Granola Winner

Ok, so that whole granola giveaway didn't work as well as the coffee one. Hmmmm. Only one entry. It sure is a good thing that it was an awesome entry!

Congratulations to Sharon! You are hilarious! Part of me really wants to go camping with you, and the other part of me just kicked that part in the knee really hard. Email me at melanie.duve@gmail.com with your address so I can send you some amazing granola!

Here is her story, in case you missed it!

My ex-husband (patience, clues to follow) was a camping nut. Needless to say, being interested in other of his stuff, I decided I could learn and like this camping thing. He planned this elaborate honeymoon ... freeze dried food (food? in packets?? - this was back in the 80's, so you can imagine the quality of said food.) He used words like "base camp" and "100 pound pack, max" and "bears" and "mountain lions".

I was game, I swear I was.

I think things really started falling apart on the ten mile hike back down to the "base camp". Or, it may have been the adolescent black bear that I came face to face with as I rounded the corner of our "trail tent" clinging to my sparse roll of toilet paper in the middle of the night. One of us had more fear than the other and I'm not sure it wasn't the bear.

Did I forget to mention that I bought new hiking shoes for this "adventure"?

Well, the blisters won one day right in the middle of this godforsaken trail and something snapped ....I threw off my pack and lay down in the middle of the trail in the dirt, imitated an old mule and said "Enough! I quit." Nothing he could say could convince me to do anything more than carry anything more than my tired old carcass down the trail, with him carrying my pack and his.

I have had moments in thinking back where I've felt like a total shit for doing that, and I have had few moments of such stubbornness in my life since.

Yes, the marriage failed. Writ large that day? Probably so ...

A Very Crunchy Giveaway

H-O-L-Y-S-H-I-T

I am a girl who makes no secret of, well, anything, but specifically I do not hide my love for granola. Mama always said no relationship is worthwhile if you have to keep it a secret. Plus, granola is a very tasty treat and a great addition to the first meal of the day. I love some seasonal fruit in a bowl, with a little yogurt, topped with some granola. But you can make it any way you want and still have wonderful success. The sweetness and crunch are so satisfying and the meal is still healthy. Well, it CAN be unhealthy if you eat too much, but you knew that. And if you are reading my blog for health tips, I fear you might die young.

But...I just had the BEST GRANOLA EVER CREATED. This is the Usain Bolt of granola. Rodney's Homemade Granola from Bi-Rite Creamery. It tastes so good that I cried when I ate it. Twice. Imagine eating a diamond encrusted slice of David Bowie's - nevermind. Just trust me that it is SO GOOD. I would tell you what the ingredients are, but I was so excited when I opened the package that I accidentally ripped that part off. But there might just be some crack in here.

So, like any good crack dealer, I want to share it with you! That's right! It's time for another 'Broke-Ass College Kid's Kinda Cheap Giveaway!' The winner, no matter where they are located in the world, will be shipped a bag of this delightful crunchity goodness. And all you have to do to win is tell me a story about camping - best one wins. For some reason, granola makes me think of camping, which I am afraid of, so help me conquer my fear. Or just make me laugh. The winner I've selected (and their story) will be posted on TUESDAY! Post your tale in the comments section below.

Can't wait to read your stories!!!

Love Letter

Dear Granola,

Please forgive me for being distant these past few months. I forgot how good you are to me. I like it when you crunch in my mouth. And when you partner with a few raisins for a little surprise, surprise - hold me back. You drive me wild.

Damn, granola. You so fine.

I'll be seeing you again. Soon. Real soon.

Melanie