Party like a rockstar.

Today I stopped by Safeway on my way to diving practice. I picked up some incredible strawberries and some yogurt for a snack. Heading to the in-store Starbucks I passed the drink aisle, where the trendy energy drinks reside. Normally I would pass right by these over-priced caffeine injectors but the word "ROASTED" caught my eye. I eyed the brown can with curiosity, wondering if anything could taste as good as the iced coffee with soymilk and two splendas waiting for me at the Starbucks counter.

Several years ago I lived in Japan and got in the habit of trying a different vending machine surprise nearly every day. The machines are similar to the quarter machines at the grocery store, and they're everywhere. In towns where most houses don't have electricity, the vending machines would still grace the major streets where horse drawn carts and rickshaws passed, a strange interaction of progressive culture and traditional ways.

There's a distinctive taste that reminds me of these vending machines and the peace I feel when I think of my time in Japan. I found it on a shelf in Safeway this morning.