The Baking Soda Caddy

I've been in my usual cranky mood today. That is, my usual cranky mood on a day when I have to get up at 5:45 am to drive D to work. Things did not improve when I went to pick him up after work and I had to sit in my car for an hour and a half because they were running behind schedule.

When he finally got into the car, he asked if I would take him to Home Outfitters to do some shopping. I didn't want to and he told me I didn't have to. But I knew that if I didn't, I would just have to go myself on Saturday and screw up one of my days off. So I took him.

You know Christmas can't be far away when the stores start to stockpile absolutely useless merchandise which will do little more than provide someone with something to wrap up and hand to someone else because that's what they are expected to do. And tonight, I think I saw this year's first such "Gift that's not a good gift."

It was called the "Baking Soda Caddy." It's made of plastic (of all things) and it's a holder for your box of baking soda which can be hung off a shelf in your fridge. For fuck sakes! Who needs a decorative caddy for their box of baking soda? Who I ask?

I decided not to buy one just yet. You know how it is with technology. I suspect next year's model will be out in January yeilding this one obsolete. I hear that the new ones will have built in timers/calendars to remind you when it's time to change your box of baking soda. And they will come in different colours to coordinate with the box of your favourite brand.

I could never invent such a modern convenience and get rich from it. I'd stop myself from bringing it to maket because I'd convince myself it's stupid. I have a tendency to overestimate people. I think if you need a holder for everything you put in your fridge you either need a larger appliance or you have problems that can't be fixed with a piece of plastic.

Perhaps the creators of the "Baking Soda Caddy" will succeed at uncluttering countless refridgerators this Yuletide. If not, they at least cheered me up by reminding me that there are a lot of people out there that are more stupid than I.