...No, It Isn't

When I wrote my last post, I had a feeling that it could potentially unleash a torrent of negative reaction.

However, I assumed that such sentiment would be spewed forth by one of those "gold bugs," offended that I so much as implied that the price of gold had risen to irrational heights. You know the type, don't you? The type of person who still rails about the fact that we moved off of the gold standard, who has correctly predicted 12 out of the last five recessions, and who refuses to even visit California, because he's convinced that the next "big one" is coming any minute now, and will plunge the entire Golden State into the Pacific Ocean.

Interestingly, I've not yet heard from those quarters. Instead, it appears that FBB is offended by the idea that I prefer to obtain my pastry from a professional purveyor of such edibles, rather than a homemade version.

I'd like to set that record straight, on several points:

* I think that FBB is an excellent bakestress. I enjoy her pastry very much, both for its taste, and for the significant effort that she obviously invests in its preparation.
* In general, I hold FBB in high regard, as evidenced by the fact that I've given her a score of above 50 for 16 consecutive years in the annual Wife Survey, which is administered by the Institute for the Advancement of Men (IAM). To give you an idea of what that means, bear in mind that a score of 50 equates with "average." So as you can see I've rated FBB "above average" for 16 consecutive years. I have no doubt that she is as proud of that impressive streak as I am.
(In case you were wondering about why there's a need for the Institute for the Advancement of Men, consider the following: Not only do women have a higher life expectancy than men, but that life expectancy gap is widening. The conspiracy against men, so obvious to anyone who simply pays attention to the world around him/her, continues in full force. To our male readers, here's a tip. The next time a female complains about the glass ceiling, be sure to mention the six-foot-thick dirt ceiling).
* When we're at someone else's house, and I'm served a good piece of cake, and upon tasting it I declare, "Wow, this tastes like store-bought cake!" I'm being nice, not rude.
* In general, a disagreement cannot be referred to as "one of the great arguments of our marriage" unless there's a restraining order involved. Or, at least one situation where I'm asked politely by a police officer to come out of the house for a "discussion," and I step outside wearing a tobacco juice-stained sleeveless undershirt (that's a crime right there), and say "she done started it, officer," and answer his follow-up question with "No, I ain't been drinkin' since...before."

However, I'm man enough to admit when my opinions are not in line with the mainstream, and to adjust to that reality, as needed.

Therefore, for any of you who accept the wager I discussed in my previous post (where I bet that the price of gold would be lower than $1,100.00 per ounce on May 9, 2010), and win, FBB will be happy to bake you a cupcake.

And, as FBB mentioned, I'm open-minded enough that I'm willing to accept baked goods from anyone who believes that he or she could change my opinion on the matter.