A Corny Method of Psychoanalysis

It is corn on the cob season here in Wethersfield, CT – the time when we maize maniacs get to overindulge and, amateur psychologists get the opportunity to reckon our personalities from the techniques that we utilize.

             

And on that front there seems to be near unanimous agreement – as expressed here by Lissa at psychoticscrivener.com

             

“There are actually three different ways people eat corn on the cob:

             

“Typewriter: Eating corn on the cob from side to side – You are rational, analytical and not so much into surprises. You most likely live a very organized life; everything must be in order.

             

“Rotary: Eating corn on the cob around and around – You are spontaneous, creative and enjoy new experiences. You are artistic and have your own style.

             

“Hunt-and-peck: Eating corn on the cob in a haphazard way – You are a random thinker and impulsive, taking advantage of opportunities as they come along.

             

Mars devours her corn the first way – me the second.  So that psychoanalysis makes perfect sense to me.  I cannot think of anyone I know who “hunts and pecks”.

             

We also feed corn on the cob to the squirrels that hang around our property.  It is a dried corn that we buy year-around in ten-pound bags from a local garden center.  We present the food on a green metal “Adirondack Chair Squirrel Feeder” wherein the corn ear is threaded onto a vertical screw at the front of the seat.  We also have more conventional seed feeders for our feathered guests.

Normally I fill the all feeding stations just before dark each night so they are ready for the early birds the next morning.  By then 99% of our diners have tucked themselves in for the evening.

             

Next day when Mars and I get up and look outside the seed feeders are usually occupied, and the ear of corn is normally picked clean. However a few times this summer I have noticed that woody cylinder to be only half-eaten.

             

I expected the remaining pattern of kernels to be random.  But that was never the case.  One time the cob was naked at the top and filled at the bottom.  Not totally a surprise and something I can identify with.

             

But on at least three occasions the remaining rows of kernels – each of which appeared to be complete ­– ran lengthwise from end to end.

             
Now that I find to be more than a little disturbing.