Why I am better off with E: Left to my own devices, I go to the grocery store only out of desperation, or in not-so-frequent moments of culinary inspiration. (I like to cook; I just hate going to the store.) So I eat fresh, organic, creative, home-cooked meals for about one week out of every month. The other three-quarters of the time, if no one else takes pity on me and feeds me, I eat whatever non-perishable or at least not-yet-stale foods remain in my cabinets. Or I order in. Dinners this week:

Monday: takeout Chinese
Tuesday: leftover takeout Chinese
Wednesday: 5 Saltines and a handful of Craisins
Thursday: delicious home-cooked Laotian food at friends' apartment! Heavenly!
Friday: frozen pizza

Clearly Mr. Chen, who provided more meals than I or my friends did, deserves some thanks for my survival this week.