[Sub la Goon]

I tried it the morning after the Friday night meet-up at the Lost Bar.

I wasn't too hung over or anything and toasted a couple of slices of sourdough bread, put some butter on top, and then opened the miniscule packet Lashbear gave me the night before. It smelled somewhat, uh, "earthy" I guess you would say.

Undaunted, I scooped out a tiny bit and spread it (thinly) over a bite-size corner of the toast. It wasn't too bad, really. It just tastes vaguely of wood rot and locker rooms. I went through half the packet like this - putting on just enough for the next bite - before I broke down and got out the strawberry preserves.

I then did a Wikipedia search for Vegemite and discovered the history of the stuff, a little about how it's made, and some rather amusing Pop Culture references & lingo. The term "drilling for Vegemite" was especially amusing and I was very glad I hadn't read that before trying it.

Last Sunday, I was applying sunscreen to myself at The Hub at DL and two couples from Australia were getting their pictures taken in front of the Walt statue and castle. They looked to be youngish middle age and very boisterous. I, of course, asked where they were from and started chating with them and one of the ladies said she was a Mousketeer in her youth in Australia. Like on Telly and everything. Said her name was Sheila (but don't they all?).

I mentioned my recent introduction to Vegemite and Sheila's husband, Richard, made a horrible face and proclaimed the stuff to be somewhat awful (in his own colorful way). They mentioned it being a beer product and I replied I would rather have the real stuff, to which they gleefully concurred. Then they asked where the beer was and I had to give them the sad news about having to go across the Esplanade for that. They were shocked that no alcohol was served at DL! I mentioned Club 33 and it's severe exclusivity and Richard replied that Sheila "has her ways" of getting whatever and wherever she wants.

As they took off looking for the Ruddy Teacups, I mentioned that they should return at noon to meet one or two of their hemispherical bretherin but they only sounded half-hearted on the idea and I did not see them at the Mega-Meat. Although I did wave to them later when they passed me going the opposite direction on the Casey Jr. Train while I was on a Storybook boat. God only knows what their stories will be of me when they return to the Outback.

I suppose this has turned from simple Vegemite discussion to a full-fledged Aussie-palooza.