Rants:
Fruit-infused water: Water is a tasteless liquid, and it usually just weakens the flavor of other drinks. However, once I saw an advertisement for Hint, I became compelled to try fruit-infused water. Picture the following: the drink seems appetizing. The look is clean, intriguing, and fresh. The drink itself smells good. Then you take a sip, and it tastes like… water. What you were hoping to be a refreshing, fruity beverage became a bland, disappointing cup of what may as well be plain water. My point is, the standards are too high for such an underwhelmingly flavorless drink. Maybe if the taste of the drink matched its inviting aroma, I would have more positive things to say about fruit-infused water.
Biking on sidewalks: I understand that it’s safest for young kids to stay out of the street when they are biking, and I don’t have a problem with that. Generally, kids have small bikes that don’t take up much of the sidewalk. But when an adult or teenager is biking on the sidewalk, they tend to believe they have the right to use the entire sidewalk because they are on a bike. Not to mention, this forces pedestrians who are rightfully using the sidewalk to step into the street or stand off to the side in someone else’s driveway. Biking on sidewalks increases the possibility of a harmful collision. The only logical reason someone might be on the sidewalk is to avoid traffic, but that’s inconsiderate to the pedestrians using sidewalks for their actual purpose. It’s called a sidewalk, not a sidebike.
Pizza: Why do so many people love pizza? I find it extremely hard to find a good pizza, since there are many aspects that could go wrong. First, the pizza crust. It’s one of the most difficult parts to make in moderation– you either have a dry, flat, or bland crust, or so much crust that the flavor of the rest of the pizza is restricted. Second, pizza simply has a low-quality taste. The only way to make up for its naturally-dry taste is to use an excessive amount of grease. Finally, there just isn’t a way to maintain the first-day taste of pizza. After the freshness dies off, the pizza reverts to being dry and bland all over again. To combat this, you’re forced to either buy an overpriced single slice of pizza or find someone who’s willing to eat the remaining half of your pizza.
Raves:
The window seat on a plane: There are so many benefits to the window seat. The most obvious one is probably the amazing views you get during takeoff and landing, but its superiority goes beyond just sightseeing opportunities. As the passenger closest to the window, you have control over whether the window is closed or open. On red eye flights, the side of the plane offers an adequate headrest. You also aren’t trapped between two people, and if you’re not a fan of social interaction, you’re the farthest away from the flight attendant while you’re ordering food and drinks. It’s just the best seat to have overall.
Vanilla ice cream: Vanilla is such a recognizable, popularly-used flavor in many desserts, so the familiarity of vanilla ice cream attracts many dessert fans (including me), despite its simplicity. There are millions of desserts out there, including chocolate cake, brownies, and pie. But sometimes desserts need some unique flavor– an extra kick– something to make it stand out. That’s where vanilla ice cream comes into play. It works well when paired with most other desserts, and it’s especially loved on brownies. Vanilla ice cream is the very reason the dessert term “a la mode” exists. It’s a classic original ice cream flavor, a simple but effective dessert topper, and meets all the expectations of ice cream: sweet, creamy, flavorful, and refreshing.
Spring: Ideal weather is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with few clouds in the sky and a bright sun. The best time to experience this weather is either spring or fall, when the air is cooling down or warming up. However, this is where a dilemma occurs: which is better, spring or fall? Sports-wise, I prefer baseball (a spring sport) over football (a fall sport). In terms of school, I much prefer having the whole summer to look forward to than the entire school year ahead of me. And on the topic of anticipation, I enjoy knowing that I’ll be able to look outside without an overcast sky to darken my day. Overall, I appreciate how spring is the “happy medium” between winter and summer, and the fact that it paves the way for the upcoming season of freedom.
