Star Wars Space Punch

Although the blog post title sounds like something the pilot of an anime mech would shout when attacking, it's actually about a beverage.

I found these last month at my local corner store. It was kind of funny, we were coming back from vacation which was Star Wars-centric (read all about it here) and we had to stop for milk on the way home from the airport. I walked into the store and there was this display.

I hadn't heard of it before but being the collector person I am, I had to grab at least one of these to check it out. I picked up Poe because he was the only other light side can other than C-3P0. Sorry, 3P0. Each character is numbered but there was no checklist with the display. Poe is 20 and I definitely didn't see 19 more cans here.

This was just before The Last Jedi was released so I presumed it was a tie-in but thought it strange there was no TLJ branding on the cans or display. Then I ended up looking at the display photo more closely and noticed that's a Deathtrooper on the second shelf and not a First Order TIE Pilot.

After a bit of Googling, I found these debuted in Europe last year and made their way to the US in October but in limited distribution. Currently, there are 20 designs with possible plans for 40 (!) more in the future. Oddly, I'm only able to find images online for 12 designs in the US right now.

The tall, thin can design would have you think it's an energy drink but it's more of a lightly carbonated fruit drink. And it's got vitamin in the name, so it must be good for you!

But how does it taste?

Not great. It's like all the juice in the fridge had a sip left and they decided to mix them all together. Having made my share of "suicide" drinks over the years I know it's fun to experiment with flavors but this...just....no.

It's a blend of blackberry, blueberry, grapefruit, orange, pear, and raspberry juices from concentrate. That's too many flavors, you're just asking for trouble.

Although the drink goes down the drain, I did go back recently to see if they had any different designs and I was not let down.

You can find Star Wars Space Punch at convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. Retail varies between $2.50 and $2.99. If you really gotta have it, you can get a 12 pack from Amazon with all different designs for $38.

League Post - Obsession

Despite a lengthy break that could have spelled the end of the League of Extraordinary Bloggers, we are back! Better, stranger, faster!

The topic for discussion this week is current obsessions. I don't really have anything I'm going absolutely crazy for right now, but these couple things are close.

Cherry Limeade

Whether it's a scorching summer day or the middle of March when we should be having more Spring-like weather (you HEAR me up there?!?), anytime is a good time for cherry limeade. I tend to average a trip to Sonic about once a week for the sole purpose of this beverage.
And I've recently discovered...

I don't think I've been so addicted to a "kids" drink since Ecto Cooler. I've been meaning to grab some Sprite to mix with the Kool Aid to give it the carbonation of its Sonic cousin.

Pepe and Rizzo Stop for Gas

My second obsession is a commercial I love and loathe at the same time. Although the Muppets were schilling on TV before I was born, I'm not sure how I feel about them selling cars. At the end of the day though, I don't think I'll care as long as they continue to be funny and entertaining. The fact that they with Toyota is far from my mind when watching this.

First, Pepe the King Prawn is my absolute favorite character to come out of Muppets Tonight. He's easily in my top 5 Muppets, maybe even right behind Uncle Deadly.

The parts I love:
0:26 - "It's not ice cream."
0:50 - Pepe beeping the horn. What he's hitting it with, I'm not sure.
1:20 - Teriyaki Towwwwwwn!

Welcome fantastic, first time poster The Dusty Shelf to the League!
Monster Cafe wrestles with his obsession.
Things get a little creepy over at the Nerd Cantina.

Check out what other League members are obsessed with over here.

League Post - The Ultimate Arcade

This assignment from the League of Extraordinary Bloggers may be my toughest yet...

You’ve decided to build an addition onto your house, a rec room that will feature your very own fantasy video arcade. 
What games are on your shopping list?

  I have to try and restrain myself to just a few all time favorites and I'll no doubt think of others after the list has been posted and wonder why I didn't include them.

