February 4, 2005

The fruitboard

fruitboard.jpg
Next to my sink I have a wall (technically a side of a cupboard) where I affix all of the stickers from fruit I eat. (If I throw out the fruit, the sticker also gets thrown out.) This fruitboard has been operational for about 1 year and the stickers (from left to right) are from Bananas, Apples, Peaches, Nectarines and Plums. The last 3 columns are not scheduled for much growth since my roommate who moved out was the only one who ate them. (I prefer my peaches pickled, which means they don't come with stickers). The fruitboard is a tradition that dates back to my 4th year of college. One of my roommates was eating a Banana next to the sink, didn't know what to do with the sticker, and stuck it on the cupboard. The tradition slowly grew and everyone in the apartment started doing the same thing… mainly because we were all too lazy to take the sticker down and throw it out like normal people.
I am a little worried about this particular fruitboard because the banana growth has been exponential! My roommate started sticking her apples too close to the bananas. To make matters worse, my new roommate only eats bananas… if you catch my drift…
When looking at any fruitboard, there are two natural imbalances you must take into account before making any judgments: (1) some fruits (particularly bananas) only put 1 or 2 stickers per bunch. So each sticker actually signifies 2-3 consumed bananas. (2) The stickers are different sizes. The banana sticker is huge, but at the same time it is not 2-3 times the nectarine sticker like it should be. So what is the comparative factor that determines sticker size? fruit weight? fruit mass? fruit calories? fruit importance? corporate fruit donations to the FDA?
Other things pictured with the fruitboard: my electric fry pan, which I use for cooking everything (even my world famous burgers!). I think I would starve if it weren’t for this creation (and hot-pockets/lime jello). My new plates. They are like fiesta ware, but square.... kind of like I am 1/2 party and 1/2 square. (As I write this all, they are starting to sound like the mullet of dinnerware.) My glasses I spent 2 months searching for and ended up settling for Martha Stewart "Living" glasses. I need to have glasses without any frills (no strange lines, funky patterns, ripples, bubbles, etc)... they must be big (14oz+... I drink a lot and I hate getting up to refill the glasses. Juice glasses are a waste of money. If you only want a little bit, pour 1/4 a glass!!!! I HATE JUICE GLASSES!!!!)... they must be light (I take all the glasses out of their packaging before I buy them to see how heavy they are. I am weak enough as is it and my wrists give out if the glass is too heavy before you even add the beverage.)
The top shelf holds tupperware and peanut products. I basically have my kitchen arranged so I don't have to bend down. If you are relegated to a lower shelf, you probably don't have much clout with me. (Juice glasses would go below the lower shelf if such a place existed... the only one I can think of is hell, which is probably the only place to exclusively use juice glasses). In summary, that's why plates, glasses, Tupperware and peanut products are all on the top shelf. Posted by hans1995 at February 4, 2005 8:51 AM
Comments

Juice glasses rock!

Posted by: Eric at February 4, 2005 5:48 PM

Danger! Those tupperwares are going to leap off and clobber someone!

Posted by: Eric at February 4, 2005 5:48 PM

that poor cupboard looks so lonely stuck in the corner by itself. it needs a friend, a rolling cabinet or, horrors, a living thing, maybe a plant or something. wait, i hear something.....

"help me. oh please help! i'm a lonely cupboard humiliated by fruit stickers."

Posted by: Sherman at February 4, 2005 6:03 PM

If you use juice glasses, you won't strain your dainty wrists.

Posted by: Eric at February 4, 2005 6:08 PM

i just heard someone in the next room call your cupboard PATHETIC.

"listen to him, G. Bob! I'm pathetic. I need friends."

Posted by: Sherman at February 4, 2005 6:09 PM

First of all, the fruit stickers are a badge of honor. There are lots of places I could put them (and lots of places people have told me to stick them), but I chose that cupboard because I like it.

Second of all, the cupboard has a great view of all the other cupboards across the kitchen from him. He gets to spend his day checking out the sexy hinges across the way. Grrrrr.

Third of all, he is right above my counter-top convection oven... which is probably my second most-used kitchen appliance. So he is the honored cupboard that gets to hold the most used kitchen items.... and he is above and below the two most commonly used appliances.... LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!

Fourth of all, he actually gets more women than I do.... and that's not a joke.... more women have touched his wood than..... aaaah.... it's late. I probably shouldn't be typing now.... Oh, and death to juuuuuuuice glasses!!

Posted by: Generation Bob at February 4, 2005 11:45 PM

Much evidence of linear programming..Placing fruit stickers in mandala formation might create more harmony. You BOUGHT Martha Stewart glasses? Egads, worse than I thought..Old fashioned,I'm sticking with my used Nutella glass collection which is almost as good as a jam jar collection, whether or not Martha screams from her jail cell..BTW, you heard that Martha LOST the jail cell decoration contest, didn'tcha? Why dirty a big glass when you can dirty a small one instead?..when they break, less glass to clean up.

Posted by: Heather at February 5, 2005 4:24 AM

I think the froo-eat stickers should go on the coffee table.

Posted by: Eric at February 5, 2005 7:09 AM

i think you should cover a jacket, preferably leather, with fruit stickers. now THAT would be arty. girls would love you. and your banana.

Posted by: Sherman at February 5, 2005 10:26 AM

Comments! Comments! Comments!

Posted by: Eric at February 5, 2005 3:03 PM

When you get tired of your banana stickers, please send them to me. I collect them avidly!

Sam
1049 Beach Lake Drive
Yadkinville, NC 27055-5843

Posted by: Sambolino at December 2, 2005 7:36 AM

Remember to reuse before you recycle. However, I don't suggest putting a #4011 sticker on a plantain or red banana. That's outright deception. Therefore, recycle all your banana (as well as veggie/fruit) stickers to me. I'll send you your postage back (or whatever stuff you might collect that I have laying around my house).

Sambolino

Posted by: Sambolino at March 24, 2006 6:31 AM