@topaz whether it is or isn't - and it's probably not, in this shitty society it's probably something to make the background check people money - it FEELS like that, or possibly someone making me jump through hoops so that I give up.

@Leucrotta yyyyepp

also huh, didn't think of the "making you jump through hoops so you give up" angle. *glares at food stamps and similar*

@Leucrotta (and SSI is even MORE blatantly that, which is why we're not doing it)

@topaz Fortunately I have coffee, I have an entire album of VERY schmaltzy Yiddish songs, and I did this recently enough that I don't need to look up new information so much as I need to bust ass to insert it in the right places.

@Leucrotta Ooh, nice. That's good.

We need coffee, ourselves; more to bust this can't-think haze than anything else. Currently packing to head on out, but uh *eyes pantsless back half* yeah heh.

@Leucrotta well I guess it's a skirtless back half, now!

... fuck. do we really want to wear a skirt around the shitty Emeryville Target "security" who actively harass people? Better not...

@Leucrotta ... I wonder if I'd get someone deliberately trying to misgender us and ending up getting my gender /right/ by accident

that'd be a little funny

(...but also a dangerous situation)

@topaz I'd say try it but pack backup pants if you're really worried - if it works, you'll know you can get away with it some of the time.

@Leucrotta It's a good thing we have this giant backpack!

@Leucrotta we are on the train!

... not the right train. Gotta hop off at Lake Merritt and wait 7 minutes.

@Leucrotta Unsure whether I wanna hit the 19th St. convenience store for coffee and a milkshake, or head straight to the shitty Target.

Leaning towards 19th St. Might not even GO to Target, honestly. The aim of the trip is coffee and fresh air.

@Leucrotta pupdate: we have acquired food! Whoever is responsible for the outside tables a block down the street fucking put them away...

Should have gotten a milkshake instead of this "banana" milk. But that'd be another $4.50 of food money.

I'm not sure I care. :3 We have plenty of food money anyway, as far as we know.

@Leucrotta we have made it to the store, and inside, without incident! It is Poop Time [silly Keanu Reeves fart noises].

@Leucrotta we got too much food to safely carry.

again.

maybe I should put some stuff back

@Leucrotta okay, this does fit in two bags, and it's heavy, but I think we'll manage
barely

@Leucrotta ggh I /knew/ these highfloor buses would be a pain in a skirt (we took an AC Transit bus out, they are lowfloor with no steps)

and either we're buying more or food is getting way more expensive all of a sudden. And they have _definitely_ been sneakily raising prices.

We spent $65 on groceries today. Nearly $30 of that was the two 6-packs of nutrition shakes (essential for times we can barely move and all food sounds bad). They used to be under $10 a 6-pack, now they're $14...

@Leucrotta we are on the train home.

*curls up on train seat, grocery bags on the ground next to him*
... ow.

@topaz Hopefully tomorrow you can take it a little easier, and slam ibuprofen tonight