Pop Tarts

Not many people know that I used to work for Kellogg's. I did though, for one semester during college. I got a ton of free stuff (mostly edibles, chotchkes, and logoed junk) but I still have a Tony the Tiger plush toy and a semi-classy black Frosted Flakes duffel somewhere.
Anyhoo, I wasn't great at my job. I couldn't get Kellogg's any further visibility on campus and was escorted off KU property when I tried to give out free samples.
I did get $10 per hour and the chance to try Apple Cinnamon Pop Tarts. Lots of them. They are, by far, the best Pop Tart. Even if you come right out in my face like my brother will do and say that Brown Suga Sinnamon is. NO.

Long story short, last year my beloved flavor was discontinued. I was much more stressed and disheartened by finding this out than i should've been. For awhile I took to checking for their return every time I was at Schnuck's.
I like grocery shopping a lot more than most people. I was raised to like it. Ask my Dad.

I stopped checking for the return shortly after the New Year. I turned to reduced-sugar Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal. Fiber and all, you know. More filling, too.

A few days ago, I check out one of my favorite blogs - theimpulsivebuy.com - and see this:

I'm just going to say that Kellogg's shouldn't have messed with perfection. Or tried to increase their profit margin by decreasing the amount of filling.

We're Gonna Go Way Back

Whenever I think about my education, I always think of Central Jr. High first. Go back to 1994 with me for a second. What were you doing that year? I'd just gotten into listening to Nirvana, found a band called Weezer and had a wicked crush on Gabe, who had a locker close to mine. I was in 7th grade and life was incredibly exciting.
I went to a school right downtown, a 100 year old brick building with 4 stories and a racially diverse student body. I felt lucky to go there because everyone told me I should be.
A large part of the time I was simultaneously confident and confused. One of the things that confused me the most (aside from why my mom thought purchasing a Land's End flannel shirt would be considered grunge and thus make me cool) was the creation of the Strong Black Brothas & Sistas Club.

Its my understanding that the club was created to create solidarity between the African-American students. It was created by a local pastor, Rev. Kennybrew. I think he helped with conflict resolution at the school, but had no official position. The club had regular meetings and they weren't exclusionary -- you could be white and attend. I don't think many white kids wanted to go though.

The club only lasted for a short time. I think parents were upset or something, largely because of the name. I never had any problem with it. I just wanted to know what they did at the meetings.

I hope my brother (he's actually my brother, not my brotha) corrects me if I'm wrong about any of this.

Kim, my only friend in the office at the Evil Corporation, is registered to participate in a giveaway for a new hot tub. Although St Patrick's Day is over, the gimmick is that you have to jump in "the world's largest bowl of Lucky Charms". If you find the key, you win. Oh, there's milk in the hot-tub bowl, as well. And lots of people looking at you. I really hope she does it. Just because its the kind of thing I'd like to take a picture of and post here on my blog.

booooooored

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American Cities That Best Fit You:

70% Austin

65% Las Vegas

55% Atlanta

55% Denver

55% Honolulu

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Black Comedy

In your life, things are so twisted that you just have to laugh. You may end up insane, but you'll have fun on the way to the asylum. Your best movie matches: Being John Malkovich, The Royal Tenenbaums, American Psycho

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

You Are a Natural Beauty!

You're the kind of beauty that every guy dreams about... One that looks good in the morning - without a stich of makeup That's doesn't mean you're a total hippie chic though You have style, but for you, style is effortless

What Type of Beauty Are You?

Don't Be Like Everyone Else

I've heard forever that it is best to "be yourself." But what if being yourself is a trifle boring? I don't really care what other people think, but I don't ever want to be bored with myself.
I found this great quote:
"Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinion, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation." ~Oscar Wilde
I used to know quite a lot about Oscar Wilde. But when I posted the quote I realized that I only remembered that he wrote The Importance of Being Ernest which and was gay.
I found out that he was a brilliant playwright, wrote only one book (“The Picture of Dorian Gray") that was published 90 years before I was born, and knew a ton about the human condition.