When I was in middle school, the mall across from my school had a handful of games and I'd stop by on the way home. The local corner store had a couple too. That's where I cut my teeth on Donkey Kong, Asteroids, Centipede, Karate Champ and Jungle King. I also swiped some quarters from mom's change jar. Sorry about that!

My dad would take me to the local bowling alley/arcade just about every Friday night and it was a common location within biking distance where I could meet friends. Once someone got a license, we'd visit other arcades at the area malls to scope out different games. To say I spent a lot of time in arcades would still be an understatement!
It's ridiculous how many 80s games I can name by sound.

Ready Player One!

Mail Order Monday - ICEE Club (1981)

This is about as close to a Christmas related Mail Order Monday as you'll get.

What a deal! You can join the ICEE Bear Club for life for only $10. FOR LIFE, yo!
And just look at all that swag: a t-shirt, a frisbee, magnets, a list of prizes you can also send away for with enough bear points. You even get 100 bear points to get you started on the path to ICEE mail order mastery!

Perhaps most impressive is the certificate suitable for framing. I'd love to see a vintage photo of some kid's bedroom with this and another "suitable for framing" certificates on their walls.

When I was growing up, ICEE was always associated with the K-Mart snack bar. As a kid, that was the only place I remember seeing it available. The oddly textured carbonated frozen treat was only available in flavors blue or red. I still don't know what actual flavors they were, berry and cherry maybe?

According to Wikipedia:

• ICEE machines can be found in all kinds of stores nowadays (I haven't see any)
• 7-11 licenses ICEE and uses it for their Slurpee product line
• The creator originally wanted to call it "scoldasice"

You might be asking, what makes this even close to Christmas related? Or maybe you forgot I even mentioned it by now because you're imagining the sweet, sweet brain freeze you'd have if you ran out to get a Slurpee right now. Either way, it's the polar bear.

His look has changed since wearing that overly long turtleneck that doesn't quite go below the waist line (what up with that?). I know they want to make him more "modern" but I can't see his recent incarnation without thinking of Poochie from The Simpsons.
At least he has pants now.

Pop Art #4

And now, the thrilling conclusion to the Cumberland Farms drink saga!
I went with a more summer-y background this time.

Mad Cola
 I thought I had the flavor text copied down before I threw out the bottle.
I was wrong...

Verdict: I was expecting a generic cola but it actually has something in it that gives the taste a little something different.

Strawberry Monkey
One swing and you'll be shouting "Sweet Strawberry Monkey!"
Bushels of strawberries mixed with bushels of bananas?
That's just strawberry-bananas

Verdict: It says what it does and it does what it says. When you first start tasting it, you get strawberry. After swallowing, you get a nice banana aftertaste.

NRG Kick
Caution: This caffeine-charged cyclone will rip thirst from its foundation.
Hold on tight.

Verdict: Saved the worst for last! When Red Bull first came out I tried it to see what the hype was about and did not like the taste. This is much worse tasting. Took one sip and poured the rest down the drain. I would rather drink an entire bottle of the Chloraseptic-flavored Red Rage or Sucka Punch before tasting this again.

Here's a bonus photo of a Cotton Candy Commander sign.

In case you missed any previous entries in this series:
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3

Pop Art #3

Here we are with the penultimate installment of the summer soda art extravaganza. 

You can find the previous entries here and here.

And as an added bonus, I changed up the background this week!

Purple Palooza
Guzzle from the grapevine!
Purple Palooza amps up the grape and puts the rest to shame.
Open wide, sip back and rock out. Epic refreshment awaits.

I like the taste of grape soda but can never drink too much at once otherwise I exeprience "sugar overload sickness."
The character reminds me of The Misfits face with his devil-lock.
Verdict: I think this is only the third variety of grape soda I've had after generic store brand and Fanta. It's about on par with Fanta.

Sour Apple Shock 

You've never picked an apple like this before. 

Sour Apple Shock has the tart taste that will jolt you to your core. 

