The Brownie Blitz

To those who have read my blog long enough, you might remember "Standing Still at Kroger." I would recommend recommend reading it before this post. They kind of go together, and it's amazing how this story came full circle when shopping for brownies at a Safeway in Phoenix, Arizona.

I had not spent more than 4 waking hours in a row with Mindy in weeks. For the last few days, she was visiting family for a baby shower for our upcoming nephew. Having not seen her in a while, I wanted to do a little something special for her to welcome her home and let her know I missed her. I figured a quick trip to the grocery store for a card and treats might be fun. Like Kroger, I had no idea what was in store for me.

I hadn't made brownies in a while. Mindy and I usually buy the Ghiradelli mix from Costco and it lasts us for a few months. But we were out and I needed something simple. So I went to the "cake mix" aisle to look at what brownies I could find. I was so confused. These were the options I found:

Milk Chocolate
Dark Chocolate
Double Chocolate
Mint Chocolate
Chocolate Supreme
Chocolate Extreme
Original Supreme
Chocolate Fudge
Fudge
Chewy Fudge
Ultimate Fudge
Chocolate Chunk
Triple Chunk
Low-Fat
Sugar Free
Turtle
Caramel Turtle
Walnut
Rasberry
Funfetti

Seriously? Like, seriously?!?!?! Aren't brownies just sugar, chocolate and flour or something? Add an egg and they taste pretty much the same. Tell me this. How many people could really tell the difference between Turtle and Caramel Turtle? How many people can tell the difference between Original Surpreme and Chocoloate Surpreme? Put a blindfold on me, stick a brownie in my mouth, and I could tell you if it had nuts or not, but that's about it.

But then they have me wondering... "Maybe the Chocolate Extreme is worth the extra $0.50 more than the Chocolate Surpreme." "Is the dark chocolate healthier than the milk chocolate?" But it didn't stop there. "What happened to double chunk? I only see chocolate chunk and triple chunk. I think chocolate chunk is boring but triple chunk is too much." "Funfetti looks good, but Extreme may top fun."
I know it's about marketing and making your produce seem special. But like Dash from The Incredibles says - "When everyone's special - nobody is."

In the end, I went home with Hershey's Chocolate Chunk....and added Peanut Butter.

Top 10 Through 2010 - Top 10 YouTube Videos

On Thursday night, I had to work. I missed the Falcons vs. Ravens game. It could be THE game of the NFL season so far. 2 Super Bowl favorites going back and forth, with the win being determined with 20 seconds to go. 3 or 4 years from now, it might not mean much. But when I got home about 11:15, I went straight to my PC to watch the highlights...replays of the game. And it WAS a great game.

It was one afternoon in February that I read This article on cnn.com. It really made me think. It's true that video changed our world forever. And what source can you find infinite video? YouTube.

So in this Top 10 Through 2010 Series, I decided to create my list of top 10 favorite YouTube videos - the things that I'm thankful for that we have footage of.

10. Dumbest Kid Alive - I first watched this around 2003. Whenever I feel like I'm stupid and worthless, it only takes 7 seconds to remind me it could be worse.
9. New Discoveries - Yah. I know this is me. But isn't that the beauty of YouTube? Even if you never go viral, you can put YOUR memories in immortality in the internet. Remember the adventures of yesteryear.
8. It will never be over - Perfect for advertising and product placement - I have to admit being able to so easily watch clips from favorite tv shows makes me happy.
7. They're on a boat- *explicit content* -Not quite capturing a single moment in time, videos like these just make life better. It helps you look at the world, and just laugh.
6. Babies - Dancing, more dancing, and just plain giggling - if these videos don't make you want to have kids, I really don't know what will.
5. Jessica's Affirmation - Feeling a little down? Can't get motivated? This girl can get you going!
4. Dad Life - I love that a church made this. I love that it's creative. I love that it's true.
3. Christian the Lion- I watched the 2 hour documentary on this story. It's all legit. Thanks to youtube, or I never would have known.
2. JK Wedding Entrance Dance - Creative. Pure. Perfect.
1. Susan Boyle - I still get goosebumps every time I've watched it. The diamond in the rough that nobody gave a shot. Couldn't have happened to a better person. My wife only gets slightly jealous when she sees me watching it.....every day.