Call It What You Want...

Dear America's Test Kitchen (and all my friends, in case Christopher Kimball doesn't have my blog bookmarked yet):

On your suggestion, we asked for and received the Victorinox Chef's Knife for Christmas. Lately, I've been cooking more -- perhaps because I have a good knife -- and I even bought a bag of onions, more than half of which I have already used. Generally more than half rot before I get to them. But I've always hated cutting onions because my eyes water so dreadfully when I do. Except they don't anymore. Have I gotten tougher, or does having a good knife make cutting onions not only easier (you should have seen my fine dice today), but also less eye-watering?

Dear This Old House:

I love your show and your magazine. So does my 2-year-old. When we read your magazine, he looks for the spot where the stars of the show are pictured, then points to each one so I can identify each in turn: Norm Abram, Tom Silva, Kevin O'Conner, Rich Trethewey, Roger Cook, and then he repeats each name. Rich Trethewey, he doesn't do so well with. Norm, he has down pat. Anyway. Yesterday he pointed to the word "Healthy Care" imprinted on the front of his baby brother's high chair and said, "House. Old House." Not only did he announce the magazine name when I got my most recent issue (recognizing it from the show), but he picked out the "H" on the high chair. Now he knows that "H is for 'House'." He's quite proud. If only he could replace the kitchen floor and wire in some new outlets with what he's learned from you guys.

Dear Waste Management:

My son also loves your trucks. He only knows two letters right now (sometimes three), and the first that he learned was W. "Trash truck!" Unfortunately, he thinks that "Trash truck" starts with W, I think. So, while I'm enthusiastic about my kid's affection for your trucks and your WM logo, do you think you could change it to "TT" for Trash Truck or something?

Sincerely,
Your Friend Jenny