Wrangler Dani

“I had so many things to say, and no one to listen.” – Jerry Maguire

However, my dear readers, that is why we have our good friend, Internet. Here I can blab to my heart’s content and comfort myself with the thought that perhaps my ramblings entertained someone in their oppressingly gray cubicle or lonely boat at sea (hooked up to Wi-Fi of course, who isn’t these days?) or…. something.

I have more to tell you about New Orleans, too, but today I’m too scatter-brained, and it’s too close to Quittin’ Time to write anything of any real importance, so we’re left with whatever pops into my head, which today, as with most days, is food.

I have a few signature foods which I have loved since college (when I started shopping for myself and learned the hard way that Oreos for dinner do not a happy tummy make).

Here are a few, along with whatever memory is associated first.

Cheez-Its and Diet Coke – a classic pairing. This will do for any meal of the day, in-between meal snack, late-night snack.. you name it. I’ve eaten this so many times that a specific memory is difficult, but I do recall one time at the Opinion Desk at the Optimist with a 20 oz Diet Coke and 16 oz box of said crunchy cracker, and eating myself into a cheese-induced haze. Jaci and Sarah ate some too, and I’m pretty sure their contributions saved my life.

Mother’s Frosted Circus Animal Cookies – probably my favorite cookies of all time. They also taste better when they’re red, white and blue for Fourth of July in August, because then they’re on sale. I had just finished a bag of these a while back, and had not gotten enough pink and white goodness. I decided it was a great idea to pour the remaining sprinkles and frosting dust in the general direction of my face. (Note that I did not say mouth. That didn’t happen.) I’m still picking up sprinkles off my floor. Sexy, I know.

Teddy Grahams – This is all the reason you need to love Teddy Grahams. Also, they come in those great Travel Sack things, and I used to stick them in my backpack and eat them… well… every few minutes until they were all gone. One time I tried to get into the bag quietly while in class. Oh, not just class. Comm Law class. The hardest class of a journalism major’s dreary college career. I don’t know why everybody stopped and looked when I finally got it out and started munching. I think they were just jealous.

Black Pepper and Olive Oil Triscuits and Pepper Jack Cheese* – Probably the best wheat and dairy product combo ever created. It’s like the fields and farms of Iowa got married and produced a delicious, spicy taste sensation just for us. Adam and I ate an entire box of these crackers and a whole package of cheese somewhere in the New Mexico desert on our 24-hour haul from California to Texas, and we still devour it as often as possible. Last weekend we also paired it with some quality summer sausage, and our mouths did little dances of joy.

*Word to the wise – this combo, though delicious and totally worth it, will wreck your breath for at least a day and a half. Either get your significant other hooked also, or indulge yourself on nights alone with American Idol.