Sunday, May 31, 2009

Power Bars, or How a Blog Was Born

A Sunday Favorite

writeroval-1-1 For this week’s Sunday Favorite, I’m taking you all the way back to the beginning—October 25, 2008.  This was my very first post.  I actually created my blog and wrote this post on my laptop in my oldest son’s condo in Denver.  Please be sure to visit Chari at Happy to Design for more Sunday Favorite reruns.

LBeau and I are wrapping up a week-long trip to Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. At a convenience store somewhere along Highway 550 in the middle of the New Mexico waste land, we discovered Power Bars. We were tired and hungry, and LBeau said that they helped Michael Phelps and the Tour 'de France bicyclists so they would probably work for us. We paid about $1.50 each for two apple-cinnamon Power Bars. It was money well-spent.

Two days later, we stopped at another convenience store as we got to Moab, Utah. We had driven from Mesa Verde National Park and needed gas and more Power Bars. Having passed up stations in Monticello, Utah, selling regular for $4.29, we decided that $3.92 didn't sound too bad. Little did we know that Power Bars were selling for $2.69. We reluctantly bought four--two strawberry and two peanut butter-chocolate chip.
 
This morning, at a brief (I thought) WalMart stop for eye drops, LBeau decided to find out how much Power Bars cost at America's leading retailer. So where would you look for Power Bars at WalMart? They weren't on the racks by the check-out counters. Guess Power Bars don't appeal to kids in shopping carts.
 
Next, we tried the snack aisle. Plenty of granola bars on the snack aisle, but no Power Bars. Fifteen minutes later, we found them on the cereal aisle. However, WalMart didn't have the exact variety of Power Bars that we had bought at the convenience stores. Five minutes of ingredient reading later, LBeau determined that the individually wrapped Power Bars had twice as much protein as those we had bought. The whole-grain varieties came five to a box. How do you begin to compare prices when you can't compare apples to apples or in this case, cinnamon-apple to cinnamon-apple?
 
Finally back on the road, I sent Ben, our youngest son, a text message which read, "Dad has just spent 15 minutes in WalMart checking out the price of Power Bars."
 
He replied, "Classic. You should start a blog."
 
So here it is. By the way, a box of five Power Bars at WalMart in Grand Junction, Colorado, costs $4.67. You do the math.

17 comments:

Dixie said...

Kathy... so glad your son made the recommendation... cause how else would I have found you... this is a great post... and just goes to show... there's a writer in all of us... (or do you think it was the PowerBars?)

blessings... Dixie

Dixie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dixie said...

Kathy... yes... I take about 99% of my header photos... the bowl of cherries taken yesterday while working on Rhondi's porch party post... and then... I ate them...
;)

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Great story, thanks for bringing it back. Go PowerBars!

Tonja said...

Great story! Thanks to your son for the great suggestion! Aren't you glad you started blogging?

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful story. I am so like that tho, reading, ruminating, taking hours for what should be minutes... I drive Mr. MaidenShade to distraction so he does most of the shopping! LOL, love it!

Happy 2nd time around Sunday!

xJ
MaidenShade.wordpress.com

Chris said...

Great post and nice to meet you!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Such a funny post and what a great trip. Sounds like some of the escapades DH and I have. So glad you took your sons advice. Love your blog. Hugs, Marty

nanny said...

Hasn't it been fun? Adds something to my day to see what everyone is doing!

Joyce said...

Thanks for stopping by...I imagine I will continue to write some about England and about the transition. I will still do lots of traveling. I'll think of something-I have lots to say : )

Keetha Broyles said...

This is a GREAT story about starting a blog!!! My kids all tease me about mine, but two of them read it regularly and the other two have admitted to checking it out from time to time - - - so there you have it!

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

That is hysterical! Blogs have been birthed from stranger cicumstances than the price of Power Bars, but still! What a great beginning!

momma said...

great post! are you glad you started your blog?

xinex said...

Great reason to start a blog, lol! Walmart sure has the best prices? Did their power bar taste just as good?....Christine

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Kathy...

I'm so glad that you joined in with the fun of Sunday Favorites this week...what a fun post!!!

My friend, I didn't know that you were in Grand Junction! I have so many fond memories of that town...while growing up, my folks always took us to Grand Junction to pick peaches...mmmm...there is nothing like a western slope peach!!! Hehe!!! Speaking of food...I always see those power bars but have never tried one! I could use an extra energy boost! Hehe! In any case, it's so funny how these little bars (with the help of your dear son) is what urged you on to blogging!!! I love it!!!

Have a great week, my friend!
Warmest wishes,
Chari

Carla said...

And the rest is history!!
Hubby and I went on a road trip, and he stopped often and bought granola bars. After a while I read the label and found out how much sugar was in them (not good for hubby), think I'll check out Wallyworld and see if we have them. Thanks for the heads up:)

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Kathy, this was such a cute post, and I think we must have begun our blogs at almost the same time. I'll have to go back and look at the date of my first post. laurie