Thursday Rundown Version 8.0

Posted on January 26, 2017 by brent

Good evening my friends! I hope everyone has enjoyed a nice week thus far. It is time for the weekly tradition I like to call the Thursday Rundown…

Crazy Soda – I am such a kid! The other day at the grocery store I was walking down the soda aisle and a bright blue liquid caught the corner of my eye. I turned my head and I discovered Berry Fanta. You bet I bought a bottle! I tried a couple sips last night and I must say it wasn’t bad. It has a smooth raspberry taste that I am sure my nephew would love.

Holding my Berry Fanta.

Split – This past weekend I went to the theater by myself to watch the Sunday matinee showing of “Split.” The film is about a guy with 23 different personalities who kidnaps three teenage girls. The first half of the movie was decent as I enjoyed the psychological themes and the acting of James McAvoy. However, the second half of the movie was so unbelievable and such a departure from the first that I left the theater with a negative impression.

I went and saw “Split” last weekend.

I Need This – I was recently watching Trisha Yearwood’s cooking show and I just about salivated the whole time as she cooked entirely with peanut butter! She made several delicious dishes but the one that really caught my eye was peanut butter pasta. How amazing does that sound?! Not only does it include peanut butter and pasta (two of my favorite things ever) but the recipe also calls for other things I like such as spices, soy sauce, and chicken. After Sidney gives birth, I am going to ask her to make it for me.

A look at Trisha Yearwood’s peanut butter pasta.

Too Early? – Quick question for all of you: Is it too early for Cadbury eggs to be on the shevles? At Food Lion this past weekend, I encountered the below boxes of the popular Easter treat. I love Easter and I love Cadbury eggs, but it is January and Easter doesn’t fall until April this year. We still have two full calendar months to go. This is analogous to stores putting out HALLOWEEN candy in JULY. Perhaps I am overreacting.

Is it just me or is it too early for this?

Getting Practice – On Saturday, Sidney and I went and visited a couple friends who just had a beautiful baby girl. Sid went to college with Leslie and they have remained tight since then. Leslie and her husband Brooks welcomed Stevie Blair into the world on January 8. It was so nice to meet and hold Stevie while also talking to Leslie and Brooks about their experience (they went to the same doctors as us and gave birth in the same hospital we will be in). Sid and I were both thankful to the Causeys for hosting us during such a busy and exciting time for them.

Sid and I with Stevie Blair.

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That will wrap this Thursday Rundown up! I am ecstatic to celebrate my wife’s birthday this weekend and I hope all of you have exciting things ahead as well. Don’t Blink.

My Fashion Sense

Posted on January 25, 2017 by brent

When it comes to the image of ourselves, we all have our own individual traits that we value more than others. For me, I try to maintain a solid online image while also doing my best to maintain my physical body image. However, when it comes to my fashion image, I definitely don’t stay up late stressing over it.

Wardrobe wise, I am one of the most vanilla people there is. This goes for both on the streets and in the workplace.

But let’s start with the workplace so I can save what I wear when I am not in the office for last. My job allows me to wear collared shirts and slacks which is just fine with me. Over the past couple years, I have built a section in my closet that is entirely Coastal Carolina University polos. Because I live in a climate that is warm 12 months out of the year, this rack in my closest is always in use. Most of my CCU polos are dri-fit, and by now, they are also worn in. I get to go to work each day rocking my employer while also feeling comfortable.

A look at my wide range of teal (and other colors) #CCU polos.

I have 3-4 pairs of khakis in circulation that I pair with my desired polo of the day. While I don’t buy Jim Harbaugh $5 khakis from Walmart, I don’t buy super expensive ones either. Well, to be honest, I actually don’t buy them at all. Most of my khakis were picked out and bought for me by my wife or sent to me as a Christmas/birthday gift from my mom.

Some of my fellow male co-workers dress really nice and do a wonderful job at assembling matching outfits. Some wear suits. However, I like to reason that since I am running around so much, I can get away with showing up each day in a lovely polo.

Wearing a polo is almost a daily occurrence for me.

