Premium vs. Knockoff Showdown

Posted on June 7, 2015 by brent

With not much to do on this beautiful Sunday, I decided to go chase a silly blog post idea. I got in my car and went to Dollar Tree and bought five random, knockoff food items. I then headed to Wal-Mart and bought the real version of the product. If you have followed my blog for a couple years now, you know that I once wrote about my views on when to buy premium and when to buy generic.

On this table you will find the products I purchased for my very special (silly) Sunday blog post.

I then took my grocery bags over to Sidney’s house and, one by one according to the similar product, I presented her with both the name brand item and the off brand item. I hid behind the kitchen counter preparing the plates while she sat on the couch so she had no idea which product was which (although just by looking when I presented them to her she had an idea). She then thoughtfully tried each product and told me which one she liked best. Let’s get to the results!

Cheetos vs. Cheez Doodles

I first had Sidney try an All-American, stain-your-fingers-orange classic. She sampled Cheetos and a similar product called Cheez Doodles (I wish the word “Doodles” ended with a “z” also). It didn’t take her long to choose which one she liked best. She identified Cheetos as her favorite, citing its crunchiness and freshness as the main factors in her selection.
Winner: Cheetos

On the plate, the real Cheetos are on the left.

Cheez-Its vs. Tangy Cheddar Squares

This was the competition where Sid knew immediately the real thing from the impostor just by looking at the plate. The brighter, crispier looking Cheez-Its definitely outshined the Tangy Cheddar Squares in appearance. It did in taste as well. Sidney remarked that the Cheez-Its tasted way cheesier than the “stale” Tangy Cheddar Squares.
Winner: Cheez-Its

The real Cheez-Its are on the right.

Strawberry Pop-Tarts vs. Strawberry Toast’em Pop-Ups

I had Sid decide her preference on a famous breakfast pastry. Kellog’s Pop-Tarts went up against Toast’em Pop-Ups. This was another battle where you had a pretty good idea which was the legitimate product just from a quick glance. Once again, the prototype won out. Sidney preferred the Pop-Tart over the Pop-Up because she simply said the latter tasted like “cardboard.” I tried both of them as well and I have to say that although I didn’t think the generic pastry tasted that bad, the Pop-Tart was definitely superior.
Winner: Strawberry Pop-Tarts

Do I even need to tell you which one is which?

Fruity Pebbles vs. Fruity Dyno-Bites

Knowing that I needed to throw a cereal into the mix, I went with Fruity Pebbles. With the next “Jurassic Park” film set to debut soon and with the clever spelling of “Dyno” I knew I had to go with it. Sidney and I will both say this, these two products tasted the most similar to one another than all the other tests. However, Sidney gave the edge to Fruity Pebbles because they had a seemingly more natural taste than the Dyno-Bites. I thought both tasted very pleasant. Although I said they tasted the most similar to each other than the other four trials, at the same time they also had distinctive tastes. You could have fed me either one of them and I would have been happy.
Winner: Fruity Pebbles

The legit brand is on the left.

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese vs. Greenbrier International Macaroni & Cheese

It was a no-brainer that I would introduce my favorite food into this fun taste testing blog post. I had the giant of the mac & cheese world, Kraft, go up against a brand so obscure that I had to scour the cup of the knockoff to find its maker. In tiny white lettering, I saw the phrase “Distributed by Greenbrier International.” Obviously the company was just fine going by the very generic “Macaroni & Cheese Dinner” billing. I prepared both cups the exact same way and then transferred the contents into a couple of paper bowls for unbiased tasting. Even with this measure taken, it was two totally different sights. The Kraft came out creamy and vibrant, the off brand came out dry and dull. This one was no contest, Sidney scored the Kraft dinner way higher. It was just much cheesier and fresher.
Winner: Kraft Macaroni & Cheese

The Kraft Mac & Cheese is on top.

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If you are scoring along at home, the premium brands went 5-0. Except for the Fruity Pebbles, according to Sidney’s taste buds, it wasn’t even that close either. These results suggest that there really is something to say about that brand written on the box.

