Sure, urban legends are fun, but try re-enacting
the one that says "Mikey" from the old Life cereal commercials
died after consuming Pop Rocks and Pepsi at the same time, and all you'll
be left with is a lazy tongue.
Early Monday morning, Sir Snackalot surprised Kid Nougat and me, Paddy O' Poppycock, with three bags of the legendary Pop Rocks. As our eyes began to bulge, Snackalot announced proudly, "It's time to take the Pepsi Challenge!"
Hours later the three of us were upstairs in WASAW's dining area, Pepsi cans in one hand, an open packet of Pop Rocks in the other. We knew that Mikey really hadn't met his maker due to this stunt, but we figured that this combo must be worthy of some excitement to have been the subject of such a hoax. We were wrong.
All three of us experienced disappointing results. Basically, we tossed the bag of Pop Rocks into our mouths first, began to feel the tingle of the popping candy on our tongues, and then quickly gulped down a large portion of the Pepsi.
It was like dropping a match into a toilet. The popping subsided, and Snackalot and I were left with a sugar rush like we hadn't experienced since we were young teens. Kid Nougat, though, wasn't hit by the sugar for another hour. Just in time for his 3:30 meeting, where he reported "bouncing off the walls" for the duration of the get-together.
The only interesting result to come of this experiment was that after finally swallowing the last of the pop rocks, the remainder of our Pepsi tasted like diet Tab. Our tongues had been desensitized. Which, come to think of it, may have been the origins of this urban legend. Because when your tongue can't distinguish between a can of Pepsi and a can of motor oil, you can eat -- and like -- anything. Just ask Mikey.
Kid Nougat's comments on the Pepsi Challenge experience...
When Sir Snackalot proposed the challenge, I must admit, I was scared.
I had a Shirley Temple once in a bar and almost passed out - this Pop
Rocks/Pepsi thing could kill me! As Kid Nougat, I'm unsurpassed in my
chewiness expertise, but this carbonation/urban legend thing... Was I
in over my head? Would I go belly-up after bubbling up the explosive black
cherry confection? I almost peed my new GAP boxers. To my relief, it
was all hype. The next time you have hiccups, lick a sugar cube. It's
the same thing. I DID have a delayed reaction, though. During a late-afternoon
meeting, I referred to my supervisor as "Mommy."
Sir Snackalot's comments on the Pepsi Challenge experience...
I feel like I've climbed Mt. Everest and have discovered Nirvana. I live
fearlessly now and this one event has significantly changed my life forever.
Since I discovered the spirtual Mecca I have uncovered the truth on Mikey
and this wisdom I share: Mikey was a punk and died not because of the manly
mixture of Pop Rocks and Pepsi, but because he was shooting heroin and
snorting coke.* Obviously there are many similarities
between Pepsi and heroin and Pop Rocks and coke. All are dangerous if done
in excess. But isn't it obvious that had he been snorting Pepsi instead
of coke, Mikey would be here today to tell us all it's just an urban legand?
I have no regrets and, if I could do it all over again, I would. I'd press
the limits and slam not 1 but 10 packs of Pop Rocks and beer bong a 2 liter
bottle of Pepsi while bungy jumping from a helicopter into an alligator
infested swamp. My life is now free of inhibitions, may your life let you
experience the same feelings as you let your snacking adventures take you
to a higher plane. Snack On!
*Exaggerated for comic effect. Mikey is still alive and well. We think.