Confession: The family, spurred on by our daughter, is taking almost too much advantage of the Too Good To Go app—Android for me, iOS for her. Local eateries offer up food, presumably what wasn’t sold during typical business hours, for significant discount. Most places offer grab bags.
Today, my wife drove us to the Pop Pie in South Park, where I had reserved a bag with two savory pies. They typically sell for $12.50 a piece but were $$8.66 before tax together. These babies are tasty, too, and premium ingredients. Another location is closer, a few blocks away here in University Heights, but Pop Pie South Park is where I beat out others for the reservation (stated differently: goods move fast).
I decided to walk home—about 5.3 km (3.3) miles—along 30th Street through North Park. Along the way, I stopped at Verbatim Books for the first time, and I must go back! Additionally: George’s Camera, from where I bought the Sigma DP1 (gasp) in 2008.
Approaching the Von’s supermarket, I passed a man sitting with a dog holding a sign pleading “Help”. I categorize homeless into two categories: Legit and grifters. The latter group universally punctuates a transaction (typically receiving money) with a disingenuous smile and “God Bless You!!” I cringe when hearing that phrase. The sincerely needy simply say some version of “Thank you”.
I passed the gentlemen and decided to go back. I explained that I don’t carry cash (absolutely true). Could I get him something to eat. He sat up straight, visibly excited, and asked for chicken nuggets from the Von’s. He thanked me. That would be easy enough. Inside the grocery, I discovered that all fresh chicken from the hot, deli bar was discounted for club card members on Mondays. I ordered some nuggets and took two different dipping sauces. He practically grabbed the food from my hand; someone was hungry, and he softly said, “Thank you”.
He may have been hungry, but there was a bowl full of dogfood and a small bag of it nearby. Californians are crazy. I have never lived in a place where priorities are so reversed out of order. Animals are treated like kings and queens. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that dogfood donations were frequent, even while the animal’s owner went hungry. Trust me, that kind of scenario is beyond absolutely plausible. Animals before people is a commonly accepted cultural norm here.
I parted from the gent and fido but walked no more than 25 paces before deciding to turn back. I asked the gent (Harry) if I could take a photo of him and his dog (Roxy). Of course, Roxy would turn his head for the two portraits shot. I got no other chance; peripheral motion diverted my attention. Harry’s cart was rolling and headed for the street! I ran and stopped it.
The Featured Image and companion come from the same original, taken using Galaxy S26 Ultra. Samsung Gallery app’s auto mode produced a contrasty color copy that I am iffy about. In Microsoft Photos, I chose the B&W Warm filter to create the second shot.