"It takes different strokes to move the world..."

Those who know me know that I hate politics. I hate talking about politics and I hate listening to people talk about politics. I also hate reading about politics. It just seems to me that everyone has their own opinion about things like that and they become raving idiots when they start spouting off about their favorite (or least favorite) politician or political party. It drives me bananas.

It was out of character that I would ever read anything labeled "political", but I did so this morning. I was checking out some of the headlines on Yahoo & saw an AP article about the nation's fascination with the Obama's eating habits. Now, I'm not into politics, but I do have a love for things culinary, so I read on. Apparently, everybody & their brother are buzzing about what the Obama's eat, where the Obama's eat, etc., etc. Ok. I can get it...I mean, they're celebrities, so...ok. But then I read a paragraph that slightly irked me. It basically started out with a quip from the First Lady saying that she doesn't really miss cooking since moving into the White House. Then it went on to quote Amanda Hesser, former food editor for the New York Times Magazine, who was apparently offended at Mrs. Obama's honesty. She said, "...the message was unmistakable: that everyday cooking is a chore."

"everyday cooking is a chore"

Um...that's because it IS! I thought to myself just last night as I was throwing together a favorite casserole for dinner, "jeez...I just put in over 8 hours at my job at the hospital. Then I come home and put in another 45-60 minutes preparing dinner for my family. Boy, I'm tired!"

Cooking is a chore. Doing the dishes afterward? A chore. Going to the grocery store to pick up ingredients? A chore. Don't get me wrong...I like to cook! But still, it is most times a chore!

So why jump over someone for being honest? I don't get it. I know, I know...celebrities are looked up to as role models. I don't know why, but whatever. (I know some are more worthy than others...I'm not trying to lump in a graduate of Harvard law school with Paris Hilton...but I'm just sayin'.) Still...First Lady or not...she's a real person. She has real opinions. She probably likes to do stuff that other people don't like to do...so who gives a flyin' fig if she likes to cook or not? Who's to say she doesn't like to cook? She didn't say that either! She just said she doesn't miss it. Big deal. I'm sure if she really got a penchant for whipping up some blueberry pancakes or whatever, she'd do it.

I just wish people wouldn't blow things like that out of proportion and make a federal case out of it. Everyone just needs to relax and rejoice in the fact that everyone is different for a reason. Thank God that there are people who honestly LOVE to cook...so that those of us who are too tired after work can be fed by them!

"My mother was a good recreational cook, but what she basically believed about cooking was that if you worked hard and prospered, someone else would do it for you.” ~ Nora Ephron