According to Julia Boorstin in Fortune (3/21/05), grown-ups spend “roughly $80 million on 1.2 billion” Marshmallow Peeps per year. And the average American consumes 2.3 Peeps each spring.”

I’ve just now discovered that you can get Peeps decorating kits, and purchase Peeps in their very own chocolate eggs. You can even join the Peeps Fan Club. I remember getting a box in my Easter basket every year when I was a kid. (Who am I kidding? My parents just got me a box THIS year for my birthday.) Not sure what this says of me, but I always liked biting their heads off.

If you’re looking for something to do with Peeps other than eating them, you might try “Peeps jousting.” That’s when two Peeps armed with toothpicks face each other in a microwave oven. As they expand from the heat, their lances move closer; the first to strike a blow wins.

Apparently, the best time to score some Peeps is the day after Easter, when they go on sale upon the conclusion of Peep season (roughly February 15 thru Easter).

As creative as I am, I could not make this stuff up.

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I remember when my mom stopped buying me LEGOs because she said I was too old for them. I always felt her judgment was wrong, but I could never think of a way to convince her otherwise. I see now that my argument failed because I didn’t have access to high-tech animation software, Adam West (you know him as Batman from the 60s TV show), and Mark Hamill (aka Luke Skywalker).

Check out this project by some creative students, featuring a few famous names and an unlimited supply of everyone’s favorite building blocks.

Sometimes childhood is more fun when you’re grown-up.

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We just added to the site the newest installment of Allan’s Alley, written by Allan Dash, our resident Chalkboard columnist. As usual, it’s a well-written piece that makes me remember exactly what it was like to grow up in the forties and fifties. Which is really saying something, as I was born in 1976. If you haven’t been reading Allan’s Alley, you should defintely make it a habit. All of the articles are archived for those of you new to the game and looking for a respite (escape, if you will) from Adulthood.

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I have had the wonderful opportunity to spend an increasing amount of time speaking professionally. If you would have told me I’d be doing this 15 years ago, I probably would have died right on the spot. I was an insanely introverted kid, paralyzed by just the thought of a new situation. I believe it was Jerry Seinfeld who observed that, at a funeral, most people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy.

Well, it’s been by the grace and strength of God that I’ve been able to overcome some of my insecurities to experience a bunch exciting and tremendously fulfilling things. Like professional speaking. I love being able to connect with an audience by entertaining them, encouraging them, and even inspiring them all at the same time.

But it hasn’t taken long for me to run into the heartbreaking reality that I’m sure all motivational speakers encounter: You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.

Not that I think of my audiences as horses, mind you.

A lot of what I speak about deals with success principles that I have learned in the process of pursuing my dream, complete with all of the pitfalls and setbacks. Most of the time, the things I say really hit home with the audience. They get it. Some even come up to me afterwards to share how excited they are to make a few changes. But sadly, more times than not, no real change ever takes place, no matter how excited the person once was. I have finally realized: I can inspire the daylights out of somebody, but I can’t make them change. It’s physically imossible. Only they can do that.

My biggest adversary, of course, is the Comfort Zone. It’s hard to compete with the Comfort Zone, because he has things arranged so warm and inviting and…comfortable. As soon as a person even considers making a few changes in the hopes of achieving a more fulfilled and purpose-driven life, the Comfort Zone throws down his newspaper, jumps up out of his chair, and spews a laundry list of reasons why this simple idea of change is the worst idea since New Coke (not to mention it carries with it the possibility of bringing down civilization as we know it). The Comfort Zone details all of the reasons why it would better for the person to just stay put. In most cases, that’s exactly what the person chooses to do.

It makes me sad to think of what things people are missing out on, and that there’s not much I can do to combat that. But I can certainly understand it. My own parents warned me my entire childhood of how many things I was missing out on because I was afraid to abandon Mr. Comfort Zone and try new things. What they said always made sense and I knew it was all true, but back then, I wasn’t ready. And when I finally was, God placed the people in my life who shared with me the tools I needed to succeed.

So as I continue doing more of this speaking thing, I am resolved to just keep sharing my story and the lessons I’ve learned. I’m content to believe that maybe I’ll reach a few of the thousands I speak to; the ones who are ready to really HEAR what I’m saying. The ones who are finally ready to make the change. The ones who only need the tools.

Need some tools?

• The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale
• The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and for Life
by Laurie Beth Jones
• The Success Principles by Jack Canfield

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Escaping Adulthood involves the ability to have fun with life, tackling each day with a playful spirit. That’s not to say we shouldn’t be serious when the time calls for it. That time for me is March 29, when I have the distinct honor of being a judge in a prestigious contest of epic proportions.

The 2005 Sweetest ‘Stache Competition.

Yes, “’stache” as in mustache.

Kim and I have been asked to be officials at Mustaches for Kids,, a charity event to benefit The Make-A-Wish Foundation. The details are still a bit sketchy, but I have been informed that there will be an “Evening Gown” competition, in which Growers (as the contestants are known), will dress up in some kind of outfit that plays to the strength of their ’stache. Additionally, there will be a “Talent Competition”, measuring beer foam retention based on a pint of Guinness. And, of course, a strenuous “Mustache Posedown” is also slated.

Kim and I have a difficult task ahead of us. We will have the unenviable task of helping to decide who has the “Sweetest ‘Stache in Madison.”

I can only pray that we’ll be without any hanging chads.

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