To Pepsi or Not to Pepsi

Me: I think I need to give up soda. The government is trying to put a tax on it because its so bad for our health. And it has all those preservatives. And football players and athletes don't really drink it because it messes with their performance.
Ben: Why are you always saying you have to give things up completely?
Me: I don't "always" do anything. I said that this time, though. So maybe I just need to drink it less. I drink it like 2-3 times a week right now. So less. I think I should drink it a lot less.

I have never had any inclination in my life to give up things that contain sugar. I love sugar. And I maintain that sugar loves me too. But the questions roll inside my head: "Could I live without soda if it really were that bad?" "Is soda my cigarette?" And then the ultimate question: "Do I really lack that much self control?".The answer to that question in my head is always a resounding, "Yes. I really do lack that much self control." But that's mostly in regards to the idea of sticking to any food restriction or diet. Despite the fact people think I am a healthy eater, I usually eat.. pretty much whatever I want. And the minute I say I can't have something, it kinda makes me want it more.

But soda -- it's only one thing. What about that? Couldn't I deny myself the Pepsi I usually reward myself with after I go to the gym? It's kind of an odd, unhealthy reward for such a good, healthy behavior anyway. Shouldn't I be able to take it or leave it? I wouldn't have to NEVER drink soda... just not on any kind of regular basis. I could do that, right?

Well, I don't know. It's been a week. Though I might not have had any last week either. But it's been deliberate for only 1 week. Last week may have been accidentally soda-free. Today, on my way back from the gym, I had sushi instead of Pepsi. Go figure.

The one thing I don't think I'll get away from -- I really like Pepsi. But maybe I can do without it as a part of my regular drinking regimen. Maybe. Judging by my own confidence in my ability to control my food cravings, if I were a betting woman, I'd give myself another week to go. I'll have accomplished something real if I can actually make it through 4 weeks.

Pepsi, oh Pepsi. Breaking up is so hard to do. I miss you. Boo hoo. Too da loo.

Quirky

Step 1: First, separate fruit snacks out by colors.
Step 2: Take away fruit snacks from each color group so there are the same number of fruit snacks in each group.
Step 3: Eat the "extra" fruit snacks.
Step 4: Eat the remaining fruit snacks, 1 from each group at a time, so as to keep the number of fruit snacks in each color group equal for as long as possible.
Step 5: Eat the last remaining fruit snack from each color group in the order in which I wish to experience them.

As I was going through this almost daily ritual today, I realized that this might makes me kinda weird. How did I come up with this process? And, better yet, why? Sometimes, I wonder about myself a little bit.

Coincidentally, this picture is exactly what the fruit snacks I eat look like -- at least the fruit snacks I have right now. I had no idea I'd be able to find such an accurate visual aid. Go Google.

Perks

This past monday, Ben went grocery shopping. All by himself. You may think this is minor, but it's really not. We've been married for over 1 1/2 years. Ben's insatiable desire to help me out has overcome his better judgment and brought him where he dared not go before -- the grocery store. Did I mention this is the 2nd time? And the first time was about a month ago.

Some things about me going back to school I really, really love.

Interesting Read, Less Interesting Thoughts, update on the unidentified "G"

So, I have a little more free time this week. The big projects for the most part are done for right now, and I have a few breathers of a day or two. In my "free time" I was educating myself, and decided to watch a TED video (everyone should know about TED). The video is here. It is an interesting video about how businesses/people develop followings and becoming leaders rather than participants essentially. What makes someone inspire other people to jump on their bandwagon.

Anyways, I really enjoyed the video, hence I am posting it in hopes that someone else may be provoked by the thought process.

After watching the talk, I decided to check the author out a little bit more, and I came across this post here, entitled "Why You Need A Partner" and really should be labeled "Why MEN Need A Partner", but that is besides the point. It was a relatively interesting read, although not nearly as interesting as the first. I don't know if I buy in to his point, particularly because I am, for the most part, a very independent, self-serving, and some might argue, self-made individual. I've done most things on my own, accomplished most things without a partner, etc. But the notion and ideas presented at a minimum gave me something to think about.

Lastly, the unidentified girl is still in the picture, although crazily calling me out for leaving her unidentified (no, she doesn't read this blog...at least I don't think she does, I'm assuming Kim hasn't told her about it! ;). ) Recently, I my ears piqued at an off-handed comment of her being my "closet girlfriend". Now, granted, I tend to keep things a bit closer to the chest than the average individual, but really, how close to the chest can they be....after all, I am blogging about it.

Regardless, dates 4, 5, 6, 7, and a few others have gone along swimmingly......and in light of the closet girlfriend comment, she came with me to church on Sunday. The question is, when is integration too fast? As a person that likes to take things a bit slower, I tend to be apprehensive to the whole introduction to friends, family, etc., even if the unidentified G is a girlfriend. Mostly out of fear of disruption of life, severing of relationships if it goes sour, joint experiences that you may soon want to forget, yada yada yada. See, I like my life (shocker I know), and it affords me with some lovely luxuries, but I may also like life with the inclusion of a certain unidentified G. Do past relationships set the stage for failure in the future? Are our past experiences the largest hurdle to our potential future successes (wow, doesn't that look like it is spelled funny)? When is integration too soon? Or better yet, when is integration too late?

Pontificate away as I'm sure you will.