www.storymania.com
Storymania Logo

 

 

Essays




Did Ya? by Matt Tracy I wonder if anyone ever thought of any of the stuff I propose? [597 words]
Turning Fifty by Danny I. Spitler The author takes a reflective look at reaching the half century mark. [999 words]
The Morning Shower by Danny I. Spitler Does anyone else suffer these issues associated with the morning shower? [940 words]
Stranger To Myself by Omar Longoria �Look in the mirror. The face that pins you with its double gaze reveals a chastening secre... [1,225 words]
A Thanksgiving Monday by Danny I. Spitler The author has a reflective and enlightening evening following Thanksgiving. [809 words]
The Vaporeal Defecation Of A Mental Diarrheatic by Crazy Clown I just had so much fun writing the other two displays of inanit... [951 words]
The Unfortunate Homophobe by Crazy Clown An interspective on a homophobe who wishes he wasn't, and some ideas and opinions on ... [1,131 words]
The Demented Monologue Of A Downright Imbecile by Crazy Clown Another display of foolishness and inanity, from the one who can... [1,246 words]
The Bed by Danny I. Spitler The author gains appreciation for the consistency brought to his life by an inanimate object [791 words]
She's Just Relaxing by Danny I. Spitler She's just relaxing on the sofa; however..... [626 words]
Fathers And Sons And Baseball by Danny I. Spitler Three generations share an uniquely American experience. Opening Day. [1,078 words]
Well, Shit by Crazy Clown A rather... interesting essay on the worlds worst waste. Requires a unique state of mind to enjoy pr... [1,020 words]
Swimming With Sharks by Danny I. Spitler The author experiences an encounter with a large Lemon Shark in Tahiti [835 words]
Some Explanation Is In Order by Crazy Clown You might come to this title expecting a deep, philosophical, or thought-provoking... [447 words]
Ramblings Of A Crazy Dude by Michael Hunter hee hee. I can write whatever I want in here! bwa ha. Unfortunately, I can't thi... [629 words]
My Dog Opposes Communism by Tcn Actually submitted to a high school teacher. I guess I was feeling like a rebel at the... [862 words]
Free Food
Dragonball Z - Akira Toryama's Drug Trip? by Crazy Clown An essay worthy of the label of Crazy Clown, about the sheer ludicrou... [989 words]
A Place I'd Like To Forget by Tcn Another school piece. Writing about a grocery store job I held during the summer. I ... [898 words]
It's Wednesday by Danny I. Spitler The author reflects on his lover. [143 words]
Bruce Willis: One Of The Sexiest Men Alive by L Chapman - [176 words]
American Tale by Steven R. Kravsow "I stood behind the old man in the check-out line at the local convenience store. A navy blue Yan... [629 words]
Screw Common Sense by Michael Hunter It's a college essay thingy. I was just reading some sample essays and got an urge to write... [993 words]
Food Stamp Day by L Chapman - [247 words]
Cellular Consciousness: From Quantum Physics To Alternative Medicine by Lissa N Metz-Gomez A research paper linking quantum physics ... [1,660 words]
Why Do Some People Learn A Foreign Language So Easily Whereas Others Find It So Difficult? by J. Rodegheri Have you ever felt ... [2,257 words]
Think Before You Write by Richard Koss My observations, after reading the work of many aspiring young writers, prompted me to w... [988 words]
After The Rain - How The West Lost The East by Sam Vaknin An anthology of 180 previously published articles and essays regard... [11,318 words]
Philosophical Musings by Sam Vaknin More than 150 essays about various topics in current philosophy. The main emphases are on... [10,353 words]
Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited by Sam Vaknin The Narcissistic Personality Disorder and Pathological Narcissism De... [5,066 words]
The Value Of Material Things by Jennifer Nobile Raymond This was an essay I entered for a contest in Ladie's Home Journal. [749 words]
Lime's Diary Of Madness by Lime a true story [782 words]
Whispering To Death by Lewd Muse Not quite sure why I wrote this. I just let my muse take control and saw what happened. E... [279 words]
The Lost Generation by Julia Riffle A short essay. [789 words]
The Debate Goes On by Clark G Curtis This is a personal look at the wonderful world of boxer shorts and jockey underwear and why ... [1,507 words]
On Art (II) - The Response Of The True And Artificial Artists To Inspiration by Erik The second of my essays on art. H... [1,058 words]
On Art (I) - The True Vs. The Artificial Artist by Erik This is the first of a collection in the making on my views abo... [1,373 words]
Getting A Free Lunch On Bay Street by Howard Freedman This is about freeloaders and annual corporate meetings... They ain't there... [756 words]
Colombia by Iveth Jaramillo A DEEP SELF-ANALYSIS OF A CHILD'S FEELINGS. [370 words]
No To The Death Penalty by Alejandro Dubois Arrese This is an essay saying why the death penalty should be illegalized in the United State... [314 words]
Adoptions by Juliana Carrillo An essay. [678 words]
Qualities Of The Perfect Teacher by Laura M�ndez This is just kind of a personal essay of what I think are the qualities of the... [449 words]
Life by Carolina Arango - [591 words]
Global Vision by Iveth Jaramillo What I think all of us look like. [333 words]
Friends Are Forever by Adriana Garcia An essay. [991 words]
Poem Analysis by Ana Lucia Mora An essay. [807 words]
Cloning by Federico Rivera Burrowes An essay. [651 words]
An Education Problem by Juan Jose Duran Talks about how important it is to educate children. [317 words]
Rocky by Ana Torres - [436 words]
Evil Vs. Goodness by David Valencia - [217 words]
Jewels Of Joy - Life's Little Glories by Abigail I Copuyoc - [468 words]
Freedom by Maria Camila Bernal An essay. [786 words]
A Tour Through Colombia by Juliana Carrillo - [425 words]
Ironic by Juliana Carrillo - [1,456 words]
Songs From My Attic by Steven R. Kravsow While rummaging through my attic, I discovered a box of old sheet music from the turn of th... [1,878 words]
Pride by Erik This is the first of what is intended to be a collection of essays revolving around the Seven Deadly Sins... [1,469 words]
A Dream by Lawrence Vaduva Sometimes dreams are so close to reality it's hard to tell the difference.... [1,005 words]
Intolerance by Erik This is an essay about intolerance, prejudice, and other mad things which should not exist in socie... [1,525 words]
The Girlfriend Before I Lost My Virginity by Jimmy Hap This is a short Essay dedicated to the last innocent realationship an... [483 words]
Remembering Jamie by Jennifer L O'callaghan Thoughts following the unexpected death of an old friend [793 words]
Dragons, A Collection by Gary Bolstridge Dragons - The belief in dreams and inspiration must be encouraged in everyone. [231 words]
Paths To Take, Decisions To Make by A C Christine An essay about deciding on life's many trying ways that can confuse and astoun... [209 words]
Coffee With a Side of Greatness
A Slice of Hope
Saying Goodbye...
...Arawak Language
Hibiscus
Suomi (Finland)
Cuban Wall
The Child That I (Never) Knew
Thoughts on Mothers
Oh Canada