Two, Yes Two, Words of the Day

The first - offing-a noun meaning, "in the near or foreseeable future." I first saw this word on the Lawrence Journal-World's website, believe it or not, in this phrase: "Mild day in the offing, temperatures in the 50s."Offing can also mean "the part of the sea visible from shore that is very distant or beyond anchoring ground." I'm pretty sure, given the context, that was not what they meant.

The second -frottage-is a noun meaning,"the act of rubbing against the body of another person, as in a crowd, to attain sexual gratification." I got this from a sentence in a book I'm reading called Diary of a Viagra Fiendby Jayson Gallaway. "I'll wait until we're filming B-roll in some seedy nightclub and yank you onto the dance floor and frottage your thigh then." Frottage can also mean "a method of making a design by placing a piece of paper on top of an object and then rubbing over it, as with a pencil or charcoal." But again, from the context, I'm fairly sure that's not the case.

My sister is coming to visit a week from last night. I don't know what we'll be doing, except that she'll see me wash dishes at Kitchen Affairs one night and witness the arrogance of the chef alongside me.

Its Friday

So I'm on myspace now, despite the fact that it seems like 85% of the people are younger than me. I tell myself that its ok, age isn't anything but a number (except in the cases of certain boys I've dated) and I'm enjoying surfing and adding "friends."
I'll be back in Lawrence the night of April 12 for some R&R but mostly seeing Jodi and Kristen and Em and Mom and Dad and Peggy and then my sweet Grammy before going to Wichita for Grandpa's 80th birthday. I missed Grandad's due to something I can't remember and won't make that mistake again.
Just finished reading the eulogy Dad gave for Grandad and tears started flowing freely...I have a big regret that I didn't know him better. A part of me was always kind of nervous around him (which doesn't mean much, I am/used to be nervous around a lot of people) but I never knew what to say. He was mostly stoic and serious, until the last few years of his life.
It will be hard going to his house, knowing he won't be there and seeing Grammy in pain.
On a completely opposite note, there's a place to get (fairly) free-range elk and venison in a town nearby Wichita. Yum.
Last night was a really good time of homestyle cooking...class at Kitchen Affairs with my fave chef, Scott...all of his classes in the months to come are already spoken for, in terms of assistants. Grrrrr.
I think I'm catering tomorrow for my secret mentor, Cindy. yayay

Ways I Am Like a Man

But first, today's Word of the Day.
Jingoistic, a noun meaning "extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy; chauvinistic patriotism." Basically a country being a collective asshole to other countries.
I think I liked the word better when I didn't know what it meant. Now I'm singing the song about the dog named B-I-N-G-O except, you know.

Ways I am like a Man

1. I pick out my pants for work (from my closet) based on whether they are long enough that I don't have to wear socks. I don't like socks. Fashion just doesn't apply here.

2. Sometimes I find myself thinking think, "I wonder how the Jayhawks pulled out that victory?" when people are talking about their health problems or "getting old."

3. I've never had a manicure or pedicure and really think it is easiest and cleanest to keep nails short.

4. The girls I am friends with are special to me because there is no pettiness, jealousy, or needless conversation about why that outfit makes that girl look like a hooker.

5. I can't physically go shopping for more than 1 hour without it draining my energy.

This thing called MySpace

Is it good? I've never really looked at the site...its blocked here at work. Maybe a worthwhile way to meet people? I need a good picture of myself though.

At this Point

It is now the Friday afternoon before the weekend to be spent in Chicago.
I'm also taking the plunge and seeing if the good ol' local Courier & Press has any worthwhile food-type jobs for someone with no food experience.

Oh, won't you come with me on this journey through Classified land?
Let's see....Trade Show Cooking Host. That could be fun. Ahhh, its basically doing demos at trade shows and dinner parties. Have to purchase a "starter kit."

I saw openings at Cracker Barrel for a server, openings at the Red Geranium for servers/cooks/soux chefs. The latter would be tempting if not for the fact that its a 40 minute drive there and back...I'd rather not get into the commuting mode until September.