It's Finally Mine

There has been a can of Bluebird Grapefruit Juice in the refrigerator at work for months.  I'll check on it about once a week to see if it's still there.  I don't know whose it is, but I know it's a can I don't have in my collection.

And earlier this week... it was gone.

We have two aluminum can recycle bins in the lunchroom, so I checked the first bin.  Not there.  Opening the second bin, I found the golden ticket:

I rescued the Bluebird from its doomed fate and it now resides at home with all of my other cans.

I've never seen a happier Bluebird.

Ginger Ale and Lemonade

Last weekend I went to someone's house where we played a few board games and card games. 

During this card game (Herbaceous for those who are wondering) we were offered drinks.  Someone took a Canada Dry Ginger Ale and Lemonade and I eyed the can until they were finished drinking it.

At that point I offered to throw it away for them and I casually added it to the stack of games I would be taking home with me. 


I've made this story sound like I was being sneaky, but I wasn't.  Everyone knows I collect cans and are no longer surprised when I ask for their empties.

But it's been a while since I've had a new Canada Dry can.  We generally don't drink ginger ale in my house. 

As I learned long ago, you never know where you'll find a new can.  Always be watching!!

Another Game Fuel

I've written about previous Mtn Dew Game Fuels, but this one is cool because it's in an aluminum bottle.

This newest Game Fuel is for the most recent Call of Duty game, Modern Warfare.  It provides double experience for 30 minutes in multiplayer only.

This was given to me by someone who loves Mtn Dew, no matter what the container or flavor is.

Better Late Than Never

The holiday season of 2019 really flew by.  It was over before I knew it.  In fact, I can't believe January is already gone. 

I didn't realize I'd missed the 2019 Coca-Cola holiday can until I walked into my office at work yesterday and saw this can on my desk.  A co-worker said they weren't sure if I had one, so they saved it for me.  I did not have one but now I do.

It's like they say, better late than never.

Red Bull Pea Edition?

Someone gave me a plastic bag with a couple of empty cans in it.  The first can I pulled out was this:

I've always liked the Red Bull special edition cans  They've been featured in a couple of my posts over the years.  But when I pulled this green can out I was shocked to see they had "The Pea Edition."  Who in the world would enjoy a green pea flavored energy drink???

And then I turned the can a little for a better look...

OH!  It's the PEAR Edition.  That makes sense. 

Although it's a cool can to add to my Special Edition section, it's not the unique pea-flavored beverage I originally thought.

Vigor in a Can

While rearranging some boxes over the holiday break, I found some cans I forgot I had.  In fact, I don't even remember where I got them.

One of the cans I found was this Vigor can.  I'm not sure how old it is, but based on the pull tab top and being made of steel I'd say it's from the 70's or early 80's.

After doing a Google search, I found out this brand is still around.  Most of the pictures of current Vigor is of apple juice, which matches the apple on this can.







In fact, doing a translate I found out "manzana" is Spanish for "apple" (it's been a long time since my Spanish classes in high school).

The side of the can with ingredients and other information is too
faded to easily be read with my eyes, but I ran it through some filters on the computer and saw the can is from Mexico.  That makes sense.

It's not in the best condition, there's some rust on the bottom and the top is a little corroded, but it's still in pretty good shape for its age.

Like they say, "An apple a day keeps the can doctor away."

Complementary Colors

Two weeks ago I wrote about finding a purple Schnucks grape soda can while out Christmas shopping.

This week I found a yellow pineapple can that complements the purple can just fine.  It's also a Schnucks brand soda.

This week's yellow

Two weeks ago purple

Yes Coke Yes

While on vacation for the holidays, I'm finding homes for some of the nomadic clutter lying around the house.  On this adventure, I found a Coca-Cola can that I'm not sure I've written about yet.  I don't remember where or when I got it.  But this is it.

From what I can tell, it's a can from the 1980's from Japan.  On the back of the can with the nutrition information is a circle with JAS on it.  My research shows it stands for Japanese Agricultural Standard, which is the Japanese Industrial Standards for food and agricultural products.

