State of the Freezer Address 8th Anniversary Edition

Hello everyone, hope you had a good Mother's Day. While the following post will probably involve a lot of rambling, I just want to start off by saying that I appreciate all of you that follow me. Whether this is your first season here or your 8th, do know that I am glad you are here and am grateful that you stick with me as my style and process has changed over the years. Sometimes for the better, and sometimes for worse, but it's a process that never ends apparently. Let's do a quick freezer check and then we will get to the rambling.

Upstairs freezer is housing stuff that you will see on the blog soon. Tasty Red Velvet Cake, more Perry's, and a young company called Yeti Frozen Custard. (usual selection of veggies and breakfast treats are in stock as well). Tempted to do a new review of Blue Bunny cookie dough because they have upgraded the swirl from super sweet to epic. Good times!

Downstairs freezer is a mess of samples and other misc treats, but nothing top secret at the moment. Things to point out are: HD Pomegranate Swirl gelato because most of the H-D gelato flavors are gone (I'm guessing the last few will disappear before 2017). I've also got a pint of Three Twins ice cream which has now invaded my local Market Basket! I know they may not make the craziest flavors, but I've liked every pint I've bought so far. (did anybody see Three Twins co-founder Neil on Survivor?)

We've also got a bunch of Perry's to cover, more Yeti (duplicates), another Hippity Hop Berry because we ate the first one so quickly, some Graeters hiding out, and a pint of Oikos that has been there way too long. At some point I will get back to updating old reviews with new photos and thoughts. I don't do it a ton, but for example you will notice some old B&J reviews have updated notes at the start of them.

You'll notice on the left that I've gotten lazy with finishing boxes of treats (I count six boxes but some of them have multiple products in them). I can't tell you how much this chest freezer has saved me in time and money and sanity over the years. It has earned it's keep a few times over.

And now for the stats: 1500 product reviews. It's over 1500 products though because some of the reviews cover multiple products. 1205 of those reviews are mine, 295 are Nick's. You may have noticed he's been pretty quiet but that's because life has gotten very busy for him. I try to remind him that On Second Scoop is not his priority, I am not offended when other stuff comes first. Technically we could supplement some of his reviews with someone from the South or the West Coast, but I just don't know. I've had trouble committing to this idea. Ahhh, it might be a good time to start rambling.

When I started this blog on May 8th, 2008, the internet was a very different place. Sure we had Facebook, but it was almost a year before Ashton Kutcher would be the first to hit a million followers on twitter (you now need almost 14 million followers to break in to the twitter top 100). It was also over two years before instagram was even an option and yet here I am, still muddling to get through it all.

While I don't think twitter has stolen away the essence of blogging, I do think instagram has in a way. It feels very much like we all like the thought of something way more than actual reality of something. We click like and love and YAY for Oreo Churros but how many of us will actually stop to try them? Or even really care about it. We see a picture of something, like it, and within seconds have moved on, maybe never to return. [that's not to say that more and more of you aren't finding stuff before I do!]

For someone who's been surfing the internet for over twenty years, today's internet is kind of scary. Don't get me wrong, I really do like instagram. It's struck a fun balance between blogging and tweeting and interacting that is no longer possible in a stand alone blog or on monetized Facebook. I just get a little worried for the future. My blog is permanent and forever and thorough. When you are on a social media platform, it's kind of just like renting a space for a moment (I had heard this described better than that but I think you get the idea). As the world evolves and information (and misinformation) spread faster and faster, it's tough being the old guy cataloging everything the old fashion way.

...I know I say this every year, but I really wanted a blog redesign for you....

So what's in store? I have no idea. I know posting every other day isn't the most exciting thing, but it's helped me keep the budget in check. I spent way too much money trying to be the first to try everything last year. The scary thing is that I've already hit most of what I wanted to for 2016. We went so crazy last year that I look back on the last few months and go "Ummm, is that it?" It just feels like something is missing but I don't know what.

Ok, I really should get some sleep, but let me thank you one more time before I go. It's been a fun ride and I appreciate you sticking through the typos and bad days and the nonsensical way I think sometimes. I thought I would get more professional over the years but I'm not sure I have... or maybe I have but I don't know how to show it properly. I do wish my pictures were better. It's funny because I've really gotten in to the way things look and analyzing colors and patterns and everything, but I still have so much trouble taking a really good photo. Ugggg. And now I'm rambling.

Good night! Be well! Keep scooping!
And never be afraid to leave your thoughts and comments!