I've been super swamped since I came back from Orlando, but there's this one conundrum that's been driving me crazy every time I walk out of my own door. I need to solicit your help here.
So here's the story...
I live in live-work loft building. There are many artists, photographers, crafts-people in my building, and my next door neighbor happens to be a gallery owner, who runs his gallery right here at home. His art work spills over to the hallway all the way past my unit (where the door mat is in this picture), which means every day I walk out of my door, I sort of walk into my own art gallery. Which is pretty neat, except that sometimes after a piece really grows on me, it gets sold and I feel all sad and empty.
This was the case a few weeks ago when the piece right smack dab in front of our unit got sold, and we had to stare at this blank void for a week before a new piece got put in its place.
When the piece arrived, I thought, OK, it's a vintage poster of a man selling Kellogg's cereal, it's very yellow, but it's aesthetically pleasing enough, and so I didn't think too much of it.
Until one day, I was propping the door open to wait for Jacques, and I had the first opportunity to really read what's on the poster, which is where the conundrum begins...
You'll see in the bigger picture below that there's a thermostat on the left side, which reads around 85, which together with the fact that this man is wiping his forehead probably means it's a hot day out there (gotta love these visual messaging in vintage posters). And the text says "NOW's the time for Kellogg's Corn Flakes".
Huh? Why is it a good time to eat cornflakes when it's 85 degrees outside? It got me thinking for days (and some sleepless nights)... We had some theories, but...
Wait. I think I got it! (See, writing a blog makes you think harder than you normally have to, and thus smarter, dare I say) I guess back in the 50's or whenever this poster was made, before the advent of instant breakfast (aka cereal), your only option is to labor in the kitchen and cook your omelette and pancakes and what not. What a revolutionary idea Kelloggs represented then, that on a hot day, everyone can get away from the stove, and not have to cook and still enjoy a delicious breakfast. Even a man wearing a tie can manage that!
That sounds like a good theory, right? Tell me I'm on the right track so I won't be tossing and turning in bed tonight.
