Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Caffeine

Off all the various addictions folks have, mine is the worst. Because it's mine, you see.

I'm a caffeine addict.

And I don't drink coffee.

I drink Coke. And Diet Coke. And Dr Pepper. And Diet Dr Pepper. And Mello Yello and Mountain Dew. But not the blue, red, orange, green, or other weird-colored Mountain Dews. Just the original yellow. And RC. And Diet RC. And Diet Rite. And...

Anyway, I drink colas and other soft drinks. Regular and diet.

And when I don't, I get a headache. So, I figure I'm addicted. Or at least have a dependency.

So, how do I handle this addiction?

The same way most other addicts of other stuff handle their addictions. I indulge.

Only, sometimes, circumstances intervene.

Like yesterday.

At work, we have a dining facility that has a fountain drink machine. And I'll often go there and get a large fountain drink. And I did that yesterday.

Now, you remember I mentioned I drink Coke and Diet Coke both? Well, I've been overweight for a while. I'm 10-15 pounds heavier than I should weigh. That is, the upper limit of the "desirable" weight for my height and build. At 6'2'' I should weigh no more than 211, according to the Army. And I'm nearly 225. So, I don't drink as many Cokes as I do Diet Cokes. I drink more Cokes when my weight is "in line." When I realize I'm overweight, I switch to Diet Coke.

Anyhow, both Coke and Diet Coke have caffeine. And right now, I'm drinking Diet Cokes, not Cokes.

And that's what I wanted to do yesterday.

But the Diet Coke was out. But they had Caffeine-Free Diet Coke. Yes, all the flavor of a diet drink, but none of the caffeine rush. Great. Freakin' great.

And that was breakfast.

For lunch, I walked over and met the Wife for lunch. And got a Diet Coke.

Subway has the medium-sized drinks ... about 20 oz., I think ... so I usually get a refill.

But not yesterday. When I was getting a refill, the drink came out ... flat. And, sure enough, the lady that changes the CO2 bottle was standing behind me when I turned around. And I waited while she changed the bottle.

After she was done, she checked the drinks to make sure the carbonation thingy was working right.

So, she went back to the back, and I went to get my refill of Diet Coke.

And the darn thing ran out. I get about a third of Diet Coke into my cup, then the stream went clear. Like it does when the syrup is out.

By this time, I had to get back to work, so I didn't get another Diet Coke. But I knew we had drinks in the fridge at the house. So I bided my time.

And when I got home last night? There in the fridge was ... Diet Rite. Which has no calories. And no caffeine.

No, I won't switch to coffee. But I'm stopping by the Piggly Wiggly this morning and getting me a 2-liter of Diet Coke to drink at work.

I'm thinking I'll have it finished off about 10:00.

4 comments:

  1. LOL Basil I know all about that addiction! If I don't get my caffeine fix in the a.m. I get a horrendous headache that is comparable to a migraine.

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  2. Sounds like a Coke fiend! ;)

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  3. Basil--send me $70,000 and I will not only help you break your addiction, but I will also teach you the 12-steps!

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  4. I know all about the headaches. Switch to cofee; more caffeine and basically no calories! Whee!

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