6 oz)
1.5 lb fully-cooked meatballs
1.5 lb maple-flavoured breakfast sausage links
1 lb 100% ground turkey
1 lb 100% ground chicken
1 lb garden peas
1 lb green beans
28 oz diced tomatoes
1 lb seasoned waffle fries
1 lb pasta (angel hair)
1 lb long grain brown rice
16 ct Sweet Hawaiian dinner buns
32 oz 2% shelf stable milk (the kind in a carton, not instant milk)
1 dozen eggs
7.5 oz package Break-n-Bake cookies

The Bread of Life box is meant to feed a family of four for one week, so I decided that a family of one should be able to eat on it for four weeks.  And, thus far, it's worked out well.  I've even had some left over!  I've also been pleased that some of the meat products that I thought would be pork have been chicken or turkey (like sausage or meatballs, although last months meatloaf contained pork).  Fortunately, I have friends who I sell/trade the pork products to/with.

I also order a Fresh Fruit and Veggie Box for $24, which included:
1 head sleeved Romaine Lettuce
2 lb bag Fresh Sweet Georgia Vidalia Onions
1 pk grape tomatoes
1 lb carrots
1 5.5 oz green onions
2 cucumbers
6 oz bag radishes
4 baking potatoes
1 head green cabbage
1 cantoloupe
1 golden ripe pineapple
6 lemons
4 red apples
4 navel oranges

They also have excellent customer service.  Two days before the pick-up date, a representative from your pick-up site calls to remind you that your pick up date is coming.  Last month, the pick-up was delayed a week.  In our box, we got a copy of a letter that was sent from the vendor to the transport company communicating their displeasure, AND a letter to all the Angel Food clients apologising for the delay and containing a 10% discount code for the May order.

They have a really large variety of boxes, including gluten-free boxes, after-school boxes for children, and "premium" boxes with "fancy" food.  There are also larger boxes, and there is no limit on the number of boxes that a person/family can order.  They also accept food stamps, if any of you use those.

Enjoy!

Joining the Ranks of the Unemployed

As some of you have already heard, I got laid off yesterday.

My boss gave me several reassurances that this was absolutely not a performance issue, so much so that she and the Director of HR apparently spent the last couple of weeks trying to "reposition" me within the hospital. They thought they had something for me, but it didn't pan out. They gave me a list of the open positions in the entire system (we have several hospitals and organisations) in case I saw something that interested me or thought I might be qualified for that they didn't see. They made sure that I knew how to get ahold of the HR Director and the Director of Employment Services in case I apply to something so I can let them know.

My boss said that she and another higher-up had also fought really hard on my behalf, but clearly it was for naught.

My boss also pulled some strings so that I didn't get the typical "here's a box to pack and we will escort you out in an hour" treatment. She had apparently told them quite firmly that I take public transit to work every day and she was not putting me in the position of lugging a box home on the subway, and that if I needed to come back next week to pick up the rest they would not give me a problem with that.

I spent the rest of the morning with my boss showing her what I do, how to do my job, trying to give her as much of the knowledge that I store in my head as I could, etc. There was a funny moment when I was giving her a rundown of monthly deadlines and who I distribute monthly data to on a regular basis that she wasn't aware of; the look on her face was PRICELESS. At one point, she told me she had no idea who was going to do the monthly graphs from now on, and I wished her luck.

I went online last night and looked at the job descriptions/qualifications of the listings they gave me that were remotely interesting, but they've either been pulled or filled (guess which one I suspect given that I was one of several casualties this week at the hospital). I've been poking around looking at some other sites and jobs that are open, but I'm taking SOME time, considering that I desperately need to finish my PhD applications and I've been toying with the idea of retaking the GRE, which I can now do any day of the week and not have to wait for a Saturday testing day (and have ample time to study).

I have severance and they're paying out my vacation days. They said they won't contest my unemployment (big of them), and gave me all of the information I need to apply. They explained my COBRA benefits, which actually aren't TOO painful, given that I HAVE to have health insurance. My provided insurance will last until the end of February and then I'll start COBRA-ing in March.

I am in such shock and disbelief. And I am so VERY thankful for the outpouring of support I've had since 11:08 a.m. yesterday morning when the first IM went out. And REALLY grateful for the Ben & Jerry's Brownie Batter Ice Cream and several hours of company last night, Kirsten! That cardigan's going to be great!