In the aftermath of this all, Sidney will be keeping the Cheetos, Cheez-Its, Fruity Pebbles, and Pop-Tarts at her house. I will be bringing the misfit brands back to my place. Hey, I am a guy, I am a little easier to please. Thanks to Sidney for putting up with my silly idea, you never know what is going to be asked of you when you date a blogger. Don’t Blink.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Posted on June 4, 2015 by brent

Summer is in full swing and I could not be happier! What an awesome time of the year. Thursday is upon us again and that means it is time for the rundown.

Guilty Pleasure – As it is National Candy Month, I thought it would be appropriate to start with this. For the past year I have turned more and more to Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites. If you go to the bins in front of the checkout aisles at Wal-Mart, you can buy a box for a buck. It is a very low quality candy with stale cookie dough but for whatever reason it doesn’t deter me from eating it. Believe it or not, sprinkling them on ice cream or pouring them on your tub of popcorn at the movies is not a bad idea either. Do know that if you don’t sneak a box in at the theater you won’t be paying the $1 Wal-Mart price…most movie houses sell the exact same box for around $4.

My favorite candy sits on my kitchen counter.

A Boatful – Last week I had the opportunity to celebrate the 6th birthday of Sidney’s niece, Russell. It was a joyous affair where we hopped on the family boat and cruised down the Intracoastal Waterway to a fabulous seafood restaurant for dinner. Filling up the family boat was, well…family. The photo, posted by Sid’s sister (AKA Russell’s mom), generated a lot of social media engagement. My good friend Ellen Seder posted a comment suggesting that I blog about the photo. Great idea, Ellen! Consider it done.

It was a full and happy boat. Sid and I are way in the back!

Periscope Debut – I absolutely love Periscope. This live streaming social media service is incredible and I am already having a ball fooling around with it for personal use. However, I will write about that in a whole separate blog post. Today I used it the first time for work. I introduced the app by taking our #CCUSocialMedia audience on a tour of Brooks Stadium. Of course the focal point was showcasing the teal turf. For about 20 minutes I gave 88 people a live look at the stadium. I went to every vantage point in the venue so our audience could see the teal turf in all its glory. I had a splendid time answering questions and providing a service that not many universities are utilizing.

A screen shot from our Periscope live stream broadcast of the teal turf tour. As you can see, someone is asking a question in this instance.

The Social Circle – We released our latest episode of “Coastal Now” this week. During my Social Circle segment, I talked about how we utilized social media to make the big announcements about our new residence halls. It might be worth a watch to you (probably not though). Click here to be taken directly to my segment.

Another cool professional development happened today. Terminal Four, a gigantic content management company headquartered in Ireland, randomly published a blog post on how Coastal is going above and beyond with its summer social media efforts. I was completely caught off guard with the flattery but of course pleasantly surprised. To read the post, click here.

I talked about how we revealed our new residence halls in my latest “Social Circle” segment.

Another Blunder – Earlier this week when I wrote about the times I had messed up in my blog over the course of the past four years, I missed something. A loyal reader reminded me about an especially embarrassing mistake I made not too long ago. One word: TWINS.

I wholeheartedly believed that this commercial made for my blog featured twins. It took one quick look from by girlfriend for her to tell me that I was crazy. When I asked all of you for a second opinion, you also yelled back at me that I was nuts. Chalk that up as another moment of stupidity.

So I guess this is really just one girl instead of twins.

—————-

Enjoy the first game of the NBA Finals tonight. Hopefully we will witness domination by the Golden State Warriors. I have been completely outspoken, I hope Lebron and the Cavs get swept. I don’t bow down to King James. Don’t Blink.

The Anonymous Big Tipper

Posted on June 3, 2015 by brent

When the slow news day comes around, we all know the feel good stories that both local and national news outlets will roll with. You will see something about a seemingly healthy and spunky person turning 112. Or you might see a package about some long overdue library book finally returned that accrued a $20,000 fine while stuffed in an attic. Quite possibly you will hear about a long lost family pet that wandered away only to randomly come back to the household’s front porch a decade later.

