Buy My Peanut Brittle!
My problem started when I was eleven years old. Our Hebrew school had a decent basketball team and we made it to the New York State Hebrew School championship in Albany. As a fundraising stunt, we were supposed to sell boxes of Peanut Brittle to our neighbors in order to pay for transportation. I hated selling things to other people. I felt like I was imposing on them. Chances are, most of neighbors would have bought a box from me, just because they know my parents, and my mother usually bought Girl Scout cookies from their kids. I just felt guilty asking people to buy things they really didn’t need or want.
Even then, I was a realist.
“Who in the world REALLY wants a box of peanut brittle?!” I asked myself. “That stuff is nasty and can crack your tooth!”
I sold two boxes. One to my mother and one to my grandmother.
Fast forward to today. I’m pretty much the same. There is no way you could get me to walk around my apartment building and ask neighbors to shell over their hard-earned money for some peanut brittle.
Rule #1 in therapy. A person will never overcome his fear until he fights it.
This is where YOU come in.
I would like you to buy some boxes of peanut brittle.
There is no cost per box because you will never actually get any of this peanut brittle. It is all theoretical, the aim being that I overcome my fear by asking you to buy it from me.
Please buy as many boxes as you want. Buy some for yourself. Buy for you co-workers. They also make excellent birthday and wedding gifts for family members.
I am pretty confident that most of you will buy a few boxes of peanut brittle from me. You seem to be a caring bunch and you realize that this will be a tremendous boost to my self-esteem. After all, I am in this limbo-land with Sophia and living here with my mother. I’m not feeling very manly and I really need a BIG BOOST!
Recently, Firefox promoted it’s new Firefox 3 browser by announcing a “Download Day.” They attempted to create a Guinness Book of World Record for the “most downloaded software” in one day. I’m not sure they achieved their ultimate goal, but they had 8 million downloads in 24 hours.
Imagine how cool it would be to brag to the women at BlogHer that I am a Guinness Book of World Record Holder! Talk about a line that will definitely get me laid!
So here’s the deal. I’m going to show you how much my cojones have grown since I have come to New York. I don’t want you to simply buy a few imaginary boxes of peanut brittle from me. I want you to buy SO MANY BOXES OF IMAGINARY PEANUT BRITTLE that I will become the undeniable GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD HOLDER of selling imaginary peanut brittle in a single 24-hour day!
How many boxes of peanut brittle would you like?
No credit cards accepted for purchases under ten boxes.
Tags: peanut brittle, therapy








74 Comments so far
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Sign me up for a few cases. But I’m afraid that telling someone you’re the world record peanut brittle champion is not the way to show your cojones. In fact, the confidence you will get from being the peanut brittle champion and not bragging about it will reflect much better on you. (Don’t let it get to your head.)
By Nedra on 06.30.08 11:43 pm
neil…son (trying to sound wise…i am in no way old enough to be your mother…in fact i have no idea how old you are!)…i would buy peanut brittle from you if you were selling real boxes. i kinda like peanut brittle. i mean it isn’t my candy of choice by any means, but my mom loves the stuff so i would buy at least two boxes. one for me and one for her. and then if i thought it through i might be a couple more to bring as gifts when i visit people. it might ruin my reputation…bringing peanut brittle instead of a bottle of wine, but hey…i’ve been out of the country for awhile…i think they would excuse the behavior. so sign me up for 4 boxes. and then if we are getting all imaginary…i’ll take 4 more. i can’t imagine getting rid of 8 boxes of peanut brittle no matter how imaginary they are!
By natalie on 07.01.08 12:12 am
The stuff looks like spew, but if you came to my front door, I swear I’d buy a few boxes from you right now.
By Artful Kisser on 07.01.08 12:26 am
I happen to love brittle (although the peanut, not so much. More of an almond fan.) and I’ll be happy to buy a dozen boxes from you. I wish the candy was real. I’m wicked hungry right about now, having only had a virtuous salad for dinner. Mmmmm candy!
