So Daddy came home drunk and started smacking Wifey and the kids around. As usual, Wifey smacked him back. He grabs her by the hair and tries to ass rape her in front of the kids. She turns around and kicks him in the groin, sending he reeling on the floor. The next day, she drops divorce papers — after 25 years of tumultuous marriage following a 5 year courtship — on his sprawled form, letting him know that she plans to take the kids with her.
Shocked, he asks her to reconsider, but refuses to apologize for the incessant abuse he’s inflicted on her over the years.
She ignores his phone calls and goes into petty bitch mode, telling everyone that he has a small dick and has premature ejack issues. The kids are traumatized, unsure what to do. He continues to refuse to apologize, telling everyone she’s an abusive slut as he always has throughout their relationship.
She’s not hellbent on completely destroying his life — even though she could and should — because she’s farsighted enough to know that life would be easier for her and her kids if she can get child support from him. So she tells him that they can still be friends for the sake of the kids and doesn’t say anything that could destroy his career, like mentioning his kiddie porn habit.
How will the tariffs affect you?
Half of the containers we use for take-out are from China. All the refrigeration units we use are made in China, costing 1/3 of the ones made in US and equivalent in quality. The containers will be an issue since there aren’t US based replacements for them. My juicer is made in China after replacing the South Korean one that costs six times more.
The umbrella 10% tariffs US has imposed on all nations means I either get rid of certain ingredients such as pineapple (our primary natural sweetener) or increase prices. Banana prices have already gone up by 9%. Ginger, essential to our business, might go up significantly more as Hawaii doesn’t produce enough to meet US demand. Some of our veggies also come from Mexico.
On the other hand, apple prices may go down, as China stopped buying them. But according to one of my suppliers who deals with Washington state farmers, these farmers import most of their fertilizers from Canada, and their increased cost of doing business will be passed onto customers.
We’ll do our best to control price volatility. I don’t think the menu will change much, but prices will probably be 10-20% higher. It’s the availability of cups and such that worries me the most, since we’re 90% take-out and delivery. So we’ll continue to push customers to come in for dine-in, to try our 4 course tasting menu. Which was our original plan anyway.
Will Mommy and Daddy ever get back together again?
Nope, Mommy has a well paying job now. So hang tight, let’s see where this takes out menu and prices. There will be workarounds, as long as there isn’t hyperinflation. As for you, be prepared. This might be Covid + 2008 + hyperinflation. I don’t think hyperinflation will happen — China and maybe Euro won’t let it happen — turning the US into Argentina, once one of the wealthiest nations in the world until they bloated their bureaucracy with stupid shit.
We’ll get a better idea of what’s about to happen by mid May. In the meantime, be prepared. This is going to be a hell of a ride!