In Celebration... of the Potato?

According to one of my favorite websites of all time (www.brownielocks.com/month2.html) and Wikipedia, 2008 has been declared by the UN as the International Year of the Potato "in order to increase awareness of the importance of the potato as a food in developing nations.” I thought that was pretty cool. So, here are some thoughts on: THE POTATO- The most versatile of vegetables... Potatoes come in a multitude of forms: mashed, baked, twice-baked, boiled, in pancake form, in dessert form (spudnuts anyone?), as chips, as fries... etc. I bet you've eaten them in most if not all of their available forms, but did you know...
* On average, people eat about 73 lbs. of potatoes a year.
* The potato originated in South America and wasn't introduced in Europe until 1536.
* Unlike other foods, the potato can be cooked in a microwave w/out losing any of its nutritional value.
* Although poisoning from potatoes is very rare, wild potatoes contain a concentration of glycoalkaloid that can produce toxic effects in humans.
I'm impressed.

To the woman who callously took my burrito out of the microwave while I was standing right there: you destroyed what was left of my faith in humanity.

... at least for a couple of minutes. Here's the whole story:

On Monday, I had about an hour before my late class started. Not having time for much else, I bought a frozen burrito from the vending machine for dinner and put in the microwave for the recommended two minutes. Now, I think we can all agree that there is something of a "Microwave Etiquette" in such places as breakrooms and student lobbies. It's probably safe to say that the following rules apply:

1. First come, first serve.
2. You should always try to use the microwave for the shortest amount of time possible because other people probably need it. (I would say three minutes is the polite max, but up to four and a half minutes might be acceptable if you smile apologetically at the people in line behind you)
3. If your food explodes all over the microwave, you should wipe it up.
And finally, rule 4, the rule that really should never have to be stated: You should never touch someone else's food. That is rude. And unsanitary.

To continue: My burrito had started to cook and I decided to sit down a mere 2 feet from the microwave, and here's apparently where I went wrong, with my back to it. Having rested for a mere 45 seconds, I turn around to check on my food, and am SHOCKED to see the same middle-aged woman who had nearly me ran into while I was buying my burrito has taken it out of the microwave and placed it on top so that she could microwave a muffin or a bagel or something.

I was not really sure how to respond. My gut instinct was to flat out ask her, "Are you serious?" But, being the incredibly non-confrontational girl that I am I turned back around and did some deep breathing. I was seriously annoyed. This woman (a grown woman mind you) had the inflated self-concept to believe that she was so important (and so much more important than me) that she could not wait the minute and 15 seconds to microwave her food. Where did she get off? What was the world coming to?

When I turned back around she was gone. I finished cooking my burrito. I ate it unhappily thinking of all the germs that could have jumped aboard during its little journey. I fumed my way to class, and then... I was hit by this realization: The whole thing was ridiculously funny. She was totally out of line, don't get me wrong, but I had an unusual story to share about a woman who hi-jacked a microwave and led me to informally publish the rules of microwave etiquette. Silver linings I guess...

A list of some superb words (and their meanings):

disabuse: set right, undeceive.
interpose: place between or among, interrupt with.
sumptuous: lavish, luxurious grand.
cahoots: secret partnership.
skullduggery: dishonest trickery.
virulent: like a poison, deadly; bitterly hostile.
heinous: wicked, reprehensible.
incredulous: skeptical
preternatural: extraordinary, above the average

The First Post (ooh!!)

Sometimes I think that writing a blog is a little pretentious. So, I guess I should explain why I decided to start one: This is (most likely) the closest I will ever get to being a syndicated columnist. Yeah... it's not that close. Still, I feel a little like Anna Quindlen when I think about sitting down to write about my everyday life experiences and reflecting on their larger cosmic significance. And maybe just feeling that way is what I want. In any case, something worked if your reading this. (was it the blog's title? I thought that was pretty clever.)

Here's today's thought: Isn't it amazing how people decide to take a day and just celebrate? I don't think it even matters what people celebrate, it is just so refreshing to see people enjoying life. For example, today is the 4th of July- such a fun holiday. I think one of the best parts of being alive is sitting on a blanket on a grassy hill watching fireworks on the 4th. And since firework-viewing grassy hills can be hard to come by, you're not usually the only ones there. Right next to you there might be a young couple, staring at each other instead of the fireworks. And nearby will be the young family with kids who are just going crazy over what they are seeing. And, if they aren't wholly engrossed by that, they will discover the exhilerating joy of chasing each other with sparklers while nearby adults spout maxims about running with sharp, firey objects. And last, but not least, are the old people, sitting in their plaid-patterned lawn chairs talking about Bill or Sharon's latest operation. This is what I saw tonight, anyway. It's beautiful. The angriness and ugliness of everyday life disappear. This is probably the definition of a holiday, and also the same reason there are so many. I think everyday should be a holiday.