When it comes to the weekends at home, you can find me in my signature outfit: a thermal and jeans.

I love my thermals.

I have made an effort to clean out American Eagle and Old Navy of every thermal they have produced. Ah yes, that brings me to a point of contention. Sidney gets on me for shopping at the two places I just mentioned, saying I am much too old to even set foot in one of the stores, let alone buying something. But I can’t turn my back on American Eagle and Old Navy because both places produce super comfortable and inexpensive clothes. Also, I should point out that Sidney recently lost all her leverage against me when she helped her mom pick out a pair of jeans from American Eagle for her DAD.

I need a couple shots to show how many thermals I have in my closet.

Speaking of jeans, if I am not at work I am wearing them. Even during the Carolina summers, I wear jeans just as much as I do shorts…but never jean shorts (I said I don’t stress out over my wardrobe…NOT that I willingly commit the biggest fashion faux pas ever). Once again, I rely on the women in my life to purchase my pants. I will wear the jeans they give me into oblivion.

Thermals work great for a few months in South Carolina. They serve as your lounging wear inside and as your coat outside. But when it gets really hot, I obviously ditch the thermals and turn to more dri-fit gear. Regular t-shirts and casual polos in dri-fit material is what I can be found in April through November. For me, the comfort and lack of effort needed to pull off a wardrobe of this caliber always wins out.

As you can see, I don’t put much stock in making fashion statements. I don’t stand out, I don’t match, I don’t wear leather, I don’t dress like a GQ model. I just strive for comfort. Luckily, someone decided they wanted to marry me. Don’t Blink.

The Worst Era of Music Ever

Posted on January 24, 2017 by brent

Although I prefer to listen to mainstream Top 40 or country music, I can tolerate just about anything. Most of the time, if I am not into it, I can just block it out. However, there is one genre that I really can’t stand.

I would gladly listen to oldies, classic rock, rap, blues, or Weird Al Yankovic before I ever subjected my ears to an hour of early 2000s hits.

To be fair, I lived through the early 2000s and was conscious of the music. Incredibly, I actually liked some of it at the time. But these days, whenever the gym or grocery store happens to be playing it, I just want to run and hide.

I mean isn’t it just awful? The mix of Puddle of Mudd, Nelly, Jimmy Eat World, Pink, Uncle Kracker, Matchbox 20, and P-Diddy drives me insane.

I don’t really even know how to describe it. I guess the garage rock sound of the bands and the boring/irritating beats of the solo artists before the explosion of DJ collaborations just turns me off. I don’t want to call the music depressing but it definitely isn’t inspiring. I think perhaps that is why I hate early 2000s music…it just doesn’t make me feel anything.

When I listen to music from 2000, 2001, 2002, etc., I feel unmoved. It just comes across as so manufactured. I had a great high school experience (started in August 2001 and graduated in 2005) but even the great memories made during that time can’t justify to me that the music of the era didn’t suck.

For me, I designate the Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow duet disaster known as “Picture” as the worst song ever made. The cheesy, annoying, and unlistenable song was recorded in 2001 and released in 2002. Although it is probably unfair to do so, I always envision that lousy track holding the banner for all the other crap that was made in the early 2000s. Unfortunately for me, it seems to always find its way on every playlist from that era. Each time I hear it, I hate the music from those years even more.

It is true, I do like a few songs from the turn of the millennium but the word “few” is quite literal. Am I off base here? Please let me know. Don’t Blink.

My Top Five Pizza Chains

Posted on January 23, 2017 by brent

A little over a week ago, I addressed gourmet pizza. Tonight I want to talk about greasy pizza. This evening is not about pies dusted with pesto sauce and topped with corn and roasted garlic. Rather, it is about pepperoni, extra cheese, and plenty of red sauce.

