Vera Bradley

I don't get it. Why are Vera Bradley duffels, makeup bags, garment bags and rolling suitcases so popular? I understand that the founders felt that there was a severe lack of "feminine luggage," but this is their answer? Quilted bags (that look like they're going to disintegrate at the hands of one burly bag handler) in slightly ridiculous patterns that look like my grandma made them. Why have they become status symbols - at least, among a certain set (I've never seen Britney or Lindsay with one)? I think they're super gross.

If you really want "feminine" luggage, here's my suggestion: go to TJMaxx, Marshall's, or Filene's Basement - not quite first-run, not quite resale - and check out their suitcases. If you can't find one in a bright lurid pink, you'll be sure to find something in a fruit or animal print pattern. And you won't look like you pulled Granny's ol' quilted dog carrier circa 1974 down from the attic.

Vera Bradley - D (points awarded for identifiability at the baggage return)

Super Junky Junk Food

I love junk food, and I'm not ashamed. I'm ashamed of my big fat belly, but not so much that I'll ever completely stop eating things like pizza rolls, nacho sauce from a can, and McDonald's french fries. However, I draw the line at Bosco Sticks. Bosco Sticks are basically hot dough with a hot cheesy center, and some "parmesan" sprinkled on top. Yes, they are delicious - I had a few Bosco Sticks in my day, and that first one right out of the warmer is heavenly. But seriously, Interlochen serves them in sets of three, and that third stick is enough to make a person barf. No one needs that many preservatives and cheese and "bread."

I write about these sticks because I had to go to Gordon Food Service three times this week, and every time I was there, someone was purchasing a case of Bosco Sticks. Which means that people take them home and just make them themselves, for a side dish, or perhaps a light snack.

You know what else I saw at Gordon's? POURABLE PEANUT BUTTER. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse...

Bosco Sticks - D+
pourable peanut butter - D-
GFS - C- (major points awarded for convenience and the amount of kitchen supplies you can get, to counterbalance the points taken away for mass quantities of industrial food)

Running of the Doofuses

Why, oh, why did the worst injuries at this year's running of the bulls in Pamplona have to happen to Americans? The rest of the world already thinks we're obnoxious and stupid - and now we've proven it to them. Nice job, boys!

running of the bulls - C+ (kind of cool, but kind of dumb)

Tip, Please.

One of my new pet peeves is business establishments that don't accept tips on credit cards. I don't carry cash, and I pay for almost everything with my debit card. But I also like to tip manicurists and bagel preparers if they do a good job, and there are too many places around here that don't allow tips on credit cards. LAME!!! How am I supposed to reward good service if you don't take my plastic!?

no tips on credit - D (a few points because I guess in the long run I save a little money)

Overmilking

I like a lot of milk in my cereal. A lot of milk. Some might call it overmilking. I want every piece of cereal to be wet, not just the stuff at the bottom. However, I do like the very top layer of cereal to be crunchy when I first start eating. So there's a very specific cereal-to-milk ratio.

But I don't drink the milk at the end. This is wasteful, and my FH gets very annoyed. Every morning, when I pour the milk down the drain, he says "Wastrel!"

The only cereal I've found that holds up to my overmilking is Shredded Mini-Wheats. Sometimes I have to re-milk when I'm having SMWs - they're just so absorbent.

Also, when I was a little girl, my parents once made me have my cereal with Gatorade, because I had a cold and they were concerned about the effects of dairy on my breathing. Not a taste sensation.

overmilking - C+ (good for me, bad for cows)

OCD? Yes, Please!

There's got to be a word for people like me, who jump on an Internet craze and just go, well, crazy.

Here's a short list of Internet sites that I've been obsessed with:

Friendster
Neopets
match.com (this one worked out OK)
MySpace
Facebook
Blogger
other people's blogs
The Knot
Indiebride
Stardoll

And now, GoodReads. My friend Charlie (you may remember him as Chargenda) sent me a "friends request" for GoodReads today, and I am instantly obsessed with it. It's basically a social networking site for nerds - you review books you've read. There's a bit of a competition factor, I suppose - I want to review every book I've ever read EVER, so I have lots of books and people think I'm well read and cool.

If you want people to think you're cool and well read, go here. Start an account. Add me as a friend. And then we'll all read together.

GoodReads - A+