Corner of Bourbon & Division

This entry will likely end up a bit disjointed. Apologies in advance.

There are over 20 slots left to fill up for my tell me what to write about in June meme. Feel free to pick one or more dates and give me topics! :)

I realised I haven't talked about all those things I started over the last few months and promised I would keep you posted on (even if you're not interested! Muahaha! Ahem.). So, in no particular order:

( Caffeine )

( The Mystery Tired )

( Nutrition and Exercise )

( The Great No-Shampoo Experiment )

And that's it for now. Stay tuned for more thrilling instalments.

I don't have a coffee icon, but I suppose that's all to the good, since I decided last week to quit caffeine. I stopped after my last night shift, and by Thursday morning I was utterly miserable. Caffeine withdrawal is a bitch, and this time was worse than the last time I stopped, back in 2009 if memory serves. Not only was there the headache of migraine proportions, but the whole process made me violently sick to my stomach. I had to take two naps during the day just to remain even remotely functional.

This did lead indirectly to one of my more amusing interactions of late. I stopped by a pharmacy Thursday night to snag a tiny travel bottle of Pepto bismol and some ginger ale, and waited patiently while the clerk bantered with his store manager as they were tidying up behind the counter. The clerk almost immediately noticed the pin I wear on my coat, which reads "Engage in conversation at your own risk."

Clerk: *laughing* "That must come in useful."

Me: "Yep. Especially in the metro."

Clerk: "The metro?"

Me: *nodding* "Uh-huh. That way if some asshole tries to bug me, he can't say he wasn't warned when I tell him to fuck off."

Clerk: *starts giggling helplessly* "That's a good one!"

Store Manager (also a man): "Guys in the metro, man. That shit happens all the time, am I right? Douchebags."

Me: "Tell me about it."

Clerk: *now laughing too hard to participate in the conversation* "Fuck off. That's a good one!"


He was still giggling when I left the store. It was nice to know I'd brightened someone's day, at least.


Alas, that was one of the few upsides to quitting caffeine that day. The rest was pretty awful. In the interim, after several days of no coffee at all, I switched to decaf at work, just to give me something warm to drink during my shifts. The plan is to stop that as well eventually, though I'm going to have to find some sort of replacement warm beverage for it.

The horrible withdrawal only lasted about a day. By the time I was ready for work I was mostly back to myself, though feeling considerably less energetic. Given that I live in a state of what feels like perpetual exhaustion (though it's possible that's my imagination, since I'm waiting for test results that might tell me I'm a whining malingerer), that's saying something.

I am vexed that there was no instant gratification, but not surprised. I'm just hoping this all pays off eventually. I can't be certain, but I think the quality of my sleep has already improved somewhat. I've been waking up less during the night than was my wont, but given that I've had an especially tough few weeks, it's hard to say if the sounder sleep is due to exhaustion or to no longer consuming as much caffeine as before, or a combination of both, or something else. Or maybe I just imagined that I'm getting better sleep. Like I said, it's hard to say.

I know you're all riveted, so I'll keep you posted.