These stories all generate human interest and by no means is there anything wrong with them. It is just that for me personally, I favor another cliché story. Just like the three topics I previously mentioned, you will see this type of story numerous times each year, a true “dime a dozen” of the media world. I will try to explain why I don’t mind hearing a variation of this particular situation 87 different times a year.

I have a soft spot for the tales of caring souls who come into restaurants and excessively over tip the server. I am talking about a 1,000% gratuity or a triple zero gesture that really makes the day of an overworked, stressed college student or a down on her luck single mom. I enjoy looking at the receipt (which always goes viral) that shows the $13.54 charge for a sandwich and cup of coffee followed by the line underneath it with the handwriting of some saint who wrote in $4,986.46. The common ending detail is pretty much always the same…the customer asks to remain anonymous (or is able to stay anonymous through it all).

These stories just never get old to me. I like hearing how thankful the server is, I gobble up the details about how the customer acted during the meal, and I love the mystery that is left in the end. These gratuities usually are never enough to completely change a person’s life but they are big enough where the beneficiary can use the funds to at least make a difference.

I am writing about this subject tonight because, sure enough, one of these happy situations just recently occurred in Myrtle Beach. A server who had only been on the job for two weeks at the Gulfstream Café waited on a couple who left him a cool $1,000 tip on a $69 bill. As I have dined at this restaurant before, I couldn’t help but think perhaps I sat in the proximity of that very generous man and woman.

This was the check left for the server at the Gulfstream Café (photo courtesy of Brooke Holden of WMBF News).

I think my intrigue with massive restaurant tippers originated about 10 years ago. I was at a restaurant with my mom’s family during Christmas time. We had a nice meal and the bill came to probably $100. One of my uncles paid the check while the other uncle left the tip. The latter presented our server with a $100 bill. Seeing how thankful and surprised that waiter was made me feel some type of way. These days when I hear of a server receiving a truly outrageous tip I can’t help but light up thinking about how overjoyed that employee must have been.

The kindness of my uncles set an example for me that I should always over tip (and I do). However, I have yet to ever do so in a newsworthy way. I hope to one day be in a position to do such a deed that many kind, anonymous people have done before me. Don’t Blink.

Those Times Where I Was DEAD WRONG

Posted on June 2, 2015 by brent

From time to time I get it wrong. An instance of this most likely took place this past Sunday when I boldly declared that Disneyland is better than Disney World. Some of the comments I received both on Facebook and in person made me realize that while I might have liked Disneyland better as a fourth grader, the park really doesn’t match up to what Disney World offers. Blame it on grandiose memories over two decades old.

Too bad it wasn’t my first time getting something wrong in my blog. After four plus years of writing Don’t Blink, I can admit that I have not always been perfect. Tonight I want to go back through the archives and pull the five posts where I especially messed up. As you will see, every now and then I actually am capable of blinking.

(these five posts are not ranked but rather organized in chronological order):

JACKED 4 JACK3D (June 1, 2011) – For probably a six-month period I took the only workout supplement I have ever used. Called Jack3d, it was a caffeine-powered drink mix infused with creatine. About 30 minutes before my workout I would prepare a drink and let my body and mind race. It gave me a major boost and I praised the supplement in my blog post. However, as time went on I started to question whether it was healthy to subject my body to Jack3d on a daily basis. The way the mixture made me feel and perform was definitely not natural. I stopped taking the supplement and it has since been banned by the FDA. Four years ago I would have recommended it, today I would not.

Vine (May 14, 2013) – I pretty much dubbed Vine the future of the social media kingdom when it first started to pick up major steam in early 2013. In fact, I even had the audacity to tell Snapchat to move out of the way and make room. To make matters worse, a month later I even penned a follow up post in which I told readers how they needed to use Vine to diversify their social media content. Just days after that post, Instagram introduced its video feature. Although it didn’t completely kill Vine, Instagram’s video response caused the six second looping video service to suffer a major fall from grace. No longer was Vine a major player in the social media landscape, instead relegated to a tool that can be used every now and then in conjunction with Twitter.

