not so subliminal

Just a little reminder on this crazy, nutsy Tuesday... 

Carry on.

* GAME OVER *

PEEPS! Oh, peeps... I have missed you so :D

~

I have never told you the story about how Ruffles potato chips and I became so attached at the hip. I know I talk about Ruffles, joke about Ruffles, take photos of Ruffles, eat a lot of Ruffles, give Ruffles to friends, and receive bags of Ruffles from many of you as gifts (thank you!)... but I have never told you The Story. It's very short and simple really. And to this day it remains incredibly baffling to me. But it's true.

Exactly three years ago, I literally woke up one morning, and Ruffles potato chips were the very first thing I thought about. Before my head was even off the pillow. Ruffles. Ruffles potato chips. "R-R-Ruffles Have R-R-Ridges". I had to have them. I could hardly wait until I was able to get some. The opening of the bag. The crispy ridges. The salt. The craving to knock everyone and everything in my path to get to them was completely foreign to me. I had enjoyed a very tasty relationship with Cheetos occasionally throughout my life time, but I had never EVER been one to gravitate toward "regular" potato chips. But this could not be denied. Oh, it could absolutely NOT be denied. 

(*special note of thanks to the talented & amazing Riley Lyon 

for the most awesome chip clips on da whole planet earff)

I got me some Ruffles. It didn't take me long to realize that the Original kind were way too greasy and made me sick to my stomach. I quickly found out the Reduced Fat Ruffles were my personal Nirvana. Not greasy. Still salty. Exactly how I imagined they would taste when I woke up that fateful morning. Made just for moi. PERFECT. 

I could not get enough of my Reduced Fat Ruffles. I was insatiable. I had to travel with them. I had to have a bag in the trunk of my bug. I had to have at least two to four bags up in the cupboard so I always knew they were there and I would not run out. One time I *did* run out and could not find them anywhere. I went to 8 different grocery stores. SERIOUSLY. To no avail. So I tried the Natural Ruffles with Sea Salt in the interim (very good, I might add), until I found my beloved Reduced Fat Ruffles once again. I think I purchased twelve bags when the delivery finally came.

I was a freaking Ruffles connoisseur. Everything was categorized. I had my all time favorites - bite size, slightly more well-done. My next favorites - folded over. And my meh ones - really large or odd shaped (still edible of course). And though I would eat them morning, noon, and night, here's a little Ruffles trivia: they taste the very best in the morning. I'm guessing because your tongue has been resting all night so your taste buds are rearing to go. And I wouldn't be me unless I mention Ruffles go best with diet Coke w/ a splash of sugar free vanilla syrup in it (aka: R with DC with some V)..... but my ongoing love for diet Coke is a story for another time.

(*Special note of thanks to Diana Bingham for my MAGNIFICENT "M" cup!)

The first two years of this curious obsession were by far the most outlandish. I picture myself as a beaver gnawing through trees... sawdust flying in every which way. OBSESSIVE MUCH? Sometimes my hands would shake until I could get that bag opened. DRUG OF CHOICE HMMM? You would think that I blew up like a balloon with all that Ruffles eating, but I had previously blown up several years ago, so that was already taken care of. In fact, I lost 15lbs. And being so health conscious and all... I made sure I was always eating mozzarella cheese sticks to round out my Ruffles plan with some calcium and protein. I ARE SO SMART.

(*Speical note of *LOVE* to Kerrie and all my precious girlies, 

for their Ruffles & DC enthusiasm... but mostly for their love)

This last year has been a hard year. A hard world year. A hard family year. A hard me year. A hard Ruffles year. Not long ago, I began noticing the Ruffles weren't tasting as good. I thought surely I was mistaken, but no. It came as a shock when they sat in my stomach like a rock. Until I threw up. Repeatedly. It was still surprising though, when I found myself not wanting them as much, or even thinking about them. One thing I didn't know, was that I was getting sick - that I was actually already sick and would be getting sicker. Perhaps that had something to do with the change - I don't know. Over the last few months, I have thought a lot about this odd Ruffles phenomenon. Why did I wake up that one morning craving them in the first place? What purpose could they have possibly served in my life? Why exactly three years? Where is any significance whatsoever? I don't have answers for any of these questions. I just know my Ruffles days are over, even though I can hardly believe I'm saying that. Oh, I'm sure I'll eat a few occasionally. But that crazy, salty, crunchy, chip-obsessed roller coaster ride that usually ended with me puking? We're done now. We're done. This is me exhaling. 

* GAME OVER *

(*Special note of thanks to Carlos Porto and 

FreeDigitalPhotos.net for his tennis ball image.

To visit Carlos's webpage please see below:

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=345)  

manna news flash

Quite often I am reminded that clouds do have silver linings. Even though you may first have to stand in a downpour. Without an umbrella. As a bus speeds by. And you end up wearing a lot of mud on your face.

So it is with the continuing saga of my suspiciously cocaine infected nostrils - which, you will be most grateful to hear, I will not go into yet again - as well as the staples of my health regimen you all know I depend on most. None other than my personal manna and nectar of the gods: Ruffles and diet Coke. For such a coincidence to occur at the same time is really quite extraordinary. I'm certain the planets must be in alignment and all must be well in the universe. Or it could be that I'm just my optimistic self and my medication is really awesome. 

If you're not aware of my close relationship with Ruffles and diet Coke - or if you really could care less - that's perfectly all right. Go head on over to the Onion - I'm sure they have something to get you laughing and thinking. Or go visit Dooce - no doubt she has something perfectly nasty to say. Now is your chance, so make a break for it! But if you want a little news flash... stick around for just a minute.

I admit it. I've been downright pathetic about this nose nightmare. And not just because I've been completely miserable. It's just the absolute wrong ailment for a germophobic, bacteria fearing, clean freak. So when my husband went to the store for milk Friday night, he actually bought me some Ruffles. He felt bad for my sad, sorry, pathetic self, and he noticed they were on sale, so he brought home several bags. Needless to say, he scored some major points. Now here's where my little news flash comes in.

You already know I can't eat the Original Ruffles. WAY too greasy - even just one handful will make me feel ILL. I have to stay away - far away. I had always eaten the Ruffles Reduced Fat and was good to go. Well, several months ago, I was head-over-heels to discover Natural Ruffles Sea Salt Reduced Fat. Soooooo Good!!! In fact, I even posted that they were my new Fall Line-Up! And I've been loving them ever since! It wasn't until my husband brought home my old favorite - the regular Reduced Fat Ruffles - because they were the ones on sale, that I realized what a difference there was in the SALT! HOLY SODIUM! Hence, wearing a lot of mud on my face!

I truly never realized how much more salt there is in the Natural Sea Salt Ruffles! They still may be considered Reduced Fat, but they are MUCH saltier! It was actually a relief to taste my old faves with less salt. I'll probably be able to delay that stroke a while longer too. So I am here to tell you my friends, run - RUN! - back to the regular Reduced Fat Ruffles for less fat and MUCH less salt! You'll be so glad you did. Your world will be round again.

I can't believe it took a freaking nose infection to bring it all about. Go figure. 

And God will look down and smile upon your manna :)