Go to page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 [11]
TITLE (EDIT)
Free Food
DESCRIPTION
There's no such thing as a free lunch. Wrong. There is tons of free food, as this author points out.
[1,031 words]
TITLE KEYWORD
Humor
AUTHOR
Danny I. Spitler
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
-I am a successful business executive who is finally returning to writing after giving it up in College to pursue a business career. I travel extensively, hike, golf, and scuba dive. I live with Pam, my loving companion and fellow traveler.
[December 2000]
AUTHOR'S OTHER TITLES (12)
A Thanksgiving Monday (Essays) The author has a reflective and enlightening evening following Thanksgiving. [809 words] [Mind]
Blue Run At Telluride (Short Stories) The author tests his nerve and his resolve in a challenging duel with a ski slope. [1,770 words] [Adventure]
Fathers And Sons And Baseball (Essays) Three generations share an uniquely American experience. Opening Day. [1,078 words] [Relationships]
It's Wednesday (Essays) The author reflects on his lover. [143 words] [Romance]
She's Just Relaxing (Essays) She's just relaxing on the sofa; however..... [626 words] [Romance]
Swimming With Sharks (Essays) The author experiences an encounter with a large Lemon Shark in Tahiti [835 words] [Adventure]
The Bed (Essays) The author gains appreciation for the consistency brought to his life by an inanimate object [791 words] [Self-Help]
The Blindfold (Short Stories) A couple decides to meet in an most unusual and erotic manner. [1,679 words] [Romance]
The Cayman Wall (Essays) -The author revisits the place where he overcame fear years ago and challenges himself to do it again. [1,448 words] [Adventure]
The Morning Shower (Essays) Does anyone else suffer these issues associated with the morning shower? [940 words] [Humor]
Turning Fifty (Essays) The author takes a reflective look at reaching the half century mark. [999 words] [Biography]
Water Festival In Thailand (Short Stories) In Thailand, the "land of smiles," one of the wildest and happiest celebrations is Song Kron, also known as the Thai water festival. Experience this special celebration in a very unique way. [1,701 words] [Travel]
Free Food
Danny I. Spitler


What is it about free food that makes it so totally irresistible?

Ever since joining the ranks of bachelorhood I find that the abundance of free food to be almost unceasing. And, because it is free, I find that I cannot turn it down. Why is that? Did I actually buy that baloney Mom and Dad gave me about the starving children in Africa, or was it China? Whatever continent had starving children in the 50's. Is that what started this brain disorder of mine which compels me to clean my plate and continue to consume far beyond my stomach's needs? I hope that it comes from some deep psychological damage inflicted on me by parents or at least my older sister. Lord knows I certainly don't want to accept responsibility for it.