A screen capture from my first ever Vine I took.

Praying for Peace in Sochi (February 5, 2014) – Although I crossed my fingers for a smooth two and a half weeks, I was convinced that something terrible would scar the 2014 Winter Olympics. With so many problems plaguing Sochi prior to the games and all the threats that seemed to keep pouring in, I noted in my post that I had “a very uneasy feeling in my stomach.” However, I was more than happy to be completely wrong as the Sochi Games went off without a hitch.

Where All the Restaurants Taste the Same (August 16, 2014) – Last summer I proclaimed my belief that you could pretty much randomly choose any Mexican restaurant in your local town to eat at because they all taste the same. I reasoned that enchiladas, beans, rice, and chips taste very similar at Mexican Restaurant #1 as they do at Mexican Restaurant #2. I will admit though that over the past several months my thinking has shifted a little bit. I paid a visit to a restaurant where we were the only non-Mexicans there, chowed down at a place that served eggs, and dined at a joint that I felt didn’t even meet the standards of the million family Mexican restaurants I ate at before. So in conclusion, no, I don’t think all Mexican restaurants are as equal and identical as I thought before.

This was a plate of Mexican food that I ate in Albuquerque at a restaurant called Sadie’s.

Welcome Back to Relevancy, McDonalds (February 3, 2015) – When McDonald’s introduced its “Pay With Lovin’” campaign during this year’s Super Bowl, I thought the struggling restaurant had achieved its breakthrough. Combined with the other changes the chain was making, I believed that the slump was finally over. But unfortunately the “Pay With Lovin’” campaign never took off like I thought it would. I really believed that it would make a much bigger dent in pop culture and on social media than what it actually did. As updated sales numbers continue to come out, McDonald’s is still declining. Another wrong prediction by me!

I thought recent changes would bolster McDonald’s. Not quite so.

**Honorable Mention: My Vendetta Against Cupcakes (January 21, 2015) – I practically crucified cupcakes at the beginning of this year. I called them boring, disappointing, and unsatisfying. I want to rescind some of my scorn. As I have given cupcakes a second chance and tried some of the fresh creations from the bakery at a local grocery store, I am starting to turn around a little. This past weekend we celebrated the birthday of Sidney’s niece with cupcakes and they tasted lovely. I want to admit to everyone that I was a little too hard on cupcakes. That doesn’t mean I like the chicken wing and Bud Light variety, however.

My attitude has changed regarding cupcakes but that doesn’t mean I like the Bud Light and chicken wing variety.

———-

When you have written over 800 posts, you can be wrong every now and then. I mean a 99.25% correct rate isn’t bad, right? Okay, I will stop with the jokes. This post was meant to illustrate that I make dumb predictions and statements every now and then. It is true and the above examples prove it. I will try to do better and I thank you for your continued readership throughout my blunders. Don’t Blink.

What Really Fascinates Me About Caitlyn Jenner

Posted on June 1, 2015 by brent

I admit it, I caught the final glimpses of Bruce Jenner. I sat down and watched his 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer. He came across as a very personable and eccentric guy. I got an extra dose of him when Sidney convinced me to watch “The Kardashians” for the first time in my life. We watched the two episodes that dealt with how Bruce’s family was handling his decision. Once again he seemed like a super nice guy. Well, he is not a {super nice} guy anymore.

The Vanity Fair cover blazed across social media like wildfire. We have all probably heard the same cliché punchlines hundreds of times by now. I am not writing this blog post tonight to make fun of Caitlyn Jenner. I am not writing it to question or condemn Ms. Jenner either. Rather, I am writing this post to actually marvel at modern surgical procedures.

This image of Caitlyn Jenner created quite the buzz today.

