Things I used to love, and now I don't understand why.
1. Boston Market. Years ago, back when I was a newly married army private, Boston Market was one of my absolute favorite eateries. Their mac n cheese seemed superb, their cornbread delectable, their turkey and gravy superlative. Eating there was a special treat sure to delight even the most downcast and jaded senses. But it never became a regular part of our routine, and for a couple of years after we moved to New York we didn't eat there at all. Lately I've come to dread the place. Their mac n cheese now seems off and flavorless, their cornbread dry and grainy, their turkey often cold and disgusting. I don't know whether the restaurant's standards declined in order to cut costs, or whether my own palate has refined just a bit. Either way, I can't stand to eat there anymore.
An honorable mention would go to Olive Garden, except I have a shameful love of their breadsticks to this day.
2. Invader Zim. Again, back when we lived in Fayetteville, I couldn't get enough of this show. I unironically owned (and wore) two or three Zim t-shirts, downloaded eps from Kazaa, bought the first season on DVD after we got a TV. But by the time the second season was released to DVD, I had started to lose interest. Now it's hard to sit through an entire episode. Wacky random lol humor doesn't do it for me these days. A couple episodes are still tolerable ("Dark Harvest" comes to mind), but for the most part the show is merely a factory for catchphrases and merchandise. Earlier this year I was gobsmacked to walk by a Hot Topic and see an entire corner stocked with a new run of Zim-licensed outfits. I always knew the show was considered a cult hit, I guess I never realized how tenaciously its remaining fans still cling to it.
3. Black t-shirts. I'm pretty much a slob who doesn't bother to dress very well. My summer outfit usually consists of cargo shorts and "funny" t-shirts. I'm currently wearing a thrift store find, "Christ the King Basketball Coach" written across the breast, very classy. But not so long ago, at least half of my shirts were black. I don't remember why; I guess I thought it looked cool. Nowadays I avoid my remaining black shirts until I can't find something else to wear. I like colors. They're cheerful. Black is rather dull, plus black t-shirts don't go with anything other than jeans, which are too damn hot to wear this time of year.
4. Khaki. I went through a phase, roughly from '04 to early last year, when I refused to wear jeans. I thought I looked extra classy in my khaki or green or gray or black trousers (and oh yes, I insisted on saying "trousers" instead of "pants"). I claimed that denim was too heavy and uncomfortable, without the smooth skin-feel of my nice sophisticated trousers. Unfortunately, I didn't read the memo about how t-shirts look kind of silly when paired with dress pants, especially when the wearer has a gut that sticks out over his belt and he doesn't tuck the shirt in. I still wear nice pants occasionally, especially in winter, when I can match them with a button-down. For the most part my wardrobe has swung back in the direction of jeans and (still goofy) cargo shorts. I don't look any better, I just don't understand why I used to think I was such hot stuff back then.
5. The Lord of the Rings movies. Seriously, these were my favorite films for a long time, my go-to movies when I had nothing better to do. Now... they bore me. The flaws leap out and distract from the good stuff. This may be the result of over-watching, but I don't know.
Bonus: Something I love now that will probably seem stupid in five years: Yeasayer.
An honorable mention would go to Olive Garden, except I have a shameful love of their breadsticks to this day.
2. Invader Zim. Again, back when we lived in Fayetteville, I couldn't get enough of this show. I unironically owned (and wore) two or three Zim t-shirts, downloaded eps from Kazaa, bought the first season on DVD after we got a TV. But by the time the second season was released to DVD, I had started to lose interest. Now it's hard to sit through an entire episode. Wacky random lol humor doesn't do it for me these days. A couple episodes are still tolerable ("Dark Harvest" comes to mind), but for the most part the show is merely a factory for catchphrases and merchandise. Earlier this year I was gobsmacked to walk by a Hot Topic and see an entire corner stocked with a new run of Zim-licensed outfits. I always knew the show was considered a cult hit, I guess I never realized how tenaciously its remaining fans still cling to it.
3. Black t-shirts. I'm pretty much a slob who doesn't bother to dress very well. My summer outfit usually consists of cargo shorts and "funny" t-shirts. I'm currently wearing a thrift store find, "Christ the King Basketball Coach" written across the breast, very classy. But not so long ago, at least half of my shirts were black. I don't remember why; I guess I thought it looked cool. Nowadays I avoid my remaining black shirts until I can't find something else to wear. I like colors. They're cheerful. Black is rather dull, plus black t-shirts don't go with anything other than jeans, which are too damn hot to wear this time of year.
4. Khaki. I went through a phase, roughly from '04 to early last year, when I refused to wear jeans. I thought I looked extra classy in my khaki or green or gray or black trousers (and oh yes, I insisted on saying "trousers" instead of "pants"). I claimed that denim was too heavy and uncomfortable, without the smooth skin-feel of my nice sophisticated trousers. Unfortunately, I didn't read the memo about how t-shirts look kind of silly when paired with dress pants, especially when the wearer has a gut that sticks out over his belt and he doesn't tuck the shirt in. I still wear nice pants occasionally, especially in winter, when I can match them with a button-down. For the most part my wardrobe has swung back in the direction of jeans and (still goofy) cargo shorts. I don't look any better, I just don't understand why I used to think I was such hot stuff back then.
5. The Lord of the Rings movies. Seriously, these were my favorite films for a long time, my go-to movies when I had nothing better to do. Now... they bore me. The flaws leap out and distract from the good stuff. This may be the result of over-watching, but I don't know.
Bonus: Something I love now that will probably seem stupid in five years: Yeasayer.