{"id":3933,"date":"2019-10-14T19:48:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T19:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nosmallthing.net\/main\/?p=3933"},"modified":"2021-05-08T14:19:16","modified_gmt":"2021-05-08T14:19:16","slug":"take-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nosmallthing.net\/main\/take-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Take-Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I just drove my bestie to the airport.\u00a0 She\u2019s returning to California after two weeks in Chi-town where she\u2019s been working on the renovation of the lakefront co-op she purchased last spring.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not a spokesperson for petrochemical-based packaging, but it seems like I have relevant experience.<\/p>\n

I looked over the plastic containers and divided Styrofoam boxes now spread out over my kitchen counter.\u00a0 They represented Lin\u2019s dining excursions for the week.<\/p>\n

I accompanied her for many dinners out, which resulted in some leftovers, and I inherited a few more containers which, not wanting to let anything go to waste, she brought to my place in a tall white plastic garbage bag on her last night in town.<\/p>\n

We also had leftovers from the breakfast stop we took on the way to O\u2019Hare.<\/p>\n

I had already re-packed slices of stuffed spinach and mushroom pizza in a freezer-safe zip-loc.\u00a0 Most of a perfect golden waffle and cinnamon roll (for which Ann Sather<\/a> is famous) was still in its original container.\u00a0 Half of my veggie omelet was in a matching Styrofoam box, which thankfully, I did not break when trying to close it.<\/p>\n

Half of a mixed green salad (with vinaigrette on the side) was in a black plastic bowl with a clear lid.\u00a0 A few pieces of sushi, along with rice, filled out another take-home container.<\/p>\n

Before letting my friend off at Departures<\/em>, I asked her when she went out for sushi as I didn\u2019t want to entertain any bacteria in my body no matter how pricey the mackerel was.<\/p>\n

Ahhh. I was both bewildered by the sight (of all these leftovers) and delighted.<\/p>\n

Even though I knew these edibles were paid for (a few fees for parking may have also been included in some nights out), it felt like I was now able to stock my fridge with FREE FOOD for the week.<\/p>\n

I knew this was a little trick I was playing with my mind, with how I framed things.<\/p>\n

Again, dinners out were paid for, but now it felt like I had MEALS that I didn\u2019t have to plan or budget for.<\/p>\n

I loved this!<\/p>\n

The Cambridge Dictionary<\/em><\/strong>, online version, defines take-home<\/strong> as;<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bought from a shop and eaten, used, etc. somewhere else.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The concept of take-home<\/strong> delights me.<\/p>\n