Rebecca A. Foster

I stopped drinking Diet Coke on February 22, coinciding with Lent. (Of course, usually at the end of Lent you go back on whatever you gave up, but I'm not planning on doing that, so 'coinciding with' instead of 'for.') I know, right? I mainlined that stuff for decades, but I haven't cheated even once, which surprises me.  Now I mostly drink water and hot tea, easy to do at home or the office, but on my recent week long trip to NYC, I discovered the pleasure of Snapple Diet Peach Tea; not exactly healthy, but good flavor and not carbonated, which hits all my spots. I could pick it up everywhere and I wondered why I didn't drink it back in Utah? Then I got back to Utah and realized why: Snapple is just not available here outside of grocery stores, and even then, it was this pitiful offering: Snapple, yo, we need you out here! BTW, I'm working in my new NYC video, so much fun! Why don't I live there???

Earlier this year I was in the airport in Guangzhou, one of the manufacturing hubs of China. I met in Irish businessman who was in town setting up a business deal for a factory to produce purified ice machines, then place the machines at markets throughout China. This sounds like a great idea, right? Go to the market, buy a bag of drinkable ice on the way out. We do it in North America all the time. But...this is China. Problems I foresee with this business: 1. People here don't like icy drinks. 2. Not only do they not like them, they think they are harmful to the stomach and spleen. I had a cold, bought some chilled (not cold!) bottled water, and a student was so adamant I should not be drinking cool water if I'm sick, I had to put it in my bag and drink it after she left. 3. Cold water here is generally full of bacteria and metals. There's a reason why boiled water is served everywhere: it's clean. According to custom, you don't take cold water from people...

1. I thought I liked playing video games, but it turns out I just like thinking about playing video games. 2. Now when I see pictures of tan people on the internet, I think "Oh, what is she doing to her skin?!" 3. These days, if I had to choose between making out with a really hot guy and eating a big juicy hamburger, I'd probably eat the hamburger. Or at least, eat it first.* 4. I've stopped giving unsolicited advice. I'm an oldest child, it's hard to stop. But it's liberating, too. I'm not responsible that everything works out for you? Okay! 5. I keep asking people to send me Velveeta cheese, and I think they think I'm joking because no one sends me any**, but seriously: I want Velveeta cheese. I know it's gross. Don't judge. 6. I had a dream Alec Baldwin was hitting on me. Actually, I don't know if it was Alex Baldwin or Jack Donaghey, but still: brain, what's up with that? That's the best you could do? 7. I like Diet Coke be...

'Diet Coke' in Mandarin roughly translates as 'Healthy Happy, Delicious Can Make You Happy.'  Nice work, translator/PR/Marketing people!  I totally agree. 'Diet Pepsi' translates as 'Light Happy, 100 Things Make You Happy.' Eh, not as clever, in my opinion. And I don't like Pepsi, so there's that. This is an old picture. It is currently almost impossible to find Diet Coke in my city. The store that carried it is now stocking Mountain Dew (new in Mainland China) in its place. Mountain Dew instead of Diet Coke? *cries*

1. Cleaning Supplies 2. OPI nail polish colors 3. Stationery 4. Paper of all kinds 5. New socks 6. Diet Coke 7. Texts (picture and word) 8. Hot baths 9. Cardigans 10. Holding hands

This is one way cold drinks are stored in Texas gas stations. These troughs are usually full of beer, but also a few sodas for the kidlets/non-drinkers. I am always tempted to sneak a piece of ice to suck on; gross, I know, but when it's 100+ degrees for weeks on end, you don't pass up ice when you see it. This post should also explain why hockey is not popular in South Texas. Ice? Ice is what keeps the beer cold. End of story.

I can't pinpoint the exact moment bed linens became something I daydream about, but this display at Restoration Hardware made me want to slide right in for a long, luxurious nap. My own bed is already pretty great, but little visions of super soft sheets and cloud-like duvets to curl up in is never a bad thing. (As long as I'm dreaming, cold Diet Coke on the side table and a handsome (to me) man on the next pillow too, please.) Blue/Chocolate Duvet, Restoration Hardware, $419

There are a few things I like a little too much for my own good: Diet Coke, Ambien, men, and luggage. Or travel bags, as I like to call them. Because unlike a set of matched luggage (ick, btw) you can never have too many travel bags. Here are three I love: 1. My North Face messengery-type bag. I got it because it had flowers on it, a bit cuter than the utilitarian styles, but not so cute it looks like I wear a fanny-pack too. (In general, it's important that things be cute, but not too cute. I err on the side of not-cute.) It has a couple of zippered outer compartments, very good for not getting pick-pocketed, as well as interior mesh pockets and more zippered compartments in logical and helpful places. My favorite thing is that the front flap closes with magnets, so no tearing velcro or snapping sounds when you open it in public. I use this one all the time. 2. 27-inch wheeled backpack. The best feature of this bag is the removable mini-backpack on the front, which turns into an...

The term 'Cafe Diem': Caffeinate the Day. Usage: "We need to Cafe Diem, let's go get a cold Diet Coke." (Disclaimer: I like caffeine so much I think it should be sold as a spice and you can just sprinkle it on your food. Because quite frankly, sometimes I don't want to drink (i.e. pee) any more that day. Think: car and plane trips. The current delivery system leaves a lot to be desired.)

I have very few vices. Diet Coke is always at the top of the list. (Current #2? Ambien. Current #3? Jim/Pam videos on YouTube.) Six things I believe about Diet Coke: 1. From the fountain tastes better than in the can, which tastes better than in the bottle. 2. Best tasting fountain: Holiday Oil on Highland Drive and 39th (SLC), Valero on San Pedro and Basse (San Antonio). 3. The flavored versions lose their fizz too quickly. Weak. And the Cherry tastes like cough syrup. 4. There is no point to Caffeine Free, except that my little niece Meg loves it. An early adopter. 5. Winger's makes an excellent Vanilla Diet Coke. They get the ratio just right. 6. Diet Coke (Coke Light in Mexico) is sweeter everywhere else in the world I've been. And extremely plentiful in Thailand; not so much in Quebec (where Pepsi is the drink of choice). Amount of Diet Coke I can drink before I get caffeine shakes: About 144 oz. Top Four Memorable Diet Coke Experiences: 1. Seth walking me to the bathtroom...