Most of us at the library keep a tin of Altoids in our desk drawer.  It’s a functional thing: if you have garlic for lunch, you need a remedy.  After all, you are breathing on the public all day; might as well be minty fresh.

Much as I appreciate Altoids, I can’t say that I search them out.  I use them to fight garlic, and to keep my gastric equilibrium when suffering from a migraine (fact: peppermint oil defeats migraine nausea).  But I certainly don’t crave Altoids, nor do I really enjoy them. Altoids are what they are.

Or so I thought.  Yesterday in Brooks Pharmacy, I was brought to a dead stop in front of a display of a new Altoids product:  Altoids dipped in dark chocolate.  “Could be nasty,” I thought, “but then again, could be fabulous…”

And the verdict is — they’re fabulous.  Wow.  With dark-chocolate dipped Altoids in my desk, the work day will seem shorter and brighter.  Try them, if you haven’t already.  (I’m guessing that my sister is on her way to the store right now to buy some…hey, Jean, they have a goodly dose of caffeine, too!!)