Gratification

It just sits there, bulky and cold. Usually, sandwiched between something else. It wonders about the possibilities. It wonders why it sits lonely and unused dreaming of the good things it could produce. If only someone would take an interest in its abilities. It wouldn't even mind if those abilities were pushed toward the outer limits. Just to try some things, even pedestrian things--blue box mac and cheese would make its day. What is IT?
Your stove. Your lonely stove. I have 3 stoves, one commercial gas, one household gas and one electric. I love them all. I not so secretly yearn for my friend Pam's Thermadore cooktop. It's a fine cooking machine. All of these cooking tools get used regurlarly.
You see, cooking is a wonderful way to express one's self, to fill one's belly with good food. Not just food that will make a terd, but food that satisfies hunger and all the fine senses we use every day. I love to sit down to eat food that I prepared. I get a sense of accomplishment, of immediate gratification. That's what cooking is all about. Gratification. You should try it. Your stove will be happy and you will be happy. Try it. I bet you'll smile more..

monopolies

I don't enjoy monopolies. They are limiting. I bring this up because in our fine state, I'm forced to buy beer from a distributor. One distributor carries certain beers. I am allowed only to purchase from that distributor  those flavors of beer. Where is the free market in this scenario? I should be able to contact the producer and wrangle a price for the 3 cases I want. I know I'm not the Walmart of beer buying, but in the spirit of free market, Walmart goes to the producer and bullies them for the best price--size matters. The point is, Walmart is allowed to conduct business freely. I am not. Forget the notion that this distributor has my back. They are in the business to make money. I like money. I don't mind them making money. I do mind that they have no competition. Let's say I could go to Costco and buy the same beer I bet I could save several dollars a case. I'd pass this savings along because I'm not a gluttenous money grubbing pos. But no, free market does not exist in the beer world of Texas for holders of license's issued by the TABC, only one distributor equaling one monopoly. Think of how much money you might save a year if the stores from whom you buy beer had more choices. This is a revolutionary thought. What would we call the revolution? Hops Revolt, Barley Pop War or maybe Beer Drinkers of America United--nah sounds like a union. I'm gonna go with Barley Pop War. I don't have the details worked out yet, but I'm pondering how to flank Ben E Keith or Silver Eagle or any other distributor. Afterall, I have choices in buying a new car. I want choices in buying beer. Don't you?

21st century

Sit down before you realize I have pulled my fat butt into the 21st century. I'm, blogging. This is Naylene, your favorite cook who seems to have lost her mind.