Madre's Missives
Inadvertent and Occasionally Intentional Thoughts
Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 2:09 am
I'm
a single mom, and I basically work two jobs. One that pays my bills, and
another that gives me gray hair -- both of which I LOVE. I like being busy
and take on extra work when I see something needs doing and insist on the
highest possible standards of the work I do. And I will wake the Chocolate
Tornado to make a late-night Walmart trip if (Oh, the horror!) I run out
of Diet Coke.
The only person I know who works as hard, if not harder, than me is Pr. Bloghardt. He's known by some to say that he thinks God sometimes stops
the sun in its tracks to give him enough time in the day to do all that he has
to do. Supposedly, he doesn't just get one can of Diet Coke, when he goes
to the fridge, he gets two so he can drink one on the way back to his chair.
Next year, at the FOR YOU
conferences, we have special Lackeys who have a very important job. Keep
us supplied with cold Diet Cokes.
Then there's my pastor. When I arrived here at Mt. Olive, my pastor
drank pot upon pot of coffee. He'd kinda coast his way through days,
wander in and out of the office when the mood hit him. There was stuff
going on at church, but not a whole lot. Now, all of a sudden this weekend
we're initiating a new Sunday schedule, field-testing the LSB hymnal,
kicking-off Sunday School with a new opening (that he will lead in the
Fellowship Hall with all the families present). He's teaching adult Sunday
School, Lutheran Beliefs class on Sunday evenings, confirmation, and he has all
sorts of wild and crazy ideas about what to do next. And as of yesterday,
he's even filling in at the last minute and writing some Reflections for Higher
Things.
I came to Colorado when it was Lent, a very dark season in Madre's world
because I had given up Diet Coke in order to more deeply ponder the sufferings
of Christ for my sins. Oh, did I ponder! Iced tea just is NOT the
same. And then on Easter morning, I could rejoice again in the wonderful
gift from my loving Heavenly Father of Diet Coke (oh yeah...and eternal life
too, thanks Jesus!). By the time I arrived at church for Easter breakfast,
I was on my second (or was it third) can. Pastor made fun of me. My
love for Diet Coke became the source of many a joke around church.
Today, I went into the kitchen at church to nuke my lunch and get a fresh
dose of cold, bubbly goodness in a can and noticed there wasn't even a pot of
coffee on. There also was no Diet Coke. This strange phenomenon has
been happening with increasing frequency the last few weeks. As I walked back to my office, I noticed a freshly opened can of Diet Coke on someone else's desk. I was forced
to eat my lunch with full strength Berry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. My teeth are
still uncurling from the sweetness.
Bloghardt commented to me this evening, after receiving an email about the Reflections,
that my pastor is wonderfully nuts to be doing all that he's doing. I
agreed, but what could either of us say, so are we. What could be behind
it?
"I
think Diet Coke gives you superhuman powers."
"YOU'RE insane!" he laughed.
But I betcha a Diet Coke, that deep down he knows I'm right.
Edited on: September 06th, 2006 10:05 am
Comments:
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 7:18 am by Rev. Todd Peperkorn
Congratulations on being the second hardest working person you know.
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 8:19 am by Scott Strohkirch
Us other poor lackeys feel you should drink all the Diet Coke you want so that there will always be a healthy supply of DIet Pepsi on hand. Not that any Diet drink is healthy, but that the supply is healthy. Drink away Madre...
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 9:50 am by Theresa K
Keep in mind that Diet Coke's powers may begin to fade through your thirties and by your forties may be a once a week treat. Your stomach will be the leader in this shift of power.
Signed,
A former Diet Coke devotee in Minnetonka 
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 10:58 am by Madre
Congratulations on being the second hardest working person you know.
Thanks. One of these days I'll get that sun-stopping thing down too.
Need more Diet Coke!
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 5:16 pm by FemLem1
I know these people are not honestly suggestion that you drink less diet coke or, dare i say, drink diet pepsi!!! [gasp!]. never mind the bad things caffine addiction causes or the brain tumors diet coke may cause. Drink on! (I can only say this b/c she is half responsible for my diet coke addiction)~FL1
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 5:22 pm by Madre
(I can only say this b/c she is half responsible for my diet coke addiction)~FL1
Jus' sharin' the love...
