You're a Mean One, Medaglia Doro

Only three days into the semester and I am tired. Barely past Syllabus Day and the name game and the establishment of the color coding system and I am up till midnight, awake at 6am and living hour-to-hour.

Although I shouldn't be, I am startled to find how quickly I have dropped back into prioritizing tasks based on energy level rather than availability of time. Not tonight, I think, but I'll put that on tomorrow's list. And then tomorrow becomes today, but today doesn't have enough energy to spare so it's pushed to a brighter tomorrow, and so on and so forth and that's how the road to hell is paved.

Only three days into the semester and already I'm rationing out my caffeine. Morning, afternoon, evening. I'm not addicted, just efficient. And I have no qualms about fueling this degree with caffeine.

Today's prescribed intake got a new twist on an old trick. Instant! Now, I must admit I am lacking in the instant coffee experience. But since the office's "coffee" barely passes as such, I'm exploring other non-pocketbook-breaking options to support my habit.

Voila!

How delightful! It's pocket-sized, it's practically real coffee, it's cheap, it's portable, it's strength variable. I was so pleased with myself for thinking of instant coffee to solve my Office Coffee Woes.

But a word to the wise: don't be cocky with this little jar of cute. Don't assume that since it's not really coffee it won't have the same caffeine content. And, please, don't add two (or maybe three) tablespoons when the directions clearly state one. If you do, your eyeballs will buzz. And that just won't do.

I haven't yet landed on the right instant-to-water-to-cream-to-sugar ratio. Updates to follow. The little jar of cute recommended lemon twists...which aren't readily available at the office, but thanks for the hot tip.

In other news: it continues to be cold. Freeze-the-snot-in-your-nose cold. It's the kind of cold that wipes away resolve. For example, it being nothing other than too damn cold was excuse enough to put off grocery shopping for two nights, even though the cat and I were both down to crumbs. 

I'm not kidding about the snot. Ten seconds outside and your once warm sinus tissue is suddenly frozen stiff and it's more comfortable to breathe through your mouth.