October Days of Reckoning

I say this every time I do one of these columns but I am amazed and frightened about how fast time as gone. October just came and went and I am so glad that I have blogged about it because I cannot remember what I did and what happened.

So what did I accomplish in October?

WRITING:

I procrastinated. Which seems to be the story of my life in some things. I was supposed to plot out my next novel but I barely looked at my old notes. Luckily the creative juices have been flowing and I am on par with where I am supposed to be at in my Nanowrimo war. In fact, things couldn't be better writing this novel. I have the basic plot line done but so far I have not even got to that part yet. The novel has already gone in a direction that I didn't think it would go. Only about 38,000 more words to go!

I gotta get me one of these pens.

READING:

I procrastinated. Now where have I heard that before? I am about halfway through my 11th book and I need to get that cranked out so I can choose my last book of the year. But I did finish my 10th book last night and it was a great read. I finished The Extraordinary Works of Alan Moore and it was fantastic. For those that don't know, Alan Moore has written some of my favorite comic books like Watchmen, V For Vendetta, Captain Britain and Swamp Thing. The book I read was one long interview and he covered his whole life and it was great. Now I just need to finish Larry H. Miller's book and then I think I will snag Carrie Fisher's autobiography to finish out the year.

EXERCISE AND EATING RIGHT:

Last month was the worst month. I barely exercised and I know I am going to struggle here in the winter months. Kristy has a bunch of walking DVDs that I am going to have to do so I can get some exercise. I have to do them so I can get into shape faster when spring comes along so I can train for my first race. Halloween didn't help since I do love the candy.

I should save me the effort of dressing up for Halloween next year and just go as Homer in his moo-moo. I certainly feel as fat as he looks.

OTHER STUFF:

I do like playing the bass and I am finding it easier to figure out the notes. I am probably up to about thirty songs. Now if I could only sing at the same time as playing the bass. That is a lot harder than I thought it would be. And I am so glad that I joined the choir at Church. We are doing Christmas songs and I just love singing those.

Not a great month but I still feel that I am ahead of the game. 

From the Soapbox: Apples to Limes

Day 256

I don't care for apples. I hate apple juice, I don't like apple sauce. I don't eat raw apples very often either. And I don't care for apple flavored candy at all. In fact I despise apple candy.

So I just avoid apples, it is as simple as that. But what really drives me insane is that slowly apples are replacing other candy fruit flavors, in particular lime flavored candies. And the list just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

• One of my favorite candies are SweetTarts. In 2001, Nestlé replaced the original lime with green apple.
• The original lineup of Runts included banana, orange, cherry, strawberry, and lime. In the late nineties, the lime was removed and replaced by apple.
• Bottlecaps used to have a lemon-lime flavor that was more lime than lemon. But it was phased out as well. Thank goodness it was replaced by cherry. But the lime-hate continues!
• Starbursts used to have a lime candy and then was combined with lemon to make lemon-lime. I cannot prove that those were replaced by apple like the other two but let the record show that apple-flavored Starbursts are available and lime ones are not.
• Skittles still have a lime flavored candy but I don't know how long that will last. Green apple replaced lime in the United States for a brief time in 2001, as part of a promotion. In some other varieties of Skittles, apple is found to be plentiful but lime gets the shaft.
• Lifesavors had a fantastic green lime flavor that was discontinued in 2003. Lemon, orange and lime lifesavors were replaced in the United States by raspberry, watermelon, and blackberry. At least lime was not replaced by apples but still. Eventually orange made a comeback but where is the lime?
• TicTac's have a nice lime flavor mixed with orange TicTac's. I just visited their website looking for more information about them and was going to pimp them out as one of my favorite lime candies and guess what? Lime is no longer listed as a flavor. But take a wild guess at what new flavor has been announced. APPLE TICTAC'S!

Lime is an outsider. No one wants it.

So what is wrong with lime?  Why does the candy world in particular hate lime?

Lime or Apple Candy?

So I will let my audience decide. Do you like Lime or Apple candy?

There is still one candy that has not changed yet. Mike and Ike's still have lime included in their candy. They also have a variety that includes green apple.

So this candy has learned to co-exist with each other. Why can't all candy learn to do that? Isn't there room for both apples and limes?

Bottlecaps: What Would You Do?

Day 203
My stomach hurts and I didn't sleep all that much last night and I think I know the culprit.

BOTTLECAPS!

I ate a whole box of Bottlecaps last night while watching some TV. I have always loved this candy and every once in awhile I get a craving for them. So my plans for last night was to plow through a box since Kristy was gone for the evening and Logan was in bed. So I sat down and watched one of my new favorite TV shows. I was watching Primetime: What Would You Do? The show is about setting up everyday scenarios and then capturing people's reactions on camera. They have actors portray some difficult situations to see if the people around (who are not in on it) would be willing to stand up and act or mind their own business, John Quiñones reports on their split-second and often surprising decision-making process.

The show gives me hope that there are people that are willing to stand up and do something. These people are incredibly brave and I admire all of them that do something. I don't know how I would act in some of these situations but after watching this show I will think twice and hopefully act. You can see more situations and read up on them here.