By margalit on 07.01.08 12:42 am
i’m actually kinda sad there is no real peanut brittle, because i LOVE peanut brittle.
By kat on 07.01.08 3:05 am
I love it too, so I would buy some on general principle, and also because you sound so cute when you’re begging.
By kenju on 07.01.08 3:47 am
What is your return policy?
If I can virtually return it if I don’t virtually like it I will take 36 virtual boxes. If there are no virtual returns then I will take one virtual box.
By HRH @ June Cleaver Nirvana on 07.01.08 4:27 am
You plonker, dont you see it already? If you were selling real peanut brittle, some of us would be happy to buy it. I’ve never had peanut brittle - growing up in New Zealand and all that, so yeah - I would be curious and pay the shipping cost.
But … I found moving to Europe helped me. In NZ, your actions were noted, here no one takes notes or judges … or rarely. Europe is very cool actually. Maybe you need to go traveling with your super cool mum. I have this idea that traveling cures almost all. Go on - come to Europe. Maybe you can do the blogger visit thing and stay with all of us out here
obviously bringing peanut brittle, now that you’ve mentioned it.
By di on 07.01.08 4:37 am
I got my stimulus check yesterday, so put me down for a case or twelve.
By Michele on 07.01.08 4:39 am
I am left to wonder how many boxes are in a case… and how many cases are on a skid???
I can take 3 skids worth… maybe 4 depending on the size of the box/case.
By NYCWD on 07.01.08 4:55 am
I don’t even like peanut brittle, but I would totally buy two boxes from you.
By Rachelskirts on 07.01.08 4:59 am
Oh damn. I don’t have any cash on me.
You take plastic over 10 boxes? Give me 11.
By Miss Britt on 07.01.08 5:11 am
I appreciate everyone buying some boxes, but we’re really going to have to dig a little deeper into those pockets if we will reach the Guinness Book of World Record.
By Neil on 07.01.08 5:22 am
Four boxes, please. At four dollars per imaginary box, I figure I owe you sixteen imaginary dollars, which computes to about two beers. You’re welcome.
By Nina on 07.01.08 5:26 am
I’ll buy some for my ex for his birthday. That shit is just nasty!
By Lady Jaye on 07.01.08 5:28 am
Double what you sell Dawg, that’s what I’ll take. Just how many IS that?
By Finn on 07.01.08 5:39 am
I will take two million boxes, Neil. BTW, what is the Guinness Record for selling peanut brittle, anyway?
By Caitlinator on 07.01.08 5:47 am
As long as there isn’t real money exchanging hands here, I’ll purchase five virtual cases. I simply don’t know where I’ll put it all.
By gorillabuns on 07.01.08 5:47 am
I’m allergic to peanuts but will buy 3 cases and send them to my peanut-farming-family in Texas. They’ll complain it aint the real deal, not sweet enough or crispy enough. We’ll all be in the same bucket. Wanting more and less.
By ...deb on 07.01.08 5:49 am
Oh, I love peanut brittle! But I am watching my weight, so only 2 boxes for me.
By wafelenbak on 07.01.08 5:56 am
mmmmmmmmmm…peanut brittle. Can you drive a truckload over??
By AnnieH on 07.01.08 6:07 am
Put me down a a few hundred grand. I can always sell surplus on e-bay!
By Tex In The City on 07.01.08 6:10 am
I am not sure that asking your imaginary friends to buy imaginary peanut brittle qualifies as growing cojones, but I’m a good figment, so I’ll play along. I’ll take 14,000, please send mine directly to the nearest food bank. I hate peanut brittle.
By anymommy on 07.01.08 6:11 am
I have issues with this part of the post: Our Hebrew school had a decent basketball team…
Whatever fictional stuff follows that line can’t be processed by my brain because my suspension of disbelief won’t kick in. Sorry.