There is no free lunch, you say. That's bull. Free lunches are everywhere. There is the business lunch. Every salesman, insurance agent, consultant, and banker wants to take you to lunch at some point. He/She is certainly not going to let you pick up the tab. They had better not, since you have just paid them thousands of dollars for their services. Sure, the lunch cost me forty thousand dollars worth of lumber, but I am not going to get that forty thousand back, so why order a fruit plate with cottage cheese when I can order filet mignon? How foolish would that be?

And then there are happy hour hor d' oeuvres. Hey, they come with the price of a drink right? If you were willing to pay full price for the drink, well shoot man, the eats are free. If you can nurse that drink for 30 minutes just think about how many of those pieces of cheese, carrots, and pineapple you can put away, not to mention the chips and salsa, and those little taquitos, if you happen to be at a Mexican restaurant for happy hour.

Don't women who work in an office have better things to do on their weekends than bake? Don't they understand that once the banana bread, the brownies, or the left over birthday cake is in the office it becomes FREE food? It lies in the office kitchenette screaming out your name. If you have the strength to close your door and ignore the screams, someone inevitably delivers it to your desk.

I once thought that mothers, mother-in-laws, and aunts started buying butter in those little plastic tubs for convenience. Guess again. They accumulate them by the dozens so that they are available to fill with leftovers from Sunday gatherings and Thanksgiving and Easter dinners. Your unique status as a bachelor entitles you to twice the amount of leftovers as anyone else in the family. Once the food is sealed into those little plastic butter tubs it becomes totally free food, which must, I repeat, must be consumed.

Let us not forget "date food." Sure, you are the one paying the bill for the overpriced entr�es at the fancy restaurant where you are taking the woman you are determine to impress. But the food is really free. You are shelling out $74.67 plus tip and valet parking, but it is not for the food. You are paying for the ambiance, for the time you need to exhibit your charm, for the delightful sucking up of the tuxedoed waiter, and for the hope that she will down at least two glasses of wine for that glassy-eye glow. The food is free. Unfortunately, using this logic does not make the food any easier to resist.

I won't even begin to go into the whole free food trauma which takes place at board meetings, conventions, seminars, airplane trips, and, the worst of all, CRUISES. The whole idea of eating in moderation is an impossible goal as long as one must deal with the free food dilemma which is so rampant in our society today.

So when is food not free? At the grocery store. This is my time to resist and apply my superior intellect to the food consumption process. Of course it starts with taking the cart with the wobbly wheel. That cart is reserved for any single male that enters a grocery store. Women instinctively recognize this cart and can avoid it. They will always leave if for the male of the species. Perhaps it is so they can track his movements through the store and giggle behind his back as he stands immobile before a display case trying to choose between two hundred and thirty seven varieties of soup.

I have conquered my fear of grocery shopping. The fear was born from many small traumatic experiences which accumulated during my years of marriage. "Honey, would you run to the store for two cans of pineapple?" What an innocent request. My first return trip was to exchange the two cans of crushed pineapple for two cans of sliced pineapple, my second return trip was to exchange the two 14-oz. cans for two 24-oz. cans. When she saw the veins in my neck turn purple with rage, she decided that Libby's brand would be OK, even though she had intended for me to get Dole.

Several years ago I learned never to make such an excursion without taking my cellular phone. These little trips to the grocery store usually resulted in over four dollars in cellular phone calls, but I seldom had to make the trip more than once.

Now, as a bachelor, pushing the wobbly-wheeled cart, I can look at the price of every item and decide if I will make the exchange of money for food. I can apply my own values to taste, convenience, brand names and shelf life. Here, I am the master of my own consumption. And I am good. There is only one problem. After shopping at ABCO, Safeway, Fry's for the past two years, I have come to learn the prices of various foods and to place my value on them. This becomes a problem when I visit a large discount store like Costco or Sam's Club. When I see the prices suddenly I find myself staring at what almost feels like��Oh my gosh��.FREE FOOD.

 

READER'S REVIEWS (1)
DISCLAIMER: STORYMANIA DOES NOT PROVIDE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWS. ALL REVIEWS ARE PROVIDED BY NON-ASSOCIATED VISITORS, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY CALL THEMSELVES.

"is this your therapy? i would use a psuedonym and not my real name....." -- georgi.

TO DELETE UNWANTED REVIEWS CLICK HERE! (SELECT "MANAGE TITLE REVIEWS" ACTION)

Submit Your Review for Free Food
Required fields are marked with (*).
Your e-mail address will not be displayed.

Your Name*     E-mail*

City     State/Province     Country

Your Review (please be constructive!)*


Please Enter Code*:

Submit Your Rating for Free Food

Worst     1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10     Best

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 1999 Danny I. Spitler
STORYMANIA PUBLICATION DATE
October 2000
NUMBER OF TIMES TITLE VIEWED
2286
 

Copyright © 1998-2001 Storymania Technologies Limited. All Rights Reserved.