I have felt the urge to talk about my favorite pizza chain restaurants for a couple years now. For the purpose of this post, when I say “pizza chain restaurants” I am talking about places that are primarily either delivery or carryout. So please note that buffet places like CiCi’s or sit down places like Roundtable Pizza were not considered. With that said, I give you my top five pizza chains:

5. Domino’s – Growing up, I enjoyed the Domino’s coupons that were cut out to fit on your door handle. Our neighborhood would be targeted a couple times each month so we had plenty of them. I enjoyed looking at the offerings that always included a pizza, side item, and soda for what seemed to me like an inexpensive amount. All the way through my teen years I held a pretty favorable impression of Domino’s. But as I became a little more aware of quality, my enthusiasm for the chain dimmed. A few years ago, I shook my head as Domino’s ran a marketing campaign that showed their food in a bad light and basically sent an apology to the American people for their pizza sucking so much. This concession by the company almost made me leave it off of the list but there was no way I was going to let Little Caesars replace it.

4. Costco Pizza – This isn’t a joke. Costco is legitimately listed as one of the country’s largest pizza chains. Although I usually opt for a hot dog at Costco, every now and then I go for a gigantic slice of pepperoni pizza that sends grease oozing through the paper plate. But how could I place Costco on this list if the pizza isn’t even my primary food court choice? You see, while I might not be a huge fan of pizza by the slice at Costco, I love to buy the full pizzas offered take and bake style. When I was a bachelor, I would buy a pizza for myself and immediately bake it. I would then put the slices in ziplock bags, place them all in a Tupperware container, and eat the slices throughout the week. It was convenient, cheap, and pretty darn good. I have a soft spot for Costco pizza.

Me with my container of take-in-bake pepperoni Costco pizza.

3. Papa John’s – Out of the five places on this list, I like Papa John’s as a company the most. It is safe to say that this chain has distinguished itself. When you think of a Papa John’s pizza, you immediately think of a jalapeno pepper and a garlic sauce container coming inside the box. You think of the CEO acting goofy in commercials with Peyton Manning. You think of the Super Bowl heads or tails coin toss promotion that won us all free pizza. You also think of that distinctive taste. Yes, put me through any pizza blind taste test and I will always be able to pick out the Papa John’s pie. Now, this isn’t to say that the taste of a Papa John’s pizza is amazing but it isn’t bad either. I would say the chain is extremely consistent in taste and a little unpredictable when it comes to specialty pizzas…like the Fritos chili pizza that was introduced in 2014.

Me holding the Fritos Chili Pizza from Papa John’s.

2. Pizza Hut – It is no secret that Pizza Hut has fallen on tough times as of late. The chain recently revamped its entire menu in response to a country that was demanding more options. However, throughout my whole life I have never had a problem with Pizza Hut pizza. I think I became a Pizza Hut loyalist for life after hearing these two words: stuffed crust.

Yes, I am dating myself here but I remember when stuffed crust first came out. I can see those David Robinson commercials right now advertising God’s gift to pizza lovers. To this day, I still love stuffed crust pizza. But I like Pizza Hut for more than just that one reason. Like Papa John’s, I think Pizza Hut is pretty consistent. I like the other types of crusts offered as well. On the days I took a break from the stuffed crust, I would order the meat lover’s pan pie (so good and so many calories). When I was younger, I was motivated to reach my summer reading goals because a coupon for a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza awaited me. When I worked at the University of Montana, I lived on Pizza Hut pizza because of a corporate contract. I can’t tell you how many days I scarfed down a couple slices while working games. The good memories make me like Pizza Hut even more.

1. Papa Murphy’s – I love my lists where I don’t have to debate the top spot. This is 100% one of those situations. Without a doubt, Papa Murphy’s is BY FAR my favorite pizza chain business. Don’t think this is nostalgia over the fact that Myrtle Beach doesn’t have a single Papa Murphy’s location because it is all about the taste baby. A take and bake pizza joint as my all-time favorite? You bet!!

Ask my mom, ask my wife, ask my brother…I love Papa Murphy’s pizza. The entire experience is delightful. No other pizza place smells better than a Papa Murphy’s location. Watching them make your pizza is a testament to the freshness and care that is devoted to each pie. The smell that takes over the kitchen when you put it in the oven is incredible. The taste of a freshly baked Papa Murphy’s pizza is of course delicious. But it is the taste of either cold Papa Murphy’s pizza or reheated Papa Murphy’s pizza that is the ultimate satisfying experience. Eating the pizza a couple days after it was cooked gives me incredible enjoyment. It is my belief that the love affair many of us have with cold pizza can be traced to the moment the first person ate Papa Murphy’s pizza about 48 hours after it was cooked.

