I’m not the greatest cook, so I pay close attention to recipes. No, that’s not strong enough--I depend upon recipes to lead me by the hand, console me, and whisper comforting things about daffodils and world peace. So imagine my dismay as I carefully moved through a recipe and hit upon the line, “Add paprika, chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste.”

I’m a marketing writer. Do I hand out stacks of blank paper to our salespeople and say “Add a bunch of blather about our company--to taste”? Does a fireman shove a hose at somebody and say “Save your house and all your possessions--to taste”? If I had any taste, I wouldn’t need a recipe. I depend upon the professionals.

This has, however, given me a new idea for a book. Please be on the lookout for Greg’s Big Book of Recipes, coming to a Barnes & Noble near you. It’ll contain a single sentence--"Make a bunch of stuff. To taste.”