The New Batman Fruit Snacks

It's true that I have an obsession with Super Hero Food that borders on "unhealthy" (mainly because the food itself is usually junk food). But I feel I've made steps toward recovery with the donation of the bulk of my collection to the Toy & Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, OK.

More on that scene later. Today belongs to the new Batman Fruit Snacks. In a hopeless bid for normality I've stopped collecting them (for the most part) and started eating them. In a world of Superman Cheese and Spider-Man Salt Substitute (ok I made that one up), Batman Fruit Snacks may seem pedestrian at best. And to a certain extent they're not the most exciting licensed product on the shelves.

But I choose to believe in a world that sees Batman Fruit Snacks as the elder statesman of the Super Hero Food World. Throughout various cartoons and movies new Batman Fruit Snacks just keep appearing at your local grocer. They are the trusted old friend that says, "Go ahead and put a box of fruit snacks in your shopping cart. You won't look as stupid as you feel."

And since none of the other food at the store said anything to talk me out of it, I made it home with the new box. It looks like they didn't fix anything that wasn't broke. So here's how YOUR 2008 Batman Fruit Snacks break down:

There's easily a Dark Knight/New Movie-esque vibe to these guys...because...hey, look...the Joker. Another thing that stands out is that you get not one, but two bat symbol shapes: "traditional" and "movie-ish." And speaking of the movie symbol shape, this is as good a time as any to point out that for some reason white fruit snacks have always freaked me out. Don't know why. All I can say is, man, fruit snacks should NOT be white.

Batman head, Batman body and nondescript Batmobile shape rounds out the rest of the group. A little unimaginative this time. If they must go with movie images then why not two different Rachel Dawes heads? "Crazy" and "Crazy's replacement." Why not a Batpod or Tumbler shaped shape? Is it possible that Betty Crocker didn't put as much thought into this as I have?

Oh well, I say bring on this summer's Iron Man food!

Peanuts Envy

Life is all about regret.  For example, I regret that I am still waiting for some graphics to be made so that we can finish "Oklahoma Rocks!"  But that's not the only thing that's been keeping me tossing and turning lately.

Some might remember that in a past blog I lamented the fact that while shooting in the area (for "Oklahoma Rocks!...coming soon!  I swear!), we were unable to stop in Durant, OK to get footage of their "World's Largest Peanut."

Now for most people that would have been that.  But the free time that comes with waiting for graphics (Finish my @!$%&ing graphics already!!  You know who you are!) is a harsh bedfellow on a boring Saturday morning.  So I decided my peanut itch must be scratched.

Before we go any further, Durant's dirty little secret needs to be addressed.  No, their peanut is actually not the "World's Largest."  A larger legume looms over the people of Ashburn, GA.  However I submit that there is a certain small town charm inherent in out-and-out lying about a minor accomplishment and/or tourist attraction.  (Although in Durant's defense they probably didn't know about Ashburn when they made their peanut monument.)

Anyway, enough talk!  Behold:

Sure it's a  big peanut and it would be easy to think that it's the "World's Largest" if you didn't follow the exploits of the "World's Largest This" or "World's Largest That" like I do (or at the very least, an internet connection).  It's certainly not what you would call a "small peanut."  So maybe it's time we cut Durant a break.

Now in my opinion one of the best things a small town can have is a theme.  And while Durant doesn't have a series of peanut street vendors or peanut themed muffler shops, what they do have is this:

The Peanut Shoppe.  Guess what they sell there.  Guess what I bought there.

These guys know how to celebrate the peanut.  Peanut brittle (which I also got), peanut butter, peanut candy...George Washington Carver would approve.

Sure they have the standard candies, sauces and jalapeno relishes (somebody buys it...I've just never met them) but here, the peanut is king.  And pity anyone who points out that it is neither a "pea" nor a "nut."

Have a virtual visit if you like: http://www.thepeanutshoppe.com/

I'd like to say I learned a lot from the experience but I mostly just learned how to shell and eat peanuts while driving 70 mph down the highway with a minimum of collateral damage.  That'll just have to be enough.