In my mind, I am always amazed that a person can be a man and completely transform to a woman. I feel the same way about a woman completely morphing into a man. I am saying this in a strictly transformation sense. I mean holy cow, doctors are incredibly good. To sit back for a moment and take in the fact that we have medical professionals who are skilled enough to legitimately turn a man into a woman is pretty crazy. I wonder if these doctors thought to themselves in their toddler days, “Hey, I am going to grow up and develop the skill where I can change the sex of people.”

From the completely objective view, the capability of anyone being able to do this is fascinating. For someone like me who knows about as much about medicine/surgery as I do about Khloe Kardashian, it almost seems to me like magic. People should not be able to just go from a boy to a girl or from a girl to a boy (saying this in a bewilderment state, not in a condemning state).

I think the Jenner saga blew my mind even more. When I saw him just a short time ago on 20/20 and on his reality show, he had female characteristics but was still very much a man to me. Then, seemingly at the snap of the fingers, she is now a full-fledged woman. Jenner seemed to go through a door in one condition and then walked out in a whole different one. When Jenner told Sawyer that the next time he would give an interview would be when he was a woman I was expecting that date to be a couple years down the road. I had no idea it would happen so fast. Absolute craziness.

Human advancements in medicine/surgery are absolutely crazy. No matter what way you lean in all of this, and I am keeping my own mouth shut, you can’t help but admit that. It makes you wonder what the next major transformation procedure will be. Don’t Blink.

Disneyland is Just Better Than Disney World

Posted on May 31, 2015 by brent

Thumbing through Parade Magazine today I couldn’t help but read the feature on Disneyland. In July the park will turn 60 years old and the magazine pointed out a few interesting facts about its very successful run. Reading about it brought up a semi-serious debate I have with Sidney from time to time.

Sidney will tell you that she has visited Disney World around 8 times. I have visited Disney World twice. I have also visited Disneyland. We will go back and forth on which park is better. It gets pretty serious.

Maybe it is my west coast bias, but I think Disneyland is better. Although I made that trip with my family when I was in fourth grade, I remember it very fondly. In fact, it goes down in the Reser history books as the best family vacation we ever went on. In the past five years, I have made the trip to Orlando twice. Both times I stayed at a Disney resort property and of course visited Disney World. Perhaps it was my old age, but I just didn’t think it was all that great. A little more on this in just a little bit.

Sidney uses her veteran Disney World status as reason on why that park trumps Disneyland. She has had numerous fabulous experiences going as a young girl with her family and then with her young niece as well. To her, there isn’t a better place on the planet so it must top the similar park in California. She also uses arguments that I can’t deny…Disney World is newer and bigger.

But in my opinion, newer and bigger isn’t always better. Disneyland is more intimate. In comparing my experiences in both parks, it just felt like Walt Disney’s spirit was hovering around me closer in Anaheim than it was in Orlando. Disneyland is just more magical, more historical, and more original. You can’t deny the originality aspect, Disney World is an east coast replica of the place that was built 16 years before it.

I think Disneyland wins on the intangibles as well. The consistent and pleasant sunny conditions that characterize life in southern California contrast with the unpredictable and stormy weather that plagues Orlando. While Disney World definitely receives many gorgeous days, it also is prone to nasty days as well. Trust me, I know. Yes, I already alluded to it but Disneyland will also always come first. It was the prototype and Disney World will simply never catch up to Disneyland in terms of nostalgia and pop culture references. Finally, Walt Disney practically built Disneyland with his own hands. He was five years dead before the Florida park opened.

Okay, there you have it. Once again I give you a heavy dose of my opinion. If I ever win a professional sports championship and they shove the microphone in my face I am telling them that I am going to Disneyland. Now it is your turn. What park do you feel is superior…Disneyland or Disney World? I am curious to know. Don’t Blink.

