Personal Diet Coke Revelations

I started drinking Diet Coke in Junior High. For a couple of years there, I thought a Diet Coke and a candy bar were the ingredients for the perfect lunch. If I'm honest, I probably still think of Diet Coke and a candy bar as the staples for survival...

I've done the "no caffeine" thing--it nearly killed me when I was pregnant. I tried drinking everything (caffeine free DC wasn't available yet) from root beer to water. Nothing was as appealing... My current goal is to keep my Diet Coke (with caffeine) consumption to one serving per day. By serving, I actually mean 12 oz, not that humongo bottomless big gulp size. I think a daily 12 oz serving is respectable. Don't you?

Anyway. I've recently been doing a lot of traveling. I've been disappointed to discover that more and more locations are choosing to serve Pepsi products. In desperation, I've ordered Diet Pepsi a few times. I always ask for LOTS of lemon and it's been more tolerable than I would have believed it could be.

So, for the past year, it's been Diet Coke here, Diet Pepsi there... And I've discovered something. I'm not as much a die hard as I though I was... It turns out, I do still like Diet Coke better than Diet Pepsi if it's a canned beverage. I don't like either beverage if it's from a plastic bottle. And I like Diet Pepsi better than Diet Coke if it's a fountain drink. Is that weird?

I guess that means we'll have to rethink the old standby invitation of, "Let's go get a Coke." We'll decide if it'll really be a Coke product or a Pepsi product when we see how it's going to be served! And as for the Diet Coke v. Diet Pepsi thing? I can't say that we have a clear winner. I guess we'll have to call it a draw.

Utterly Confused

Some of you read my post yesterday and decided that I'm unintelligent. I'm aware that many of you can't fathom my confusion about spring. Truly, I am trying to understand the concept of this "mild" month. But the definition of spring, and more importantly, what to expect from spring, continue to allude me.

Maybe these photos will help explain my confusion.

Yesterday..

Today...

Yesterday...

Today...

Does that help you understand my confusion?

Hello Spring--Glad to Meet You.

I'm confused. Does the commencement of spring coincide with a certain date, an awaited event, or a specific temperature? I have to admit, I'm a little perplexed about this whole spring thing. And because of my location, spring's arrival is at best, tentative. So that makes identifying this elusive season even more tricky.

Today was a warm day (relatively speaking--as opposed to the blizzard of two days ago). It felt just a little like spring. It even looked a little like spring. The sun was out, and actually turned on. The warmth flooded my car as it sat at the curb near the soccer field. In fact, although I needed my coat for the soccer game this morning, by afternoon I had to shed it to avoid wilting in the sunshine.

Another clue that it might possibly be spring is the anxiety in The Mister's voice. He is becoming marginally frantic. He is rifling through piles of files in preparation of our annual appointment with The Tax Man... And the pastel-infused palate of spring is apparent in catalog photos, shop windows, and M&Ms.

If we're looking at the calendar, it would appear that spring has sprung. Pictures of flowers and blossoms abound. Puppies and kittens are the iconic figures of the current month. And yet, somehow, I still find myself unsure.

Maybe I just don't understand spring.

I know summer. That's when you put on shorts and flip flops and daydream about swimming pools. It's when the grass grows green and the bees buzz and the wind is more of a welcoming breeze.

I also understand fall. That's when the kids go back to school and the sweaters come out of the closet. The colors change, the wind has a bite, and the fireplace is a great place to gather.

Winter is easy. Snow, boots, coats, and pink cheeks. Sniffles, goosebumps, and shivering... It's easy to recognize winter.

But spring? I guess the consensus is that this is, in fact, spring... But I'm still wearing my winter sweaters. I'm still temped to bask in the warmth of the fireplace. The precipitation from last week came in the form of flakes instead of droplets. The wind still has a bite which is very reminiscent of fall. And the thought of swimming pools just evokes visions of polar bears...

Even though I'm still not convinced of the arrival of spring, I may be ready to do some spring cleaning. But I think I'll draw the line there. I'm not sure I'm prepared for the rest... I'm not ready for light cottons. I'm not ready for picnics or barbecues. I refuse to wear flip flops until the snow melts. I know April 15 is looming, but receipts, statements, and W-2s will just have to wait. So, spring? If you're really here, Welcome. I look forward to getting to know you.

What's the Number?

Phones. They are one of modern civilization's most important innovations. Just ask any teenage girl--she'll certainly agree with me! Think of all the ways that this modern form of communication enriches our lives. Remember back when we had to walk both to and from school, uphill, in a snowstorm, in bare feet, in gale force winds? Phones were different then. For one, wireless was an absurd idea. Who would have thought that our daughters would be stepping out on the porch to get out of earshot for calls with the cute boy. Who could have imagined driving down the freeway while making reservations for dinner. How did we function without the ability to check in when running late for curfew?

And that just addresses the advances in actual telephonic advancements.

Now we have Wi-Fi. We can surf for movie times and purchase tickets. We can take photos of our kids and forward them to grandma. And text! I can contact my son, while he's sitting in class, without disrupting anyone (of course, I'd NEVER do that!).

So, here's my complaint. I have this newfangled, high-tech, full qwerty equipped, Wi-Fi enabled, photo-taking, voice-recording piece of technology. And I find myself having difficulty dialing a simple phone number. Isn't that supposed to be the basic function of a phone? To dial phone numbers? Did I miss something? And the sad part is that it's the most simple phone number that throws me. I always remember it. I never have to look it up. I'm sure you dial similar numbers, but how?

The number I continue to struggle with is this: 1.800.COMCAST. I also struggle with numbers like 1.800.Get.Help or 866.BUY.HOME. These numbers are fabulously easy to remember, but oh, so difficult to call. If I were to dial these "word numbers" on my phone, it would look something like this: 180080M8#4T and you'll just have to trust me when I tell you that I most certainly won't be connected with a Comcast Service Rep.

So, if anyone out there is more informed than I. Please share. Is there some secret dialing application to download? Is there a discreet cheat sheet embedded in my phone's memory? Am I just to unintelligent to dial from a cell phone? Please, tell me that isn't the case!

Until I find a way to figure out this dialing dilemma, I guess I'll just have to call from home. But if you have any information to help me, I can be reached at 800.I.AM.DUMB...