Earlier this month I was approached by a member of the local Explorer Troop who was participating in a popcorn fundraiser and who enticed me to participate as well. Answering the door in the late afternoon sun I opted for caramel corn, which was touted as top-of-the-line and which lightened my wallet by $20.00.

Earlier today the delivery was made. There was no armed guard to protect my purchase and insure safe delivery; there was no brown paper bag to disguise the purchase and safeguard against marauding bands of caramel corn snatchers; there was no squad car accompanying the delivery vehicle guarding against likely hijackers. What arrived was an 18 oz. bag of caramel corn and mixed nuts. (I am going with the labeling on the bag as I have yet to examine its contents.)

The nutrition data suggests that this bag contains 17 servings--not 18 single ounce servings, not 12 ounce and a half servings, not 6 three ounce servings, or even 10 $2.00 servings. How does not arrive at 17 servings in an 18 ounce bag? It doesn't even round off to a number that one might expect for calories per serving.

I guess this means that I will need to gather together 16 of my closest friends to join me in enjoying some caramel popcorn with mixed nuts. I suppose I will need to provide drinks plus a cheese and cracker tray so these friends don't leave hungrier than when they arrived and far less friendly.

Bottom line: $20.00 for Girl Scout cookies is beginning to look a lot better than a Black Friday doubly discounted price. Bring on the Samoas.