Preparing Pineapples

From the Medieval Tarot, the Three of Wands:

Though the use of a crane to hoist a knight upon his horse is more fallacy than fact, the image points to the advantage of planning with precision instead of riding off unprepared.  Does the knight have the right protection and weapons?  Is he strong enough and an able fighter?  Can the horse support the weight of its armored rider and remain steady when the battle begins?  Better to match the task with talent than to throw everything into a pot and hope something edible comes out of it.  This card reminds me that although I might be eager to jump in the saddle in my rush to accomplish a goal, I need to pause, look at the map and check my supplies first.  Then I can say with confidence, "Giddyup!"  

The draw from the Tea Leaf Fortune Cards this morning is "Pineapple:"

Named for its resemblance to a pine cone, the pineapple became a symbol of the return from a voyage and a symbol of hospitality.  While Dole has plenty of cans of this fruit in the grocery store, there's nothing quite like the taste of fresh pineapple.  But unlike an apple, you can't just bite into it - it takes a little effort to get to the good stuff inside.  First you cut off the top and bottom (giving it a flat base), then you carefully slice the sides off.  Like the Three of Wands above, a little preparation and effort can result in the benefits outweighing the costs rather than the other way around.