So it seems I missed out on one of the great new inventions to hit the market after I left Japan - refills for Cup Noodle.

I must point out that this new product is hardly an original idea by its manufacturer, Nissin. In college, we routinely used empty Cup Noodle cups as bowls (mostly for regularly-packaged instant ramen crushed to fit), ashtrays, pen holders, a container for my cut-in-half-with-tin-snips 1-yen coin collection, and in a pinch, even as beer cups (curry flavor cups were best for this purpose).

But wait! I titled this post before I read what's actually being sold - it seems that the actual product isn't just noodle refills, they also include a non-disposable bowl! Now is that defeating the entire purpose of a Cup Noodle, or what? (from a business standpoint, isn't this blurring the product lines?)

Since a bowl and a clump of freeze dried noodles isn't really new, perhaps this isn't such a hot idea after all... and it sure as hell doesn't qualify as kaedama. The title above stays, though. I like kaedama, even just in print.

... words heard from not a single student today.

Surprise, surprise.

I think I've actually seen a real live turkey here in Mahasarakham, up in the forest near the fish sanctuary, but I'm too lazy to be bothered with the killin' and pluckin' and dressin' and stuffin' and roastin' - Thanksgiving to me is more of a "Thanksgetting." Getting stuffed and drowsy off the tryptophan (I choose to believe in the sleepy turkey effect. Even if it's a placebo, it still makes me feel nice, you haters.) kicks ass. Candied yams and gravy kick ass. Even cranberry sauce tends to kick some ass, in moderation. Maybe what I miss most, though, is pumpkin pie. I swear I haven't had a decent slice of pumpkin pie with freshly whipped cream for five or six years. "So," you ask, "how does one cope with the lack of proper pilgrim food on Turkey Day?"

If living in Japan for twelve years taught me anything, it was coping skills.

If living in Japan for twelve years taught me anything, it was three letters: K F C

That's right, Nam and I just came back from the only place in town to get mashed potatoes, cheesy fries, and New! Bite-sized! Spicy! Fish Bits.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!