I Don't Want To Grow Up

The final drops off coffee are now exiting my body. The twitching is slowing down. My stomach is settling.

Not So Bad
This week definitely had surprises. Coffee was not the demon I made it out to be. It did have negative side effects like weird pooping and some insanity, but I was surprised I did not hate the taste. I thought drinking coffee would be like taking a shot of plastic bottle vodka and not having a chaser. Coffee just tastes like coffee.

I Got Skills
Before this week I had zero skills when it came to coffee. When I had guests visiting I left them to suffer while I offered no coffee in the morning. My roommate was nice enough to teach me how to make coffee: shell the beans, roast them in the oven, grind them by hand with a mortar and pestle, then I started a fire with a flaming arrow that was shot at me by some unknown people on the Lost island and brewed a cup of coffee. That or I learned to grind the beans with an electric grinder and then brewed the coffee in a French press. I am so grown up.

Coffee Highlights From The Week
-Wearing only short shorts in the snow.
-Feeling like I was in some foreign place while waiting in Starbucks.
-Brewing coffee all by myself.
-Forgetting what training wheels are called and telling the customer the bike has "you know, um, those things... um."
-Spending more money on coffee than alcohol.
-Ruining my sleep schedule (although that could have been the Internets fault).

My Coffee Checklist
X Black
O Espresso
X Latte
X Irish Coffee
X Americano
O Iced Coffee
X Cappuccino
O Frappaccino (I attempted ordering one with soy, but Starbucks does not do that)
X Mocha (White Chocolate)
O Diner Coffee (my dreams of bottomless coffee at midnight did not come true)
O Decaf (I was never going to attempt this, decaf is for wimps)

AmericaNo More Coffee

I had coffee black, I had coffee with sugar, I had coffee with cream, I had coffee from pre-ground beans, I had coffee from fresh beans, I had drip coffee, I had espresso with water, and I have had coffee from Starbucks. I have only completed about half the types of coffee I want to try on my checklist and I am tired.

I'm Tired, Soy Tired
I got a soy latte from Starbucks and after 30 minutes I wanted to take a nap. That has been the least of my worries. The Starbucks was a block away from work, so it was easy to get to and they made the coffee for me. My days off have been troublesome. I wake up and the first thing I think about is how I am going to get coffee (not because I am craving it, but because it is my challenge). I am very lazy and often spend my days off at my apartment and do not leave until late in the afternoon or evening, and this makes going to get coffee too much of a chore. Of course, many people (or maybe just a few, because I doubt Starbucks would be on every corner if people made their own coffee) start their mornings off making a pot of coffee at home, but my previous 25 years have left me absolutely no skills with making coffee.

Maybe today is the day I become an adult and learn how to brew my own coffee.

Eh, On Second Thought Coffee Is Just Okay

The Good
-The gitters
-Being hyper
-Weird cravings like a tofu sandwich with pea soup poured inside (on second thought, that does not seem possible)
-Pretending I am on a tropical island eating fresh fruit instead of sitting in the snow drinking coffee
-PARTY PARTY PARTY my body is energized


The Bad
-Pooping (if that is what you really want to call it)
-Not knowing if I am tired or awake
-Thinking it would be a good idea to relax in the snow
-The feeling when the body's party stops

I LOVE COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!

How I have never had coffee before is beyond me. This stuff is heaven.

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE!!!! CAFFEINE!!! WOOO!!!!

At midnight, I shall join the mature citizens of the world and enjoy a nice cup of coffee.

Coffee
As I have stated before, I have never had coffee. I don't think I have even had a sip of coffee. For the next seven days, I shall be like normal people and have a cup in the morning and then maybe a few more after. Maybe finish off each night with a nightcap.

I do not have many other details. I do not know what will happen. I rarely drink soda, so the caffeine might be fun.

Ideas For Challenges

Taking every other week off from challenges is probably a good idea, but it is a little boring. I have had time to reflect and think of challenges I want to do.

Coffee
I was looking at this Timeline of a Coffee Drinker and started to think about having a cup. Having never had a sip of real coffee, it would be a good challenge to start off everyday with a full cup of the black liquid. In doing this, I might become more of a grown-up. It also could lead to a terrible unneeded addiction that will drain my pocketbook.

Karaoke
Last night I witnessed one of the greatest feats ever done by human beings. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists played a karaoke set with Andrew W.K. hosting. Karaoke is one of those strange supernatural forces. It is imitating classic music in a cheap way, yet it takes courage to perform. Andrew W.K. said, you have to let go of your dignity and just dive into it. I want to dive in and make a fool of myself (for only seven days).


[Andrew W.K. performing "Louie Louie" with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists]

Vegan
I just celebrated my fifth Thanksgiving as a vegetarian. Becoming vegetarian has been a very positive choice in my life. It was the start of doing what I want to do, no matter what the norm was. I went vegan for two years, but then got drunk and ate some cheese. Since then cheese and I have had a love/hate relationship that I am on the verge to drop. I will start with a week and see what happens.

Bring My Computer to the Coffee Shop
Mac users show off their coolness by using their computer at coffee shops. Being a new Mac user, I feel I don't get the potential out of my computer. I need to break it out of my room and get some work done in front of others. The only downside is that I have a desktop. [This idea was given to me by a friend who likes to remain anonymous, so I will just say he is good at noodling on the guitar.]

Twitter
I am a new Twitter user and am skeptical about its uses, but I think it has its useful applications. I am bad at inviting people to things, so I do most things alone. Twitter allows people to see what I am doing and jump in. Some are scared of Twitter, because they want to keep their life personal. I do not have this fear, so I will Tweet every hour of my awake hours. If there was a way to connect Twitter to my mind while sleeping, I would do it, but I will just enjoy my hours of rest in peace. Alan Dickson's Twitter Feed

Suggestions and Comments
As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.
E-mail: alan.m.dickson@gmail.com
AIM: sternmboy