I love all kinds of Papa Murphy’s pizza but for me, nothing beats the stuffed pizzas, especially the 5-meat stuffed pie. You basically have a whole bunch of meat stuffed between two thick floors of delicious crust. Try it, your life will never be the same.

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So, Sid…is pizza for dinner tonight?

Don’t Blink.

A Defeated Media

Posted on January 22, 2017 by brent

This past Friday was a great day for two men. First, it was special for President Barack Obama. The day signified a wrap on his eight years of faithful service to the United States. He was able to hold his head high as he boarded a helicopter to take him off on a well-deserved vacation. It was also a triumphant day for President Donald Trump. The man launched an against-all-odds campaign for the presidency and emerged victorious. His Inauguration was a textbook example to kids on what it means to never give up.

However, Friday wasn’t a good day for everyone. In fact, it was a downright lousy one for the national media.

If the media thought nothing could be worse than Election Night when national networks were humiliated for bad reporting and for the reliance on inaccurate pollsters, this past Friday proved them wrong. It was a gloomy day for an unapologetic left leaning national media forced to report all day long on the man they despise taking the reins of the office they tried so desperately to prevent him from taking. It was a bitter pill to swallow. The look of awkwardness, disdain, and anger was clearly visible on the faces of many anchors and reporters all throughout Friday.

Resiliency is a desirable characteristic, however, and there was no doubt that folks working at such networks as ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, etc. were not going to take their medicine peacefully. Throughout Friday, many from the national media predictably focused less on President Trump’s unlikely and historic rise to the highest office in the land and more on stories they thought would take away from the moment they hoped they would never see. Throughout the day, viewers could turn on the TV and hear about…

The awful weather. The rain and the gloom seemed to speak to the mood of the country. Mother Nature sent the dark weather to prove a point that Trump is an illegitimate president. I mean, why else would it rain right when President Trump started to deliver his Inauguration Address?

Speaking of that Inauguration Address, it was another hot topic for the press. A speech that gave power to the people and pledged for the end of “all talk, no action” politicians must be something we never let our children hear. Never mind that President Trump spoke in a clear and powerful manner that contrasted with the philosophical and vague addresses of past presidents. While many neutral citizens with an interest in public speaking and relevant content thought the speech was well-done (including this blogger), the media didn’t quite think so.

How about those Friday protestors? The national media gave a lot of coverage to the people who converged on Washington D.C. to incite violence, destroy property, and impede the progress of service men and women whose job it was to line the parade route. On a day when hundreds of thousands of American citizens gathered to mark the peaceful transition of power, the media seemed to give an unproportionate amount of coverage to the small group of people who arrived in our nation’s capital for the sole purpose of causing damage.

Then there was the crowd. How embarrassing for President Trump that, according to the media, the amount of people gathered for his Inauguration fell short of satisfactory? It was almost as if that since the press thought the amount of American citizens was not adequate for the occasion, it made President Trump’s dominiating Electoral College victory invalid.

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With the last storyline mentioned, the media registered a small victory. The Trump Administration seemed offended by the constant Inauguration attendance talking point, causing White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer to come a bit unglued. He lectured the media on inaccurate and biased reporting.

Here is the thing, Mr. Spicer: It is not realistic to think that the media is going to do you any favors. Get over it.

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The Trump Administration needs to relax and realize one major point: On Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, President Trump won. Despite every obstacle thrown his way, he was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Conversely, the media lost. Although the press pulled out every stop to derail his campaign and to sour his Inauguration, Trump survived. So, until his term concludes or until he is impeached (I won’t be surprised if it happens), the media must wake up each morning knowing that someone they can’t stand is the president. Trump is the winner and he should act like it. Don’t Blink.