The top of the can is interesting.  It had a pull-top tab on it and the size of the hole is a bit smaller than American pull-tops of that era. 

If any of my information is incorrect just leave a comment below.  Thanks.

An Early Christmas Gift

Last weekend I was with a couple people doing some Christmas shopping.  At one store, I finished shopping before they did so I went to the car to wait.  Glancing around the parking lot I saw a couple of cans sitting on the base of a light post.

I waited for a couple to leave their nearby car before I went out and looked at the cans.  One was a regular Pepsi can, the other a Shnucks grape soda.

I have some older Schnucks cans in my collection, but I certainly didn't have one this new. 

When the others in my group returned to the car, we discussed the gifts we had bought for other people.  I finished by saying I also got an early Christmas gift... someone's used soda can! 

Have An Ice Day

At work one day last week I happened to glance into a trashcan as I passed by.  Was that a can I didn't have in my collection?  I pulled it out and sure enough, it was a can of black raspberry ICE sparkling water.  I've never heard of it but obviously one of my coworkers likes it.

I was ready to go clean the can out when I thought, "If there's one in here, could there be another?"  So I moved a few pieces of paper around and I found another can!  And to think, I almost passed the trashcan by without a second thought.

After digging a little ways down I actually unearthed a 5-can set!

Five cans, and they were all different flavors.  Wow.  After making sure there were no more, I took the cans to the break room and cleaned them real good. 

The colors are so vibrant.  And the graphics are crisp and sharp.  This was truly a great day at work.  I just hope none of my coworkers saw my digging in the trash!

Maui Burst

Someone I know really loves Mtn Dew, especially the limited edition flavors.  One flavor he's been searching for is Maui Burst, which is "Dew with a blast of pineapple flavor."

Someone else I know has been watching him desperately search for this elusive flavor (elusive in our area, at least).  She heard it may be a Dollar General exclusive, so we checked the Dollar General a block from my house yesterday and they had nine cans of it!!!

At only $1 each, she bought one for him and one for me; the one for him will be a Christmas present, the one for me is for my collection.

Later she realized if he really likes that flavor, he may or may not be able to find any more.  So we went back and she bought five more cans for him, so he'll be getting a 6-pack of Maui Blast on December 25.  Meanwhile, I have my can now.

I love the art style.  It has a sunny, Tiki kind of tropical style going on, which is in perfect contrast to the gray, chilly, windy, rainy November weather we currently have. 

So did she hog the Maui Burst by buying 7 of the 9 cans there?  Not according to her.  In fact, she "generously" left 2 cans for others to enjoy this equatorial treat.

Cherry Lime Rickey [Update]

This can of Arizona Cherry Lime Rickey has been in my pantry for a while just waiting for someone to drink it.  I've always loved the color and design of the can, and I've been waiting to taste the delicious-sounding beverage inside.

So when I looked for a can to feature on my blog this week, I thought this would be the perfect one.  After doing a quick search on my blog to see if I mentioned when I bought it, I was surprised to find out I've already done a feature on this can... and it was back in September of 2012!!!

If you compare the tab location in these pics to the pics in my 2012 post, you'll see this is the exact can!  I even mentioned my excitement at wanting to taste it back then.

Then

Now

I don't claim to be a procrastinator, but sometimes time just gets away from me.  Seven yeas ago I said I wanted to try this to see if it tastes as good as the can design looks.  But now again I will set the can aside to save it for a special occasion.  Maybe this Thursday at Thanksgiving.  Or maybe I'll wait and do a third post in 2026.

Refreshers, aka Lipstick on a Pig

I had some older style cans of Starbucks Refreshers, but this year I acquired three of the new style.

If you're not familiar with this brand, it's sparkling flavored coconut water.  The three flavors here are black cherry limeade, peach passion fruit, and strawberry lemonade.