...cuz I don't share my Diet Coke.
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 06th, 2006 at 9:53 pm by Jon Kohlmeier
Hm.. so If diet coke gives you super human powers.. does that make caffine free Diet Coke your kryptonite?
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 07th, 2006 at 2:42 pm by luvable lutheran
I'm sure people know that Diet Coke was "born" in Atlanta at Coke headquarters, so where was Diet Pepsi "born?" (Hint: It has something to do with HT conferences)
-another Diet Coke drinker
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: September 08th, 2006 at 4:33 pm by Kelly
Mmmmm, berry vanilla Dr. Pepper... we can't get that in Canada, you know. I think they might have invented it after I moved up here. My first trip back to the States since I moved was a little drive to North Dakota, and I spotted this strange beast. I LOVE IT! But I have a sweet tooth that would make you furious.
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: October 02nd, 2006 at 11:39 am by dtp
Madre, Madre, Madre,
If you thnk diet coke does that, what about diet coke with lime? (the best diet drink eve) Why can't they make "diet Jolt"
Although it has been rumoured that california tap water, with all the additives is has, has more enregy potential than any cafeiine drink. But it lost its classification as a diet drink - those additives contain more calories than chocolate....
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: October 02nd, 2006 at 1:16 pm by Madre
Pastor,
As certifiable hardcore Diet Coke afficionados (afficionadi?), know, of the blessed beverage is tasty with a twist of lime - but ONLY when it is from a fountain and using an actual wedge of lime. Fountain DC is just a little bit sweet and lime adds just the right bite to it again, with a tolerable amount of fruitiness. Lemon is sweeter and is too strong of a fruity flavor, and ends up overpowering the Diet Coke. It does work if forced to drink Diet Pepsi, though I have been known to opt for iced tea in those situations.
Pre-limed Diet Coke (as in the canned or bottled variety) is a nice try to imitate that fountain cocktail, but as is the case with most imitations, falls short. Bottled/canned Diet Coke doesn't need lime, so adding it is extraneous at best already. And the lime flavor itself is artificial (I know, I know...complaining about artificial flavors in Diet Coke is just a little ironic). Unfortunately, it tastes artificial too, and not in a good way.
But being a Californian, I'm not surprised that you like your Diet Coke extra fruity. 
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: October 02nd, 2006 at 1:29 pm by dtp
LOL on the fruity, but you would have to add cashews to make it correct.
Having extensively travelled the states (back when I was in adminsitration at a major university) I found that depending on where you were, the Diet Coke was different region to region.
Diet Pepsi is much more stable, since like Coors, it is based in reclaimed waste water.
Here is california, canned or bottled diet coke has a bite to it, (due to the carbonation mix) which the lime version does not. When visting the artic (or anything in the midwest above St. Louis) they are flatter in taste. The southeast version actually seems to have a texture, as they mix the syrup 2 to 1, rather than the prescribed 4.33 to 4.375 with carbonated water.
You might like that though - more caffeine to the oz.
____________
btw old joke from the 80's
Coke-a-Cola at the time bought C&C Cola and Sprite/Mt Dew, so Pepsi went out and bought Shasta, and KFC/PizzaHut/TacoBell.
The competition was about to go beserk, as the two giants fought it out. They looked at trying to get exclusive deals with grocery stoes, quick stop shops like circlek and 7 eleven, until one day they realized they had both been trumped.
RC Cola (the best non-diet cola) had snuck in and bought the world's water rights.
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: October 02nd, 2006 at 2:15 pm by Bloghardt
There's nothing more wonderful than a sip of cold diet coke in a morning... It goes down cold and enlivens everything it touches.
I suggest that the new catecheism include this as something that should be done in the morning. First, the sign of the Cross. Then, a sip of Diet Coke...
Re: Super Human Powers!
Posted On: October 02nd, 2006 at 2:16 pm by Bloghardt
I'm sure people know that Diet Coke was "born" in Atlanta at Coke headquarters, so where was Diet Pepsi "born?" (Hint: It has something to do with HT conferences)
-another Diet Coke drinker :)
This explains how you get so much done....