My mom took me out shopping for my birthday (which is on Saturday) and I got a shiny new mandoline. Excitedly, I tried it out on some limes when I got home, reminding myself to watch my fingers and conjuring up the many images of bandaged thumbs on various blogs from mandoline-related accidents. Despite all of that, I cut myself. The moment I was slicing off a bit of my thumb, I laughed, thinking, “but of course, who was I to think that I wouldn’t injure myself on the first try?”

No matter how much blood is shed, though, the mandoline makes a hell of a lime slice. The drink I poured to ease my (honestly, not very intense) pain was delicious.