A Thursday Rundown Where I Close a Chapter

Posted on May 28, 2015 by brent

I must admit that this Thursday Rundown feels a little different. It will be the first time in eight weeks that I don’t include a Sean Carty update. Thank goodness though! The district spoke, Coach Carty was reinstated, and parents were silenced. As Mead High School moves on, so will I. Here we go with the rundown!

End of a (Journal) Chapter – Last night I filled out the last page in my latest journal. Many of you are aware that I am an obsessive journaler with an in-depth recorded entry of every day I have lived since the seventh grade. As a typical journal usually takes me about a year and a half to two years to completely fill out, closing one up is always bittersweet. I take the task of choosing my succeeding journal very seriously. This time around, I have an attractive option. Sidney gave me a custom made leather bound journal with my life motto on it. If I choose to go with it for my daily purposes I will have a very well-branded spot for my personal reflections.

The new journal that Sid gave to me. Don’t Blink.

Happy National Burger Day – Even though I dislike gimmick dates, National Burger Day is just too hard to pass up. I want to recognize the best burger places in the cities I have lived. For Myrtle Beach it is not even a contest, River City Café is amazing! Besides the peanut butter burger they serve, I have tried other selections as well and the quality and taste is unmatched. For Missoula I would go with the Burger Shack, a hole-in-the-wall place that unfortunately didn’t last long. Because it is out of business, I will give my current nod to the very popular “Mo Burger” at the Missoula Club. When it comes to Spokane, I got to go with a casual dining restaurant called Prospector’s in North Spokane. Of course, nothing beats a burger off my dad’s grill!

Me enjoying a burger at Burger Shack in 2012.

Go Home, Electronic Cigarettes – What is a Thursday Rundown without a rant? I just want to put on record how much I despise electronic cigarettes. Why aren’t these things banned just like all other smoking products? While I know users blow out “vapor” instead of “smoke” please give me a break. I don’t care if it is vapor or smoke, I don’t want it blown by me while I am in a restaurant, at the pool, or waiting in line somewhere. Folks casually pull them out in public as if it was their iPhone. I could definitely do without.

NBA Finals – It took me all but two seconds to have an opinion on how I want the 2015 NBA Finals to go down. Simply, I hope Golden State demolishes Cleveland. I am crossing my fingers for a 4-0 sweep. I don’t even want to bring up Lebron, I just want the Warriors to do some damage. The sooner Steve Kerr and Stephen Curry are hoisting the trophy, the better.

End of May – When I reflected on April I explained that allergies bothered me for most of the month. I mentioned how nice it would be that right when May hit, my system would automatically clear up. You know what?? It did! I felt like a million bucks the whole month and besides just feeling great the month went great as well. But to be honest, I can’t wait for June. Traditionally, June is right up there with March for me when it comes to the 30 day blocks on the calendar that always seem to produce plenty of fun and big moments for me. I have a good feeling that June 2015 is going to be special.

Enjoying some boating time on the Intracoastal Waterway with Sid during Memorial Day weekend was a highlight of May for me.

—————–

Enjoy a big juicy hamburger tonight, okay? Thanks again for your readership and enjoy the weekend. Don’t Blink.

Brent’s United States Tour

Posted on May 27, 2015 by brent

Several months ago on Facebook you could play along with an interactive map and count all the states you had visited. For some of the garbage that goes through the newsfeed, I actually thought this offering was pretty cool. I completed it myself but then forgot about it.

Today someone randomly mentioned the state of Maine. Since I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting the state, it got me thinking once again about that map I completed on Facebook. Wanting a quick topic to write about tonight, I thought I would recognize the three states I would like to visit that I haven’t yet. Then, for good measure, I thought it might be good to write a quick sentence detailing my fondest memory from each state that I have visited throughout my time living in this nation.

This is my personal map of states I have and have not visited.

Out of the 21 states I have not visited, I would most like to visit these three:

Hawaii – Absolute no-brainer. I would love to go to this tropical island and do all the tourist offerings. I would be so excited to interact with the local people and check out the blue water.