Feeling Good Thursday Rundown

Posted on January 19, 2017 by brent

Thank you for once again returning to Don’t Blink. It is another Thursday and that means I get to bore (I mean “entertain”) you with another rundown. And we are off…

Patriots Day – I want to start off my Thursday Rundown with “Patriots Day” just because it was such a great movie. Sidney and I went on premiere night last Friday and we really enjoyed the film. It managed to effectively capture the spirit of the city of Boston. It also kept our eyes misty the whole time, especially at the end. The performances by Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, and Kevin Bacon are solid. The last outstanding movie I saw was “Hacksaw Ridge” and although I would say “Patriots Day” might not be on its same level, it is still a film I recommend.

I recommend the movie “Patriots Day.”

Long Hair, Don’t Care – Most people know I used to have really long hair and most people have seen a couple of the classic photos that are widely circulated. However, not everyone has seen this horrific mug from my junior year of high school. Sorry to make you throw up your dinner.

This was my junior year high school photo.

Getting the Ax – Because I am a social media professional, I always pay attention when other social media professionals get fired. Last week, the social coordinator for a school district was let go after she had some fun with a student who misspelled the word “tomorrow.” I make it a point to never get sarcastic or condescending with anyone while I am behind the accounts of my employer but I know several counterparts who will push the envelope. Not saying that it is bad one way or the other, I just choose not to. Anyway, I actually reached out on Twitter to the woman who lost her job and she responded. Our conversation is below.

I had a Twitter conversation with Katie Nash, the social media professional who was fired from her position at a school district.

Inaugruation – As I have mentioned before, I am looking forward to tomorrow’s Presidential Inauguration from a historical standpoint. For someone like me who is a fanatic of the United States Presidency, I am mesmerized by the peaceful transition of power. I hope the big day goes by smoothly and everyone stays safe. Despite what we all think of President-Elect Trump becoming President Trump, take time tomorrow to appreciate one of the defining principles of our democracy.

Baby Update – Sidney hits the 29 week mark tomorrow. This past weekend she dressed up the crib for our daughter who will be here sooner than we know it. Sid is in full nesting mode and has gone about preparing the nursery with enthusiasm and care. The daddy is doing his best to get himself ready for the amazing gift of human life that is about to come.

A look at the completed crib.

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Enjoy the weekend with the Inauguration and NFL Championship games. God is good and life is good…remember that. Don’t Blink.

Making the Big Popcorn Purchase

Posted on January 18, 2017 by brent

Almost exactly three years ago, I wrote about a major life dilemma I was facing. In fact, the issue was bothering me so much that I had to ask for help. I did this by writing out all my thoughts and publishing it as a blog post so the entire world could counsel me on a tough decision. In the end, I opted not to make the investment.

In January of 2014, I wrestled around with whether I should buy a $20 tub of popcorn from my local movie theater. Living in Montana at the time, there was a Carmike Cinemas that I would frequent often. The chain offered a tub of popcorn that came with an initial price of $19.75. After the purchase was made, you could bring the tub back throughout the entire year for $3.75 refills.

I LOVE movie theater popcorn….not so much the microwave version though (photo from original popcorn blog post in 2014).

After much deliberation and internal struggle, I decided against buying the tub. Although several factors made up my decision, the price was ultimately the one that carried the most weight and discouraged me from making the purchase.

Now fast forward to 2017 and wouldn’t you know it?! I found myself once again perplexed by another movie theater popcorn conundrum. This past Friday, Sidney and I went to our favorite theater in Myrtle Beach for “Patriots Day.” This particular theater is part of the Cinemark chain. I stepped in line to purchase our popcorn and right in front of me was another tempting deal.

For $14 I could purchase a tub of popcorn AND a giant soda, a price that these days usually passes for normal (if not a little cheaper than usual). But there was something that made the offer much, much better. Both were refillable throughout 2017! Like with Carmike, the price per refill was $3.75 on subsequent trips to the theater.

Spoiler alert…I ended up buying the soda cup and the popcorn tub. This is what they look like.

