Justify my Rogue (Volume II: Fighting Rogue)
A couple of weeks ago I noticed a particularly bizarre product being advertised, called "Head-On." This is some sort of stick (like chapstick) that you are supposed to rub on your head to get rid of headaches. This seems utterly stupid to me, and I can assure anyone that this product contains virtually zero active ingredients, and has absolutely no effect beyond that of a placebo. It is an homeopathic remedy, and homeopathic remedies depend on this crazy idea that severe dilutions of substances (think 1:1,000,000) can cure everything from cancer to the common cold. It's hard for me to believe people waste their money on products with zero medical credibility. You might as well just call it snake oil and be done with it.
Today my lovely (and pregnant) wife and I went downtown to the hospital for a tour of the birthing facilities. We really prefer the Erlanger East campus to the main Erlanger campus, it just seems less hospital-y. The problem is that supposedly it can be hard to get into the East campus, and also it is intended for relatively uncomplicated deliveries. It is more modern, however, with much more emphasis on keeping the mother and family comfortable and making the whole experience as pleasant as possible. If the East campus is full, though, we will probably be having the baby at the main campus downtown.
I've been experimenting with smoking cigars. It's tempting fate, to an extent, since I am a former cigarette smoker. I smoked three cigars during our last vacation in Canada, in September, and I have smoked a couple since. The thing I realize, is that there is a fine line between pleasure and dependance. I enjoy drinking a lot, as everyone who has read this journal well knows. I could see that if I had more disposable income, how I might come to drink all the time. If something is enjoyable, what not do it all the time? But does something loose some of it's power to bring you pleasure with repeated exposure? It's pretty clear that it can. Most cigarette smokers seem to smoke more out of habit, and addiction, than for pleasure. How many people who drink or smoke constantly ask themselves if they are addicts? Dr. Drew Pinski, of Lovelines fame, has said that an addict is someone who indulges in a behaviour no matter what negative consequences arise. An alcoholic will spend their last dime on alcohol, rather than for food, even if starving. An alcoholic may come home and beat his wife, and feel guilt afterwards, but still goes on a bender the next night. A smoker will continue to smoke even when he has developed a severe respiratory illness. Almost everything that people enjoy can be like that, though. We are a nation of food addicts. It doesn't matter the consequences of obesity, we still want all of the delicious unhealthy food we have access to. I definitely do not support government efforts to curb these vices, in the end they are all personal choices. Would we trade a lifetime of pleasures for a few more years of eating granola and rice? For some people that is probably great. But life is full of risk versus reward situations, and ultimately we are the arbiters of how we balance those two factors.
Also while downtown, we attended the rollout of a new product line at my store. This is called a Crispani, and is basically a fancy name for pizza. There are two sauces, one a creamy garlic, and the other a more expected tomato sauce. They are the only baked product we have that I actually have NOTHING to do with. They are handled by a team trained to do them. Crispani's are actually made to order, like at a traditional pizza place. Amanda had the pepperooni, which is made with the tomato sauce, and I had the sweet sausage and apple, which is made with the garlic sauce. Personally I found the pepperooni pretty standard, but the sausage and apple was an interesting mix of flavors. They definitely add a major new offering for our franchise, and we have to add new things to keep people coming in. I do wonder if it will cause any of the products I bake to go down, but I don't see what besides maybe a little bread. More of my night is taken up baking the sweets and bagels than anything. A couple of loaves of bread decrease due to a few less sandwiches in the evening isn't going to matter much.
I have smoked more cigars lately, because I want to do the traditional Father handing out cigars for the birth of a child. I coincidentally recieved a catalog in the mail, but I hesitate to order cigars that I haven't sampled. So I bought three cigars a few days ago, and sampled those. I know a guy at work who coordinates the delivery service for all of the stores, Chip, who is the only "cigar nerd" I know. I'm a little bit of all sorts of nerd, from beer to video games. I have to educate myself about anything I get into, that is my main nerd qualification. But I am a rogue nerd, since I am rather poor, so I have to temper my nerdish desire for quality with a roguish desire to not spend money. I found out the place to buy cigars in town is a place called Burns Tobacconist, and I went there prior to the tour at the Hospital today. It is part of the Chattanooga Billiard Club, which is, I suppose, the man's mens' place to hang out in this city. It definitely has a sort of antique charm to it. The tobacconist has two large walk-in humidors. Most of the cigars were definitely out of the price range I was looking for, which was less than two bucks. They did have a type with "It's a Girl" labels already attached, for a reasonable 2.25 each, with a 10% discount per box. If that one ends up being decent, I'll probably stick with those, since they eliminate the problem of having to find my own labels.
There is a certain charm with a place like the Chattanooga Billiard Club. I really do like the idea of the man's man, who drinks whiskey and smokes a cigar. Right now I am drinking Fighting Cock Bourbon, choosen for the roguish price. I have to sheepishly admit to finding it more palatable when mixed with Coke. I also have to admit to not being sure of my ability to tell a twenty dollar cigar from a dime store pipe-tobacco cigar. Although I do know that I am pretty honest with myself when it comes to the things I enjoy. The truth is I enjoy a lot, including trying to enjoy things.
Speaking of joy, my little Molly is quite an active little girl. I think she is either doing laps or practicing Kung-Fu in there. Every day the idea that in just a couple of months I'll have my very own squalling little bundle of spite and joy seems more real. It is hard to imagine how much my life will be different. I am growing more excited now, as the date approaches. Right now it is back-to-school season, and it's hard to imagine having to deal with these issues five years from now. Despite what I have been told I am not really that nervous about being a good Dad. I am actually pretty confident, and am patiently awaiting my chance to proove it. But life is unpredictable, and I'll handle it as it comes. For now, though, I'll just have a Bourbon-and-Coke and a cigar, and relax.
