Ritual #1 - redux (I believe my problem is the sugar!)

I am aware...completely aware of my sugar addiction. Call me ignorant if you like, but I really love what the sugar does to my morning ritual. My need, desire, urge to get some caffeine into my system can be a bit neurotic. Please, don't start envisioning me like the crack-head druggie with the dirty hands and the constant shakes.

Isn't the raw sugar ok? (LOL)

I no longer do the white stuff; and only when I run out, do I use the brown stuff. I've tried Stevia...my coffee tastes different and I DON'T LIKE IT!

I don't want to attempt to put any of that other 'fake' stuff in either (the blue or pink packets). But when I think about it, these alternative sugars is doing the 'same' thing as ALL sugar does. It reeks havoc on our bodies.

As I try and justify my angst over my sugar problem, which is really the best? I somehow seek relief in my use of Raw Sugar. Honey....well, I DON'T LIKE IT in my coffee either! Do I keep trying to find something different or give it all up?

I hate trying something new in my cup to only find that I hate the taste. Why did I do this? I just wasted a cup of coffee! My further angst is because I really like to do it just once in the day. Making my morning coffee is not a simple process:

1) Dump out the water from yesterday and boil another batch of water.
2) Dump out the grains from yesterday and wash out my press for today.
3) Get the grinder and grind up a fresh batch of beans, place it in my press.
4) Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait!
5) I wonder how much longer until the water finishes to boil?
6) I may preoccupy myself with making the bed or cleaning up a bit.
7) The water is done...I let is sit for a bit...I pour.
8) I wait again, for the magic to happen!
9) Minutes later, I finally pour my cup of coffee.
10) Get the cream and sugar...do the scientific mixing.
11) *ouch* it's too hot to drink right away...so I let it cool down some.
12) What seems like a long time later (maybe 15-30 minutes later), I can finally enjoy my cup of coffee.

WTF? Did I just finally decipher the length of time it takes for this morning ritual? I don't care! I still love it! I still feel like I need it! I want it!

I accept my problem...I'm addicted to this. I think I have a substance dependecy issue! Oh well, ces't la vie!

Ritual #2 - Addiction to Facebook

We sometimes become slaves to the computer (as I must now to do this posting). We also have this burning desire to always "be connected" to what is happening; locally, around the world, and all the goings-on of our family and friends. I check my email daily, `cuz if I don't, it fills up really fast.

Why do I need to check my email? Well, I "may" get an order in for my business (a legit reason, I feel). I also check my personal email; so mostly just my 2 email sites.

Now...enter in Facebook! Yup, I actually avoided the MySpace craze. I felt like I just couldn't get involved since I already had a business to operate. At the time, I thought, "I'm already on the computer with my business and website updates, why would I want to stay on much longer?" Well, I joined the FB family last year. I'm now hooked. It is so easy to just start reading up on long lost friends, check in with the ones I see everyday, and peer in on theo photos of everyone.

So now, along with my 2 different emails, I now need to also check my FB status.

Challenging my addiciton:

I decided to challenge my addiction while on my vacation. I decided to enjoy my vacation and connect with the people I were with. When I went on vacation, I decided to leave my laptop at home to try and avoid the need to be connected. Although that decision was made at the very last minute, I still left it behind. I also did not want to deal with worrying about transporting concerns. Besides my cell phone, I was disconnected for 5 whole days! It felt good; even though some of my cohorts were wired with their ipod, android, htc smartphones. AGH internet access! I wavered daily at the opportunity to check my email and FB status. But thank goodness for those phones because while we got lost a few times, the access for GPS was extremely helpful.

After returning home, I avoided the internet until the next day. Unfortunately, I was on the computer for 6 hours. Deleting the junk and catching up with friends.

How can I justify it? If have a bit of time in the morning, I'll get on-line. And when I began to experience less time in my days, I just began to wake up earlier to get the work done. So who does my addiction hurt? No one. My desire to get on-line doesn't interfere with my life nor does it keep me away from anything. I do not stay up late to use the internet nor do I have a desire to search for things.

I do have the ability to turn everything off and get some well deserved rest; because even though I have the urge to use the computer, I have a stronger urge to sleep.

Ritual #1 (or Obsession #1)

I really need to have a morning coffee! Either at home or from the very first "good quality" coffee shop out in town. Of course, my coffee is the better of the two. I make it my way and I like it strong. But I am also the type of coffee drinker who likes a strong coffee with cream and sugar (I even need to for my espresso). Even more particular, raw sugar and carnation evaporated milk.




Sure, I like MY way, but if I can't have it MY way, other ways are fine; the bottom line is still, I need my morning coffee. Without it, I get very sleepy by 3pm; and this is a proven fact.


Of the many possibilities of making my morning brew, my absolute preference is a french press. I used to do the drip thing, but found that I prefer it this way. But I was never this particular either. I got hooked about 10 years ago, while working downtown and encountered the infamous coffee cart. Ok, I stopped primarily due to the cute man working the machine! So, he got me started with a latte...then a vanilla latte. As the year progressed, I couldn't handle the milk (and I just don't like soy), so I changed to an americano. Eventually, the americano was weak and I needed something stronger.

I did the drip for a while due to convenience sake...but now, I love my french press. I continue to encourage coffee drinkers to have their coffee this way too. It's a bit like a religion...and my attempts to try and convert folks to drink it my way.

The other dynamic involved with my morning ritual is the type of coffee. I once loved my 100% Kona coffee. As pricey as it is, averaging $20 for 1 pound, I could no longer afford it...and the bean was not strong enough for me. Same as the Kaua`i Peaberry or the Kona Peaberry; not strong enough. What I like is a strong Italian roast and I can also settle for an Espresso roast.

It may appear that I may be called a "coffee snob" and ok, I do have my particular desires, but why not? I can! You will never catch me drinking coffee from McDonald's, I call that battery acid. 7-11's actually sell Lion's coffee and that I'll drink if I really have to. And yes, I'll have a cup out in a restaurant. But even after all this, I still need to drink it with cream and sugar.

This love for my coffee, some can call this an addiction. I guess it is, I really do need the caffeine...the caffeine is my drug of choice. But I like to call this my ritual....