So what do you say? Pucker up.

I like sour gummy candies and sour apple flavor so this seemed like a good one.

Verdict: Too much sour for me! Couldn't drink more than a few sips.

Cotton Candy Commander
 Enough with the fluff and puffy, let's get down to some serious Cotton Candy consumption!
This Commander's kicks tongues and taking names.
Now drop down and give me twenty ounces!

We've been known to go to local carnivals just to get cotton candy.
Verdict: Yup, it tastes like cotton candy in soda form!

Pop Art #2

Bringing you the next installment of the exciting Cumberland Farms Soda saga! I did go back and update the first post with my verdict on the flavors. On to the next batch!

Something interesting (to me anyway) that I've noticed with these is that they are called sodas but have a carbonation level between soda and sparkling beverages.

Lemonaze
This crazy concoction has the lemonade stand on lockdown. 

It's fizzy, furious, and just busting to break out. 

So beware; Lemonaze is on the loose.

As previously stated, I do like my lemonade during the summer.

Verdict: It's a Goldilocks of lemonades, not too tart or sweet. 

I usually prefer when it leans more one way or the other.

Berry Backlash
Don't let his looks deceive you.
He's berry, berry serious about thirst quenching.
So open wide, Berry Backlash coming through.

Verdict: Not blueberry flavored as I feared.
Has a good all around generic "blue soda" berry flavor.

Red Rage

Tackle thirst from the top rope. 

Red Rage is the very cherry flavor that slams your taste buds and never stops. 

Pour it on.

Verdict: Have you ever used cherry Chloroseptic throat spray? That's the after taste this soda leaves you with only not as bitter.

Pop Art

Here's a little something you don't know about me: I like checking out new beverages. I'm not a drinker so I'm strictly talking about sodas and juices. Any time I'm going to be in the car for more than a short trip, I'll swing into a convenience store to pick up a drink. It usually takes me a couple minutes to check out the selection and settle on something. I'm always looking for the new thing.

This may stem from my childhood. My grandparents had a small bar in their basement, behind which was a spare refrigerator stocked with a variety of store brand sodas. My cousin and I, who are close in age, would be there a lot in the summer either visiting or being watched. We often "played bar" and mixed up sodas to make new tastes. I still do this today, especially if there is a self-serve soda fountain. (I highly recommend 75% Mountain Dew + 25% Fruit Punch)

Anyway, I happened into the local Cumberland Farms (they've gotten fewer and farther between lately) and found a new line of 88 cent flavored sodas. Of course I'd have to try them but what really sold me on them are the characters on each flavor. There's also a little blurb on the back of the bottle which I'll put below each photo.

Sucka Punch

Talk about a slobberknocker, Sucka Punch knocks out thirst and then some. 

Pineapple, orange, lemon, strawberry. It'll hit ya with everything it's got.

Anytime you have pineapple flavor without coconut, I'm there!
Verdict: Horrible! It starts out ok but the after taste reminds me of too many failed soda mixtures back in the day. I guess that's the Sucka Punch?

Razza Lemon
"Ooh a raspberry! Ooh another!" 
Razza is the loopy Lemon that skips around and seriously sweetens up your day. 
So take a sip, and smile like silly.

I especially enjoy lemonade on hot days.

I'm stockpiling Blue Raspberry Lemonade Kool-Aid.
Verdict: Good mix of Raspberry and Lemon. Win!

Lotta Melon
There's a whole Lotta Melon going on.
This mean green gives your taste buds a-shaking with a serious wallop.
It's like a watermelon to your face.
Whap! Mmmmm.

Probably the only flavor I like more than pineapple is watermelon!
Verdict: Not as liquid-candy sweet as the Jolly Rancher Watermelon soda, and that's a good thing!

I haven't tasted any of them yet but that will change! And then I'll be heading back to the store to pick up the other flavors. I didn't count but I know there's at least five more.