Category: General

I decided to indulge a whim and I had my first can of Red Bull the other day.

I was not impressed. I got a very tiny can for my $2.50. Inside was something that tasted like a melted carbonated lollipop.

The first ingredients ( the most voluminous ) after water were several kinds of sweetener. Then caffiene. Then a ridiculously tiny amount of B vitamins and an amino acid. The tiny can, about the size of the cans of apple juice served at continental breakfasts in hotels, weighed in at about 100 calories for 80 mg of caffiene.

You can get as much caffiene from a strong cup of regular coffee, an average cup of espresso or a few cups of homemade iced tea. All of which are far cheaper, better tasting and at least have some redeeming health value. Particularly if you make a large thermos of iced green tea on your own.

A few years ago an acquaintance of mine inspired me to go to the Red Cross and donate some blood. I kept up with it on a regular schedule — very easy to do as the Red Cross never lets you go.

I am proud to say that as of this past Friday I have passed the mark of having donated one gallon of blood.

In retrospect, I’m glad I got into it. It is only an hour every 2 – 3 months and costs nothing. A very easy way to do something positive and give back. Plus I get free orange juice and pretzels 🙂

A friend with an exotic name.

A friend with an exotic sense of humor.

The power of suggestion.

All of these combined led me to have some Orangina for the first time since the early 1980s.

It was nice, but in the end, it was just a whim and orange soda ( very little juice, several types of sweetener including HFCS were the first ingredients ).