Texas – Out of all the states I have not been to, this one surprises me the most. I would have thought that by now work or leisure would had pulled me in that direction. Texas is a hotbed for both professional, college, and high school sports. I also know the state has some great food and I am intrigued by the “Everything is bigger in Texas” mantra. I just really have a desire to get inside state borders and feel that proud attitude.

Louisiana – My main desire for visiting Louisiana is to visit New Orleans. I want to visit that city so bad. It is just so colorful and historic that I don’t think I can resist for much longer. Of course I would love to get a taste of the Mardi Gras celebration.

Memories from States Visited

Arizona – Family vacation to visit my uncle and watch Washington State football in Sun Devil Stadium.
California – Going to Disneyland or watching three baseball games in Dodger Stadium with my brother.
Colorado – Spending time in Greeley with co-workers and friends while working for Grizzly Athletics.
Florida – Twice traveling with Monte to Orlando to compete in the Mascot National Championships.
Georgia – Visiting the Coca-Cola Museum or celebrating one-year anniversary with Sidney in Savannah.
Idaho – Going on a Christmas Eve cruise on Lake Coeur d’Alene with my family
Illinois – Stretching my legs at a random rest stop.
Iowa – Gambling at a casino in Council Bluffs (my least favorite state).
Kentucky – Eating a big steak dinner in the very Southern and small town of Paducah.
Maryland – Visiting Camden Yards for a couple baseball games with Sidney.
Massachusetts – Exploring Boston and witnessing the pride of the city just a week after the Marathon bombings.
Minnesota – Sipping on drinks at random airport bars over the course of probably 67 different layovers in Minneapolis.
Missouri – Eating at Lee’s Famous Chicken in Columbia (Yes, Missouri has a Columbia just like South Carolina does).
Montana – Going to college at the University of Montana in Missoula.
Nebraska – Attending the 2015 NCAA Tournament with the Coastal Carolina men’s basketball team in Omaha.
Nevada – Vegas Baby!! (about 10 different times).
New Mexico – Attending the 2012 NCAA Tournament with the Montana men’s basketball team in Albuquerque.
New York – Dream sports vacation with my dad and brother in NYC.
North Carolina – Going on a “Bar Rescue” tour with Sidney or touring the college town of Boone.
North Dakota – Paying over $1,000 in cash with Jimmy Gibson for Powerade while at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.
Oregon – Vacations to the Oregon Coast with my family.
Pennsylvania – Visiting my high school friend Erik in Pittsburgh and exploring the city.
South Carolina – Working at Coastal Carolina University and meeting Sidney.
South Dakota – Spending the night in Spearfish with my dad.
Tennessee – Eating at an incredible BBQ place in Johnson City.
Utah – Road tripping it to Ogden and spending the weekend in warm temperatures in November.
Virginia – Visiting Arlington National Cemetery.
Washington – Being born and growing up.
Washington D.C. – Visiting all the historic sites and monuments.
Wyoming – Driving across the state’s hilly terrain.

Sorry if my memories bored you just a little bit. I literally jotted down what I remember most fondly about my time in each state, not the craziest story. Of course a goal of mine is to visit all the states but I got some work to do. For a little bonus information, I think my top three states that I have visited/lived in would be (in no particular order) Nevada, North Carolina, and Washington. Where will I visit next? You are probably wishing it is nowhere close to where you live. Don’t Blink.

Banking Off of Facial Tissue Boxes

Posted on May 26, 2015 by brent

Probably once every couple of months I channel my invention inner-self. I think up some harebrained idea that is either completely ridiculous or so good that it has already been invented. Safe to say, it is quite obvious why I don’t do this for a living. But tonight I have an idea that might actually have some potential.

I also wrote about my idea for an ice cream buffet. Just today someone submitted a comment underneath it. Although I can't understand one word of it I am going to say I think it is positive.

In February wrote about my idea for an ice cream buffet. Just today someone submitted a comment underneath it. Although I can’t understand one word of it I am going to say it was positive.