So maybe the world is not filled with people who tailgate others.

List-Mania: Lost Treats

Day 146

Kristy and I pigged out on treats last weekend and now we are banning ourselves for treats until Easter.

Now that I can't have them I want them like nothing else. So I daydream about treats and I remembered fondly some of my favorite treats as a youth. So here are 5 treats that I miss from childhood.

5) Soap Candies
Sometimes these are known as Floral Candies but I will always call them Soap Candies. They were heavily perfumed and horribly addicting. My friend Tammy and I would always buy some at the Bay Store in Canada and eat them in class. My teacher hated us eating them since it would stink up the class. I remember that the yellow ones were the worst and my favorites were the green and purple ones.

4) Wild Cherry Gatorade
I know, I know, the picture is of the Tiger Woods Lime Gatorade. But that is going bye-bye too and I couldn't find one of the Wild Cherry variety. This was the best tasting flavor but my mom and I could only find it in the squirt bottles. I love Gatorade and can drink it anytime and was sad when they discontinued this.

3) Choco-Bliss
This totally takes me back to Middle School. I used to buy this all the time at the bookstore. It was like one of Hostess's Cupcakes and a Zinger in one. The icing on the top was the best. I used to separate the two cakes and eat the bottom one first and save the top one for last. Nothing out there quite compares to this fantastic cake.

2) Chews
I used to buy these for 10 cents a pack at the local Mac's stores. They would come in a variety of flavors like banana, orange, grape and cherry. Sometimes they would have special flavors like blueberry as well. They were hard pieces of gum and no two pieces were alike. They ranged in flavor from extremely sour (my jowls hurt just thinking about it) to light mint. They were so tasty and you never knew how it was going to taste until you ate one. You could tell the ones that were really sour if the piece looked like it was falling apart. I totally miss these gums.

1) Lime Crush
This was my favorite soda all growing up. It was not like Sprite or other Lemon-Lime sodas, this was totally lime. It had a rich Lime flavor that tasted sour crossed with a green Lifesaver. Sadly, this is only available in Canada and even sadder then that it has been discontinued. If I could find the stuff, I would order me a case. Sadly, the closest thing that I have found that tastes like it is Tiger Wood's Lime Gatorade. GRRRRRRR!

List-Mania: Chocolate Candy Bars

Day 132

I must be craving chocolate. But that really is no different than normal. I am ALWAYS craving chocolate. If I could waltz into a candy shop to grab a quick chocolate fix, what would I choose?

5) Big KitKat
I love KitKats and usually when I get ice cream shakes/Blizzards, I will ask for KitKats. The normal ones will do in a pinch but I would rather have the large one.

4) Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
If I am not in the mood for KitKats than I go for these. Especially mixed in ice cream. Any variety will do as long as they are like the original (no dark or white chocolate) but for some strange reason I think they taste better when they are in egg form. Just another reason why to love Easter.

3) Junior Mints
I have to have a box when I go to the movies. I love mint and chocolate in any form but Junior Mints are just perfect. Luckily for me, my dad loves them just as much. So usually when I am at work, I can usually count on having a box.

2) Crunchie
This is one of the reasons why I miss Canada. They really have a fantastic assortment of chocolate bars that are not available here in the States. The middle of the bar is a sponge-like honey comb center and is covered by Cadbury chocolate. If only the States would carry them.

1) Cadbury Creme Egg
Was that really a surprise? It shouldn't since I already blogged about it. The chocolate is so smooth and the creme center is just perfect. I could eat spoonfuls of that stuff if I could. They really need to make a giant-sized egg.

Honorable Mention: Bridge Mixture
Or what I like to call it, Brig Mix. This is another candy only available in Canada. I know some American companies make a mix of their own but nothing compares to this stuff. I am pretty lucky that I still get boxes of the stuff thanks to Pauline and her family but sadly the candy is not what it used to be. Don't get me wrong, it is still excellent and nothing beats having a fresh box but since it sold to Hershey's in Canada it has not been as good as it used to be. There were a lot more variety and the chocolate was richer. But I still will eat a box when one crosses my way.

School Daze: That's Not So Smart

Day 40

There are some things that I just cannot forget. Some of them important but most of them very silly. Case in point:

I remember sitting in Mr. Cantwell's English class at Sky View High School reading. I was reading this horrible novel I got from the school library. It was called Midnight Express and it was based on a true story of a man who was sent to a Turkish prison for trying to smuggle hashish out of Turkey to the United States. Talk about a true horror story!

But that was not what I remember this time. I was sitting, reading in disgust when I looked over at one of my friends. He was crunching up some Smarties on his desk and was snorting them like cocaine. I couldn't believe my eyes, it was not surprising that he was doing it, I was just surprised that he was doing it in class. I looked over at Mr. Cantwell and he was staring at my friend as well. Dave, (my friend) looked up and saw us both staring at him and he laughed. And when he did, this large Smartie cloud burst from his nose. I about died laughing and even Mr. Cantwell tried his hardest not to laugh.


Now answer me this, why in the world do I remember that? I am certain I have better memories of high school. And before you ask, no. I never snorted Smarties.