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As some of you might know, I've spent some time in a place where seasons don't change. Where you can't mark the passing of time with rain or leaves or snow. Where every day is the same. I'm talking, of course, about California. But while the weather here doesn't clue you in to the season, you know what does? Professional football.

Did you know that there is a TV cable package where there's a game playing every hour, every day? It strikes me as entirely possible that a fan could sit down and turn that puppy on and never get up again. It's tempting, believe me. But I've spent a lot of time indoors, so for me, there's nothing like a real, live game. Seems to me that it's time Los Angeles got it together to bring back a team full time, don't you agree? If that happens, look for me in the stadium's crowded parking lot. I'll be one of a couple thousand guys throwing back a cold one and grilling burgers. A few years ago, I couldn't have imagined the freedom that comes with setting fires in a public place. Now I can only imagine it because this town, the second largest in the country, has deprived all of its loyal citizens of a football team. Where's the justice in that?

So yes, getting out to watch a game would be great but here's something I wonder about: how much time do you spend sitting around the house waiting for things to get done that allow you the "convenience" of sitting around the house? Here's what I mean -- just getting that game service installed? The cable guy was four hours late. Forget calling them to complain. There's just some phony voice menu -- and don't get me started on the voice, what's with the expressionless voice? I know what Crews would say -- don't get attached to your rage. But I'll be darned if...okay, wait, let's get back to the point here, this whole blogging thing gives you a lot of leeway...

Football: We can watch four games at once, they send you text alerts when your team is in the red zone, and they have whole games edited down to six minutes. And the receiver itself has a tap for ice cold beer. Okay, maybe I'm lying about that last part.

Every Sunday, before a game, I whip up a batch of my famous seven-layer dip. The key is using the freshest ingredients possible. That means whole avocados instead of guacamole, tomatoes instead of salsa. Otherwise, you'll end up with glop. Nobody wants to eat glop - there's enough of that when the football field gets muddy. I'm not kidding, though, food is important. There were times in my life when it seemed as if food only came in grades of beige. Tasted like that, too. But now -- have you really looked at an avocado lately? I recommend it. And then, just taste it: the sweetness and roundness of the flavor, contrasted with the bite of the salsa. I grew up thinking only girls cooked. Crazy, huh? Maybe it takes getting pulled away from the things that you take for granted to make you remember that each and every thing you eat, each and every thing you see, each and every thing you do has meaning.

And you know what I was saying back at the top about the seasons? How we live in a place with no seasons? That's not true. They're just not seasons like anybody else thinks about them. They come in big blocks: rainy season, dry season...I don't know...windy season, mud slide season...and blue, blue sky all the rest of the time, swimming weather, weather where you can feel the sun on your back (though do not, under any circumstances, skip that sunscreen)...I guess I got off the topic of football...

Ted Earley