What are you drinkin?

For some reason while waiting for breakfast to arrive, the word "pop" raced across my mind. Now I was sitting in Indiana where I remember at some time in the past, someone asked me to pick up "pop"; but they meant "diet coke". If you have read any amount of my stuff, you will know that I am one of those people who try to use words that mean what they mean. In this day when that concept has been tossed aside, I find myself at odds quite a lot of the time. (That means "often".) I had just last week lamented while reading a scientific article how the piece would have been much more clear if they had paid attention to the words they used. (I need to take a disclaimer here). I do know that I am not an English Scholar and most likely use many words incorrectly, but I'm tryin..
I have probably written before about one of my major pet peeves, "Worsened"... I didn't like it before it became an accepted word and I still don't. Now I hear it on world wide newscasts. I believe the more descriptive and correct term would be "became more severe".... In my protest, I often say  it became "worser"... Funny  thing is that as I write this, even my spell checker accepts worsened.... It's a conspiracy I tell you. Well, I have now taken you down another one of my classic rabbit trails; where was I?
So my introduction to the Hoosier pop meaning coke in this case, while in Illinois it is soda, in the 40s and 50s "soda pop" and in the south according to Jerry Clower; (here's a link for those who don't know Jerry although this story isn't the one to which I refer.,) Jerry Clower utube Jerry talks about Marcell who had been cuttin pulpwood yelled through the screen door at the station: "Hand me one of them knee high sody waters"  so here is yet another name for the beverage. Did you actually follow that? You ARE good!  As I find quite often; when I went searching for definitions, I found that I didn't really need to finish this post because it has already been done by many. However, I persist too much anyway, so I'll give you those links for a better understanding: It appears that "pop" is more of a British term and considered "old fashioned" in the USA POP , while "Soda" may be more "up to date" (as incorrect as it may be) You will see that the correct term is actually "soft drink" in deference to "hard drinks" which are alcoholic. SODA. I, however, must disagree with "hard drinks" being necessarily alcoholic. The advertisers (another group of low lifes in my book) have successfully convinced our youth (I am now 70) that energy comes in a little can or bottle. I will try to keep this short, but what a scam. Every time I see a commercial of some big hunk taking that little red and yellow, black and blue (those colors should tell you something)  in their fingertips, I picture my little sister at her little red and white table and chairs having a tea party with her dolls and picking up that tiny cup in her fingertips. (another trail). I know that I am also not a physiology major, but my goodness what are these people thinking? There are those who can't function until  they have drugged themselves with caffeine to start their day. Maybe so, but after you have worn your body and mind to a frazzle, the thought of downing some concoction to "give you energy" to make it through the rest of the day???? I can see those poor little adrenal glands gasping as the chemicals wring out the last drop. Anyone who has been with a 2-4 year old after a "sugar high" knows that effect. Is that the way we want our minds to function while trying to finish a task??? Now we have a generation becoming (becoming?) hooked on energy. Go out to the bar and order up a pitcher of vodka and Red Bull???? And be responsible for what happens? I don't think so. A few months ago I witnessed an 8 year old boy begging his mom for money so he could go to the station to get an energy drink?????? I bout tossed my cookies. I'll let that one drop; I think you get that message.
Well one more rant about stimulants. TV and Radio. Probably my age, but I am really sick of the idea that to make the broadcast "interesting" they feel they must play that driving "music" in the background. From "reality" shows to even olympic trials there is hype, hype, hype... with that background noise to keep you "up".... While watching Michael Phelps dominate again I found myself edging nearly off the couch til we turned on the mute for some reason and actually settled back in my seat. No wonder people feel they need energy; the TV (and radio too) just draws the energy from you. Noise, noise Here is one definition of the word; Notice that even on the website, there is "visual noise".... what to do???? NOISE DEFINED

Now that I have laid everyone else low regarding the drink of choice, I must confess that if you see me around, you will find me with my trusty gaudy Bubba Keg full of unsweetened tea... Not necessarily iced tea, but it is tea. I must try the decaf version to see if I too am hooked on the stimulant. OK OK, I know; why not water????) You're absolutely correct. (Notice I said correct, not right; in my business "right" has another meaning relative to "left". But in the other context I would be "left" out if I were "wrong". LOL; Which is another issue; when we started texting, I was sending LOL meaning Lots of Love.... Boy did I ruffle some feathers with that mistake.
 Another trip back to the stimulants; when I got my CPAP, I found that the best stimulant was SLEEP. Not too much, but enough to allow the body to replenish for the next day. I have now confused myself and lost about 3 trains of thought that came up and went during this posting. I'll leave you with some images to ponder.