My latest scheme is to enter the facial tissue business and provide companies with branding opportunities for the box design. For example, If Coca-Cola wanted to work with me I would create them a beautiful red box with the company’s logo front and center with little Coke bottles running around it. Have you ever heard of such a thing? I didn’t think so.

This idea has been brewing in my mind for a while now. I admit, when I go to the grocery store I scrutinize what Kleenex box design I want to buy. I debate whether to pick up the red box with a floral pattern on it or the blue box with fluffy clouds. Although this sounds like a direct shot at my manhood, I can’t lie. I don’t even make the decision based on matching purposes for my apartment, I just do it on account of what design I think I will elevate my mood the most.

Me with the current tissue box I have in my apartment.

But the options are slim. The designs all revolve around light, peaceful themes. My idea is to offer tissue boxes that are bold, attention-grabbing, and hashtag-covered.

The direction I would take my idea is to create the cheapest tissue product on the market. I would then make offers to companies to produce branded boxes that I would guarantee to get on store shelves. I would hit up fast food chains, automobile manufacturers, beer companies, and celebrities to invest in their own facial tissue box. Heck, I would even hit up professional and college sports teams.

Could you imagine going to the tissue aisle and seeing 50 different mundane designs? But then you look to the side and notice a sleek looking Seattle Seahawks box the neon blue and neon green mixed in with the distinctive logo! Even if you aren’t a Seahawk fan you would still probably get it just because it stands out and is something totally different from what you usually see. Of course the possibilities are endless as the option might even be available to get the tissues themselves in team colors. How flipping cool would that be?

Just going through my head right now I am visualizing a Taco Bell box, a Cheetos box, a David Letterman box, a Blue Moon box, and a Coastal Carolina University all-teal box! On these cardboard vessels of Kleenex you could put social media handles, brand slogans, and calls-to-action. Things could get a little out of control but it would certainly liven up the facial tissue aisle.

So I now turn over my idea to you. What do you think? Brilliant? Feasible? Has potential? Just another terrible idea? Let me know what you think and please pass that Kleenex. Don’t Blink.

My Support for the Average Fitness Competitor

Posted on May 25, 2015 by brent

Last week I read a very interesting blog post that ruffled a lot of feathers. Some dude named Christian Thibaudeau sounded off on his disdain for the influx of women entering into body building/figure competitions. He basically said people are doing it for all the wrong reasons, namely for attention. He made no attempts to hide his hatred for selfies, Instagram posts, and Facebook albums that new competitors use to chronicle their transformation. To read his passionate post, click here.

I agree with Thibaudeau on this: the explosion of ordinary women competing in body competitions is very real. My social media feeds are many times completely dominated with girls I know posting photos showcasing their training regimen, pre/post workout faces, before and after body comparisons, competition action, and trophies. To me, it almost seems like the majority of my female friends are taking part in these fitness endeavors.

But do I have a problem with it?

Absolutely not. Even if the goal of each girl actually was to garner attention, I still really wouldn’t mind it just because the work needed to receive that attention was noble. If the sole reason someone got really fit was just to receive 1,000 likes on an Instagram image, the fact of the matter is that she still got really fit. She overhauled her body, why hate?

Of course most females don’t do competitions to win praise from others. They do it because they want to challenge themselves, make a positive change, and set goals. Also, it is a legitimate hobby these days. It seems to me that I see just about as many girls enter fitness competitions as I do see them go watch “Pitch Perfect 2” or make a craft they saw off of Pinterest. It is a trendy thing to do but it is a positive thing to do.

I might not prefer the body competition look that so many women have attained but I sure as heck respect it. I also respect Thibaudeau’s right to his opinion but I really do question his motives. As a fitness nut himself, you would think that he would support more people entering his growing industry. Perhaps he just wanted to stir the pot a little bit?

I admire my friends who set a goal, start a program, and transform their bodies. There is absolutely no way I can discount the amount of hard work it takes to pull off such a feat. To all my fitness competitor friends…don’t let Christian get under your skin. Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser

Author Archives: brent