Yesterday I spent some time engrossed in the offerings at Jon's. There is a whole aisle of foods from countries that I can't figure out. I know there is the usual Mexican and Asian group. There's also Russian and Mid-Eastern and some others. This isn't considered a gourmet aisle, either - they appear to be staples in local diets. The store is filled with non-English speaking families picking up daily vegetables like a marketplace. Yesterday, I noticed frozen cactus leaves and guava paste. It's really run down looking - not your suburban bleached grocery - but I realized yesterday that there are always lines when I go there. The store must be a real money-maker for the chain.

The air is pretty soupy. I hope I'm breathing in June Gloom and not smog.