By pam@nerdseyeview.com on 07.01.08 6:12 am
It looks like petrified baked beans…I’ll buy five boxes from you, but will probably stick them in the bin after you leave.
By Yvonne on 07.01.08 6:26 am
Sorry Neil, I only buy chocolate. Do you have some with chocolate in it?
No one would ever buy that crap from me either. I did have great success selling beef sticks, which were like huge Slim Jims. I sold more than anybody else. I had incentive because my Gifted And Talented Education program was going to Canada and I couldn’t afford it otherwise. My brother and our German exchange student sold cases of the things for me. But in the end, even though I sold about eight billion beef sticks I still hadn’t made enough to go. So the teacher divided the money I’d made among the kids that DID have enough money to go, and they all got a discount on me while I sat in class for a week with a substitute teacher and two other poor kids.
Nah, I’m not bitter. Who wants to go to Canada anyway.
By Memarie Lane on 07.01.08 6:31 am
The worst is when the kid’s parents start selling the kid’s candy in the office, and you feel obligated to buy, especially when it is the boss doing the selling. Now I know SOME of you have sold your kid’s candy at work for them! Admit it.
By Neil on 07.01.08 6:44 am
Yeah gimme 2 boxes of your fake peanut brittle. Do you need a real Black Hockey Jesus T-Shirt? Coffee mug? O so I just buy your shit while you blow me off? Fuck you Neil.
By Black Hockey Jesus on 07.01.08 6:44 am
Caitlinator — Because of your large order, I will throw in a free box of peanut brittle for you to enjoy.
I’m still checking with the guinness people to learn what is the current record.
By Neil on 07.01.08 6:45 am
Geeze, what is the matter with you people? It’s imaginary and it’s not going to cost you any and he wants the record! Neil, put me down for ELEVENTY BILLION BOXES.
By Nance on 07.01.08 6:46 am
Black Hockey Jesus — You’ve only been blogging for three months, and you already have a t-shirt? Now, that is cojones.
By Neil on 07.01.08 6:48 am
Nance — Thanks. But I understand some of the others, particularly the women. They’re always watching their weight. I should see if I can find some peanut brittle made with Splenda.
By Neil on 07.01.08 6:50 am
Definition of BRITTLE:
1. Likely to break, snap, or crack, as when subjected to pressure
2. Easily damaged or disrupted; fragile: a brittle friendship.
3. Difficult to deal with; snappish: a brittle disposition.
4. Lacking warmth of feeling; cold: a reputation for being brittle and aloof.
HMMMMM, do you think there’s any coincidence here?
I’m in for 10 boxes
By cruisin-mom on 07.01.08 6:52 am
i only buy stuff from the kids i know in the neighborhood, actually doesn’t even matter what they are selling. i’m surprised you’re selling peanut brittle, don’t you have that allergy problem in the states?
i’ll take double nance’s order, i’ve got three kids, none have that pesky allergy, it should last the summer.
By better safe than sorry on 07.01.08 7:01 am
2 warehouses full please.
It was only brittle? That’s awfully limiting. Even the kids selling from the wrapping paper company offer candy…
And the thing with parents selling the crap for their kids is this; kids are not allowed to go door-to-door anymore. They are specifically told this when given the order forms. (I think it even says it ON the order form) So, how else are they to sell the crap?
By Bryna on 07.01.08 7:34 am
I want nine boxes. And you’re going to have to take my credit card because I never have cash on me.
By miguelina on 07.01.08 7:39 am
Peanut Brittle sounds like a good prize to offer my bloggers. I don’t think they will care that it is imaginary. I will say it is imaginary SEE’s Peanut Brittle, since that is the best kind. I like to support fellow members of the tribe, so how ever much you’ve got to sell is how much I will buy. I want a discount, though.
By linda woods on 07.01.08 7:43 am
I just want one piece. Do you sell the pieces individually? And it will have to be a small piece, because I just had dental work done. I’d show you, but the webcam only works when aimed at my bosoms.