Okay, there was just one thing holding me back. At first glance, the tub of popcorn looked a little small. In fact, it really isn’t even a tub, it is a bucket. However, I reasoned that perhaps a little bit of portion control might be a good thing. Besides, the soda cup was huge, a screaming deal for only $3.75 (after the initial purchase) when your typical soft drink at the theater runs $6-$8.

I knew paying the $14 was the right thing to do. There was just one more obstacle. I had to ask the wife.

“You go ahead honey, it’s your gift card!” Sidney enthusiastically said.

It is true. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law gave me a $25 gift card to Cinemark. I earmarked the gift card specifically for concessions because I also received a couple Fandango gift cards that will cover strictly movie tickets. There was no holding me back, I made the transaction!

This leads me back to my comment about the size of the popcorn bucket. “Patriots Day” is over two hours. By the time the movie ended, we still had a little bit of popcorn remaining. The amount of corn you get in the bucket is more than enough for two people.

The Cinemark refillable popcorn/soda deal is a complete steal. While it probably won’t work for a family, it is perfect for a couple or for the movie watching fanatic who prefers going to movies alone. So far in 2017, this has been our best purchase thus far. Don’t Blink.

Sub Zero Ice Cream

Posted on January 17, 2017 by brent

Sidney and I just didn’t eat pizza this weekend. We packed on the calories by indulging in another beloved treat as well: ice cream.

Because I love ice cream, I naturally like all the recent industry gimmicks such as Dippin Dots, froyo, and ice cream prepared on stone/marble. As long as it is cold enough to induce a brain freeze, I don’t mind if it is a couple scoops of the classic stuff served in a cone or a cup containing a mixture of flavors and toppings weighed on a scale.

I once ate seven scoops of ice cream in five minutes.

This past Saturday, just a couple hours after our MOD Pizza experience, we tried the newest ice cream craze. Not really craving ice cream since we were still full, we went inside of Sub Zero Ice Cream just out of plain curiosity.

Sidney and I visited the Myrtle Beach Sub Zero Ice Cream shop on Saturday.

Sub Zero Ice Cream puts quite the spin on the classic dessert. You order which flavor of ice cream you want along with the mix-ins desired at the counter. Then, the magic occurs. The staff makes your order right in front of you by using the science of liquid nitrogen.

Let me back up and explain this process a little better by using our order as an example. Because Sid and I were so full from lunch, we decided to just split a regular sized cup. Although Sub Zero has several creations with many mix-ins available for customers to choose from, we decided to go simple. We wanted just vanilla ice cream and Oreo cookies.

But even the simple is complex. We now had to decide what type of cream we wanted as our ice cream base. Given options such as low-fat, vegan, yogurt, lactose-free, and more, we chose original. The staff member poured the cream into a big silver bowl, added the Oreos, and then placed it under a liquid nitrogen shower/gun contraption. As the nitrogen engulfed the cream, puffs of vapor rose up, creating a pretty cool scene. After a couple more shots with the gun and after some serious mixing, our ice cream was ready.

A look at the set up behind the counter at the Myrtle Beach Sub Zero Ice Cream location. If you look to the left, you can see the staff member pouring the cream into the silver bowl.

As I paid for our dessert at the counter (it was around $5.50), I thought to myself how it was pretty cool that basic liquid cream could be turned into actual ice cream in just a couple minutes.

With the cup now in front of us, Sid and I dug in. It took just one bite to realize that we were eating some very rich and very heavy ice cream. Of course in the ice cream world that description translates into a taste that is nothing short of delicious. You know how with some ice cream you can dig out a spoonful and you can just see the creaminess and texture in it? This is what Sub Zero Ice Cream is like. Because our vanilla and Oreo cookie mixture was so flavorful and rich, we couldn’t help but think what a chocolate type of ice cream would taste like with multiple mix-ins.

This was our ice cream cup. As you can probably tell, it was very creamy.

While we were impressed with the ice cream, I don’t know if it is a place we will frequent that often. Besides the steep prices, it takes a long time for orders to come out, which is semi-understandable since they are making the ice cream right in front of you. But it took us at least 10 minutes from the time we walked through the doors to get our order, and there was just one person standing in line in front of us.

