• Lure of stimulants.

    Recent events have led to less than optimal sleep. In these last few, sleep deprived days, my office has had all the stimulating effect of a sharp blow to the head. In the beginning, I turned to a sugar and caffeine cocktail for relief. This magical potion can be purchased over the counter as Mountain Dew. I turned to this sugary solution only because I can’t stand the caffeinated heavy hitters: coffee and tea. These caffeinated wonders might taste good if I were a cow, accustomed to the simple culinary pleasures of the pasture, but they do nothing for my taste buds. However, since two Mountain Dews could satisfy my caloric needs for the entire day, I figured I needed something a little lighter. Diet alternatives were out. Artificial sweeteners have never quite hit the mark for me.

    And then it hit me.

    What does any self respecting, red blooded American do when the going gets tough? Why, the answer had been waiting for me all this time – just down the shelf at the pharmacy. At my disposal was pure, pharmaceutical grade caffeine. I didn’t even need a prescription! I could just take a pill and my sleep deprivation would be a thing of the past!

    And then it hit me.

    My first day on pharmaceutical caffeine was a blur, riding high on a wave of jittery energy.

    And then I hit the wall.

    The effects wore off and my energy level walked off a cliff. I fell hard. So what does someone do under these circumstances? Naturally, I stayed up late again last night. Why get enough sleep when you can just take a pill? Sure, the crash is something fearsome, but timed right it won’t come until after I return home. Then again, I could just try and go to bed earlier.

  • Unsolicited advise.

    When do you decide that you should intervene in someone else’s affairs? Do you wait until someone asks or do you offer your advise unsolicited. Does the severity of the problem or issue come into play? How about the potential impact on you? How about the potential for success? Do care if it is someone you work with? Do you advise and run, or do you follow-up? If you follow-up, then how much and how often? And when does follow-up become nagging?

    I have recently crossed that line, going from casual observer to giver of advise and cheerleader. It is a role that does not come naturally, not for someone who thought so little of himself for so long. I hope my advise has been good. I hope that I have done more good than harm.

  • Life without air.

    Human life without air does not exist. Human life in Florida without air-conditioning should not exist either. We are paying for an info-mercial bed purchased on credit. We have recently been reacquainted with the phenomenon known as car payments. Among this financial turmoil the air conditioning starts ominously blowing warm air. If people lived in Florida without air conditioning, shouldn’t I be able to survive a twenty minute car ride back and forth to work?