By Jane on 07.01.08 7:44 am
If it’s Kosher, count me in for a couple of boxes, Neil. C.O.D. okay with you?
By TorontoPearl on 07.01.08 7:44 am
Note: *imaginary dental work, *imaginary webcam, *real bosoms
By Jane on 07.01.08 7:48 am
I’ll take the production capacity of your brittle manufacturing plant for two years..ah what the hell…three years. But I want MY PICTURE on the boxes.
Who said I’d never be famous!!
(side note: This is one of your most pathetic posts to date….but thats ok… I’ll humor you)
By wendy on 07.01.08 7:57 am
You are the worst. salesman. ever.
By scarlet hip on 07.01.08 8:00 am
Hmmm… I would never purchase peanut brittle in real life, but I’ll buy a box from you.
And put down a dozen dozen for my imaginary boyfriend.
By Noelle on 07.01.08 8:02 am
Wendy, I know it is a bad post. But after yesterday, I promised Sophia I wouldn’t mention her today. So what else do I have to write about other than peanut brittle?
Bryna — That makes no sense. If the kids can’t go around selling it, why not just give the candy to the parents directly to sell it?
Scarlet Hip — Do they do this candy selling in your school?
By Neil on 07.01.08 8:10 am
three billion boxes please. I wish you would expand to macadamia or pecan, too. Meantime, well done my brave friend. Now prove the deliciousness of the brittle by fighting off these four football players from the polish high school. For in every fear, lies a morsel of truth. Chewy, tooth-shattering truth.
By dan on 07.01.08 8:22 am
I’ll take four boxes. You seem like a sweet kid, and it’s for a good cause. I’ve always been a sucker for a good cause.
By Katie on 07.01.08 8:26 am
Dan — change those four football players from the Polish High School to the four angry black guys from the projects who didn’t like “whiteys” and we’re getting closer to the story.
By Neil on 07.01.08 8:37 am
Nance has the right idea. I’ll have twelveteen gazillion boxes please, to the power of forty googolplexes. And then a couple of cases for when I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I should be punished for my dream crimes.
Thanks.
What’s peanut brittle?
By Bête de Jour on 07.01.08 9:02 am
Bete De Jour — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_brittle
Avoid it if you want to keep your teeth. Of course, my peanut brittle is low-glycemic and will enhance your smile.
By Neil on 07.01.08 10:01 am
The holidays are coming… give me ten cases.
By blair on 07.01.08 10:13 am
I’ll take eleventeen billion and six cases. And then you can double that when the holidays roll around.
By TamiW on 07.01.08 10:42 am
Neil, judging from guinnessworldrecords.com, there are NO records involving peanut brittle. So you broke the record with your first box. Congrats!
By Caitlinator on 07.01.08 10:59 am
You don’t need a f*cking boost by making a whiny attempt to get me to by some sugar-laden peanutty goodness.
You just need to work your way out of this through the writing you went out there to complete. You’re not wimpy or unmanly because of your limboland with Sophia. No, you’re whimpy because that manuscript you dragged out there is beating your ass and you’re too timid to do anything about it.
So there.
Now GIT!
By kanani on 07.01.08 11:12 am
Hey, Neil, since it is all make believe,
why not give me a zillion cases, there, that should put you over the top :-).
By Annie on 07.01.08 11:20 am
We did it!
By Neil on 07.01.08 11:46 am
I’m going out tonight, getting wasted at some sleazy bar, and getting laid!
Oops… wait… isn’t Do You Think You Can Dance on tonight?
By Neil on 07.01.08 11:51 am
i would like to build a peanut brittle house. kind of like the hansel and gretel house only different. eventually, i would like to become just like the wicked woman in the woods. i have no interest in feeding or eating small children however, so “just like” may be stretching it a bit. i just want to be a wicked woman living in the woods in a candy house.
all of this to say, if you can estimate the amount of peanut brittle required for … oh, let’s say a 1200 square foot cottage, i’ll buy them from you.