I'm not a fan of coconut water, but these flavors sounded really good.  So for me, it's like the saying, "You can put lipstick on a pig..."  In my opinion, these are just nasty coconut waters with a hint of flavor, haha. 

There are other ways for me to get a kick of energy at breakfast.  I don't need my bacon to wear makeup.

A New Dazzle

There are many Dr Pepper knock-offs or "clones" as I call them.  They are usually cheaper than the real thing.  They usually aren't quite as good, but sometimes you may find one that tastes better.

The brand Summit has their own Dr Pepper clone called Dr. Dazzle.  I had a couple different Dazzle designs in my collection prior to this week.

 But now I have a third. 

I saw someone drinking this and asked them for the can when they were finished.  I'm used to the strange looks and the questions that follow.  But hey, it got me a new can and that's all that really matters.

Oranges

Two new "orange" cans.

That's it.

Silver Falls

This morning at church someone told me they brought "a few" cans for me.  So during a slow part of the service I sneaked out to grab this pic in case I forgot to after church.

It was a few more cans than I expected.  When I got home, I stacked the different cans that were in the box.  I left the doubles in the box behind the stack.

But of those eight cans I already had seven.  The only new one for me was the Silver Falls Cola can.

One can isn't quite the same as "a few," but it's still an addition to the collection.  Just like the old saying goes, "Ask and ye shall receive."

MATI

Looking around some flea markets yesterday, I wasn't seeing many cans for sale.  Then this gem popped up:

But I already have that design and mine is in better condition.

Moving on, I saw these new cans:

They were a "sparkling organic energy drink" called MATI.  I saw three different flavors, and for $.50 each I couldn't pass them up.

The flavors are grapefruit, lemon ginger, and raspberry mint.  It was late in the day and I didn't want to risk drinking an energy drink a few hours before going to bed, so as soon as they are emptied they will move on to a box in my collection.

(Not A) Football Superfan

Someone I know went to West Virginia a few weeks ago to visit family and brought back this Coca-Cola can to me.

I was grateful for the can since I didn't have it yet, but it's far from an accurate description of me.

But whether you're a sports fan or not, one thing is for sure.  When you're a general can collector as I am, whether the can's subject matter interests you or not... you still want the can.

Cayman Islands

A few weeks ago I got a text from a friend who was on vacation in the Cayman Islands.  He sent the following two pictures and asked if I had the cans.

Neither looked familiar, so I replied that I didn't have either can.  When he got home, he said the watermelon can didn't make it back, but he did give me the Jupina pineapple soda can.  After double-checking my collection, I had an older version of the watermelon can from a previous can lot purchase.

So if only one can could make it back to me, I'm glad it was the Jupina. But maybe next time he goes to the Caribbean he can bring back the watermelon can for me :)

The Food Pantry

It's not uncommon in this area for towns to have food shelters or food pantries set up to provide food and other items for people who need help.  And my town is no different.  Ours is called the Food Pantry.

People are needed to help organize the boxes and crates of food that are donated, others are needed to bag the food up so it's ready for people to take when they come in, others are needed to be there to keep the books and record the names of those who come in for food.  And all that work is done by volunteers.

My parents are volunteers and go there a couple times a month.  And when available, I like to get my kids in there to help out.  Last Monday was another chance to help out.  So we headed to the Food Pantry to pack the brown paper bags with food.

There are a couple of shelves set aside for food that is just about to expire.  Items on those shelves are available for anyone to take, even the volunteers.  So I was excited to see a couple of cans on the shelf that I didn't have in my collection.

 

One is a can of Ice Mountain pomegranate lemonade.  I am not a fan of pomegranate, so I have a feeling someone else will be drinking this one.  The other is a V8 Hydrate can of watermelon coconut water.  Guess what, I don't like coconut water either.  Strike two.

But we worked about an hour packing bags, so I felt I earned the two cans I took.  After all, the food is there for people who need it and I certainly NEEDED these two cans for my collection.