I fixate on things. It's standard for me to cram a particular phrase into every conversation I have for weeks, or spend countless hours googling something like bokeh or cabinet cards or Tom Waits. Sometimes this tendency culminates in unbound creativity and wit. Sometimes it results in me not having any clean work clothes and annoying the bejesus out of my friends. Lately I have been obsessing over cakes. 

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I work with quite a few potluck enthusiasts. I get bashful, though, whenever we have these sorts of celebrations because my cooking skills are...unimpressive. After a few half-hearted attempts the only thing I've learned is this single nugget of wisdom: Choose your battles. I figure what I lack in accurate measurements and cooking times, I make up for in presentation.

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