No Soda for You…

I don’t drink Coke Cola every day.  Many of us can agree the best Cokes colacome from McDonalds. Is it the perfect mix of ice, the syrup, the straw and the way it bursts into your mouth. I don’t know it’s magic. The other day I was in the mood for that perfectly refreshing sweetness, so I pulled into the drive through. Ordered the bubbly only to be told that their soda machine wasn’t working.  Not working! How can this be? It’s McDonalds, they are known for their soda pops and French fries!

I politely told the lady I didn’t want anything else and drove away. Immediately the post about people’s favorite kind of ice came to mind,    Ice By Any Other Form. How rediculous is it that I was frustrated with McDonald’s. Again I’m faced with a first world inconvenience that I have no right to be frustrated.

Lucky think for me that McDonald’s are strategically placed within a mile of one another in Louisville. Whew…

KK

It Just ‘Aint Fittin’

Yesterday was November 6th. I was in the car alone driving. Having full control of my radio button-pushing habit, I cruised to 106.9. Let me set the scene. It’s Friday, cloudy and balmy, and about 70 degrees. The sun was fighting to come out. And what to my listening ears should sound? Christmas music, of course.

I’m from Kentucky. Here it’s just as likely to be warm or mild as it could be snowing at Christmas. But I was raised on Irving colaBerlin and George Baily. At least get me past Thanksgiving and into a hint of cooler weather before you blast me with songs about kissing Santa Clause and jingle bells rockin’.

The whole thing was like when Coke attempted to whoo us with clear Coke. It just ain’t fittin’.

Happy Thanksgiving,

KK

 

Ice by Any Other Form is Still Cold

nugget ice

Evidently for some people ice needs to be in nugget form. Not crushed or cubed, not even chipped. It needs to be in nuggets. This shape of ice is a little larger than a pea. A few months ago, those who are fans of nugget ice received a written apology from a convenience store manager when they had to settle for crushed ice. The posted sign over the nugget ice dispenser read: “We apologize, the nugget ice maker is out of service.”

We all have our favorite refreshments, but in the grand scheme of things, I’m not sure I would expect an apology for one form of ice when two feet away I can have another form.

Can we agree that our need for a certain shape, size or consistency of ice should be added to the list of first world problems?

All the best, 

KK

 

No Coke For You, Come Back One Week

Yesterday was the seventh day of my fast from soda pop. I gave up soda pop for one week. There really wasn’t a reason. I just decided to exercise my self-control. The only person I told was my husband. So, last Sunday was the last time I drank a coke. It was a delightful treat; a perfect fountain mix and just the right amount of ice topped with a lid and a straw.

colaI didn’t decaffeinate. Tea was my morning beverage. Besides, the caffeine from tea is actually better for you than that of soda. It is said that the body processes it at a more even rate so there are fewer highs and lows; less jitters. But I digress.

The day I missed my soda treat the most was Friday; five days in. It was a warm and sunny day. I was out and about taking care of some business and looking forward to the weekend. Like those who enjoy a cool brew after a work week, I missed my fountain soda; my favorite of which is Coca-Cola – no diet, full of sweetness and calories. The other difficult moment was after the baseball tournament we took the boys to have pizza for dinner. There is something very wrong about having pizza with iced tea. It just isn’t right. But that’s what I drank.

No earth shattering lessons were garnered by this exercise. I learned that if I put my mind to something, I can do it with little accountability. Before this week I may not have claimed that strength.

I’m not sure I felt any better physically, or lost any weight, but I wasn’t tired at odd times. I did miss the sugar. In the late afternoons admittedly I foraged through the leftover Easter candy. Not to worry, I confessed to my son. He was glad to share.

As of this posting time, I still haven’t had a soda. Not sure when I will partake. Even as I write this and think of the bubbles and ice dancing in a cup, the straw plunging in and the first draw, AAAAHHHH, I know it’s going to be good!

All the best,

KK

 

There is a Difference

Recently I heard someone say there is a difference between being filled and being fulfilled. This was a statement I had to write down and think about.  Later that day I treated myself to some McDonald’s French fries. I don’t do this often, but I took my son to get his lunch and the waft of deep fried potatoes made only the way McDonald’s makes them, overtook my judgment as soon as I opened the door.

cokeThey came out piping hot; a golden delight to behold.  My fountain Coke bubbling wonderfully over ice with the straw at the ready. I chose the perfectly shaped fry and took that long awaited bite.  As I chewed up this fantasy favorite, I quickly noted that there was no salt on them. My craving and thoughts of sinking my teeth into the perfectly deep fried, lightly salted McDonald’s fries were shattered by the reality of what I was served.  It was if karma (if you believe in karma) swooped in with my doctor’s orders to watch my salt. I left the restaurant filled with carbs and completely unfulfilled otherwise.books1

In that moment I was seeking fulfillment from something very temporary.  Even if the salt had been correct, I would have still been hungry an hour later. Had I chosen more wisely, perhaps a something in the protein family, or even chosen an entirely different restaurant, my fulfillment would have been of higher quality and would have lasted longer.

In a similar fashion, each day we choose what we fill our minds, hearts and souls and body with. Are we choosing high quality information?  Are we looking for positive stories and information that grows us personally and professionally? Are we using our own judgment to determine what to believe and dwell on or are we just believing everything others tell us? Do we fill our minds with the junk food offered on television or in the media? Are we choosing that which is temporary or that which transcends earthly misperceptions of lasting peace and satisfaction?

TV setBy filling our hearts and minds with that which leads us to grow, learn and even change for the better, each day we become more of who we are meant to be. We will find ourselves more in tuned with that which produces longer lasting fulfillment.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Share with me your thoughts on the matter.

All the best,

KK