But now there's a new member of the October family—pizza. It seems that pizza has joined the official October lineup with the announcement that it is now National Pizza Month.

Ever the one to do my part to uphold the true traditions of the fall season, and being the patriotic sort that I am (after all, it is National Pizza Month), I want very much to participate in the event.

But it presents something of a dilemma. I think the concept is great, but it really begs the question: what more can I do to celebrate? After all, I already eat much more pizza than I should.

It seems that the less my wife cooks, the more pizza we eat. The reasoning is really quite simple—pizza is something we can agree on, and what's more ... they deliver.

I don't know what life is like in your house these days, but at our place, home-cooking is becoming about as rare as a 49ers victory.

Just to lighten her gastronomical burden a bit, she made an announcement not so long ago: "I want you to know," she said, "that Friday has officially become 'The Night I Don't Cook.' "

To which I carelessly replied, "So what makes Friday any different than Tuesday or Wednesday?"

Her angry glare could have roasted a turkey.

But what actually developed from her announcement was that Friday has become known around our house as "Pizza Night"—not by any real design, mind you, but just because that's where we always seem to end up after a lengthy debate over our dining options.

"What's for dinner?" I'll ask, and the debate will begin.

"I don't know ... I don't really feel much like cooking tonight," she will invariably reply (even if it's not a Friday night).

"So what else is new?" I'll jab with a snicker.

She'll snap right back, "Yeah, well maybe you'd like to cook dinner tonight!"

"Uh, maybe we should eat out," I'll suggest quickly.

"I'm way too tired," she'll say. "Anyway, I think there's a 'Dr. Phil' rerun on tonight. Let's just get take-out."

"Fine," I'll say. "How about Chinese?"

"Nah," she'll say. "What about tacos?"

"Not tonight," I'll chime in. "Let's just get some sandwiches."

"Fine," she'll say. "So where are you going? Togo's? Subway? Albertson's deli?"

"Where am I going?" I'll exclaim. "I'm not going anywhere. You have to go."

To which she'll quickly reply, "I'm not going."

"Hey, let's get a pizza," I'll suggest. "They deliver."

Sure, we can agree on pizza. It's just such an agreeable food—so round, so tasty, so nutritious ... well, so round and tasty.

Everybody loves pizza, whether cheese or a combination. Some like theirs with veggies only, others with ham and pineapple. My sons like theirs from Round Table with pepperoni and chicken.

So we all agree. Whether during National Pizza Month in October or any time of the year, pizza it is. (But, please, hold the anchovies!) It sure beats cooking.

Now, if my wife could just find a place open on Thanksgiving that could make a pizza with turkey and cranberry sauce ...