Either/or choices

1. Are you a dog person or a cat person? My family never had dogs as pets when I was growing up. My parents both were reared on farms, where dogs were useful farmhands, doing things such as bringing in the cows at milking time, and cats were there to keep the mice under control. Neither was welcome in the house. As and adult, I've been "mom" to four different dogs -- a basset hound, two Labrador retrievers and a dachshund -- and three bluepoint siamese cats: Lazarus, who really live nine lives, and Rock-A-Bye and Jasmine, aka Rock and Jazz. For now, it's my weiner dog Gilbert Grape and I.

2. Boxers or briefs? I can't comment on this from a personal experience. As the mother of two sons, I've heard both sides of the argument. You?

3. Sweet or salty? While I enjoy good sweets and rich chocolates and once found myself on the butter-pecan-ice-cream diet, I prefer salty snacks. Sometimes I crave Twinkies. Did I say I prefer salty snacks?

4. White or red? Sweet or dry? Yes, it's a matter of taste, but it's also a matter of experience. Broaden your experiences -- you might find it's not either/or, but, perhaps, and/or.

5. Coffee or tea? This used to be a simple question. No more. Sweet or unsweet? Diet or regular? Caffeine? No caffeine? Sugar or sweetener? Which sweetener? Regular or herbal? Brew with loose tea? Grind your own beans? Visit a coffee shop and the choices expand. Glance at the convenience-store cooler and the selections seem endless.