Seems like the past 100 weekends have gone by in such a blur of racing and running and not being home. I didn’t realize how much my nose had been in the roses and not to the grindstone until Friday, when I looked - REALLY LOOKED - at my house.
It looked like a laundromat had exploded in here. I could have carved my name in the dust on the furniture, and if I kicked a path, I might have been able to shove some things to the side in order to sit on the sofa - or what’s left of it - to watch TV through the gray haze that surely would defy Windex. Something had to give.
But…I was so tired. At work on Thursday, I was almost comatose. Friday was a little better, but still felt like I was slogging through cold molasses, and this house could not wait another minute. I half-expected the county to come in and condemn it!
So what’s a girl to do?
Well, one thing she does is keep her ears open at the smoking area at the hospital. You would be surprised at the things you hear there. Delta was muttering something about Red Bull - heck, knowing how she loves it, I thought it was a beer until she said, “I drank two of those and didn’t close my eyes for three days! I’ll only drink one, this time, to be on the safe side. Got to get the grass mowed, ya know.”
And so I asked her…”What is this thing called Red Bull?”
“An energy drink!”
Ah, yeah, energy drinks. Chock full of caffeine? No thanks. When my heart goes pitter-patter for hours, I would rather it be precipitated by a good looking guy, rather than induced by a drug. But Delta assured me her heart did not palpitate once during her three days of wakefulness.
By Saturday morning, I was desperate. I could not dredge up enough energy to pour coffee, and that wasn’t worth a flip for what I needed, anyway. Lo and behold, I opened my refrigerator and inside was a 4-pack of some kind of energy drink - not Red Bull, but it would do.
“Son!” I said. “Are these yours?”
“Yep. You can have one, if you want.”
I didn’t want, but need overcame my lack of desire. I chugged what probably amounted to four ounces. ICK! Held my nose and chugged some more. Sat down at the computer to play Bingo while more dust accumulated, everywhere. It was probably ten minutes later when I had to STAND UP and MOVE.
Here’s what the Energy Drink helped me do:
Went to the grocery store, bought a ton of fruits and veggies. Came home, washed 40 loads of clothes. Chopped all the veggies and put in containers. Washed all dishes. Dusted. Made the bed. Cleaned bedroom. Washed the television screen. Swept. Mopped. Stopped short of washing windows. Didn’t want a clear view of the yard. Cooked. Folded clothes. Ironed clothes and put away. Washed the dog. Turned cartwheels (just kidding). And when all that was done, around 7:00, I decided it was time to wash ME and so I took a shower, cleaned the bathroom, and for some mysterious reason, put on makeup and did my hair.
So…just what is in the energy drinks? A little research (read the side of the can) revealed that energy drinks contain B-complex vitamins, glucuronolactone, which is a naturally occuring chemical compound produced by the metabolism of glucose in the human liver, and taurine, an aminoethanesulfonic acid. Oh, and around 80 mg of caffeine. And a lot of sugar - although you can buy low carb ones.
My opinion is, it’s speed in a can. I might invest in a 4-pack for those emergency weekends when slogging through cold molasses is not an option. I was skeptical at first, but this stuff has made a true believer out of me.
Ah, salvation.