I do love the payola.

We get some awesome stuff in the food "department." (As in, the features editor and myself.) Today, I was gifted a self-published book, "Quick and Healthy Meals from Trader Joe's." Right up my alley! Now I can validate the trip that was otherwise going to be just for the wine.


Some other gifts:

• Yesterday, we got a can of Emerald Cocoa Roast Almonds. They weren't sweet, like chocolate-coated would be, but more rich, with a dark-chocolate powder on them. The first one was a little jarring because you expect it to be sugary, but they're strangely addictive. Until other people start putting their hands in the can.
• Earlier this week, we got some soft candy from Baskin Robbins. There were two flavors: mint chocolate and strawberry. Most people were just disappointed that the tiny foil bags didn't have ice cream in them. Um, think about it.
• Last week, we got a package from Miller Beer that held a bottle and a can of Chill, beer with lime and salt (which the PR people coined as "chelada-style"). It's still sitting on my desk as an example of how cool my job is.