By ingrid on 07.01.08 12:02 pm
Ingrid — that sounds very innovative, although city ordinances usually dictate that you use gingerbread for the housing. But as long as you sign the documents releasing me from any liability for acts of God, kids eating your home, or wolves blowing down the home, I will send you the necessary peanut brittle.
By Neil on 07.01.08 12:07 pm
damn it. now i want peanut brittle.
By ACG on 07.01.08 12:11 pm
Whew! I was afraid I’d have to commit to a couple of boxes. Isn’t peanut brittle the fruit cake of the candy store world?
By mr_g on 07.01.08 12:43 pm
Our Hebrew school had a decent basketball team and we made it to the New York State Hebrew School championship in Albany. As a fundraising stunt, we were supposed to sell boxes of Peanut Brittle
You don’t know how lucky you are, boy. Last time I bought peanut brittle to support a Hebrew School basketball team, it failed to make it to the “sweet sixteen” round of the Idaho State Hebrew School Championship in Boise.
By Noel on 07.01.08 1:02 pm
Neil. Dude. Being the World Record Holder in virtual boxes of peanut brittle sold, while creative…isn’t gonna get the chicks. Makes a funny story, though
Oh, and the thing in the picture was a cucumber…but in my defense, the other vegetables I bought at the same time were fine. The cucumber was a Mutant, or something.
T.
By TLC@Send Chocolate on 07.01.08 1:23 pm
Oh, and I will take 16 boxes…
T.
By TLC@Send Chocolate on 07.01.08 1:24 pm
Not sure what I’m more impressed with… but I am pretty sure it’s the fact that we were on the basketball team.
And yes, I’ll buy at least 2 boxes. Might come back for more if it’s a hit.
By Nat on 07.01.08 1:53 pm
WHEW! Glad you set that record without my help Neil because my kids are selling the same damned virtual brittle for their Calculus Club virtual field trip and I’ve already committed to buying $200million worth from them.
By crashtestmommy on 07.01.08 2:19 pm
I’m not a fan of peanut brittle, but for you I’ll take 11…this way I get to use my credit card.
By Diane Mandy on 07.01.08 3:22 pm
Well, I’m glad you’ve achieved your goal, because otherwise you’d have put me in a quandary here…
You see, my daughter has a peanut allergy, so we’re a peanut-free household.
However, I was going to buy a couple of boxes for my husband to take to work as a gesture of gratitude for all the crap they’ve bought for my son’s fundraisers.
But, I don’t have any cash, just a credit card. And since I only want two, and your policy requires eleven…well, we might have been facing a stand-off.
By Christine on 07.01.08 3:45 pm
i have that same fear, i loathe selling stuff, even if i believe in the product 1000%.
not only am i going to buy a million boxes, but i’m going to ship them to our troops in iraq to use as extra weaponry.
By piglet on 07.01.08 8:17 pm
Im eating peanuts right now. And Im sad they dont include brittle. How much is your imaginary overseas shipping charge? I’ll buy 3!
By Jeannette on 07.01.08 10:53 pm
couldn’t you sell, um, girl scout cookies or something??! i’d buy 50 boxes.
By ali on 07.02.08 5:39 am
Damn…I’m too late aren’t I? I can’t eat Peanut Brittle..it will fuck up my teeth..but because you are so hawt I’ll by 5 boxes. (wrap them and use them as Christmas gifts..can’t start shopping to early)
By mp on 07.02.08 8:46 am
Actually, I was hoping you could take a few boxes I already have. Don’t much care for peanut brittle - real or virtual.
By Doug on 07.02.08 10:08 am
OK, Doug… I’m putting you down to buy 23 boxes. thanks!
By Neil on 07.02.08 11:19 am
Damn, can’t believe I missed the ‘day’ - now it’s peanut brittle after the fact - but I would have taken a coupla hundred at least because with the Dollar to Pound exchange rate it would work out totally in my favour!
By Bec on 07.02.08 4:05 pm
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