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Days without coffee: 0
Days until coffee: 0

That’s right, it’s all over. I went a total 47 days without coffee. I had my first cup at brunch after Easter mass. It wasn’t how I planned it, but who can turn down coffee? (apparently, I can) I had hoped to maybe have a french press of kona coffee, but instead, I had standard restaurant coffee. How was it? It was great, just as good as I remembered it. I had two cups, with some cream. One with the meal, one with dessert. Overall, I have to say I’m just relieved. It’s good to be back to the coffee drinking world and have things back to normal. The first cup back was good, nice and warm, rich and delicious. The taste of coffee is just as sweet as I remembered it to be. I’m not too jumpy or anything, I feel pretty normal. I think I’m talking a bit faster and a bit more alert, but nothing out of the usual (nothing you wouldn’t expect with a cup of coffee).

However, tomorrow, that will be different; tomorrow is the day of coffee craziness!

Coffee, it’s good to be back. I missed you.

or, at least the better documentation of the countdown begins. Talking with friends at work yesterday, we realized it would have been good to document (blog) the entire experience of giving up coffee. But, it’s too late for that now. I could make up stories about withdrawals, having to take naps on weekends and lower overall energy levels, but they wouldn’t compare to the live, on-the-scene reporting that could have been. alas, time to move forward! the end is almost here!

Days without coffee: 42
Days until coffee: 5

The plan: on Sunday, I’ll have a nice mug of pure Kona coffee (maybe two). Then, on Monday, I go all-out crazy for the caffeine, quatro-mocha-espressos on the hour, every hour! The caffeine revolution will be blogged.

You know . . . it’s been so long without coffee that I could almost walk away at this point — never to return to it’s warm embrace. Man, that’s crazy talk.

So, it’s now been 4 weeks without coffee. I’m actually doing ok. I didn’t have the nasty headaches that could be expected and I feel fine. However, I do long for coffee — I find myself daydreaming about the sweet, bold flavors; the warm embrace between hand and hot, cardboard cup; the energizing warmth as it goes down the throat and then direct to my mind! I could go on for longer, but then I would just make myself crazy.

Some observations about my life without coffee: much less focused in the afternoon (so easy to drift without that afternoon caffeine shot); constantly at about 90-95% alertness; taking naps (not intentionally, I just get too tired) on weekend days at around 6pm or 7pm; generally a bit less excited about waking up; finding it more necessary to get a good 8 hours sleep each night.

Coffee! I remain faithful to you in my absence! Nothing is taking your place, there are no substitutes for you and all that you mean to me! Soon, soon, we shall be together once again. We’ll get the gang back together too, maybe a donut, maybe cookies, definitely chocolate.

Only three more weeks to go!

yum!
Originally uploaded by benchristen.

Here’s a pic of the great potato salad at BCD Tofu House! So delicious!

brilliant
Originally uploaded by benchristen.

It says . . . – this really cracked me up when I saw it. So awesome. How many times have I wondered what a license plate abbreviation meant?? Not in this case! — and great cause too 🙂 (um, note the license plate holder for full effect)

rainy day – rain drops
Originally uploaded by benchristen.

Love in the form of Lychee Gel
Originally uploaded by benchristen.

This is the greatest Valentine’s Day surprise I’ve ever had. So excited! They’re in the fridge now, cooling, waiting, . . . Lychee Gel!! (as a side note, this larger size (not the choking size) are becoming widely available — hooray!)

I know that I really love KCRW when I find myself listening to the subscription drive. The majority of the subscription-week airtime is spent talking about how great the station is, talking about all the premiums, etc. and not playing great music — but still I listen! This tells me how much I depend on the station in my day-to-day existance. KCRW is easily one of my favorite things about LA, and one of the things I’ll miss most if I ever leave LA (thankfully, kcrw.com (streaming 24/7) and satellite radio will ease that pain). Twice a year they have subscription drives and my time to renew is in six months (I’ve been a member for about 3 years). I encourage everyone to subscribe! Depending on the premiums you get, how often you use your discount card (you get this when you subscribe) and especially if you win tickets you more than make up your cost of subscribing. But, that’s not what it’s about — to be truly altruistic, one wouldn’t need anything in return. (I’m working on that, being altruistic). KCRW is super-awesome.

KCRW (www.kcrw.com) – Subscribe Online!

road closed
Originally uploaded by benchristen.

we were testing out a new route back from Kirkwood Resort (south of Tahoe) that goes east and then south to LA. The easy part of the road goes into Nevada — but we thought we could cut through this mountain pass and avoid Nevada all together and have a more direct route back to LA. Thus I said, “ha! I’m too good for you Nevada!” Woe is me, and woe is anyone who thinks they’re too good for Nevada. We think Nevada is in cohorts with the mountain pass we had to cross — because is was closed! (see the pic) So, I had to eat my words and back track and go through Nevada after all. To further stuff it down my throat – Nevada decided to serve me up a tasty speeding ticket! Delicious. I’ve learned my lesson! Let’s hope this can serve as a reminder — no one is too good for Nevada.