One of the things that I found when I dug deeper into ths product, that isn’t apparent from the photo, is this is supposed to be affixed to the refrigerator door or some other permanent place. Finding it — or, more to the point, losing it — isn’t the issue. But you’re right that it doesn’t prevent the problem of a spouse who might not be the best judge of pricing or ripeness. You could call me “Exhibit A” in that regard.

My wife and I divvy up groceries. She sends me the list and I go buy the stuff. This sounds unfair, but she’s much better at selecting what we really need, so I’m glad to be the foot soldier (most of the time!). But I do often come home this less-than-ideal produce (“Apples again? Bo-ring! How about clementines? They’re only in season for two months!”).

We already use a geeky device, by the way. It’s my Palm-based PDA. Here’s the drill:

1. She emails me the list
2. I copy and paste it into a list-making program called Bonzai
3. I reorganize the based on the path through the store
4. I sync up with my PDA

When I get into the store, I grab a hand basket, so I can maneuver through the store quickly, with PDA in hand. I check the items off as I go (when each is checked off, it disappears from my list — very cool, very geeky). My goal is to devote no more than 30 minutes total to getting the list, refining it and buying the groceries. This prison-break pace may account for the lackluster fruits and vegetables in our home.

One final thought, after that sad look into my crazed, gadget-filled life: I came across this post today about a do-it-yourself kitchen workstation that allows the family to collaborate on much more than groceries — it’s the Bill and Melinda Gates household! This device is posted on the wall of the kitchen. (Browse down to the entry called “Popular Science.”)

In the early 1920s Buster Keaton did a wonderful satire — a silent film, of course — of the automated home of the future called Electric House. He’d have a field day with where we’ve come since!

Besides, how much labor does this really save? Scrawling a restaurant list just doesn’t take that much time. Plus, a lot of my grocery decisions are made at the store, according to what looks fresh and what’s on sale (and then what OTHER items I need to make a full meal out of those fresh on-sale items)…if I sent my husband to the store with a device like this, who knows what he’d come home with?