My photography skills are lacking in this photo because I failed to capture the intense vapor that is produced when the mixing occurs. However, you can still see a little bit of it.

Also, part of the reason why I like ice cream places so much is because of the ice cream atmosphere. I love the fresh smells, the quirky décor, and the tubs of ice cream visible under the glass. At Sub Zero Ice Cream, you obviously don’t physically see all the flavor choices because everything is made to order. Also, the chain adheres to a science theme so instead of pleasant colors and neon signs, you have depictions of molecular formulas on the walls and liquid nitrogen tanks lining the floor area. It just doesn’t feel that welcoming.

A look at one of the walls inside the Myrtle Beach Sub Zero Ice Cream location.

Sub Zero Ice Cream hits it out of the park with its product. However, the atmosphere, and, to an extent, the experience, just doesn’t justify me becoming a regular customer. Don’t Blink.

MOD Pizza

Posted on January 16, 2017 by brent

I know I am really late to the build-your-own personal pizza craze but yesterday Sidney and I finally got around to jumping in. We ate at the premiere player in the individual artisan-style pizza creation business, MOD Pizza, and I must say it was excellent.

This was the MOD Pizza that Sidney and I visited in Myrtle Beach yesterday.

Before I write about our experience, let me offer a quick story. At my mom’s family Italian restaurant, there was a personal pizza on the menu. Customers could choose one complimentary topping but then would have to pay $.75 per additional topping. My uncle on my dad’s side of the family would always order the pizza off the menu and wouldn’t let the extra topping charge deter him. He would order almost every topping the restaurant offered, easily paying double the menu price of the actual pizza. Because he loved the Pastime Cafe’s pizza pies so much, he just didn’t care about running up the tab.

But a lot of other people do. When ordering pizza, many people will opt for pepperoni when really they would prefer a five meat pie. Many people will order a regular veggie pizza when they really want to add a few gourmet toppings on it as well.

Hello MOD Pizza! The chain’s business model is simple: Customers pay $8 for an 11-inch pizza and have the pleasure of adding however many number of toppings they please.

The line at MOD Pizza yesterday was decently sized.

Sidney and I ate lunch at MOD Pizza here in Myrtle Beach on Saturday. Right when we entered the restaurant we picked up on a vibe. It could just be the Myrtle Beach location, but MOD Pizza seems like a progressive, edgy business. As we stood in line, the wall to our left was covered in a collage of diverse employees and customers. The actual staff working at the restaurant also fit the bill of the photos on the wall. It seemed evident that Mod Pizza lets employees be themselves whether that means having green hair, lots of tattoos, or numerous piercings. The only thing more diverse than the people of Mod Pizza would be the food offered!

The employees at the MOD Pizza location in Myrtle Beach are hard working and friendly. Here is one worker in the middle of creating Sidney’s pizza.

Customers can choose between a classic pizza that already has listed ingredients/toppings or they can go completely rogue and build their own. Sidney went with a classic pizza, opting for the Dominic (white sauce, asiago, fresh chopped basil, red onion, sliced tomatoes, mild sausage) while I decided to build mine from scratch!

MOD Pizza is set up like a mission burrito joint. You go up to the counter and all the ingredients and toppings are laid out between where you initially place your order and where you pay. The first employee asked me what I would be ordering. I told him I would be building my own MOD creation. He asked me what sauce I wanted and I told him pesto. He then asked if I wanted cheese (is that even a serious question?). After he layered my pie with mozzarella, a different employee asked me what types of meat I wanted. I opted for grilled chicken and spicy chicken sausage. Next came vegetables and I got corn (yes, corn is a pizza topping at MOD pizza). I was then asked if I wanted any of the more eclectic toppings. I requested roasted garlic.

Here is a look at the MOD Pizza set up in Myrtle Beach.

After the ordering and topping selection is complete, you pay. For our two pizzas and a drink that we shared, we paid just under $20. More on if it was worth it or not later. Once the transaction was made, the pizzas were thrown into the oven.

When my pizza came out of the oven, this is what it looked like.

