Strange how the mind can wander. I was setting out to write a column of a somewhat serious nature, but I took off in another direction after being distracted by a number of mail order catalogs taking up space.

I took time to look them over, with the intention of discarding them as part of my 2007 effort to not keep every bit of paper that finds its way into our mailbox. I found them amusing.

Here was a collection of useful and not so useful items that have been deemed as those items we cannot live without, although we have been. I now take the pleasure of sharing them with you, and will gladly inform you where to purchase if you so desire.

My two favorite items are as follows, the onion goggles designed to prevent irritating onion vapors so the user will not shed a tear. The lenses are anti-fog, come with a case and can be worn by the male or female chef and can be yours for only $22.95! Just reading the ad made me cry.

Now we come to one that can hurt the heart of any Italian-spaghetti forks, a set of eight for the sale price of $8.99. Obviously they weren’t a big seller at $12.95. The forks are different because they have wavy tines which grip the strands (al dente, I hope) of pasta whether it be angel hair or fettucine. How silly is that?

Any Italian or real spaghetti eater knows you use a large spoon, along with a regular fork to eat spaghetti. Gather the strands on the fork move it over to the spoon and twirl-simple as that. The trick is not to grab so many strands that you are winding up all the way to the fork handle. And never cut the spaghetti, unless you are a little kid.

How about the towel and soap set that are marked “Butt” and “Face.” If you need it labeled, you’re in trouble. The towel can be had for $9.99, the soap a mere $4.99. What a deal.

The numerous gadgets available to cut and groom the human head are endless, as are the pet-related items, which also help shedding animals. The items are not interchangeable between humans and animals, I don’t think.

Also advertised is a book titled “How to Think Like a Horse.” I sometimes wonder how humans think so there’s no time to consider how a horse thinks.

Also in the category of “can’t live without it,” the Consumer Electronics Show is currently running and the stuff that comes from the manufacturers is mind boggling, at least for me. Remember I am still learning how to use my cellphone without the addition of blackberries, blueberries, Burberry’s (oops, that’s a clothing line) more Apple and MacIntosh stuff, iPod and on and on all named after foods. I don’t get it, and by the time I do, there will be something else advertised to “make life easier”.

New year’s review

In answer to the question I have been asked many times lately-the dinner at the Chew Chew Cafe on New Year’s Eve was outstanding. I carry the menu in my purse if you’re interested in seeing what we ate. Scott did it again! Yum-o!

Don’t mention it

Also, to the ski club group who attended the Petrik party and wanted to be mentioned in my column, consider yourselves mentioned. Nice to meet you all. Good party!