Coffee and Periods

It is 11:17 p.m., I am being remarkably productive and it strikes me that coffee and periods (the womanly gift kind) have something in common. The effects of both are very sneaky. Case in point: I was talking with Wonderful Cousin and she relayed a story in which she went off on her S.O., and then proceeded to call him tearfully to apologize, and to say that she didn't know why she was acting like this. At which point he commented gently:

"Sweetie--This happens every month."

In much the same way, my coffee consumption has snuck up on me this evening. I was sitting here feeling very pleased with myself for actually working on my brilliant chapter (positive thinking/wishing never hurt anyone, right?) so late at night, when all of the sudden it occurred to me: "Hmmm...I am generally a morning person. I wonder why I feel so incredibly motivated tonight?" And then reality tapped me on the shoulder.

I had two mega cups of coffee today. Inner will power and determination? Alas, it is just caffeine, otherwise known as the other nectar of the gods and savior to academics everywhere. Don’t try to cook dinner, clean the kitchen, bath the daughter, wash three loads of laundry, fold two loads, delete and file 300 emails and begin work on above mentioned chapter without it!

Unfortunately, I’m wondering if caffeine can also cause paranoia. As I write, it is awfully quiet downstairs. When I left S.O. he was intently focused on Madden 2006…but it’s been a while. Hopefully he is not doing finances—the one thing I didn’t tackle tonight. I wonder why?

Don’t get it twisted. There is a delicate hierarchy of procrastination at work here.