My Sweet Addiction

October 10, 2014
Day 163

A few weeks ago, Andy finally got me to quit diet soda and artificial sweeteners.  It'd been his goal for quite some time, and he's now succeeded.  My return to real sugar is much like a return to Jesus: as much as artificiality worked for a time, I'm happy to let sugar back into my life.

As a writer, I'm tempted to go on a riff now about how much I enjoy sweet people and sweet things too, but rather than cause my readers to yawn with non-excitement, I think I'll just stick to the facts: I have a major sweet tooth, so baby, bring on the sugar--all of it!

Chocolate chip cookies, brownies, ice cream, Halloween candy, even extra sugar in my coffee: I love it all!!!  And I want it all!!!  All the time!!!

Does that make me addicted?  Just because I neeeeeeeeeeed it so badly?

Okay, maybe.  Or, you know, probably.  But it's an addiction I'm managing!  Weight loss goals being as they are, I don't indulge often, pretty rarely actually, and I use just two packets of sugar in my coffee now, which trust me is a huge departure from the two packets of sweet and low or equal I previously used.  No more diet soda, so I don't let artificial sweeteners in my body that way either.

So yes, I may have a slight, tiny, insignificant little sugar addiction, but I'm managing it.  I'm not the type to claim Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but I'm happy to let sugar back into my life as my poured in flavor.  And honestly?  I think Jesus would be happy for me!  He might even join me for a cup of coffee some time.  Or maybe tea?  Oprah Chai for two, please!

Coffee is divine

June 14, 2014.          Day 45/365

Someone at my day job this past week was writing copy for a French press.  He didn't know much about coffee as he's not a drinker himself, so he asked me for my thoughts.

Unfortunately, we quickly learned I'd be of little use to him, as I like my coffee quick and simple, not pressed and... French. 

I was, however, the first person he thought of when the topic of coffee came up, so my reputation as an appreciator of this divine drink very happily precedes me!

I got into coffee somewhere in my late high school years, and drank it mostly while shooting pool with my friend Lex.  We always enjoyed betting on our games of pool, and though 50 cents or a dollar was our average when we bet with money, more often than not we just bought the other one a free cup of coffee.  That was Lex's idea, and he beat me more often than not.  If you ever meet Lex, you'll see he's already had enough caffeine to keep him awake until the year 2346, with no small help from me!

In college, I'd often write down cool phrases I heard from teachers, fellow monks, and fellow students, and one phrase I always loved was, "Coffee is divine," spoken by my fellow Philosophy classmate at Manhattan College, Terence Houlihan.  Equating coffee with Heaven is just the perfect analogy, as it really does make you feel so good inside and out!  And if you don't believe coffee is a gift from Heaven, might I politely remind you, God did make the Earth and all its pretty coffee beans.  So uh, yeah.  I have my answer!

(I just reached out to Terence after writing most of this little reflection.  Haven't spoken to him since 1997, so I hope he remembers me.  Though I'd bet as a fellow coffee drinker, he will.  If I hear back from him, I'll update you in a later entry.) 

I'm enjoying my first cup of coffee right now on Saturday morning as I write this.  I actually tend to drink less coffee on the weekends, probably because with each sip at work, I'm melting away the stress of the job.  At home, each sip is accompanied by the chirping of birds out my window, a soft summer breeze, and the reminder that work is no where to be seen until Monday rolls 'round again.  So on the weekends, my coffee is less a needy measure, and more a greedy pleasure. 

Anyway, drink up, lads and lasses!  Have a cup of liquid Heaven, or whatever else you choose to call it.  Tea is fine, but coffee is divine!