I know that it is a bad addiction, but I guess it could be worse - cigarettes, alcohol, the other coke. But, it is still bad for my teeth, my health, my head (headaches without it), and my pocketbook. There are times when I decide that I am going to cutback and I do for a little while, but I am much happier when I am on the stuff. The caffeine aside, I just like it. There's nothing better than a coke to take the edge off.
I am a picky soda drinker...
- The soda must have a lot (I mean extra, extra, extra) of ice.
- I don't like if from a warm can or bottle - even when it's poured over a lot of ice. The ice melts and it tastes flat. (see #1)
- I don't like it from a bar gun. I used to work in a bar and it's kept warm most of the time if if it's coming from the soda gun. Plus, bar glasses are too small to put in a lot of ice. Ick! (see #1)
- Pepsi, RC, or any of the other cola substitutes will not do. I avoid restaurants that don't serve Coke.
- From fast foods, I prefer my Coke in a styrofoam cup - it stays colder longer, and doesn't sweat which keeps the ice from melting. (see #1)
My favorite restaurant for Coke is Jimmy Deans because it best fits my cup and ice criteria - styrofoam cup AND rabbit turd ice which is self serve so I can have A LOT!
As stated above, I have tried to cutback. I have tried diet and/or caffeine free. I have tried and convinced myself I liked C2. Once I even pulled an Elaine (think Seinfeld and the Today Sponge) and bought cases of C2 when I heard they were going to stop making it. It didn't work - I still have it in my garage and I don't drink it. These alternatives are just not the same.
While on winter break in January, I had time to think about how bad it is for me, and again thought I would try a diet soda. All the advertisements for Coke Zero say it tastes like regular Coke with out the calories so I bought a bottle to try. But I know me and I knew it was going to sit in the fridge because whether it tastes like Coke or not, it says Coke Zero and I know that it's different. I know that if I were to try it, I wouldn't like it on principle alone.
After vacation was over I went to lunch with Mike and Jason and told them about the Coke Zero sitting in my refridgerator and my dilema. I was afraid that I wouldn't give Coke Zero a chance on looks alone. We came up with a plan, that the next time I was at Jason's house, he would serve it to me without me knowing it. (Jason is a Coke Zero fan.) I thought that would be a good idea since I wouldn't be expecting it and if I liked it, Jason could congratulate me on trying and liking a diet soda.
Yesterday afternoon I stopped by Jason's house to drop off some things. We went inside because I had to use the bathroom. When I came out, Jason approached me with a plastic cup, full of ice, and offered me an "icy, cold Coke." Now, remember, I was in on the plan that Mike and Jason devised, so I was suspicious and rightly so. He smirked and asked, "What?" To make a really long story just a little bit long, I tried it knowing that it wasn't the real thing. It was ok, certainly better than diet coke, but it wasn't my Coke.
My name is Kim and I'm a Coke-a-holic. It has been zero minutes since my last drink.
