Friday, July 30, 2010

It's the REAL Real Thing

I don't really care about appearance, but my weight has reached the point where it impacts my ability to do whatever I want. So I need to modify my diet.

Since my biggest issue is pop, and the high-fructose corn syrup in pop (and many other things) is said to be semi-addictive. I decided to cut said corn syrup out of my diet before I worry about the calories aspect. To that end, I decided to buy Jones Soda and Jarritos Tamarindo Mexican pop to replace my normal absolutely must have every day Coke. These are made with cane sugar, the way pop used to be made.

They carry both of these brands at Meijers (which is kind of a mid-western, privately-owned Walmart, only more so), so I could get it reasonably priced.

But much to my chagrin, they didn't have the Tamarindo flavor in the Mexican section. What they had in that section was.... MEXICAN COCA-COLA!

Mexican Coca-Cola is made with cane sugar. It's the actual real original Coke. You know, the stuff that will teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. The stuff you have with a smile. The REAL Real Thing.

What does this have to do with writing?

Well, I had a screenwriting teacher whose first lecture in every new class was to tell people not to smoke while writing. Or to do anything else they might ever want to quit. Because writing is very habit based. Most writers have little rituals they use to get "in the mood" and set the muse loose. It might be how you adjust your chair, or play music or whatever.

Sometimes changing one of your rituals can be helpful to your writing, but for the most part, if your routine is disrupted, so is your writing.

For me, a big (huge) cup of ice with Coke is one of my most cherished rituals. Anything that can help me gradually wean myself of that habit, without disrupting my routine is GOOD.

Besides, I like the actual real real thing.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Camille - Isn't it amazing how those little rituals and habits say, "writing" to us? For me, it's coffee. Black, no sugar. Without coffee (and later in the day, decaf or diet soda), I just find it hard to focus. I can write in lots of different environments, but not without my coffee...

The Daring Novelist said...

Yeah - and I had one of those Mexican Cokes tonight, and oh my goodness, I had forgotten how GOOD Coke used to be. It's almost citrusy and not cloyingly sweet.

(I sigh with happiness.)

Mary said...

Ah, drinks with sugar.

Me, I took to making my own lemonade. I can guarantee no corn syrup that way.