on Saturday of last week i got a mail on my keitai (cell) from my friend SasaDan. in the mail was just a picture of Mountain Dew on the shelf of a convenience store that I rarely ever go to. i couldn't believe it. My Beloved in my town!?? doth mine eyes deceive me??
with less haste than i'd suspect of myself, i went later that night and gave praise for the goodness that was before me.
as of Wednesday, I purchased every can that was available (minus one that Makkusu bought). so now i can check off some thing on my "things to do before i die" list:
BUY ALL THE MOUNTAIN DEW IN AN ENTIRE TOWN (check)
the story pretty much ends here, except there's this girl who was there every time i bought the mountain dew. on the second purchase i got very serious with her and asked her if she could please get some more. she just smiled as protocol demands. but as i was leaving, i watched her rush away from the counter to the fridge to see what this mysterious drink was all about. i'm hoping her interest was peaked enough that she told her manager to order more.
everytime i go there to desperately check for more, we both just kind of awkwardly smile.
that's all. i'll post some more hopefully tonight.
Tonight I could talk to you about how much fun I had in Kobe. I could talk about how Makkusu and I shared a bed in a hotel room with a headboard that featured a mirrored control panel that could control the whole room. I could talk about how I'm really funny and I like to tell people that. I could talk about the greatest chicken tikka in Kobe or the bar that will play the 70s record of your choice (props Erikku). But I tell you not much of any of those, rather tonight I talk of beer.
Kilkenny
I was first introduced to Kilkenny by SasaDan in the summer. And it may go down as my most favorite beer to date. The Blarney Stone in Osaka has it on tap served by a cute-accented Irish girl, so I can't vouch for it in a can. The beer itself is made by Guinness but it's the lighter, almost ale-like version. I'd call it a pale-stout, but since I don't know anything about beer it's probably called something else. Basically it's everything you like about Guinness but without the nasty overly-bitter tar-likeness of a stout. It's creamy head and nothing but smooth body keeps me wanting more but I know I should stop. It can be enjoyed both warm and chilled.
The one review linked above, I totally disagree with. He said "The taste initially is fairly bitter, but gets very thin in the middle and mild toward the end. The aftertaste seems to stick at the back of the throat a bit - not very pleasantly." -- I don't really remember what exactly it tasted like to me because I didn't think I'd have to contend with his view, but I will say it's not "initially... fairly bitter" and it never "gets very thin" and it doesn't "stick at the back of the throat - not very pleasantly." It is mild, I agree. And I liken the taste it leaves at the back of your mouth to that of chocolate! Sure it hangs a bit, but it's soo sooo pleasant.
So if you get the chance, have one from the tap. It'll be your "new Guinness". manly, yet tasty - like a half & half. All the manliness of Guiness, but all the taste of an ale. So get yours today, and let me know where you can get it in America.
Have a good night y'all.
A few times over the past Christmas holidays I was asked what I missed about America. I usually responded: "burritos". But the day I was leaving I came up with a better answer. And it's this:
If it costs a dollar or less, then I miss it.
This to me sums up just about everything I miss (besides people and pets, which arguably could be bought for a dollar). Starbursts, single cans of Mountain Dew, Reese's, etc. the list goes on and on. Just so you know. If you see something in the store for a buck or less, think: "Dave prolly misses this."
I ended up eating a bag of candy I bought in America to give to my kids here in Japan as a present. All of the candy was consumed in 2 days.
