I ended up getting a half-caf cappuccino shorty after posting yesterday and my headache went away in 3o minutes.

I know I have always been caffeine sensitive, but only in that it would push my usual sleep time back an hour if I drank it in the afternoon.  However,  these withdrawal headaches probably came to be because not only had I been drinking two strong cups every day for the last couple of weeks, but also there were a couple of days where I had three. On those days I knew I had drank too much.   I think I'll probably revert back to 'only on the weekends' for a while, and then gently up the dose to a 8 ounces a day once I hit Austin. I ought to find a good decaf, since most of the time its the delicious bitterness I want, not the pep.But i have been chasing drip perfection for so long, I can't stand compromise.  Then again, I am half set on using Austin to get into the mythical BSOML (Best Shape of oh nevermind), so maybe I will ditch the caffeine and go full-on zone.  Who knows.


Congratulations are in order to Trent and Patsy, for having a beautiful baby Girl. I need to  heed my own admonishments, and spend more time with friends like these.
Speaking of Trent and Being busy:   Work has me teaching a Bookcamp, and as I was preparing I got to thinking about great consultants. And though I suspect he has weaknesses, I have never found Trent's.

Also, congratulations to Mike G for qualifying for the crossfit games after all (insert Backdoor joke here, or the  go-to "sliding into cougar's spot" quote).
The combination of events looked particularly grueling.

My own training is dogedly surviving new york: Last week I Pulled 475lbs 5 times and could have done more, except I was playing around with this new concept called responsibility. Today I pulled 450 once, quite easily, and 475 once uglywise, because I responsibility is for grumps (If you can't lift the horsepower of your muscle-car, you have too much car, trent).   The Cabin has a Medicine ball, jump rope and Olympic rings, so last weekend I did 5 rounds of 20 doublunders, wallballs, ring-pullups, and pushups (19:55).

Of course, after deadlifts I can never fall asleep, so I  am dog food today (That's right, I blamed the Deadlifts, not the Sazerac (did I mention that) or the Cappuchino. Internal consistancy is for poofs)



 

New York Part two:

At the Macao Trading Company, after having just sat down and ordered a drink I checked the bartender as he turned to make my negroni, and began explaining the modifications needed to make a “Charlotte’s Negroni”. Mid instruction he started to get distracted by happenings to my right.  I turned to see what could be so important, and saw that the woman next to me was oscillating between speechless and  gesticulation.  Though improbable, I quickly guessed that she must be Charlotte (or at least a close friend).   Eventually she overcame her fear of sounding pompous and confirmed that she was the inventor of the drink I had just ordered.

That’s a fairly remarkable coincidence.

Shortly after this, another Brand Ambassador, this one from the competing Pernod and Rickard line, sent over a Plymouth and Tonic.  
 Apparently there were many Cocktail related events in town that week and the party was moving on to Milk and Honey.  But before they left we spoke briefly about some of my favorite barmen: Rob, Borys, Big Bearded Dude at Berretta, Greg and Nick in Atlanta.

The Food at Macao is Adventurous and tasty. The Bartenders are very friendly. Definitely my go-to bar this trip.

That was the end of that week.  The next week began with a ran up the west side of the island, a long walk back, which included some street basketball (spectator) and more Grey’s papaya.  I had a late sandwich one night , and Bar Artisinal at the hotel another, and Macao Trading on the last.

This week I have eaten at Les Halles, which is fine I guess, and probably more than that for locals.   Not what I was in the mood for, but I didn’t know what else I would find in the area, and wasn’t in to mood to roam on a long Monday.

My hotel is on Wall Street, which (I think) is going to make exploring harder. I doubt I have the will for it.   I have had a very minor headache since Sunday.

All weekend Corrie and I were up at the cabin gardening or otherwise outfitting the place. Somehow along the way we went through a fifth of Bonded Rittenhouse.   Her’s with Ginger ale, mine with Cinzano Sweet Vermouth and Angostura orange bitters(Also there were 3 60minute Ales, and a glass of muscadine wine).    Of course, I am both fortunate enough to never get hangovers (and stupid enough to brag about it), but I have had a headache since Sunday.   I also had the slight bit of a chill that evening, so this could be some sort of virus, but I suspect it is Caffeine Withdrawals. Cool.

I have been drinking more coffee more consistently since I got to New York, and Sunday was my first day without it.  I  am currently deliberating between having a cup now just to see if the headache goes away (and if so getting a workout in) or riding it out the rest of the way (which may result it aggravating it further this evening if  I try to train).

I do feel that this, my first case of withdrawal, makes me more legit (keeping it real yo), but having finished season two of Breaking bad, I shouldn’t make light of stuff like that.

Breaking Bad, Season 2 was harsh and excellent.  Corrie and I also watched Doubt and Seven Pounds. Both movies were better than the swill we normally watch.  Doubt was near perfect, but I have such a short fuse when it comes to Catholicism as it is portrayed in movies that I could hardly relax. Seven Pounds was thinky, and antiusual. Will Smith was perfect in it, but I think he was a miscast none the less: It was way too distracting watching him play that character. I felt that the musical score was heavy handed too. I actually have a lot of quibbles with the artsy-fartsy direction but ultimately the story, as it was written, was always going to be difficult to make a movie out of.   I did enjoy it and I enjoy it more the more I think about it.