Summer…

and Iced Tea go hand in hand.

I suppose most of my southern friends think that I am a heathen and blasphemer for prefering UN-sweet tea.  I am my happiest when I cross the Ohio or Mississippi Rivers into normal tea land (where sweet isn’t the default).  Very few things make me more angry than getting sweet tea from a drive thru.

For the past several years I my most favorite tea came from the local Sonic, Route 44, extra ice, unsweet, no lemon please.  Brown water with a straw!  Before 10 am it only set me back $1.16.  or during happy hour they were half price, from 2-4…any other time of day $2.20 or some crazy number.

And yes, I paid it, often.

Part of the Sonic attraction is the ice- I MUST HAVE the ice!  If you don’t know the ice you are totally missing out on a world of chilly goodness.  I have always called it “rabbit turd” and I am not the only one becaus a google search will bring up hundreds of results.  The more cultured refer to it as shaved or crushed ice, but that really isn’t the best descriptor because they are little pellets.  Whatever term you prefer, it is hands down the best way to super chill a beverage when you are on the run.

For several years, I could tell you the exact location of several establishements that carry this type of ice.  If pressed, I could also tell you the exact date that some of them stopped (oh yes Speedway, in LaGrange, I am referring to you).  I understand it is a sickness and one that for years I was willing to ignore.

That is, until customer service, or lack there of, got in the way.  About 6 months ago my local sonic went through a change-and not for the better.  The drive thru window was taking an average (yes average people) of 5 minutes-when I WAS the only person in line.  I switched to McDonald’s-it just wasn’t the same .  Every few weeks I would give the Sonic another try and they would always get something wrong, a Route 44 came out as a 32 oz-and/or it was sweet.  Some days no one ever came to the window at all.

Honestly, in these tough economic times, if there is someone wanting to give you business, take it people, take it!

I moved on.
I turned to plan b.
Introducing the Tervis 24 oz. Big T Clear Tumbler

This puppy has solved all my problems.

• It is thoroughly insulated so drinks stay super cool or super warm.
• You can buy two types of lids, one that takes straws (like above) or one that works for coffee-and travel with a snappy shut lid.
• AND it is dishwasher safe!
• oh and there is something about a life time guarantee..which can’t be beat!

The amount of tea I was drinking and buying at fastfood restaurants paid for this glass in 3 days.  I will be buying a few more for the rest of the family.

This experiment is a success!