Within five minutes, our names were called and we were handed our pizzas. They looked beautiful! They also looked really big too. We knew immediately that we wouldn’t be eating our whole pies during our lunch date. Presentation and size are important factors but nothing matters more than taste. What did we think of our pizza?…

This is Sidney with her pizza. She got the Dominic, a MOD Pizza classic.

It was absolutely delicious! Let me put it this way, MOD Pizza sure beats Pizza Hut or Domino’s. The flavors our taste buds immediately enjoyed from our first bites impressed us. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that we didn’t burn our tongues upon digging in. Each bite was incredible and the wood fired thin crust was perfect. The cheese was a masterful consistency and the toppings were adequately cooked. The word “gourmet” really does characterize the pizza offered at this place.

A photo of me with the pizza that I built from scratch. I really enjoyed MOD Pizza.

When Sidney and I eat Chick-Fil-A or burritos, it seems that our bill always runs close to $20. With this comparison in mind, I would say the value of MOD Pizza is excellent. Like I said, the portions are huge. We both ate just half of our respective pizzas. When we eat at a burrito joint, we are never taking any leftovers home. More importantly, just the quality of the food at MOD Pizza is above average. Sidney and I both felt we were getting what we paid for. This was reinforced when we ate some of our leftovers for lunch today. The best food always tastes better the next day and this holds true for Mod Pizza.

I highly recommend MOD Pizza. The business model is sound and the food is great. Make sure to give it a try. Don’t Blink.

Potato Parcel

Posted on January 15, 2017 by brent

Thanks to the internet, you can do some really random things. Oh, you want an example? Believe it or not, if you desire, you can send a customized potato to anyone you please in the world.

Yesterday I received a single potato in the mail delivered to me in an envelope. Read on to find out about Potato Parcel.

Last week on Instagram I shared an image of the new stationary I received for Christmas. Part of this stationary set that my mother-in-law gave me included envelopes with my address on them. The social media professional at the University of Arizona, Kimberly Davis, saw this and notified me that she was going to send me something.

In the back of my head throughout the week, I looked forward to what Kimberly was going to send me. She said it was a surprise and when the words “it’s a surprise” comes out of someone’s mouth who happens to work in social media you know it is most likely going to be a little wacky.

Yesterday I went out and got the mail. Stuffed in our box was a small manila packaging envelope. It was addressed to me and it contained an obvious object in it. Although it was from a San Francisco return address with no name on it, I knew the package was from Kimberly. I took it inside to open it up.

This was the package I received in the mail yesterday afternoon.

I sat on our couch, put the package on our living room table, and ripped it open. The object rolled out and caught me by surprise. The initial feeling of surprise went to a quick feeling of disgust that then turned into a feeling of I can’t believe the things people come up with…

Kimberly had sent me a POTATO in the mail. After the surprise went away, I immediately questioned whether it was sanitary to even come into contact with a produce item that went on a week-long journey inside an envelope across the country. I touched the potato just enough to turn it over and I saw the written message on it: Hey Brent! – Kimberly.

The contents of the package that Kimberly sent me.

The potato was accompanied by a slip of paper. It was now clear what had happened. Kimberly used the services of a company called Potato Parcel. Customers pay $10 to have a potato with a message written on it sent to anyone in the country. For a little bit more money, folks can send a spud internationally or have a colored image superimposed on it.

Think about that for a second: There is a successful company that makes money off of sending potatoes with messages written on them through the mail.

A look at what Potato Parcel offers.

Why didn’t I think of that?!

Potato Parcel depends on social media to get word out about its services. The slip of paper that accompanied the potato had hashtags to use and handles to follow. I posted my photo with my potato using the hashtag across a couple different social media platforms and immediately I received responses from the Potato Parcel social accounts. I browsed the hashtag myself on Instagram and it seemed like the posted images were endless.

Supposedly the creators of Potato Parcel went on Shark Tank. I have yet to look it up on YouTube but I am anxious to see how the presentation went and how the Sharks reacted. Kudos to the people behind Potato Parcel and thanks to my counterpart in Tucson for making me aware that it is possible to send a vegetable through the mail. Don’t Blink.

Don't Blink

By Brent Reser

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