The members of my immediate family have many talents and interests, but cooking is not one of them. Therefore, breakfast staples have always included cereal, Pop-Tarts (or Pillsbury's Pastry Streudels), toast, and bagels. Of course, when we were younger, my brother and I did get to enjoy homemade waffles with strawberries, French toast, and pancakes (poured into shapes like cats and snowmen and Mickey Mouse) with more regularity, but now that everyone holds at least a part-time job, we have all exhausted whatever little energy we might have invested in making a hot meal for breakfast.

That said, I have had ample opportunity to study my own cereal-eating habits, which is obviously what one does when she has played all the games on the back of the cereal box and cannot find the Calvin & Hobbes books or the Sunday comics. Anyway, I am strictly cyclical when it comes to loving cereals. This month, I am devouring Honey Nut Cheerios like they're going out of style. Last month, it was Raisin Bran Crunch. For the four months preceding that, I was head-over-heels for Cinnamon Toast Crunch. (This overlapped with my brother's obsession with the same cereal, resulting in fits from yours truly when he would steal the last of the supply and stash it in his bedroom. We then started buying the cereal in bulk, which should really be the cue for my mother that the love boat is about to change course dramatically. I think we still have two boxes of the stuff hiding at the bottom of the pantry, undoubtedly working on some sort of plan to throw that cartoon bee and his bland cereal into the waiting and open mouth of the dog.)

I have since forgotten what my point was in writing this, but basically, I love cereal. If you have a recommendation for what should follow this Honey Nut Cheerios phase, let me know. Cereals I've already loved in the past year (in addition to those listed above): Frosted Mini Wheats, Lucky Charms, Frosted Mini Wheats again, and Froot Loops.

Edited to add: Yes, it does freak me out that my taste in cereal is getting blander over time. I hope my next passion is something sugary, so I know I'm not dying. Also, hey, another belatedly posted post! Please send all complaints via carrier pigeon.