I wonder why the US Virgin Islands can't get their own freaking identity.

Well, they were the only Scandinavian colony in the western hemisphere. I think that they should run with that. Hockey. Reindeer. Volvos. Blonde bikini teams. Things like that. This would distinguish them from other countries in the region.

Alone we're delicious, together we're yum:

Yum! Brands, Inc. is the world’s largest restaurant company with more than 33,000 restaurants in over 100 countries and territories and more than 840,000 employees worldwide. Four of our restaurant brands -- KFC, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell -- are the global leaders of the chicken, quick-service seafood, pizza and Mexican-style food categories respectively. A&W Restaurants is the longest running quick-service franchise chain in America.

Huh.

This would distinguish them from other countries in the region.

As long as they steer clear of bobsledding.

Wait -- no, we have scantily clad blondes all over the place too.

liquor store/Dunkin Donut's

Now THAT's some fine dunkin'.

"A&W Restaurants is the longest running quick-service franchise chain in America."

Heh. I read that as "S&W are the longest squick-sevice franchise in America"

I miss the old A&W drive ins. There used to be one my dad would take me to whenever there was an occasion (edit: on the back of his bike in the bright yellow kid carrier.) Like he got back early from a business trip. Or the time I ripped my toenail off on a door. The local one closed when I was fivish. After that, we came to make a point to stop at every A&W for floats between home and the grandparents. There was one in Aztec, NM and another in Lake Champlaign(?) Ill.

I think my parents still have my baby-sized mug.

There was an A&W on the highway going out to our farm when I was a kid. They'd bring the floats and the chili dogs out to our car, and we'd eat off of those trays that they attach to your car window -- orange trays.

I can smell the root beer and feel the thickness of the mug between my lips as I write this. And I can smell the rain-green-dirt smell of the spring coming in through the open window.

Funny, I haven't thought of this in years. That A&W closed in, what? 1979?

The Mama Burger and the Papa Burger and the Teen Burger and the chilly glass mugs. Sigh.

[eDIt becaUSE I CAnnot cAPItalize]

Betsy! I forgot about the Mama and Papa burger!

Oh, my, god, yes!

EDIT: (Could, I, squeeze, another, comma, in?)

That A&W closed in, what? 1979?

There must have been a mass A&W dieoff then. The timing is about the same as mine disappeared. And I think of the smell of hot asphalt and rubber. heh.