High Life, Ritz crackers and South Park

Well, South Park (the Mormon episode--a great one!) is currently paused, because we all know that I can't multitask very well. And unfortunately, there are three Ritz left in the package, and I refuse to let my fat ass open another package, knowing full well I'll polish off at least half of it. I swear, Ritz are like my crack. Combine them with this delicious cheese spread (sharp cheddar made by Merkts--a Wisconsin product, of course), and I'm in heaven. Of course, it's all washed down with some good ole quality Miller High Life. In truth, I actually like High Life. I get enough shit for it from friends and family. (Side note: Why is it almost always said "friends and family"? Shouldn't family come first?) I guess I've acquired a taste for it due to the frequency with which I drink it. The truth is, it's cheap. Fifteen bucks gets me thirty beers.
While I get shit from friends and family (family and friends?) for my love of High Life, I still do consider myself somewhat of a beer snob. One of the things that keeps me buying High Life is its reward program. Each beer bought in a twelve-pack (bottles or cans) or more, gets me High Life Extras points. Each beer is worth 10 points. I'm drinking the beer anyway, so I might as well get something out of it, right? To date, I have a Zippo lighter, two High Life patches, two High Life stainless steel beer steins, a "Welcome to the High Life" wooden sign to put up in a rec room or something... I think that's it. I'm saving up for a dart board, complete with wooden case. A bristle board with metal-tip darts, too, not that pussy plastic-tip shit. It's only 24,000 points or so (equivalent of 2400 beers, 80 30-packs, $1200, hahahaha). I have until the end of December 2011, and I'm currently at 14,780 points. That's only 9220 points, 922 beers, 31 cases, $465 to go! I guess I'll use this time to request any High Life points you and/or your friends may have and don't want or need. Email them to me!
Okay, enough about my obsession with getting a dart board and case that I can pay $150-200 for at Sports Authority. But hey, it's a High Life one!
Staying on the beer topic, though, I mentioned earlier how I consider myself a beer snob. High Life is just my day-to-day beer. I splurge every now and then and try out a new six-pack of a microbrew I haven't tried yet. In my last entry (or was it the one before that?), I briefly mentioned how I was just in Montana visiting my twin brother, Mark, who moved out there this past September. Aside from seeing him and some good family friends, I got to try out some great Montana brews. One of the days I was out there, Mark and I trekked about half an hour east to Belt, MT, to pay a visit to Harvest Moon Brewing Company. We sat in their "bar" for a bit, sampling a few beers. The first one I tried was Great Falls Select, an ale, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It's Mark's favorite brew from Harvest Moon. I can't remember the second one I had, but I think it was their winter ale. The third I sampled was Beltian White ale. I ended up getting a growler of that delicious, crisp, sweet Beltian White ale. A growler is a half-gallon of delicious, sudsy goodness. Mark got one of Great Falls Select. We drank great beer that night in the company of good people.
I miss that hairy face of his. Thinking about the good times I had out in Montana with him brings tears to my eyes. He's coming home on Friday, just in time for our birthday on Saturday. Doesn't mean I still miss him like crazy. He's my twin brother, my best friend. Nobody knows me like he does. I'm so incredibly thankful for the wonderful parents I have, for they bought my plane ticket to go visit him for Christmas. They're the best parents anyone could ask for, without a doubt. So Mark's going to be home for ten days, and then he's back out to Montana, and I probably won't see him again until July, and that's just going to kill me. At least I have my family and friends here. He's got a few friends out there, and that's it. The following five and a half months are going to be torture for him. I wish I could be out there. I wish he could be here. I just wish I could see him every day like I used to. I'm not equipped well enough to be without him close by. We just have to persevere, as hard as it will be and has already been. And we have to value the time we have together and not take any of it for granted. I can't wait to see him! Just over three days to go!
This last paragraph was the hardest one I've had to write in my entries thus far. Had to take two breaks to fight off the tears. But I don't want to get all melancholic on you, so I'll leave you on a happy note:
I was introduced to some new tunes tonight, The Rural Alberta Advantage. Check 'em out!
Until next time, kids, good night!