Off-beat Things I Love

Bank of the West, how I love you. I remember when Patrick and I first met you in Decorah. We knew we needed a bank with a branch in California, so naturally we chose you. Not only do you provide outstanding service at every single branch we've visited, but you gave us each free toasters just for getting checking accounts. True, they were almost worthless, but that's OK, because we now have an outstanding toaster-oven to do all of our toasting. Thank you, Bank of the West...for caring.

Wii Fit, you were the bargaining chip Patrick used to make it OK for us to own a video game console after I swore up and down that such a thing would never enter my place of residence. Because of you and your hula-hoop game I now have rock solid obliques, a heightened sense of balance, and a false sense of athletic superiority. Additionally, I love you because the leaves that fly across the screen change with the seasons, because you wished me a happy birthday complete with confetti, and because you care enough about Patrick, his health, and his whereabouts enough to ask me about him frequently.

Honey Maid Morning Sticks, I bought you in anticipation of a chocolate fondue party that never happened. I remembered you from when Deb had you for her chocolate fondue party at the Roush house. Honestly, my sweet sugary cinnimmony friends, I am glad I didn't have to end up sharing you, for your graham cracker taste is so delightfully addicting. I am thankful for a husband that doesn't snack.

Nordic Chior's New Release, I love you for obvious reasons, but mostly because of TRACK 8. Note to self for next time: publishing before releasing = royalties.

Mint.com, you are the warm fuzzy blanket wrapped around the cold hard reality of budgeting. You make tracking my money fun. Everything is in one convenient place--you track my credit card purchases, the debits and credits to my accounts at my awesome bank (see #1), and you show me my net worth. You collect data and show me spending trends in colorful pie charts and notify me with an email when I've exceeded my monthly budget for restaraunts. And you do all this for the reasonable cost of just $0 per month.

"Sprall", you are the unique season that occurs in mid-October in Bakersfield. A combination of Spring and Fall, you trick the senses. Although we know that "winter" is coming, you are the season during which we emerge from our homes after the long hibernation of air-conditioned bliss to escape the oppressive heat. We picnic, we sit on the porch, we run in the park, we do "out-doorsy" things. We wipe our noses due to allergies. The grass turns green because there is no sweltering 109-degree sun to scorch it into a lifeless brown. It might even rain a few drops. Yes, there is plenty of Spring in Sprall, but Autumn is still evident through a few colored leaves, the smells of the air, and America's favorite all-encompassing, time-sucking, husband-stealing passtime: Football. OK, maybe you aren't one of my favorite things, but you are still noteworthy.