I've seen some real head-scratchers in my life when it comes to where some businesses choose to locate or choose to partner with. For instance, on Far Hills Avenue in Kettering, Ohio, there is a Chase Bank branch tucked into the same building as a florist. They even share an entrance. Go left, make a deposit, go right, pick up some flowers. Doesn't really make sense, but oh well.
This isn't really a "business location" per se but for decades my grandma belonged to a weight loss group. They would weigh-in once a week and then....go out to eat after each meeting. Usually at the nearby all you-could-eat buffet. Just seemed like that may have taken the edge off their mission a bit.
This business caught my eye the other day at the corner of State Route 725 and 741 in a Dayton suburb . I'm a convenience store connoisseur from all of my time on the road. For years there has been a dumpy gas station on that corner, a very, very high traffic corner. I perked up a month or so ago when I noticed construction being done on the tiny building there, I thought that corner would finally get a good convenience store. Um...no, it's a mattress store and gas station combo. Huh??? Maybe it's just me but isn't a mattress something you put a lot of thought into first? You aren't just filling up your gas tank and then suddenly thinking "gee, we really need a new mattress, I'll grab one and a soda inside."
Can anyone explain the logic of putting a mattress depot inside a gas station??
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Speaking of grabbing a soda, I grab a soda way too frequently. Coke - cold cans of Coke - are my vice. It's cheap, it's cold, it's comforting but I know it has to be like downing poison. I certainly wouldn't recommend my own daughter drink the stuff, but I have never found anything to replace it that does the same thing that Coke does. Yes, ice water - cold, refreshing ice water - is free, refreshing and is definitely underrated, but it doesn't have the same comfort factor as Coke. A slice of pizza and glass of ice water just doesn't do it. Rachel's family has turned me into a bit of an iced tea fan, but I drink it sweetened which seems just as bad as soda. I don't drink coffee and I feel like most of the world guzzles mugs of java most mornings, so is my Coke habit really any different?
Coke is my "goldilocks soda", Pepsi's taste just misses the mark...Mountain Dew and others are too sweet, but Coke...pure bliss....And RC is underrated, in my opinion. So has anyone kicked the soda habit? And if so, did you feel better? Lose weight? No difference? It's like anything you have to want to do it, and I don't know that I want to do it...yet I know it's not a great thing to consume....
steve
Kevin, I know what you mean! I am also a major Coke lover, but recently have been introduced to flavored waters that taste really good. I highly recommend the "ICE" brand of flavored water, as well as "Vitamin Water" pure zero. My favorites are Orange Mango and Rise. I occasionally have a coke when I have pizza or a good cheeseburger. I have to admit that I do feel much better ingesting less sugar and I have dropped a fair amount of weight. I don't think that I will ever be able to totally give up Coke and this is working for me. Seems to follow the age-old advice of everything in moderation. Like you, I believe RC is underrated and I like to have one of these on occasion too.
Kevin
Steve, thanks for that...that gives me some hope...I hate the idea of just totally getting rid of Coke from my life, but if I could contain it to special occasions and weekends I bet I'd take off some needed pounds! I will try the ICE! - kevin
steve
Kevin, I know what you mean! I am also a major Coke lover, but recently have been introduced to flavored waters that taste really good. I highly recommend the "ICE" brand of flavored water, as well as "Vitamin Water" pure zero. My favorites are Orange Mango and Rise. I occasionally have a coke when I have pizza or a good cheeseburger. I have to admit that I do feel much better ingesting less sugar and I have dropped a fair amount of weight. I don't think that I will ever be able to totally give up Coke and this is working for me. Seems to follow the age-old advice of everything in moderation. Like you, I believe RC is underrated and I like to have one of these on occasion too.
Carol Morris
I used to have a can in the fridge all the time, stop and take a drink every little bit. I changed to flavored water because dr said no more caffein. I lost weight and now Coke tastes too sweet and too bubbly. So glad I kicked the habit
Carol Crowe Phillips
Nearly two years ago, I decided that if Paula Deen could lose weight in a measly six months then I could,too. I cut my calorie intake to the lowest possible safe level every other day, allowed myself a few hundred more on the alternate days and left room every day for some little treats (i.e. a Hershey's kiss and a little chocolate ice cream). I also cut out all Cokes and drank tea only when we ate out or had a special dinner. The rest of the time I drank water and milk. I exercised at least five days a week about an hour a day. I lost just over 30 pounds. Then about eight months ago, I got a craving for a drink with 'flavor'. So I gradually let Cokes slip back in...but I still limit them to only supper and only a glass or two. Technically, I drink Dr. Pepper mostly but here in the South, it's all Coke. Over this past winter I did gain back a bit of weight (6-7 pounds) but I let my exercise slide and around the holidays I ate more than I should have so I don't blame the Coke entirely. As for being bad for you, sugar is in so many foods now, I think the only way any of us are going to get away from it enough to make a big difference is to make all of our own food from scratch and I'm not sure how doable that is for most of us.I think the worst thing about the Cokes is the caffeine and toxic chemicals. I have joked for decades...if you can use it to clean battery acid from your battery cables, think what it does in your body.... I wish you luck in trying to tame the Coke monster!!!
Kentucky Lady 717
After what Carol just said about the coke will clean battery acid from your battery cables....why in the world would you want to put something that strong in your stomach ? Take a few minutes and think about it Kevin......
Coke & Pepsi both are so bad for you, as well as ALL other soda drinks....too many to mention, but I'm sure you know them all....I also used to take a pepsi to drink at work 5 days a week, and drink one if I went out to lunch or dinner, and on the week-ends.....but you listen to all the Dr's saying how bad they are for you.....(especially Dr. Oz) and that's enough to scare you enough to quit drinking them.....now would be the time to quit and drink more water, and teach Aster that water is good for her, so she will prefer that to the awful sugar soda's....If you don't buy them and keep them around the house, she can't drink them....so ok if you go out for pizza, have a coke.....but not everyday......and for sure several a day.....no one liked their Pepsi's more than I did.....and I just quit drinking any kind of soda's, that will be 2 yrs, in July.....and I don't even miss it.....I may have drunk a little pop once since, not sure.....I have about 3 cans of Pepsi in the back of my fridge, has been there all this time, and not even once did I want to drink it.....if you go online and research how bad this stuff is for you.....it may change your mind.....yes I also lost several pounds...., but you will be doing your kidneys a favor too.....just go cold turkey, stop buying it, you will be surprised how much money you can save.....I think an 8 pk. of cokes or pepsi is about $4.00, and I am sure if you just buy one when you want it, you must pay at least a dollar a can, probably more, so just make up your mind to stop drinking cokes, etc and drink water...so much more healthier for you and you will be doing Aster a big favor too......it kills me to see parents giving their kids pop, that can't even walk......of course they will like it, it's sweet.....don't give it to them in the first place and they won't even want it.......wish someone had told me this much earlier or the Dr's had put out the info they are now..... BTW, we just went out for pizza, my daughter, son-in-law and my granddaughter 12, and guess what we drunk with the pizza ? Water of course, and we get water with dinner too.....or milk ......so be good to your self and better to Aster and just stop drinking soda or pop as some call it......you will be much more healthier and feel better too...........just sayin........so now go have a glass of water, you don't need to be buying flavored water, just add your own fruit and make your own...all kind of recipes for that too online......
Kris
We haven't had pop in the house in years. I take a 16 oz. glass and fill it with 1/4 cup of juice and the rest water - as I'm not too much on plain water. The juice is just enough to mask the "plain water" taste. Don't miss the soda at all.