So, during this current ice age I will go out and start and run my car for at least 10 minutes on days that I’m not using it. Good or bad idea? It’s a 2015 Nissan Versa.

Every week a work group went to the same restaurant. Every week I ordered a Croque Monsieur because it was absolute perfection.

It supports my theory that he doesn’t want her dressing in an eye popping style because it will take attention away from him. God, can you see how badly fitted his tuxedo is? Did he go to the local wedding rental place in the mall?

I see this a lot at the grocery store. People with 3 items walking past open checkouts to get to the 10 items or less line that has a lineup of people. I find that even with a few items it’s faster to go through the regular checkout because usually the cashier is powering through the big order.

Your supplier offers you a deal on chicken breasts, maybe the cafe down the street suddenly closed down. So now you have 100 lbs of fresh chicken. A good chef will create a special that uses the chicken.

Never said that specials are garbage. Bless your heart.

People seem to think that the kitchen staff are in the back, lovingly creating each dish and throwing out any food with the slightest flaw. However, that ugly potato and less than perfect chicken breast aren’t going into the garbage. They are going to be re-purposed. Roast beef on Sunday? Beef soup or shaved beef…

Sometimes it’s a let’s try this and if it works. One chef used to create sandwich combinations that on paper didn’t seem to work but damn they were good. Fried onions, garlic butter, spinach, cheese, bacon and rye bread. January is going to be hot turkey sandwich month.

Especially in light of Trump insulting Kate, telling her to show the world her “tits” and trying to date Princess Diana. Fuck protocol, why does that orange freak get consideration over decent people? Do we really want to see Trump pushing some other guest out of their chair so he can have a better seat in the…

Get out.

The first few seasons were pretty realistic. Dan having to return his new shoes so they could afford a nice dress for Becky. Putting off the bill collectors, the helpless anger at the factory when told they have to work harder for less money. It all rang true.

Once a month we had a “clean out the freezer/walk-in” day. Most of the times the special was legitimately good but now and then the chef had to think really hard on what to do with the product.

Read Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.

To me specials always meant something that restaurant got a deal on for example, chicken breasts from their supplier, a surplus of a product that didn’t sell earlier and they want to clear out the freezer or fish that is going to expire very soon.

I write short stories and get some good ideas just by studying people and what they buy. Day after Christmas and a man was buying chicken legs, coconut milk and a loaf of bread. I tried to figure out the connection between all three and couldn’t come up with one. But those random abandoned shopping carts though....

Gift bags. I have cloth bags and sturdy paper ones, they seem to live forever. If you buy the plain red, white, gold or silver ones you can also use them for other holidays like Valentines.

I learned patience several years ago. Two days before Christmas and I was in a long checkout line when I noticed that a young girl had cut in front of me. I was furious and about to confront her when I saw she was wearing a name tag from the store next door. I thought she must be on her break and doesn’t have a lot of…

This year my BF suggested to his family that everyone skip the shitload of gifts exchange. The idea was shot down. So now he is back home with a trunk full of crap that will sit there until he needs the car space. The scented candle collection is already stinking up the car. These people are in their 50/60s.

My friend had known me for years and visited my home many times. She knew my taste and still gave me something that stood out like a turd in a punch bowl. It was the lack of thought that was so sad.

I got a deer antler candle holder. It was silver metal and had 8 candle holders, one on each antler. It was about 2 feet wide and took up a lot of space. It was plainly re-gifted and to this day I have no idea where it is. And it was from my best friend at the time.