"Milk truk just arive"

Josta and Crystal Pepsi

Circa 1994-1995, my buddies Steve and Michael and I went on a trip over to The Mad Platter record shop in Riverside, CA.  Next door to the Mad Platter was The Electric Chair alt. clothing/novelty type shop.  Right out in front of The Electric Chair was a little pickup truck with a couple guys sitting in the back.  They asked us if we like soda and wanted to know if we wanted a free six pack of a new drink called JOSTA.  We all said no but they said come on try one for free.  DAMN that drink was good.  I was so happy they gave me a free six pack.  I got some Josta's a few times after that because they really were good.  The drink was around for about 4 years but sadly I did not do much to support it and it eventually disappeared off the shelves because Pepsi stopped selling it.  And now I wish it were back.

This was not the first time Pepsi has taken away a product that I really enjoyed a lot.  Around 1992-1993, my first experience with Cryal Pepsi was the vending machines at my high school.  I saw one of my friends drinking from this Pepsi can with a design that I had never seen before.  Upon closer inspection I noticed that it said Crystal Pepsi, Clear Cola.  WTF.

The idea of it seemed so weird but my friend told me it tasted just like regular Pepsi.  Well now I had to try it to verify this.  And what do you know, it did taste like regular pepsi, but it was just slightly different, just slightly different enough that I liked it even more.  I got used to drinking it.  I would buy 12 packs of it, but it in 2 liter bottles etc and my favorite thing to do was drink it in a large plastic cup from Del Taco (yes we reused them) in a cup filled with ice.  Oh my summers were just wonderful back in '92 and '93.  I would make my specialty, burritos with chicken taquitos and guacamole and spanish rice and I would wash it all down with a Crystal Pepsi.  I absolutely remember those days still every single time I made burritos and still long for Crystal Pepsi.

Unfortunately, Pepsi also decided to take this product off the market although they supposedly brought it back or something similar called Pepsi Clear was introduced in Mexico in 2005 for a limited time.  It was noticed that PepsiCo filed for a patent for the name PepsiClear in 2008 but now three years later, still no Pepsi Clear here in the US.  Will Pepsi ever bring this back?  I remember so many people who absolutely loved this drink.  Can't they just bring it back for a limited time again so we can enjoy it again before we all forget it forever.  I have almost been tempted to buy some of the bottles people are selling on ebay but who really wants to drink a 20 year old soda?  This isnt wine after all, age doesn't make it better.  Please save me from doing something stupid like this Pepsi.  PLEASE bring back Crystal Pepsi, oh and please don't shit it up with Citrus flavor.  That's what made the product a complete failure.  It was actually really good until they did that.

Boiled Chicken Water

If you ever boil chicken, be sure that you do not forget to dump that nasty boiled chicken water. I forgot to do this the other day and it caused my whole house to smell disgusting. I feel ill from smelling that nastiness all night. Hopefully that smell is completely gone by the time I get home from work today.

Never leave that nasty shit sitting in the pot, if you do, you'll be sorry, brrrrap!

Ritz Toasted Chips Sweet Home Sour Cream And Onion

Today is the third work day in a row that I have bought these chips from the vending machine.  I have to say that these are addictive.  I guess its good in a way that I have thus far only found these in small vending machine size bags, but these chips are just so damn good that I'm going to have to look for a big bag in the store now.  But even for being vending machine size, this bag is surprisingly full of chips.  Not like when I buy some Doritos and only get a few chips and some crumbs.  With these it almost feels like the bag is neverending.  Anyway, I have never had such a tasty sour cream and onion chip before.  These definitely taste like crackers though and coming from Ritz, thats what I expect.

5 Guys Burgers & Fries

Well the beginning of September is here and we just passed through one of the hottest heat waves I can remember.  It only lasted a few days, but it was so hot and happened so quickly.  The temperature here reached nearly 115 degrees on two consecutive days.  On hot days, I just simply don't feel like eating at all and so I have been in a non hungry mood for days, eating very little.  So today at work, someone decided we are all gonna order some food from 5 Guys Burgers & Fries.  Have you seen these burgers?  They are WAY too big.  Sure they taste good, but they are huge.  They taste kinda like homemade burgers my mom used to make, but they are a whole lot messier.  I guess thats the main thing that turns me off when it comes to eating there.  I don't really like food to be this messy, especially when I am at work.  Oh well, call that a +1 for In & Out for me, because I would prefer to eat a messy Animal Style Double Double anytime compared to these really good but messy, $5-bun-soaked-in-ketchup-mustard-and-mayo-house-burgers.

The fries are also good, but for my picky taste, they were a little too greasy and limpy.  However, they are nice and thick fries, even with some of the potato skin left on.  Don't get me wrong, just because I am being picky about this, 5 Guys is still a really good spot to go for a burger and fries.  If you have never eaten one of these hamburgers, you really should some time.  I think you will enjoy it.  Just don't eat there often.