Word!
Today my lovely (and pregnant) wife and I went downtown to the hospital for a tour of the birthing facilities. We really prefer the Erlanger East campus to the main Erlanger campus, it just seems less hospital-y. The problem is that supposedly it can be hard to get into the East campus, and also it is intended for relatively uncomplicated deliveries. It is more modern, however, with much more emphasis on keeping the mother and family comfortable and making the whole experience as pleasant as possible. If the East campus is full, though, we will probably be having the baby at the main campus downtown.
I've been experimenting with smoking cigars. It's tempting fate, to an extent, since I am a former cigarette smoker. I smoked three cigars during our last vacation in Canada, in September, and I have smoked a couple since. The thing I realize, is that there is a fine line between pleasure and dependance. I enjoy drinking a lot, as everyone who has read this journal well knows. I could see that if I had more disposable income, how I might come to drink all the time. If something is enjoyable, what not do it all the time? But does something loose some of it's power to bring you pleasure with repeated exposure? It's pretty clear that it can. Most cigarette smokers seem to smoke more out of habit, and addiction, than for pleasure. How many people who drink or smoke constantly ask themselves if they are addicts? Dr. Drew Pinski, of Lovelines fame, has said that an addict is someone who indulges in a behaviour no matter what negative consequences arise. An alcoholic will spend their last dime on alcohol, rather than for food, even if starving. An alcoholic may come home and beat his wife, and feel guilt afterwards, but still goes on a bender the next night. A smoker will continue to smoke even when he has developed a severe respiratory illness. Almost everything that people enjoy can be like that, though. We are a nation of food addicts. It doesn't matter the consequences of obesity, we still want all of the delicious unhealthy food we have access to. I definitely do not support government efforts to curb these vices, in the end they are all personal choices. Would we trade a lifetime of pleasures for a few more years of eating granola and rice? For some people that is probably great. But life is full of risk versus reward situations, and ultimately we are the arbiters of how we balance those two factors.
Also while downtown, we attended the rollout of a new product line at my store. This is called a Crispani, and is basically a fancy name for pizza. There are two sauces, one a creamy garlic, and the other a more expected tomato sauce. They are the only baked product we have that I actually have NOTHING to do with. They are handled by a team trained to do them. Crispani's are actually made to order, like at a traditional pizza place. Amanda had the pepperooni, which is made with the tomato sauce, and I had the sweet sausage and apple, which is made with the garlic sauce. Personally I found the pepperooni pretty standard, but the sausage and apple was an interesting mix of flavors. They definitely add a major new offering for our franchise, and we have to add new things to keep people coming in. I do wonder if it will cause any of the products I bake to go down, but I don't see what besides maybe a little bread. More of my night is taken up baking the sweets and bagels than anything. A couple of loaves of bread decrease due to a few less sandwiches in the evening isn't going to matter much.
I have smoked more cigars lately, because I want to do the traditional Father handing out cigars for the birth of a child. I coincidentally recieved a catalog in the mail, but I hesitate to order cigars that I haven't sampled. So I bought three cigars a few days ago, and sampled those. I know a guy at work who coordinates the delivery service for all of the stores, Chip, who is the only "cigar nerd" I know. I'm a little bit of all sorts of nerd, from beer to video games. I have to educate myself about anything I get into, that is my main nerd qualification. But I am a rogue nerd, since I am rather poor, so I have to temper my nerdish desire for quality with a roguish desire to not spend money. I found out the place to buy cigars in town is a place called Burns Tobacconist, and I went there prior to the tour at the Hospital today. It is part of the Chattanooga Billiard Club, which is, I suppose, the man's mens' place to hang out in this city. It definitely has a sort of antique charm to it. The tobacconist has two large walk-in humidors. Most of the cigars were definitely out of the price range I was looking for, which was less than two bucks. They did have a type with "It's a Girl" labels already attached, for a reasonable 2.25 each, with a 10% discount per box. If that one ends up being decent, I'll probably stick with those, since they eliminate the problem of having to find my own labels.
There is a certain charm with a place like the Chattanooga Billiard Club. I really do like the idea of the man's man, who drinks whiskey and smokes a cigar. Right now I am drinking Fighting Cock Bourbon, choosen for the roguish price. I have to sheepishly admit to finding it more palatable when mixed with Coke. I also have to admit to not being sure of my ability to tell a twenty dollar cigar from a dime store pipe-tobacco cigar. Although I do know that I am pretty honest with myself when it comes to the things I enjoy. The truth is I enjoy a lot, including trying to enjoy things.
Speaking of joy, my little Molly is quite an active little girl. I think she is either doing laps or practicing Kung-Fu in there. Every day the idea that in just a couple of months I'll have my very own squalling little bundle of spite and joy seems more real. It is hard to imagine how much my life will be different. I am growing more excited now, as the date approaches. Right now it is back-to-school season, and it's hard to imagine having to deal with these issues five years from now. Despite what I have been told I am not really that nervous about being a good Dad. I am actually pretty confident, and am patiently awaiting my chance to proove it. But life is unpredictable, and I'll handle it as it comes. For now, though, I'll just have a Bourbon-and-Coke and a cigar, and relax.
Word!