cubefarm trail mix
1. Rip off two handfulls of cashews from Mark's top-right desk drawer, unless there are less than four handfulls left in the bag. He won't notice as long as you re-seal the bag by re-folding the open end into a double triangle folded back on itself, then secure with the two black large paper clips, making sure the hinges are folded down.
2. Add raisins saved from taking extra oatmeal toppings five days in a row from the cafeteria. First pick off the lint from cramming them into your jeans pocket.
3. Work late one evening, then after everyone leaves, raid the Administrative Assistant's candy jar for M&M's, bite-size Snickers or Mars bars. Pretty much anything chocolate will balance the nuts and raisins, but be careful not to mix milk chocolate with dark chocolate, not a pretty picture. Don't even think about substituting Jolly Ranchers - the fruity bouquet overwhelms the nuts and raisins.
4. To kick it up a notch, go to the bottom right drawer of Barb's storage cabinet, way in the back under her JavaScript for Dummies book, for her box of pretzel sticks. Rip off two handfulls unless there are less than four handfulls -- in that case, buy two bags of small-size pretzels from the vending machine. Be sure to replace the box with the front side flush against the back of Barb's drawer. Don't ask. Just do NOT touch anything on her desk, don't even breathe on it.
5. Variations
a. For purists, only additional types of nuts (unsalted preferred, roasted OK, no candy coated unless its one of the M&M's varieties or you get really lucky and score some Jordan almonds, so keep in touch with Emerging Markets folks so you score some after they return from UK trips).
b. For veg-o-philes and fiber freaks, natural dried fruits can work, but then you must add nuts to maintain the delicate fruit-to-nut balance you've got going, and not everything goes well with chocolate, despite rumors to the contrary.
c. For salt freaks, add pretty much anything from the vending machine since its all high-sodium.
d. For anyone who is essentially an emotional two-year-old, add all the Gummy Bears you want -- they will just pick them out anyway.
e. For licorice freaks, don't waste your time making trailmix, just give them licorice. And NOT the red stuff, unless you want to hear forty-nine reasons why "only black licorice is real licorice".




Comments
On nuts
I prefer a nut-loaded mix personally, but I never wasted time with peanuts. I love 'em, don't get me wrong, I just prefer a milder nut with more nutrients with a less generic flavor like almonds. Less salted the better, they have their own flavor!