A toaster pastry toaster

I'm still lacking a number of things around here, but - thanks to a midday shopping trip - a toaster is no longer one of them. The number of stores I can reach is essentially three: a P&C supermarket, a CVS drugstore, and the school bookstore. The P&C is the only one within walking distance, so if they sell what I want, they usually get my business. I was a little hesitant to buy the generic ten-dollar toaster that was displayed prominently on their shelves, but then I spotted a Toastmaster model selling for twelve, and I had at least heard of Toastmaster, so I went for it.

It looks like most of the shoddy toasters that fill American homes, but hopefully it will last me a year or two. One aspect of this toaster, which was not depicted or advertised on the box, is an odd one, however. Like most toasters it has a dial that controls the darkness of the toast by changing the duration of the heat time. Most say "light" and "dark," or perhaps "LO" and "HI" at opposite sides of the dial as a guide to the user. Mine says at the far end "dark" quite simply enough. But, turning counterclockwise, one finds not "light," but "pop-tarts" in the ridiculous red lettering that was their logo for a couple years in the early part of this decade. The instructions make it clear that this nifty device will handle bread as well as "non-frozen shelf pastry."

I will conclude by passing on to you these inspiring works found at the end of the English-language section of the instruction manual: EVERYBODY EATS. It's a fact of life. But sometimes preparing meals can become a chore. That's why TOASTMASTER has been invited into millions of kitchens just like yours so we can HELP YOU MASTER your mixing, baking, grilling, toasting, brewing, heating and serving tasks WITH EASE AND STYLE. The TOASTMASTER name stands for a CELEBRATION of INNOVATION designed to serve your life and keep you COOKIN' IN STYLE.

Salt City

I made the surprisingly short journey to Syracuse on Monday. Claire drove me to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport (far too few days after she picked me up there after the family vacation). I took a taxi from the Syracuse airport to the campus, which was only twenty-minutes away. Syracuse is not a pretty place, nor is the south campus where I live, but the main campus seems nice enough. It, like Madison, was blighted by the construction of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, but less so, I think. I haven't been able to start my meal plan yet, and food has been my biggest trouble thus far. After some trouble I found a grocery store within walking range. I have to trudge through a hilly field, but until the snow falls I'll enjoy it. (I saw a doe and two fawns this evening on my way back.) I don't have nearly enough kitchenware, but at least I was able to get some pots and pans this evening. I'm hesitant to buy too much, because I still don't know if I'll be getting a roommate or not. The extra space and quiet is nice, but I'm sure having a roommate would be nice at times. One such instance would have been my first morning here. When the toilet turned into a geyser. Yup. Coulda used another pair of hands then.

Silence

I realize that it's been a long time since my last post, but I have a good excuse (two of them actually). I left with my family for a two-week vacation in Northern Europe at the beginning of the month. We've been back since Sunday, but I've been increasingly sick. I had a fever of 102 last night.

Hopefully more regular posting and my good health will be back shortly.