Everybody has their vice.  I struggle with one more than others….Mountain Dew.  Yes, I enjoy getting all jacked up on Mt. Dew.  Haaa!  Not the vice that you would think. 

      Growing up, I didn’t drink much pop.  Just on occasional one here or there.  Unless, I had a stomach issue.  At that point, Mom would break out the 7 UP.   I’ve never had the jones for a Dr. Pepper, unlike others in my immediate family.  In college, I drank some Pepsi.  Later in life, a vanilla coke.  And then, early one morning, I hit up a Mountain Dew.  And not just any Mt. Dew.  It needs to be Dew from the fountain with about a 3/8 of a cup edible ice.  Yes, ice small enough that I can eat it.  I don’t care for it out of a can or a bottle.  It just isn’t the same.  And yes, some quick stops have their fountains set on a little bit stronger mix.  Across the state, I know which ones to stop at.  

      I only imbibe on this addiction, early in the morning.  Normally about 6:30.  Never after 10 am.  And I only want one per day.  And actually, I only have 2 or 3 per week.  If you have one every day, the taste isn’t as crisp and the caffeine/sugar rush isn’t as stout.  If I go a week and then have one, I can literally feel my eyes dilate and the capillaries swell up a bit.  Stock shows is when I crave a Mountain Dew the most.

     In March of ’19, I dislocated a hip.  I was told to abstain from caffeine.  Which I did.  I quit drinking gallons of iced tea per day.  Quit the dew.  Drinking coffee has never been a thing for me, so that wasn’t hard to stay away from.  The 2 years of ONLY having 3 Mt. Dews was hard.  

       Then, last spring, on a judging trip, I spied a slushee machine that had a Mountain Dew flavor.  Well, that would be okay.  Oh!  It was so good.  

       Then, there was another quick stop with a Dew slushee.  So good.  Now, I know where to stop to get a Mountain Dew slushee.  Except it is amazing at how often the Dew slushee is NOT ready to serve.  What in the hell?  I don’t want the other flavors that have a green light.  

      Anyways, the Mountain Dew slushees have turned into a gateway drug for me.  It led me right back to the fountain.  Oohh!!  The rush!   And after several months of getting jacked on the Dew, I now realize that I have to monitor myself.  

      You want to know something that I can live without?  Do ya?  I will tell you.  DOE goats.  I don’t miss them.  No addiction problems there.  

      It’s Friday.  Have a good one and a stellar weekend.