Fangirls and boys

This week has got me thinking about the idea of fanhood, of producing content that people enjoy, look forward to, and even miss.

Taylor Swift put out a new album, and I was wondering: What would it be like to be a superstar, where people not only like what you do, but look forward eagerly to your new releases? And if your release is postponed or your concert is cancelled, they are disappointed and perhaps even angry. It must be really weird to know that people like what you do.

On a much smaller scale, apparently I have a fandom from my writings. My last blog post generated a lot of positive feedback. I'm not really sure why--I didn't find it a particularly noteworthy post, and quite honestly, I think it was popular because the Facebook thumbnail was a picture of me, and people feel a need to press "like" when people post pictures of themselves. I have received compliments and positive feedback for my blog since at least 2012 (I can't remember any from 2011, but maybe I had some then as well). My pumpkinundation roundup in particular seems to be a popular feature. Recently, I even had someone who isn't my Facebook friend ask me about my pumpkin stuff on my blog, and I doubt she's even read it, which means someone has been telling her about it. (I don't send friend requests because I don't want anyone to feel obligated to be my friend if they don't want to--and I get exhausted having too many friends.) It is strange to me that so many people have liked my blog, since I don't think it's very remarkable, and my life really isn't that interesting. Yet a certain Luke keeps calling me "the most interesting man in the ward."

I also had a review for Peppermint Twinkies go live this week, and if I do say so myself, it's one of the best reviews I've written. I even got a positive comment from a stranger. See, I feel like I'm not as funny or clever as most of the other reviewers, so every time a review goes up, I feel pretty self conscious about it. I'm glad this week's turned out well.

This week at work, I stood three-hole-punching a book manuscript for which I have done a substantial amount of research, writing, and editing. We printed it out to go to reviewers. As I was doing so, I was thinking, "Is this real life!?" This book may reach more people than my humble little blog, but I doubt it will generate much interest among the common folk.

It just baffles me that people care about my weekly experiences with trail running,

This week's adventures took me on trails above Bountiful that were too steep, rocky, slippery, and exposed to be good for running.

 cat ownership,

This is his favorite spot. I love him, even if he likes my mom more than he likes me.

and holiday geeking out.

(For those who were curious, my Thanksgiving bucket list still has the following tasks I have to accomplish: have Thanksgiving dinner, see wild turkeys, go over a river, donate to a food bank, and give thanks/express gratitude. It isn't officially on my bucket list, but I also think it would be fun to visit Plymouth, Utah. While I'm 29, I want to go to all 29 counties, so that would cross Box Elder off my list.)

But if I'm truthful, I do find myself enjoying reading others' blogs. I'm one of the few consistent bloggers anymore (as far as ordinary people are concerned). And with some people, I'm disappointed when they don't post. But there are others whose posts I don't read, because I think, "Your blog is not interesting, and it's a chore to get through."

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Pumpkinundation roundup, week 9!

 This very container of Apple Pie Tic Tac is what got me the reviewing gig last year. I still have the container left over--since these are sugared mints, I can only eat them at Thanksgiving. 7/10.

 This is a "mini" Iceberg pumpkin shake. It's enormous. It wasn't mixed super well, but it was super tasty! 8/10.

 They sell these Nature's Path Granny's Apple Pie Toaster Pastries all year, even though they're inferior to the pumpkin ones, which are only seasonal. The apple part tastes kind of fake. But I like them better than Caramel Apple Pop Tarts. 7/10.

 The Kneaders Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Petite Cake didn't impress me last year, because it was a step down from the cake slices they used to do. But now that I'm used to the idea, I can appreciate the divine dessert it is. 9/10.

 Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory makes an apple pie apple, which has a white confection with apple pie spices over the caramel coating. For the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Pecan Pie Apple, I think they just put pecans in the apple pie apple. It's not bad as an apple, but it doesn't make me think of pecan pie. I've never known pecan pie with spices. 8/10.

 Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake isn't as good as its plain pumpkin counterpart, but you still can't go wrong with them. 9/10.

 In years past, I didn't really care for Nestle Toll House Pumpkin Spice Morsels. I don't know why I bought them, because I don't know what I'll use them for. But I've had so many inferior pumpkin products that these don't seem as bad anymore. 6/10.

 Pizza Pie Cafe's Pumpkin Dessert Pizza of the Month is tasty, but it's not very pumpkiny. I mostly get cinnamon and butter. 7/10.

 Apple Pie Larabars are sold year round, and they're pretty good; I like that they're literally just fruit and nuts. 8/10.

 Franz Pumpkin Spice English Muffins use pumpkin puree, but mostly I can just taste clove. I ate these with different kinds of veggie burgers and pumpkin butter (not at the same time).

 I rarely use lip gloss, and when I do, it's usually Burt's Bees. But I had to try Pumpkin Pie ChapStick. It reminds me of the coating of Pumpkin Pie Kit Kats. 7/10.

 I had this homemade pecan pie. My favorite. 10/10.

 I also had a homemade apple pie: 7/10 (overcooked) and chocolate pecan pie: 9/10 (excessively sweet and decadent with the chocolate).

 I had to use some leftover rice, so I used McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice in fast nut veggie burgers. I have made these veggie burgers several times before, but this time I made some changes. It was way too liquidy, I think because the onion I used was too big, so there was too much water. Instead of chili powder, I used pumpkin spice; instead of almonds, I used pumpkin seeds and pecans; instead of ketchup, I used peanut butter. It wasn't as flavorful as the regular version, but it was edible. 7/10.

Even though I don't use much lip gloss I also got EOS Natural Pumpkin Spice Lip Care, which seems to be marketed to women. It seems to be a higher quality than Chap Stick. 7/10.