Here I am, at home in Southern California, where life is far too easy. I’m from the kind of rich hippie town where public art installations are well-funded, but atrocious (yes, the title of that work is “early bird shopper”), and wild teenagers carve peace signs into cactus arms. It’s nice, being on a break and having free time to squander any way I want. Yesterday I went to the grocery store and, overwhelmed by all the colors and marketing schemes, wandered around gawking at different products. The same kind of confusing culture shock happens to me when I watch t.v. news or flip through Sky Mall. Anyway, among the selection of fine pet foods at the market:

Hot dog! Whatta rack! And an enviable waist line, too.

Also, a frightened girl held hostage with a candy cane among these absurd stock images peddling sausage: (Because it’s “Always a Party!” with sausage.)

And, finally, children, brush your teeth with ice cream!