behind the times

i’m not one to have any interest in politics, but while looking for cookie recipes online (that’s definitely what i tend to be interested in more…) i came across an article about tennessee and i thought some facts were pretty interesting to pass along.

a while ago i heard on the radio that lobbyists were trying to get tennessee legislature to pass a law allowing grocery stores to carry wine. i’m not that much of a drinker…maybe a glass every week or so, but this little tidbit of news really intrigued me when it first came up. it seems kind of silly that tn is one of the remaining few states to not sell wine in grocery stores, and it would just be so nice to not have to make a special trip to a liquor store and instead be able to grab a bottle during a normal grocery trip. so i was quietly rooting for it to pass as i continued to hear a snippet or two every few weeks about it on the radio in my car. but tonight, i think i’ve found out that it probably won’t pass.

“This year’s effort to put wine in grocery stores got stuck in the mud. Despite the support of thousands of voters who e-mailed, called and signed petitions; despite more than 200 news clips, the bill was shipped off to a summer study committee. Which is legis-speak for it needs CPR this session.” ok…so no wine this year…

in explaining that since it was popular this year, it will be brought back again, and possibly again for a few years because tennessee just does things at their own pace. a slow one that is. here are a few things that makes us that way:

• it took 20 years for a lottery to pass (just started a couple years ago). WOW, ok.
• adults were not required to wear seat belts while driving until 2004. WHAT!?!
• legislature has been debating on banning open alcohol containers for almost 20 years…unbeknown to me, i guess drinking alcohol in the car isn’t such a big deal because “people like a beer on the way to football games, so state law allows everyone but the driver to legally quaff”. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

where do i live? what the heck? i was physically laughing while typing the alcohol one because of the absurdity. but with all that said, the article did end on a good note…that because trader joes is coming to green hills in the fall (WAHOO!), the chain probably wouldn’t have made that commitment if they weren’t confident that the bill would pass soon enough.

bring on the two buck chuck!